Username: wandawoman4blk Date: 31-03-2022 13:45:59 Mood: happy Music:

Thought I’d start writing about my path to where I am. I plan to use only the initials of others for many reasons. So, here goes. Many things start during childhood. When growing up, after a trip to the zoo or a farm, grandmother and mom always insisted that we wash the animals off when we returned home. My sister and I usually would go with our cousins J and C. J was 4 years older than me and sister N and J’s brother C were the same age (2 years older than me). So, while one adult started the laundry and lunch, the other would keep an eye on bathing us. J was deemed old enough to help me bathe and mom would help C and N as they were young and closer in age. Mom would check on us, but spent most of her time with C and N. Neither of us had reached puberty and we didn’t think much about our differences. But, I remember J being different and he seemed to take care that I was clean enough to please mom. We would dry off, change into clean clothes, eat and spend the rest of the day playing like kids. Not a big deal at the time. Looking back, those baths did create a familiarity between J and I that evolved over time. Later he told me that our differences made him happy the very first time. But, he was afraid if he said anything, mom might change bath time. As long as mom trusted him and spent most of her time with C and N, he would take care of cleaning me while washing himself as well.

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