To earn extra cash I do house-cleaning jobs in the neighbourhood. I have a few steady customers and the nice thing about it is that the money is tax free. Seeing what I pay in taxes for my regular job you can't blame someone wanting some tax free money on the side.
It was a sunny Saturday afternoon and I'd promised Brian Abbott that I'd drop by and do a bit of a clean-up for him. He wasn't a regular customer but his wife had been in hospital for a week and was coming home on Monday and he wanted to have the house spotless for her. Apparently she'd had a very nasty broken arm, the result of getting clipped by some kid on a skateboard, of all things. Apparently he bumped her, she tripped, and finished up hitting the guttering with her arm under her, with snap, crackle, and pop, sounds coming from her arm.
I rolled up at Brian's place, casually dressed as is fitting for house-cleaning. Tights and a top, basically.
Brian is a very nice gentleman. He's polite and devoted to his wife. He'd never dream at making a pass at anyone. There should be more men like him. All too often I find that husbands are just a little too willing to go the grope if they think their wife isn't watching. A couple of them even if their wife is watching. I don't work for those types more than once.
When I arrived at Brian's place I saw a van in his drive and winced. I knew that van. It belonged to Mitch, a friend of Brian's. I said Brian was a gentleman. Mitch was not. Mitch was an uncouth brute. A scummy piece of human refuse that should be swept out with the rest of the rubbish. It wasn't that he was ugly, (which he certainly was, his face reminding you of the mashed face of a British Bulldog,) but his arrogant attitude. He considered himself to be god's gift to all mankind and was quite happy to let all mankind know this. Some people blow their own trumpet. Mitch acts the part of a complete orchestra when talking about himself. I cannot stand the man.
I went in and started tidying up. It didn't really need all that much work, at least, not if you know what you're doing. I was nearly finished, wiping down shelves and all the little knick-knacks on them in the front room when I overheard Mitch and Brian talking.
"Sweet little body on that girl," Mitch said, "and the face isn't half bad, either. Ever tried to talk her into bed when she's here?"
"You've got to be kidding. Two reasons why not. I'm married and so is she."
"So what. All that means is that you both know what to do once you make it to the bed, assuming you make it that far."
I've said it before and I'll say it again. That man was a crude monster.
"Well, I'm not making a pass at her and while you're in my house you're not making a pass either."
Actually, I wouldn't mind Mitch making a pass just so I could have the pleasure of slapping him down.
"If that's what you want," said Mitch agreeable. "Any objections to me asking her to take off her clothes so I can admire her natural beauty? No touching and no passes. Just get her to strip off so I can see if she measures up as highly as I think she does."
Rotten sod. What the hell makes him think that I'd get undressed just so he could look me over? That fool values himself so much it's a wonder he doesn't charge people just to look at him.
"I guess I can't stop you asking. I know what her answer will be."
"Now that depends, doesn't it?" said Mitch. "All you need to do is use the right incentive."
Time for me to be out of there I decided. I was all done anyway. I wandered out to where they were and nodded to Brian.
"All finished," I said. "I'll be on my way."
"OK. Thanks" Brian replied, reaching for his wallet.
He paid me and I turned to go and then Mitch spoke up.
"Hey, Jan, did you hear I had a bit of luck at the pokies last night?"
"No, I hadn't heard. Congratulations."
"Thanks. I was about to call it quits when I hit a nice little jackpot. Walked out with over a grand. You can be lucky at times."
"Indeed you can," I agreed, ready and willing to get out of there.
"I was watching you earlier and I thought of that extra cash I now have and I was wondering if you'd strip for fifty bucks. All you have to do is take off your clothes for a minute or so. No touching permitted. I just want to see you in your natural state. I'm betting that you'll look sensational."
Obviously the man is studying to be a dark lord, the evil bastard. All I'd have to do was strip off for a minute and I'd have fifty. He sure knew how to hit at someone's soft spot. He wasn't even asking for me to do anything immoral. I mean, really, even at the beach I'm damn near naked when I'm wearing a bikini. Geez, the offer was tempting. The main problem with it was Mitch. It'd mean that he won. Not that we were in a competition or anything but I just didn't like the feel that Mitch might have put something over on me. Still, fifty was fifty, and Brian was right there. Mitch wouldn't really try anything while Brian was standing right there.
I have to admit that it was with great reluctance that I shook my head. While I could have used the money Mitch was still Mitch and an uncouth brute.
I should have known he wouldn't leave it at that.