This story was created as part of a chain story writing challenge. The goal was to write a story with the title "The Set" using the following ten words: Charity, Harmony, Lavender, Painting, Remote, Ribbon, Skulk, Sky, Solace, Transform.
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Harry watched the young woman climbing the scaffolding that towered along one side of the building as he waited for the next concrete truck to back up to the pump. It was like a painting seeing her red hair against the lavender sky as the sun slowly set on the remote construction site. He'd be working late into the evening due to a number of malfunctions with the concrete pump, but he found solace in the fact he could watch her this evening as she worked late stacking brick so the masons could get an early start in the morning.
After signing the tickets for the last two concrete trucks and watching the last of the concrete pumped into place Harry directed the pump truck driver where to wash out the truck and then headed back into the building. With the last of the mud down his finishing crews could work in relative harmony, leveling and screeding the concrete before starting up the troweling machines. Besides checking back with the finishers every hour or so Harry was pretty much free to skulk about the building, perhaps watch the lady mason as she worked some more.
From up on the third floor Harry watched as the last ribbon of sunlight faded in the west when he noticed a shapely silhouette along the edge of the building. He slowly walked across the concrete floor as the city lights in the distance transformed the entire scene into an odd science fiction like setting. He seemed to be looking out across a future landscape as he walked up to the woman and said, "It sure looks different as the lights come on."
"Yeah watching the sunset from a jobsite just seems to do something to me. That's why I always try to work late."
"It does kind of take your breath away, I guess," Harry replied.
"That too, but for me it's more... kind of a physical thing. I feel a freedom as it gets quiet and dark, kind of turns me on."
"Wow, I didn't think masonry was so exciting."
"No, I'm serious, I actually get turned on."
"Turned on?"
"Yeah, but usually I'm alone so I just... well..."
"You mean you actually..." Harry paused, not wanting to blurt out the word.
"Yes, actually I do."
Feeling a tingling in his pants Harry opened his mouth, shut it and then opened it again saying, "I never would have imagined."
"Of course I'm not alone now," she replied slyly.
"Oh I see," Harry replied running his hand through his gray hair, "The old man's a charity case."
"Did I call you a charity case? Okay you're a bit older than me..."