I have two daughters under ten; I'm married and run a small graphics design business from my home. I'm the typical chauffer, housekeeper, errand runner, chef, and confidant too. What the family wants I do or get. My life has grown to be an endless series of standard tasks that I can do with my eyes closed. My work keeps me busy when nothing else is pressing me for time. I'm beginning to feel like a frump.
This morning I got up, showered and dressed, put a load of clothing into the washing machine, fixed breakfast, got the girls and hubby up and fed, saw hubby off to work, drove the girls to my sister's for an all day birthday party for one of her kids and now I've parked at the supermarket. I'm dressed in a loose fitting white blouse, tan starched shorts with cuffs, white socks and athletic shoes as I get out of the car. I'm careful as I get out because there is something sharp in the opening for the door. I don't know where it came from but I've asked my hubby to fix it because I've already nicked myself on it. He hasn't found the time.
I have a fixed routine at the store where I shop. I start at the produce area for fruits and veggies, and then walk through the aisles in sequence. Up one aisle and down the next until I get to the meat department where I always study the specials. After meat, I continue my trip along the aisles stopping for bread, soft drinks, milk, hotdogs some cheese and then through the snack aisle for the kids lunches. It usually takes me about twenty minutes and then another ten waiting in line at the checkout.
Today as I'm studying the frozen stuff in those large glass-doored freezers I almost bump into another shopper doing the same thing. As I look up I notice a man that I've seen here many times before. His cart is full too, but not heaped like mine is. Apparently he does the shopping for his family. I smile at him and say hello as I pass. A few more items and I head to the checkout area.
He is standing in the next line, but mine is moving slightly faster. The checker is half way through my cart before they start on his, but we finish at almost the same time. I notice him a bit more closely now. He's a nice looking man, quiet and reserved it seems, taller than I and dressed casually. A guy like him probably has a beautiful wife at home that adores him. For some reason I begin to think about my appearance.
When I was in high school I was kind of thin and athletic. My arms were strings; my walk was awkward, my breasts were small and my hips too wide. My face was gaunt and my hair always stringy. Today I find myself a bit more attractive. I took a course in martial arts and corrected some of my awkwardness, learned how to take care of my hair and use makeup, I've added about twenty pounds and it looks good on me, and my breasts have filled out after two pregnancies. As a designer meeting my public and customers, I've learned to dress well.
As I push my cart toward the door he starts out also. He pauses and lets me go ahead and I hear his cart rolling behind me. When I get to the car I turn and notice he has stopped at the black van next to my car. The van is pretty new and has darkened windows. I've always wanted a van like that for my work and to haul the kids around. It isn't an SUV but it isn't a contractor's van either.
He opens the sliding door of his van and starts loading it immediately. I walk up to open my door and put my purse inside but he is blocking my way. As he puts the last package in he turns and sees me waiting. Embarrassed, he apologizes and pulls the cart forward to let me in. I thank him and after throwing the purse and a candy bar inside, I pop the latch to my trunk and shut the door. I walk back to the trunk and reach for the first grocery bag when I hear him apologize again and reach around me for the bag. As he puts it into the trunk space I listen to him say that it's the least he can do after making me wait.
I try to tell him that it isn't necessary to apologize and that I can put the groceries inside easily. He ignores me and continues to transfer my stuff. With the last package inside he closes the trunk and I say thank you Mr . . ., waiting for him to introduce himself. He introduces himself and then points to the magnetic sign mounted on the door of the van. He is a cabinet maker. I thank him again and smile as I congratulate him on his talents as a box boy. Now he smiles and says that it's his pleasure.
I think of him as I drove home. He is a very nice man, well-mannered, handsome, strong, and apparently has a good business of his own. I even think of my own cabinets and cupboards at home. I wonder how much he charges and if he does kitchen stuff. I noticed from his sign that his business is only a couple of blocks away in a residential area. I wonder if he works out of his home.
The next two weeks seem to fly as I continue with my ordinary life. It isn't that my life is drab, just that it has nothing to perk me up. I even attend PTA meetings and student-teacher conferences. I begin to think of myself as frumpy, but don't know what to do to change.
As I return to do my next week's grocery shopping, I've forgotten about Mr. Cabinetmaker. I'm hurrying through the store for no apparent reason other than I want fresh air and then as I turn a corner I actually run right into him with the cart. Flustered, I apologize profusely and he says that it's fine and he isn't hurt. I feel like a fool as we continue around the store. I'm behind him as he takes my same route, and I watch him walk. I wish my hubbie walked like that.
My husband is a good man and a hard worker, but he is awkward the way I was in high school. I've thought many times of dragging him out to my martial arts class, but I think he'd be embarrassed and so I haven't. He works long hours but is a good provider and a loving man. We have been married almost ten years and the first five were romantic, but as we settled in we got boring.
When we come down the last aisle, he stops to look at something and I go ahead to the checkout. A moment later he is in line behind me. I say hello again and he explains that this is the shorter line. We talk a bit while we stand and wait. As the checker and box-girl are finishing my order, he bends over and whispers that if I wait that he'll help me with the groceries.