I was sitting at my kitchen table when I heard the front door bell. To my surprise, it was Jimmy Clayton my neighbor from across the street.
"Jimmy, what a nice surprise, when did you get back? Please, come in would you like some coffee?"
"Hi Mrs. Fallon, I just got back yesterday and I would love some coffee. I've officially completed my obligation to the Army and other than some reserve meetings; I'm done being a soldier. Is Jessie here?"
"No, I'm sorry Jimmy, Jessie's not here she enrolled at State and won't be back till Thanksgiving. Come on into the kitchen and we'll have coffee. Be careful for my kitchen door it coming off the hinges and it gets stuck sometimes."
"I can fix that door for you; one thing the Army taught me is to be handy with tools."
"I don't think I have any tools, when Mr. Fallon left me he took all his tools with him. Whatever I have is in that top drawer there."
Jimmy went to my junk drawer and rummaged around,
"Here, this should do it."
He pulled out a screwdriver I didn't know I had. In about five minutes, my door was back on its hinges and working properly.
As Jimmy sat down to drink his coffee I couldn't help but notice what a man he'd grown into. I had always thought of him as that cute kid down the street who had a crush on my Jessie but now he was a man with broad shoulders and a manly five o'clock shadow on his face.
"Jimmy thanks so much for that door, this place sure needs a man's touch, ever since George left the house has just gone to hell."
I didn't say that the house wasn't the only thing that needed a man's touch. I hadn't felt the touch of a man in almost two years and as I now sat next to this young man, I felt something warm growing inside me.
"Mrs. Fallon, I have some spare time right now, what if I came over, and fixed whatever you wanted."
I told him I could sure use the help and would pay him for any work he did. He said we could talk about that later and went home to get his tools.
Jimmy came over every day, first joining me in a cup of coffee and then to work on my old tired house. The third day he brought me a rose when he came, saying a pretty woman deserved pretty things and I blushed like a schoolgirl. Friday I told him I wanted to settle up with what I owed him for all the work he did for me. He refused any money yet I still insisted saying it was only fair, as he had worked so hard.
"I tell you what, Mrs. Fallon, you go out with me tomorrow night, and we can call it even."
"You mean like a date, why Jimmy Clayton I'm not only old enough to be your mother I'm older than your mother."
"Come on Mrs. Fallon, you're not anything like my mom, you've always acted young and I've always had fun when I was around you, besides you're beautiful. I just want to take you out for a good time."
I could feel my cheeks turning red as I thought what the hell, so I told him yes before I chickened out.
I asked him where we were going, he just said it would be a surprise and I should dress nice but comfortable. He leaned down and kissed me a long slow kiss right on the lips, I felt my heart flutter but I held the kiss not wanting it to stop. When he finally pulled away, I brushed the back of my fingers across his cheek. I asked him to do me one favor, and he looked down at me with a smile then said he would gladly do anything for me. I almost took the double meaning to heart and I wanted to drag him upstairs to my lonely bed but instead I only said,
"Just don't shave before our date; I like the feel of your whiskers, oh and call me Ellie."
Later that day my friend Doris called to see how my handy man had done and when I told her that he had asked me out I swear I could hear her jaw drop open over the phone.