The snow had been falling steadily all day and the roads were treacherous. I was relieved to round the final corner and turn in to my cul-de-sac. I smiled and shook my head. Before my car was my driveway and walk, both shoveled. It was the work of my neighbor, Wilf, and much appreciated. He now was busy shoveling his driveway.
I slowed to a stop, lowered the window, and called out, "Wilf, you are an angel. Thank you so much." The slightly hunched figure stopped his shoveling and approached the car. Snow clung to his toque and jacket. Ice crystals stuck to his beard and eyebrows. His cheeks were ruddy with exertion but his blue eyes sparkled through his water spotted glasses. His smile was infectious and genuine.
"Helen, glad you were a little late today, I managed to get your driveway finished before you got home."
"Busy day at the hospital," I replied. "Besides the driving was a real..." I paused knowing that Wilf did not like to hear women curse. Then I continued. "Just glad to make it home safely, there were lots of accidents...now you... you must be careful. I don't want to find you in my emergency ward."
Wilf just laughed. "Sweetie, this is just good exercise for me. Besides what else do I have to do? The hockey game is not on until 6 and I don't watch the soaps, and a man can only suffer the CNN talking heads for so long..." His voice trailed off. He straightened, bit his lip, and gazed down the road. It was obvious that the loneliness of his solitary existence had overcome him. "Damn it! It's starting to snow again," he muttered. "God must be offering me an extended exercise program today." He laughed and looked down at me. "...And what are you going to be doing tonight, young lady?"
I was constantly flattered when Wilf called me a young lady. While there was more than 25 years difference in our age, as a 42-year-old divorcee, I no longer considered myself young. However, his flirtatious words always delighted me. Without thinking, I flippantly replied, "Oh, I'm going to shave my legs, just in case I get a Valentine's Day visitor tomorrow night." Then I added sarcastically, "You know the probability of that happening! Have a good night, Wilf and thanks again." With those words, I put the car in gear and proceeded slowly into my driveway.
"If you need any help or supervision just give me a call or flash your bathroom light," Wilf called out with a laugh.
"Wilf, you're a dirty old man! I think that's what I love about you," I called out through the car window as I waited for the garage door to open. "I'll keep your offer in mind and phone you if I run out of razor blades. Talk to you later." Wilf had already returned to his work, his only answer a shovel full of snow tossed in my direction.
By the time I started dinner, the news was finishing and my favorite TV game show was just about to begin. It was the harsh reality of my nursing schedule. The 12-hour shifts, which began early in the morning, never seemed to end on time. The extended shifts left few personal moments in my day except to eat and sleep. Tomorrow night would begin my five days of off time. Yet, I lamented the fact that I would be spending it alone. The beep of the microwave announced that my frozen dinner was ready. It also reminded me that I needed to start doing things that were special for me. Maybe I would shave my legs tonight, I though emphatically.
I stood in the kitchen nibbling at my lasagna entrΕ½e barely glancing over the counter and the dining room table at the TV in the family room. A flash of light caught my eye. Wilf's kitchen light had come on. Our townhouses backed upon a small creek park. While staggered to fit the meandering creek, many of our windows were almost directly opposite one another. I watched Wilf move about his kitchen. I had the feeling that he often watched me too.
Dinner finished, I tried to enjoy a cup of coffee on the couch and watch the mindless Barbie dolls mindlessly describe the lives of celebrities. However, I kept nodding off only to wake up to the blare of the television commercials. The thought of a nice hot shower and the luxury of shaving my legs stirred me. I cleaned up the kitchen, loaded and set the dishwasher, and headed up stairs to my bedroom.
I dropped my baggy nurse's outfit and my bra and panties into the laundry hamper and stood naked in my bedroom. I looked at the phone on the nightstand. Without really thinking, I picked up the handset and selected the speed dial button for Wilf. On the third ring, he answered. "Hello..."
"Wilf..."
"Well, hello, beautiful lady. What is it? Did you run out of razor blades?"
A giddy laugh consumed me. "No, no Wilf, I just wanted to thank you again for shoveling my snow. It was very nice of you." I hoped my matter of fact voice did not betray my true emotions. At that moment, I felt like a naughty, naked teenage girl, secretly phoning her boyfriend. I was enjoying the titillation of the moment. My left hand softly stroked my stomach. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the sensations. It was almost as if it was his fingers that were touching me. His voice broke my trance.
"Oh it was nothing. After all you are my favorite neighbor and besides, I need the exercise."
My fingers now toyed with the upper edge of my pubic hair. " Mmmm...Well I just wanted to thank you again for your kindness and... ahhh...let you know it was appreciated."