“Are you all right?” asked Brian, standing back to allow Rosemary to walk past him into the house.   “You look a little upset.”

“It’s my mother,” she said walking up to the centre of the hallway.   She clicked a switch, which illuminated a large aquarium, which was set into the wall along one side of the corridor.

“I really don’t know when she’ll ever be well enough to come home again.”

Rosemary watched the fifteen or so brightly coloured fish swimming around in the tank.   There was shale and a plastic castle upon the bottom of the aquarium.

“It only goes back about twenty-five centimetres,” said Brian, referring to the fish tank.   “But there’s a lot of height and length,” He paused for a moment and placed his hands upon Rosemary’s shoulders.   “You know you’re welcome to stay here for as long as you like.   Mum and dad always wanted daughter, after the four sons they’ve raised, and you know I think of you as at least a sister.”

“At least?” asked Rosemary, blushing.

*      *      *

Rosemary lay beside Brian upon his bed.

“Did I hurt you?” he asked.

“No, there was only a little blood,” said Rosemary.

Brian ran his right hand slowly through Rosemary’s hair.   To Brian’s surprise, Rosemary bent down to cup his penis in one hand, and then lightly kiss it.

“What was that for?” he asked.

“Just a little thank you,” she explained.

“How about one up here?” he said.

“Fine,” said Rosemary, straightening up to kiss Brian on the lips, then lightly prod her tongue into his mouth,

“Brian!   We’re home!” called out Ruth Bernstein from the front door.

“Oops,” said Rosemary as they both started scrambling for their clothing which lay about the bedroom floor,

“Yes, mother, I’ll be right down!” called out Brian, pulling his trousers and underpants on together,

“There’s no need for you to come downstairs,” called out Ruth Bernstein.   “I just wondered if Rosemary is home yet?”

“She’s up here with me,” called back Brian, as Rosemary pulled on her frock over top of her underwear, and Brian struggled into his T-shirt, which suddenly seemed two sizes too small.   “We were talking about how Rosemary’s mother is coming along.”

“How is she, dear?” called out Ruth,

“No better yet,” called out Rosemary, hurrying into her pantyhose, and brushing down her frock with her hands to try to brush away any creases.

“Oh, well, in that case I won’t come up there,” said Ruth.   Brian and Rosemary, both slipping on their shoes, stopped to exchange glances.   “You’re probably pretty upsets and I know you prefer Brian to me at a time like this.”

Brian and Rosemary exchanged looks again, then Brian whispered, “I think she meant my company.”

*      *      *

Norma kissed Chris upon the cheek, and then asked, “How is Rosie getting on with the Bernsteins?”

“Great, from what I can see.   There’s already talk of Rosie becoming converted to the true faith, so she and Brian can tie the knot in a couple of years’ time.”

“Which true faith is that?” asked Norma.

“How many are there?” asked Chris.

“It depends upon which one you follow,” said Norma.   “The Christian true faith, the Moslem true faith, the Jewish true faith, the Zen Buddhist true faith, and on it goes.”

“Well, it’s the Jewish true faith in this case,” said Chris.

“I hope she knows what she’s getting herself into,” said Norma.   “Religion can be a funny business at times; swapping religions can cause all sorts of problems.”

“I don’t think religion means very much to Rosie,” said Chris.   “She’s never been one of the born-again, so I guess it’s all the same to here whether she’s a Sunday morning Christian, or a Saturday morning Jew.”

THE END