Author’s note:

I would like to apologize in advance to my readers. In the retelling of this story it sort of took on a life of its own. Normally my tales are fairly brief and concise, this one however seemed only to grow as I put pen to paper. (Figuratively speaking). Since it did turn out to be rather long I have decided to break it down into several smaller portions both for ease in posting and for reader consumption. That said… I hope you enjoy this long winded tale. It is a true story, all of this really did happen.

Life is a tapestry, a cloth woven of many different threads that create the whole. This story is a thread, one of many, contributing to the waft and weave that is the Whole cloth, being Jim.

Being Jim Ch.6 Lessons of Life

By Frodov

This story is based entirely on true experiences from my past. Names and a few details have been changed to provide anonymity for those involved. Discretion is a precious commodity and is becoming rarer and rarer every day.

Sometimes to better understand the “whole”, the big picture in its present state you must pick a thread and follow it back through the weave to earlier times or events, to see the interactions that colored that thread or created it. Often one thread is formed from multiple smaller connected threads, much like the cloth is woven from many threads. But isn’t that life? This story reaches back to my time in college. I was working full time mostly in a part time job delivering pizzas to pay for my gas and insurance to allow me to commute to and from school and home. Remember this all happened before cell phones and the internet, cable TV was still in its infancy. The 80’s big hair bands, big hair, a different time.

-Part Four-

Sunday morning dawned early the next morning. Well, no earlier than usual but it seemed early to me because I didn’t sleep much that night. Getting home around three thirty in the morning after closing Dom’s, then laying in my bed staring at the ceiling lost in thought until finally at some point falling asleep. I might have gotten an hour or so of sleep before the damned roosters started crowing. Who needs an alarm clock when you live on a farm? I rolled out of bed already looking ahead to this afternoon even as tired as I was. I tended the animals and did a couple of little chores I needed to do before returning to the house and cleaning up for breakfast with my family. I was getting looks from everyone. Maybe it was written all over my face, my excitement and anticipation I don’t know… but I know I could never be a poker player because I couldn’t hide anything. My mom was the one who finally asked me what I seemed so happy about. My sisters, both of them tuned in all ears, my brother was oblivious but my dad just glanced at me and grinned and then pretended not to be interested. I told my mom that I was going to meet a girl this afternoon. Of course I had to back up and fill in all the pertinent details after that. Who was she, where did we meet, what did she do… on and on and on. Every time I looked at my dad he seemed to be hiding a chuckle, he knew I was getting the third degree. Simple female curiosity. Well, okay not so simple, this was my mom wanting to know what was going on with one of her babies… even if this particular baby was nearly a twenty year old college student. Eventually my dad spoke up and told my mom to let me be, well, he suggested it nicely anyway. I silently mouthed ‘thank you’ to him and rolled my eyes when my mom wasn’t looking at me. He stifled another chuckle. I helped clear the table after breakfast before going to change my clothes. It was still early so I told my mom I was going to lie down and take a nap before time to leave. She ran her fingers through my hair and commented that I was just about ready for a haircut then ruffled my hair. She smiled and gave me a hug. I don’t even remember lying down.

I woke up a little after one. I washed my face and brushed my hair before grabbing my keys and heading out. I passed mom in the kitchen and she smiled and told me to have fun. I stepped out onto the back porch to find my dad sitting with his feet propped up on the railing enjoying a glass of iced tea.

“Headed out?” He said smiling at me in a fatherly way.

“Yeah, leaving a little early, never know what the traffic is going to be like around the mall.” I said not quite making an excuse but covering my apprehension a little. Dad nodded sagely glancing at me and looking away with that smile again.

“Yeah, better to be a little early than even a minute late. Women don’t like to wait, they prefer to be waited on.” He said with a chuckle. He reached into his breast pocket and then extended his hand to me. “I know money is tight, so I thought this might help, if you need it, if not, save it for another time.” He slipped a folded up twenty into my hand, and then brushed my hand away as I started to give it back to him. He just smiled and shook his head then said.

“Have fun. What was her name again?” He asked.

“Michelle… Thanks dad.” I said as I slipped the twenty into my back pocket. I smiled all the way to town.

I wasn’t far off about my prediction of traffic around the mall, it was kind of heavy today, but I still managed to get a parking spot and arrive at the food court by half passed two. I found an empty table near the entrance to the theater and had a seat to wait for Michelle. As I waited I remembered what Jules had said to me last night as we left Dom’s and I began to look around the different vendors to see if anyone offered lemon ice or a slushy. I spotted one at a booth selling pizza slices and calzones. That settled I sat back and just did what I usually did, people watched. People can be entertaining just being themselves. It wasn’t long though before I saw a familiar head of curly auburn hair come through the entrance doors and enter the food court. Michelle was a few minutes early and was looking around trying to spot me. I waited till she glanced my way before I waved a hand to get her attention. Her face lit up with a nervous smile as she headed my way. She was dressed in a baggie dark blue wool sweater with a loose cowl collar over faded blue jeans. Her tennis shoes looked brand new and practically gleamed they were so white. I stood up and held out a chair for her. She smiled and accepted. I sat back down next to her. I could smell a faint hint of something floral, perfume or something in her hair maybe? Whatever it was I liked it.



“Hi.” She said.

“Hi yourself… you look great! And you smell good too.” I gushed. Damn! ‘you smell good too’? I asked myself… really?

“Thanks.” Michelle said and blushed a little as she smiled, her blue green eyes sparkling with those little gold flecks catching the sun shining through the entry doors to the mall. Wow… I was captivated, again. “Been waiting long?” She asked.



“Not really, but I didn’t want to be late and I knew that the traffic around the mall can be a bitch sometimes… I mean busy… uh…” I stammered thinking that I had slipped and the crude language would not be appreciated even if tolerated. “Sorry…” I started.

“I know what you mean.” Michelle laughed. “I’ve lived in this town all my life I know what the traffic can be like.” She added smiling brushing off my awkwardness.

“Are you hungry?” I asked motioning around the food court. Michelle looked around.

“Nah, not really. Besides I might want to save room for some popcorn.” She smiled and looked back to the theater entrance.

“That works for me. I guess we should go see what’s showing and when huh? Shall we?” I asked as I stood up and offered my arm. Michelle stood up and looked at me curiously for a moment and then smiled and slipped her hand in my arm and we walked to the theater. We checked the movie listings and times before deciding on a recent romantic comedy. As it turned out we were just ten minutes early for the next showing so I bought our tickets and we stopped at the concession stand for a big tub of popcorn and a couple of drinks. Michelle passed on the extra butter saying that it was really just warmed butter flavored oil. It turns out that she had worked in this very theater one summer a couple of years ago. Being early for the showing we had first pick at any seating we wanted, Michelle led me all the way to the top to the last row of seats just under the projector window in the back wall.

We settled in and traded stories of the years between our high school typing class up until this year when we met again. Where we had worked, places we had been to, things we had done. We shared the classes we had enrolled in at University and others that we thought we might explore next. We talked through most of the previews until the lights went all the way down and the movie started. At some point during the movie I found that Michelle had slipped her right hand into my left. I glanced at her but she was focused on the movie playing on the big screen. I just smiled to myself and let it be. I noticed a short while later though that my palm was now warm and damp from sweat. Perhaps she was as nervous as I was. I tucked that little bit of information away to think about later. The movie was fairly predictable as romantic comedies go, boy meets girl, boy chases girl, girl plays hard to get. They get together only to have some sort of misunderstanding and fall out only to come back together after clearing up whatever confusion there was that happened, then boy and girl move on together… happy ending. A typical feel good movie, of which I was not going to argue about as the feeling carried over to most of the movie goers too. Michelle seemed to be all smiles and wistful sighs after the credits started rolling. She squeezed my hand before releasing me when she and I stood up to make our exit. I didn’t say anything about it but I unobtrusively wiped my sweaty palm off on my jeans. I’m sure Michelle did as well.



As we exited the theater I thought again about the lemon ice that Jules had suggested and I steered Michelle and I towards the booth that sold them. I told Michelle I wanted one and asked her if she would like to join me. The look on her face was priceless, a look of surprise and a delighted curiosity. I bought one for each of us and we found an empty bench to sit on as we enjoyed them. We sat and watched people go by and commented on them as if narrating a movie. Each person or groups had their own stories that we made up. Michelle and I were soon laughing at one another’s imaginations and narratives. At some point though, thoughts that we both had in the backs of our minds about our mutual associations with our teachers finally could not be denied. It was Michelle that finally breached the subject.

“Jim? I know we’re not supposed to talk… about things… but I can’t stand it! I have to talk to you about it.” She began, clearly troubled by her own promise to be discrete that she had made to Maggie and Penny. I all but bit my lip, brows knitted and a serious look on my face I turned to study her. She was looking at me much in the same way, her eyes showed a hint of anxiety.

“I know, I have been biting my tongue so much it’s any wonder I can still talk at all.” I admitted and gave her a sheepish grin. “I take the promise I made to the ladies seriously… but you made the same promise and we were both told to ‘use our better judgment’… If you think about it, and I have, if we talk to each other we’re not talking to someone outside the house as it were. Right?” I ended with the question that had been bouncing around in my head for over two weeks. Michelle’s eyes widened, her brows relaxed before they shot up together, her face slowly split with first a slight grin but kept growing until it was a dazzling and very excited smile.

“Of course! Jim! You’re a genius! Why didn’t I think of that?” Michelle all but shouted in an excited whisper. She bounced her feet excitedly as if she were running in place while sitting on the bench and tucked her head and raised her shoulders briefly. I thought it was adorable, the obvious joy she was displaying, it was infectious, I found myself grinning like I had just shared a juicy secret. Noticing that both I and Michelle had finished our ices, Michelle stood quickly and told me to sit still that she would be right back. I watched as she tossed out empty cones and returned to the booth that I had bought them from and ordered two more. She brought them back and as she sat down she straddled the bench so that she was facing me, I got the hint and copied her so that we were indeed face to face.

We sat there and started talking. We traded stories of the various lessons and exercises that the ladies had worked with us. We shared out ‘assignments’ and how we did with them. Things got a little more awkward when we both shared maybe not in great detail about our interactions with Maggie and Penny over the time we had been with them. We shared our thoughts about each of them and agreed almost on every detail about their different styles and personalities. Michelle got a kick out of me telling about Penny joining me in the shower that first time totally unexpected by me. I told her how I honestly nearly freaked out. Michelle shared some rather intimate details about her interactions with both of the ladies and since she knew I was aware of their ‘preferences’ and was both accepting and not judgmental of them she admitted to me that she had enjoyed her times with them. She looked me dead in the eye and went on to tell me that while she had enjoyed them she was not solely interested in other women. I told her I was happy to hear that even if it wouldn’t make any difference what I thought. She smiled warmly and told me that maybe she did care what I thought then glanced away shyly. I told her I thought she was a wild card, that nobody was sure what she would do and that was fine with me. I also told her that I would be willing to help her out with any lessons or exercises she might want to work on in the future. Michelle awarded me with another one of those dazzling smiles that made her eyes sparkle with light.

After a third lemon ice, and probably another hour of trading notes and stories we realized that it was getting late in the day. Since we both were going to be meeting Jules at the teachers’ house in the morning we decided that maybe a good night’s sleep would be a good thing. We walked to the entrance arm in arm till we were outside. Michelle turned to face me she looked up into my eyes and smiled.

“This has been fun Jim. Thank you for inviting me out.” She told me in a soft voice.

“Yes it has been fun, and very educational as well,” I told her, “and thank you for coming out with me. It wouldn’t have been the same without you.” I said with a smile. I debated fiercely in my mind whether I should take her into a hug or not. I wanted so badly to sweep her up into my arms and just squeeze her. Before I could make a decision what to do however it was made for me by Michelle. She literally leapt onto me throwing her arms around my neck burying her face in my neck at my shoulder. My own arms wrapped around her out of reflex but in a heartbeat were holding her tightly to me in a gentle but firm bear hug.

“I was told that you might be too much of a gentleman to make the first move, I guess it wasn’t wrong.” She whispered into my ear. “Be bold I was told… I hope I’m not being too bold.” She added as she pulled back just enough to allow us to look one another in the face.



“Not at all.” I told her, “I’m not offended or scared off in any way.” I smiled then swallowed a nervous lump in my throat. “Would I be too forward if I asked to maybe try that exercise again from the other day?” I asked and unconsciously licked my dry lips. Michelle bit her bottom lip and nodded her head with a nervous bob.

“As long as you’re not afraid that I might eat your lips off your face or something.” She said with a grin.

“I’ll take that chance.” I said with a smile as I leaned in closer. Our noses brushing lightly along one another just before our lips connected with a soft collision. My eyes were half closed but I could have sworn I saw fireworks in her eyes, or rather eye as we were so close her two eyes appeared to be just a single eye from my perspective. But there were fireworks in it, those golden flecks standing out against the blue green background of her irises. My perceptions were soon overwhelmed and swept away by the sensations I received from my lips however. Those tender moist pliant lips that I had been dreaming of were dancing on mine, a gentle hesitant exploration. Her lips traded pecks and brushes with my own as we nipped and pulled at one another’s lips. There was no tongue action in this kiss, but there was a promise of things that might be. Pulling back once more we looked intently into one another’s eyes seeing a new fascination and understanding, and yes desire in each other. Michelle licked her lips and smiled impishly.



“That was nice… but I think we might need to practice that some more in the near future.” She said in a low soft voice.

“I agree.” I said as I tilted my face down and let my forehead touch hers gently. “In the near future.” I added. Michelle grinned and released her arms from around my neck and we reluctantly parted. She walking off with a bouncing halting gait swinging her arms in that oversized baggy sweater glancing back at me numerous times smiling with that big radiant smile. I tucked my hands into my back pockets just to keep from waving my arms around like a windmill with all the excitement coursing through my body. I wanted to shout to the world and howl like a wolf. I watched Michelle till she climbed into her car and drove off. I then turned to go to my pickup truck and head home myself.

I got home to the farm just after sunset that evening. Early for me for any day of the week really and it was another one of those rare occasions that I could sit with my dad and this time my mom as well on the back porch and spend a little time with them. Mom of course wanted to know all about my ‘date’ but she didn’t ask a single question other than if I had had fun. Dad just smiled and stayed quiet about it. I knew that I had to offer up at least some small bits of interest for my mother so I gave her a rough outline of meeting with Michelle and the movie we saw, I told her about buying lemon ices and us sitting and watching people go by as we ate them and talked about school and stuff. I also mentioned that I was going to be starting on that painting job in the morning and would be leaving early. That seemed to be enough for mom so she was happy when she said good night and went inside to check on my siblings before getting ready for bed. My dad finally broke his silence after the mom went inside. He told me the lemon ice was a nice touch. He told me to remember that little things like that would mean the world to most girls and he smiled knowingly as if remembering things from his past.

“Did you get a kiss?” He grinned and gave me a sidelong glance as he sipped his tea.

“Yeah… wow…” I said softly with a smile sitting there in the dark on the back porch but in my mind I had my arms wrapped around Michelle and her lips were dancing on mine.

“Good…” was all my dad said as he took another sip before he stood up to go inside. He patted me on the shoulder as he stepped past me. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight dad.” I said as I sat there on the back porch watching the moon rise on the horizon. My eyes were seeing the moon but my mind was seeing two blue green eyes with little gold flecks. At some point I got up and went in the house and to bed.

Up early the next morning and tended to the animals, before having breakfast with my siblings. They started back to school today, I’d be starting classes in a little over a week myself at the university. After breakfast I hopped in my truck and headed to town and to the teachers’ house to meet with Jules and Michelle to begin the painting job in the apartment. On a whim I stopped by a doughnut shop that was near my old neighborhood and picked up a dozen assorted doughnuts and pastries. Pulling up to the house I saw that both Jules and Michelle were already there. I grabbed the box of doughnuts and went to the front door and rang the bell. Almost before I could pull my hand back the door opened and I saw a smiling Maggie who ushered me inside. She was dressed today, not normal house dress but in a dress suit, a light wool jacket of light grey over a white blouse and a light grey skirt that fell to just below her knees. She had on stockings of course and some low heels in black. Maggie’s hair was in a bun but not her usual loose pinned style but rather a bit more refined with some sort of beaded cage wrap to secure it instead of her chopsticks as I had come to know them. Her glasses hung from her neck on a gold beaded chain. Her nails were the same wet looking glossy red that I had seen two days ago, and they were as usual, flawless. I noticed that Maggie had put on makeup too, a dark plum lipstick highlighted her thin lips and a modest amount of eye shadow made those golden copper eyes just pop! I was momentarily speechless openly staring in admiration. Maggie smiled perhaps a little self consciously as she realized that I was staring at her.

“Come in Jim, everyone else is in the kitchen.” She said as she led the way up the stairs.

“Okay…” I managed as I followed her up the stairs. I wondered if that wiggle was new or was Maggie doing that for my benefit as I watched her skirt sway provocatively as she climbed the short stairs to the living room. Following Maggie into the kitchen I found Penny in her usual chair on one side of the table and Jules at the far end to her right and Michelle across the table from Penny. All three had a cup of coffee in their hands. Maggie’s cup was at her empty seat at the near end of the table where she had been sitting before I rang the bell. More likely they had heard me pull up out front and Maggie had practically met me at the door as I rang the bell I thought. Penny noticed the box in my hands and those bright blue eyes sparkled as she pursed her lips and turned her head slightly in a silent question. Obviously she recognized the doughnut shop logo on the box, it was after all a local favorite. I smiled and offered her the box.

“Yeah, I stopped and got some doughnuts, I didn’t know what everyone liked so I got a mixed variety. I figured it was an early start and I wasn’t sure who might have had breakfast and who might not have…” I explained. Jules gave me her typical smirk but I saw a smile in her eyes all the same. Michelle squealed and set her coffee cup down and clapped her hands excitedly. Maggie slipped her right hand around my waist as she still stood behind her chair rather than sitting down.

“That was very thoughtful of you darling… Yes it was going to be a coffee only kind of morning as both Penny and I have appointments to attend to this morning. We are going to leave you younger ones to your work I’m afraid. We will be back sometime this evening though.” Maggie spoke as much to the group as to me. It was then that I noticed that Penny too was dressed to go out. She wore floral print dress with a short split on the side from just below the knee to just above it. There was a wide red belt that gathered it about her waist. She had some nude colored stockings or panty hose I’m not sure which and her feet were in some boxy looking low square heeled shoes. Her luscious full lips were a pinkish blushed color from lipstick or gloss, some faint light blue eye shadow highlighted her eyes and her strawberry blond curls were actually tamed into a fashionable wave… well… almost tamed. Nothing could ever completely subdue her locks.

“Before you go could you take another look at the apartment and let us know if there’s anything in particular that we need to move or cover up as we get started today?” Jules asked the ladies as she stood with a Danish in hand. Penny patted her lips with a napkin and stood as well, gathering her cup and saucer to put in the sink. Michelle took her cue from the other two and stood collecting her own cup. Maggie noticed that it was not empty and spoke up.



“Michelle darling, if you’re not finished with your coffee, you can take it downstairs with you, there’s still half a pot left so you all can finish it if you like.” Maggie said as she picked up her empty cup and handed it to Penny. Jules carried her empty cup to the sink and handed it to Penny as well. “Jim? Would you like some coffee?” Maggie asked. I declined as I don’t particularly care for coffee other than the wonderful smell. We all headed to the doorway to go downstairs, Michelle stepped back and grabbed another jelly doughnut to take with her cup of coffee downstairs. I grinned and followed her and the other ladies. Through the beaded curtain and doorway to the apartment, I listened to Jules asking about moving furniture away from the walls, like the wet bar, TV, the couch and lamps. She asked about removing the pictures from the walls. Originally Jules was thinking about moving the furniture out of the room entirely, maybe into the hallway but I suggested that it would be easier to move it all to the center of the room that way a single drop cloth could be draped over it all to protect it. Paint rollers on long handles would make it easy to paint the ceiling over the furniture. Jules nodded her head in appreciation as she thought about it and agreed.

“Good idea Jimbo… smart thinking.” She said and grinned at me. As they went through the galley kitchen on their way to the bedroom Penny took me by my elbow and held me back. Once everyone else was out of earshot she leaned over to me to whisper in my ear.

“Darling, Jules is going to be leaving you and Michelle to yourselves shortly as she told Maggie and I that she had to check up on a couple of other jobs she’s got going today as well…” Penny pulled back and smiled at me with a sly knowing look in her eye. My puzzled expression must have tickled her as she giggled a bit before I felt her slipping something into my hand and closing my fingers over it. “I’m not saying you will need this, but just in case, it’s better to be prepared than not… Trust you feelings.” She said as she patted the top of my closed hand then walked ahead to join the others in the bedroom. Looking down and opening my hand I saw that she had slipped me a condom still in its little square foil wrapper. “What the?” My mind asked. I hurriedly tucked it into my back pocket and followed Penny to join the others.

“Yes, just pull the bed a couple of feet away from the wall and the night stands as well. This dresser will be a little hard to move maybe, but we can pull all the drawers out to move it then put the drawers back.” I heard Jules talking with Michelle and Maggie. “I’ve got a shop-vac I’ll bring by tomorrow or Wednesday to use to vacuum the corners and the walls and ceilings before we paint anything.” Jules went on.



“So we’re just moving furniture today, and taking pictures and things off the walls?” I asked.

“Yeah, I’ve got the paint ordered, it should be all mixed and ready in a day or so, we’ve still got to get the prep work done first though. I told Maggie and Penny earlier that I’ve got to go check on a couple of other jobs I’ve got going this morning so I’m going to leave this to you and Michelle, you two think you can handle this?” Jules asked me and looked at Michelle. Michelle looked and me and shrugged with a curious grin on her face.



“Sure, no problems I think. Do you have some drop cloths or tarps with you?” I said to Jules and saw Maggie standing beside her with a thoughtful expression on her face as she studied Michelle and glanced at me.

“Yeah, I got a couple out in my car, I was going to ask you to come get them before I left.” She confirmed.

“Speaking of leaving, it’s time Penny and I took our leave as well. Penny I think the job is well in hand, if you’re ready?” Maggie spoke as she patted Jules on her shoulder. “Call us if you need anything Jules darling.” She added as she and Penny turned to go. Michelle said she was going to get some more coffee and asked if we wanted any or maybe a doughnut. I declined but told her to just bring the rest of the box downstairs, we could leave it in the galley kitchen as we worked.

“Good idea Jim.” She smiled as she followed Maggie and Penny out of the room. Jules held out her hand to stop me as I started to follow them. She gave me a curious look. What was it with all these women this morning and their curious looks?

“What’s up Jules?” I asked. She glanced over her shoulder to see that everyone else had gone or were out of earshot.

“I told you I was going to leave you and Michelle alone to work here this morning…” She spoke softly and studied my eyes.

“Yeah… I heard you. And?” I asked.

“Are you two going to be… okay… with that?” Jules inquired hesitantly, a sly grin slowly forming on her lips. Classic Jules… poking and prodding and trying to get a rise out of me.

“Jules… I’m a gentleman first and foremost. I can behave you know.” I said somberly with a straight face and a stern look in my eyes. Seeing this Jules stifled a giggle.

“Ohhh buddy… I’m not worried about your behavior!” She chuckled. “But if you think you’ll be okay I’ll take your word for it.” She giggled again and motioned for me to follow her out to her car to get the drop cloths. We met Penny and Maggie on the landing at the front door. I held the door for the women as they exited the house. Michelle came down the stairs carrying the box of doughnuts and a cup of coffee, she paused on the landing and locked eyes with me for a moment, a slow grin turning up the corners of her mouth before she pulled in her bottom lip to bite it gently, and she winked and then went on down the stairs. Hmmm… curious.

I collected the two twenty by twenty foot drop cloths from Jules’ car. She also handed me a piece of paper with three different phone numbers on it telling me that if I needed anything that she could be reached at one or another of those numbers. We waved at first Maggie then Penny as they two drove off in separate directions.

“Jim, at least get the front room pulled in and ready before you let that little fox distract you… okay?” Jules said with a mock seriousness, then gave me a big unabashed knowing smile. Somehow I felt like everyone else knew what was going on but me. Jules punched my shoulder and climbed in her car and left. I took the drop cloths back inside and down to the apartment door. I left them in the hallway and entered the front room of the apartment. Michelle was sitting on the sofa licking the fingers of her right hand and holding her coffee cup in her left.



“Everyone gone?” She asked.

“Yeah, I guess it’s just you and me now.” I said distractedly as I looked around the room noting pictures hung on the walls and an old fashioned clock. Michelle set her now empty coffee cup down on the little side table then stretched both of her arms up over her head. She reminded me of a cat, her curly auburn hair pulled back into a loose ponytail secured with a scrunchy. She wore an old faded pair of jeans and an old faded tee shirt. When she stretched the bottom of the shirt rose up exposing her bare midriff flashing me her belly button. Her belly was flat and tight and slightly tanned I could tell even in the almost dim light of the apartment. I couldn’t see her gorgeous eyes while she stretched however as she had her eyes closed but there was a serene contented smile on her face that made my heart skip a beat. It skipped another beat when she opened her eyes and caught me studying her intently. Her eyes narrowed and her smile turned in to something akin to a feral grin. She went from an apparent angel to something decidedly predatory in the flash of a heartbeat.

“Yeah… just you and… me” She said as she seemed to unfold from her sitting position on the couch to standing and practically stalking towards me in two slow steps. Her arms crossing across her modest chest as her face tipped slightly to one side and she began swaying or twisting really from side to side. “Where do you want to start?” She asked coyly. Oh my god! What a question, I blind man would not miss that double meaning. But I tried to keep calm and… well… play dumb I guess.

Well, how bout we pull these pictures off the walls and that clock, we can put them in the galley kitchen on the counter. Then we can pull the sofa and side table in to the center of the room. And work our way around the walls until everything that needs to be moved has been moved.” I suggested. That got me a sidelong glance and a somewhat disappointed smirk. But Michelle nodded and we began.

It only took a few minutes to pull the pictures and clock from the walls and the sofa was no problem at all to move. We moved the small side table, a tall thin book case and the floor lamp next to the wet bar. The bar itself took a little while as we needed to remove all the glasses and bottles from the cabinet case with the glass doors first then walk it slowly away from the wall. We left the contents in the kitchen along with the pictures and clock. The TV was not a problem and soon the room was finished. Aside from the one spider that freaked Michelle out and sent her squealing like a frightened little girl much to my amusement, the front room was ready to be covered up with a drop cloth. I stepped out into the hallway to retrieve one and Michelle followed me telling me she had to use the bathroom across the hall first. I brought the cloth into the front room and started unfolding it from its packaging.

It wasn’t a cloth really but a thick plastic sheet, as I unfolded it I realized that it was a little stiffer than the actual canvas drop cloths that I was familiar with. Michelle rejoined me and we pulled and draped and struggled with the sheet pulling it this way and that trying to get it to cover everything. It must have looked like a comedy routine for a few minutes as I would pull one side and the sheet would pull up on Michelle’s side exposing what she had just covered. When she would pull back again to cover up what was exposed, my side would be uncovered. It went back and forth until we figured it out and turned the sheet and managed to get everything covered properly. Whew! Finally! Michelle said we needed to celebrate with another doughnut.

We each got ourselves a doughnut and walked on into the bedroom through the galley kitchen. I noticed that Michelle had ***********ed a custard filled, I had a raspberry jelly. We both ate in silence as we looked about the room. I guess we were both lost in thoughts of things that had happened in this room. I was of course thinking of just recently myself and Maggie… which led me to think of the events that led up to that, between Michelle and Maggie before I had arrived. Leaning my backside against the dresser as I finished off my jelly doughnut I studied Michelle as she idly ran her left hand along the surface of the bed as she popped the last bite of her custard filled doughnut in her mouth and made an appreciative mmmm sound. Turning to me she smiled and I had to stifle a short laugh. I snorted instead amused at Michelle.

“What’s so funny?” She asked looking at me curiously, which only made it worse and my chest heaved with silent laughter. “What?” She demanded stepping closer to me. I grinned and reached up with my right hand and using my index finger I wiped a small dab of custard that had found its way onto her delicate little chin. I held it up to show her and grinned. Those blue green eyes nearly crossed as she focused on my finger and frowned first then grinned. She shot her right hand out and grabbed me by my wrist and pulled my hand to her face again. She took my finger in her left hand and brought it to her lips and licked the custard off of my finger. Then she put my finger to her lips and sucked it into her mouth slowly, I could feel her tongue twirling around it bathing it clean. She then slowly withdrew my finger and licked her lips, all the while never breaking eye contact with me. Oh My God! I felt weak in the knees. I also felt my face warming as no doubt the blood was rushing to my skin making me blush a bright neon red. After licking her lips they turned up into a devilish grin as she released my hand. “Mmmm” was all she said. All I could do was first swallow then clear my throat. Taking a deep breath I nearly broke my neck forcing myself to look around the room to decide what to move first.

That may have been the last straw for Michelle, either she thought I was just being coy or maybe I was teasing her. Maybe she was just a whole lot bolder than I would ever be, in any case Michelle decided that if I was not going to make the first move or ignore her not so subtle hints then she was going to take the lead. Stepping up to me and taking my chin in her right hand she turned my face back to hers. Those gorgeous blue green, gold flecked deep as an ocean stormy as any hurricane eyes were glaring into mine. Her brows knitted and those oh so luscious lips were pinched tight in a perturbed grimace. Her left hand was perched on her hip in that classic defiant feminine pose as her cute little head leaned to her left and she glared at me in a sidelong glance.

“Jim… Are you really that shy or are you just dense?” She practically growled in a soft questioning voice. “Boy! You’ve already kissed me twice and I thought we had a connection of some kind after yesterday… Why are you playing so coy?” She demanded petulantly. I just stood there staring with my mouth open and jaw hanging slack. I heard the words and they were still bouncing around in my brain like a crazed rubber super ball or something. Those eyes… So deep… so pretty… “Well?” Michelle demanded, snapping my attention back to the present again.

“Um…” I swallowed, after closing my slack jaw and trying to regain some semblance of composure. “I, uh… I thought we had to get this job done, and well…” Another swallow. “I would never presume or… uh… expect to…” I stammered like an idiot. Michelle’s stern look softened, her brows suddenly relaxing, those lips… oh my god those lips… softened and turned up slowly turning into a smile.