“Yeah… you’re okay for a farm boy… and a guy. But if you repeat that to anyone I’ll deny it!” She chuckled, and then drained the last of her bottle. Holding it out and tipping it over to watch the last couple of drops drip out of the neck. “That’s it for me, I’ve gotta drive.” Jules said as she grabbed her other bottle and slid off the end of the tailgate.
“I need to be heading out too, gotta get up with the sun to feed and tend to the animals before driving back to mow the Teachers’ yard… and have my next lesson.” I said as I slid off the end of the tailgate too. As I turned I found Jules squared off and standing right in front of me, that sober expression on her face again she looked me in the eye before saying.
“I was dead serious when I told you I’m here if you need to talk about anything Jim.” Then she lifted one eyebrow and tilted her head slightly to one side waiting for a reply.
“I know Jules, thank you. I’m okay, really. I’m just… learning a lot, and I’m processing it I guess. And I won’t let you down.” I added.
“Let me down?” Jules asked genuinely puzzled.
“Well, no one mentioned names, but I realized that I would not have been offered “lessons” without having been recommended by a former student. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that YOU sponsored, or recommended me.” I smiled knowingly. “It was a complete coincidence that I had actually been a student of Maggie’s back in high school… and that I knew Michelle from the very same class… Those two things are still blowing my mind. What are the odds?” I shook my head in amazement.
“Oh my god… what have I done? I’ve created a monster!” Jules giggled as she punched me in the arm and turned to leave.
“Thanks Jules…” I said again then turned and closed my tailgate before walking around to my door to get in.
I awoke Saturday morning with the sun, as usual, but I soon realized that the sunrise was about all the sun I was likely to see for the day. The skies were leaden with heavy clouds promising rain. I hurried to tend the animals before cleaning up and shaving. I grabbed some toast from the table as I headed out to drive to town. I was wondering if I would have time to get the yard mowed before it began raining but just as I drove up to the Teachers’ house the skies opened up and it began to rain. Sitting in my truck I could see Michelle pushing the dinosaur of a lawn mower that belonged to the Teachers up the drive way into the garage. I also noticed that the gas can was still sitting beside the sidewalk at the edge of the front yard. I hopped out of my truck and grabbed the can and ran to the garage. Michelle had just turned from parking the mower and saw me stepping into the garage with the can. Both of us were dripping wet from the rain.
“Thanks.” She said taking the can out of my hands and putting it with the mower.
“I don’t think we’re going to get the yard mowed today.” I said looking out at the rain falling steadily.
“No. It doesn’t look like it.” Michelle said as she joined me standing in the doorway.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Michelle shiver and realized that I had goose bumps on my own arms. Rubbing my arms to shake off the rain water I turned to Michelle.
“I suggest we both get dried off… might as well get cleaned up for our lessons.” I smiled and nodded towards the door to the kitchen. I walked over and knocked. Michelle stood next to me and cocked her head questioningly but didn’t say anything. Moments later the inner door opened and Penny took one look at us both standing there dripping water and ushered us inside. The cooler air conditioned air felt freezing to me and I suspected to Michelle as well as she was clenching her jaw to keep her teeth from chattering.
“Oh my! You both look like a couple of wet kittens! Go dry off and change into something dry before you catch a cold.” Penny gushed. “I’ll make us all some hot cocoa to take the chill off. Run along now.” She said shooing us along towards the doorway towards the living room and hallway. I paused at the doorway and looked at Michelle. She indicated that she was going downstairs so I turned towards the hallway to the upstairs bathroom. After shedding my wet clothes and drying off, I wrapped myself in a towel and made my way to the guestroom where my spare clothes were stored. Clean socks, a must, but then there was a dilemma… I had no other dry pants, only boxers and tee shirts. If it was just myself and Maggie or Penny in the house I would not have worried about it but Michelle was in the mix and I was not sure if that would be acceptable. I chose a rather long tee shirt and tried it on, it hung down covering about half of my boxers so I decided that it might be okay. Still though, I was hesitant to walk back to the kitchen dressed like this. Biting my lip I gathered my wet clothes into a bundle and headed down the hall.
Entering the kitchen I saw that Maggie had joined us and was sitting at the table stirring a mug of what I assumed was hot cocoa, she looked up and smiled warmly and winked at me. Wait… what? A wink? Okay… Penny was just inside the kitchen from the doorway into the laundry room standing with Michelle who was handing off her bundle of wet clothes. Michelle was dressed in a baggy gray sweatshirt and a knee length plaid skirt, with knee high white socks, no shoes. She looked towards me and blushed quite pink but avoided my eyes. I had to think it was due to my appearing wearing boxers.
Penny took my bundle and told us both to sit. I pulled out a chair at the end of the table to Maggie’s left for Michelle. She smiled bashfully and drew her skirt under her legs and sat daintily. I started to pull the next chair to the left for myself but Maggie asked me to sit to her right at the other end of the table. Not seeing that it made any difference other than being a bit further from Michelle I moved to that chair. Penny returned from the laundry room and went to the stove where she had three mugs waiting to be ladled full of hot cocoa. Filling the mugs she set them on the table before Michelle and I before taking a seat with her own mug. Still feeling a bit embarrassed being dressed in only boxers and a tee shirt I cleared my throat and spoke up.
“Ladies, I know it’s house rules but I feel like I must apologize at least to Michelle for being so… casually dressed. I’m afraid this is all I had dry to change into.” I looked sheepishly at Michelle at the other end of the table and blushed.
Michelle squirmed a bit in her chair and blushed as well before saying softly under her breath. “At least you HAD underwear to put on…” At that both Penny and Maggie giggled but didn’t say anything. I wondered what that was all about but didn’t say anything either. I stirred my cocoa and then blew on it before taking a hesitant sip. WOW! Still way too hot, so I just held the mug in my hands and let the heat warm them. The kitchen window brightened for a moment then a few moments later the distant rumble of thunder could be heard. I glanced to Penny and saw her shudder briefly and she looked to me and smiled a bit sheepishly. I also noticed that Maggie caught that silent exchange and she gave me a bare hint of a smile as well before turning to Michelle.
“Michelle darling, why don’t you bring your cocoa and come with me.” Maggie stood, placing one hand on my shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze. “Jim darling, please attend to Penny, she will be working with you today for your lesson.” Michelle followed Maggie out of the kitchen and I heard them taking the stairs down to the landing and presumably on down to the lower level, perhaps the classroom. Penny raised her mug to her lips, her hands still shook with a slight tremor as yet another low rumble of thunder shook the kitchen window.
“Penny? Are you okay?” I asked noticing that she was trying very hard to maintain her composure.
“I’m okay… I know it’s completely silly of me to be frightened of a little noise… but sometimes I just can’t help myself.” Penny said in an almost whispered voice.
“Well if it’s any solace, from the sound of the thunder the storm is moving away and it will be over with soon.” I told her just as yet another rumble sounded, but this one much softer. Penny looked at me and smiled shyly and nodded her head.
“Well now, just what are we going to do for today’s lesson?” Penny asked with a return of confidence and perhaps a bit of mischief in her voice and batted her big blue eyes innocently.
“I’m sure I have no idea as in all honestly I never have seen a syllabus for this course madam teacher.” I smiled and batted my eyes in return before finally taking another sip of my hot cocoa. “Mmmm this is really good!” I exclaimed and looked again at my mug. “It’s very… rich.” I added.
“It’s Maggie’s recipe, instead of simply milk, she adds fresh cream to the cocoa.” Penny offered as she sipped her own mug and closed her eyes and smiled. “She has good tastes.” She added as an afterthought.
“Yes she does…” I said softly watching Penny’s face as she relaxed, her eyes closed and obviously in thought. Then One eyebrow shot up and she cracked her eyes open halfway and gave me a sidelong glance as she processed what I had just said. She didn’t comment but she gave me a wary smile and a knowing wink before closing her eyes once more.
“Jim darling, you’re a flatterer…” Penny said and licked her lips.
“No, Penny, I’m honest, but sometimes I say things that I should keep to myself.” I said sheepishly.
“Well you’re still a flatterer even if you don’t mean to be.” Penny said sweetly. We sat in silence for a while after that as we finished our cocoa. With the final sip of her cup Penny cocked her head slightly to one side and a decidedly mischievous smile slowly spread across her angelic face. “Taste indeed.” She said with a purr. Standing up she gathered our mugs and spoons and set them in the sink. Turning back to me she took my hand and asked me to follow her.
I was led down the hallway to Penny’s bedroom. She closed the door behind me and led me to the side of her bed and turned to face me. She took my other hand in hers so she was holding both, standing toe to toe she had her head tilted down as if looking at my chest, but her eyes were somewhere distant, perhaps looking inward as she composed her next words carefully.
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