We all finished our tea and it was time for me to head off to Dom’s to begin my evening shift. Maggie and Penny both walked Michelle and I to the front door. There was no parting kisses this evening but Maggie took my hand in hers and squeezed it and gazed knowingly into my eyes and smiled and mouthed “Thank you” silently before wishing me a good night and reminding me to call her or Penny if I had any spare time to come open before next weekend. Penny pulled me into a fierce hug and with Michelle in front of me and not able to see, Penny grabbed both of my ass cheeks and gave them a mighty squeeze as a silent reminder. I walked with Michelle to her car after the ladies hugged her and repeated the same good nights to her as well.
“Okay… spill it. What was so damned funny at the table earlier?” Michelle demanded as we stopped at her car. I chuckled and decided I had to tell her.
“When you mentioned dry clothes it finally dawned on me what you had said earlier this morning about being lucky to have underwear to put on. I hadn’t realized until that moment what you had meant by that.” I chuckled. “I had a flash in my mind of you sitting at the table with a short skirt on and no underwear… feel a little breezy did it?” I asked. Michelle grinned and swatted my arm.
“Smart ass!” she growled. “And by the way, I don’t know what “lesson” you were being taught today but I think you passed judging by the sounds Maggie I and heard coming from upstairs.” She smiled knowingly waiting for me to say something or defend myself. But this time I kept my mouth shut and simply smiled and nodded in acceptance. I turned to walk to my truck but then thought of something.
“You know, the lessons we are receiving from our “teachers” are not finite. The things we are supposed to be learning are things to be honed and worked on all our lives. I don’t know if I “passed” today as you said, but I know I want to study more and as often as I can. And my teachers have been telling me that independent study is encouraged…” I smiled warmly and gave her a wink before turning to walk the rest of my way to my truck. As I opened the door and climbed in Michelle was still standing by her car with her hand on the door handle looking at me. I started my truck and waved as I drove off.
If Friday night, last night, had been an unusually slow night, tonight made up the difference, Dom’s Pizza business was booming, just like the skies. It rained like a monsoon that evening, lots of lightning and thunder too. I couldn’t help but wonder how Penny was handling it. I hoped that she was wrapped up and feeling safe in Maggie’s arms. I suspected that was more often the norm rather than the exception, but that really was their business and not mine. It was a reassuring thought that at least they had each other. I couldn’t help but to think that at least they were dry at the moment, unlike me. After running in and out of the rain delivering pizzas all night I was soaked to the bone, but then so were all the other drivers.
After dinner rush was over I was one of the first drivers to be checked out and sent home. I ordered myself a small pizza using my employee discount and then waited around for it to be made. Jules was getting checked out too as neither of us was scheduled to close that night. As I was walking out the door to go to my truck Jules asked me to wait up for her that she wanted to talk to me for a minute. I told her I’d wait for her in the parking lot. It was still sprinkling a rain so I sat in my truck and started eating my pizza. Jules came out and saw that I was in my truck so she hopped in on the passenger’s side. I offered her some pizza then put the box on the dash.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“Well you know that the rain today pretty much took the day, none of my yards got mowed… What are you doing Monday?” Jules questioned.
“I’ve got the dinner shift here Monday night but I’m not closing. I had kind of thought about mowing the teachers’ yard Monday since it’ll still be too wet tomorrow.” I told her and saw her smile
.
“Cool, that’s what I was going to ask you. I already talked to Michelle, she’s going to be there Monday too.” Jules told me. Somehow I got the feeling that mowing the yard was not the only thing that she wanted to talk to me about so I just waited. Chewing my pizza and taking a sip of Pepsi, watching her face as she searched mine, I knew she was waiting for me to say something so it was a bit of a game. Finally Jules broke.
“Okay, spill it! Michelle said that you and Penny were making all kinds of noise today… What happened?” Jules spat out. I just continued chewing and smiled at her raising one eyebrow. “Jim! Talk to me!” Jules growled in mock anger. I washed down my pizza with another pull from my Pepsi and shrugged my shoulders.
“Jules, you know I’m not at liberty to talk about my lessons, I made a promise, just like you did. Besides, a gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell.” I stated matter of factly and took another bite of pizza.
“Oh Ho Ho! From what I heard there was more than kissing going on today… a LOT more!” Jules decried. “And what was that about ‘independent study’?” She asked.
“Oh, so Michelle told you that too huh?” I chuckled. “Didn’t you get the same advice?” I asked with a straight face. Jules looked at me like I’d grown a second head or something, I could almost see the gears turning in her mind as she thought back
.
“Just who are you and what have you done with Jimbo?” Jules asked looking perplexed.
“Jules, I’m off tomorrow so I’m going to spend the day at home with my family and catch up a bit, I’ll be at the teachers’ house Monday morning. When do you want to start working on the painting job?” I asked.
“You’re changing the subject Jim…” Jules said then sighed. “Fine! Keep your secrets, asshole!” Jules snipped at me but grinned so that I knew that she was not serious. “It’ll be another couple of weeks on the painting job but I’ll let you know. I might see you Monday, I’ve got to stop by Maggie and Penny’s to make a couple more measurements. See ya then farm boy.” Jules said as she opened the door and got out of my truck. I saluted her with my slice of pizza and smiled as she walked around my truck to get into her car. I started my truck up and headed home for the night.
I spent all day Sunday on the farm with my folks and brother and sisters. It was good to catch up with everyone. Mom kept looking at me off and on all day and after dinner, as Dad and I were sitting on the back porch watching the sun go down She asked me if something was bothering me, that I seemed different. I told her I was fine. I don’t think she bought it but she didn’t ask anymore. After Mom went back in the house Dad asked me…
“So what’s her name?” He just looked at me and smiled knowingly. I knew that I had to throw him a bone, knowing full well that mom would hear every word from him later.
“Am I that obvious?” I asked grinning sheepishly.
“No, actually you kept it pretty well to yourself, but your mother knows her baby boy better than anyone, and I was a young man once too.” Dad commented sagely.
“I guess…” I sighed.
“So?” Dad prompted.
“Michelle…” I told him. Not offering any more information.
“A cutie I’d bet.” Dad said smiling as he took another drink of his iced tea.
“And how!” I admitted. “She has these little gold flecks in her blue green eyes” I added.
“Red hair?” Dad asked, one eyebrow raised.
“No… she’s not perfect.” I chuckled, then sighed and sat quietly watching the sun go down. I went on to tell my dad that because of the rain Saturday that I’ve still got a yard to get mowed and that I had planned on doing it Monday morning. I told him I was also supposed to meet with a friend at the same house to do some measuring for a painting job that I had been asked to help with in a couple of weeks.
-To be continued-
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