My Handsome Cousin

A real-life chatterbox

- What are you talking about?" I ask my great aunt. Our oldest is Frida, isn't she?

Frida is my aunt's eldest daughter. She got married three or four years ago and doesn't live with us any more.

- Yes," says my auntie. But he's the biggest.

Well, at least now I know he's a member of the family. Now let's see where he fits in the genealogy.

- You mean he's older than Frida? I ask my great aunt.

- No, I mean he's the oldest boy in the family.

I can't help rolling my eyes. Just because he's a man doesn't mean he has to be considered the eldest, given that there's an older woman in the family.

- So who exactly is she? I ask again, hoping that she will tell me his first name.

- I've just told you," replies my auntie. He's the eldest in the family.

I roll my eyes again.

Will she stop with that?

- I know," I said to my great aunt before she could start telling me annoying stories again about the fact that oune is the eldest. I mean, what is his name?

My auntie opens her eyes wide, realising that I'm not asking her the same question at all.

- His name is Kerwin," she finally replies.

What kind of name is that?

Hearing that name always has the same effect on me. The first syllable of the name makes me think of spitting, I can't help it.

- Ah, so it's him," I exclaim.

I remember my aunt used to talk to us about her son, the one who'd stayed in the country, and Auntie used to tell us all about the silly things this boy and his grandfather had done. The thing is, everyone who talks about him says good things. So I'm wondering what gave me that impression earlier...

I go back into the room, grab a chair and plant myself in the middle of the room. I sit on the chair, cross my legs and arms, and stare at him. I stare at him with such intensity, as if hoping that this stare might pulverise him. But in truth I'm admiring the pretty features of his face, partially covered by a fine beard.

- Why are you looking at me like that?

The sound of his voice snaps me out of my contemplation.

- From where did you see me looking at you? I reply, having no intention of admitting that I was staring at his face.

- You must be a real chatterbox! he exclaims, catching me off guard.

I frown. This man is a complete cretin.

How does talking back to a i***t make me a chatterbox?!

- And you think you're a mister know-it-all! I ask in agony.

I get up and sit down on my bed, looking at him warily. He may be handsome, but I don't like him at all.

Where does he get off calling me a blabbermouth?!

- I'd heard about you before I came here," he says, staring at me. But I can see that you're worse than people say.

What nonsense, the guy's judging me according to people who, I'm sure don't even know me. Because let's face it, ever since my mum handed me over to my dad's daughter when I was two, I've never been back to the country. How on the earth does someone from there think they know me?

I swallow my anger before answering in my most cheeky way.

- Don't you know you're in front of a star?

He doesn't have time to answer me, because my cousin, Faourha, my aunt's third daughter, joins us just then. I stare at her before returning my eyes to our dear guest. And it's amazing how much they look alike.

Well, that's not surprising since they're brother and sister.

- Miranda, do you think he and I look alike? Faourha asks me, taking me by surprise.

I press my lips together in a thin line. She's come to ask me a question with an obvious answer.

- Let's see... I reply cautiously.

I look at Kerwin and then at Faourha. And I pretend to think.

- If we cut your hair and his beard," I start, "I'm sure people will think you're twins.

I'm a bit worried about Faourha's reaction, because she's the person I communicate least with in this house. She scares me. Her looks alone are enough to convince me to stay away from her business...

- So you think I look like a man! She insists.

Samentha, my aunt's fourth daughter, arrives at that moment and answers for me.

- Of course you look like a man," she says, climbing onto the bed above mine. "No... did you ever see the look on your face?

She's the kind of person who'll tell you what she thinks of you in a flash, without even calculating or what. She's the person I get on with best in this house. And I'm very grateful to her for saving me. Although I don't think her gaze is that of a man.

- You're exaggerating! Faourha says.

- That's right! Samentha reply rolling her eyes.

She turns away from Faourha and then adds, turning to Kerwin :

- Toi, she begins in French. I'm warning you. Just because you're tall, and you're a guy, doesn't mean I'm gonna like you. I don't.

As I was saying, she really doesn't mince her words. And if she doesn't like you on the first day, she'll never like you again. I smiled as I heard her set things straight with her brother she just met.

I discreetly walk away and go and sit down in the courtyard. I don't really like being in front of Faourha, because as Sam implied, Faourha has a very hard look in her eyes. When she looks at me, I get the impression that she's about to do something to me that's not very pleasant. Besides, I don't know why, I don't like that man. I mean Kerwin. There's something about him I don't like. Apart from the fact that he's a man, I mean.

I'm alone for a moment, absorbed in my thoughts, then Damir joins me and we start talking. Damir often sneaks into the house when his grandfather's away.

As he came this time when I was still upset about my cousin's arrival, I don't think about what he told me a while ago. And he doesn't mention it either, which I find tan better because otherwise I wouldn't be able to talk to him.

I complain about the new arrival, tell him about my day and ask him about his.

It's getting late, so I decide to go back inside.

- What were you doing out there alone?! Kerwin's voice reaches my ears.

I don't answer him, just lie down on my bed in silence and fall asleep. He should know that I don't have to answer to him.

I wake up in the middle of the night and hear my aunt and uncle talking in the living room.

What are they doing there at this time of night?

At that moment, I hear my uncle's voice say:

- It's a good thing he's here now.

Then my aunt added:

- Yes, he'll be able to teach them everything here. They won't have to go so far to learn.

My uncle supports his idea

- It's a good idea, because I don't like it when Miranda and Samentha go out. Besides, I'm afraid they'll both go wrong.

I'm too tired to keep listening to them. As usual, I have to wake up early to catch the bus to school, so I go back to sleep without too much effort.