Apparently, I have this nasty little habit of letting people think that I view my brother's, half, step or whole, as romantic material. Last year, my step-brother's girlfriend was quite worried and jealous that I might STEAL HIM AWAY.

Bring on the mutant children!

Last night, I had to drop my older brother off at his motel where he works with a bunch of construction workers. A bunch of leering scary construction workers. A bunch of leering scary construction workers who are from West Virginia.

Unfortunately, it wasn't a simple drop. I wasn't able to leave the drugs and flee. I helped him carry his bags and his key was not working. So I had to stand there, under the very thorough stares of his gazillion male co-workers who were splashing about in the pool and various other activities in varying degrees of undress, and guard his bags.

To emphasize the seediness of this place, the room next to which I was standing, a cop was interviewing someone whose car/niece/money had been taken/kidnapped/stolen.

He returned. After an eternity. The key worked and I waved good-bye.

As I was walking to my car, someone draped themselves over the above railing and inquired loudly enough for all three neighborhoods to hear "WHO IS THE NEW GIRLFIEND?"

Eric sighed, rolled his eyes and told them "Dude! That's my sister."

Not skipping a beat, he shouted "SO!"