The time was minutes after 7 30 p.m.. I had just stepped out of the pool and plopped into one of the vinyl strap aluminum-framed chairs along the edge.
Duncan apartments newest resident, a girl whom I yet to meet, caught my eye as she came through the doorway. The short strawberry-blond with green eyes and a pear-shaped figure was wearing a Navy-blue bandeau top bikini with hipster bottom and Dahlin Navy sandals.
She descended the latter into the shallow water and straightened out face down. I watched her swim seemingly effortlessly to the opposite end then roll head over heals and swim back.
I wonder what she does for a living. How old is she? Where did she come from? I would love to chat with her.
I like girls. Six years ago at age 25 I had broken up with my then fiance' Jon just days after the fateful first encounter with Jenny.
My romance with Jenny had turned out to be short-lived. She broke my heart when she said, "this relationship means nothing to me." No man had ever broken my heart so badly.
The new tenant swam a few more laps then came out of the water and took a seat next to me.
I asked, "when did you move here."
"Just the other day," she replied. "I'm waiting for a big furniture order."
"That may be a long wait."
"I'm Allison."
"I go by Stevie or Stephanie. It doesn't matter."
Allison nodded. "You can call me Alley."
"I'm on the 4th floor. I moved here 5 years ago after my divorce."
She asked, "how long were you married."
"It didn't last long. I got married when I was 24. It didn't feel right."
Not the time to tell her I like girls.
"What do you do for a living?"
"I'm an RN at University of Illinois Hospital. What kind of work do you do?"
"I'm a licensed clinical therapist in a private practice for 4 years now."
"Where's your practice located?"
"Evanston," I replied.
"Do you work with adolescents?"
"Exclusively," I replied.
I steered the conversation to more interesting topics.
"I have a transparent Kayak. I love to go out on the Lake. I went out this morning for about an hour."
"I've never been on a Kayak. I've been on a sailboat."
"It's good exercize and it's enjoyable."
"I enjoy a good romance, usually an audio book. I download them."
"Who do you like to read?"
"I'm reading 'Jerico' by Ann McMan."
That's a lesbian romance. Maybe I can ask her out.
I asked, "who else do you read."
She replied, "Radclyffee, Roslyn Sinclair."
I asked, "do you have an ex girlfriend."
"Her name was Maddie. We had five years together."
"What happened?"
"We broke up over irreconcilable differences."
I didn't ask for details. Besides that, I'm not a marriage counsellor.
I'll bet she looks awesome naked.
"Were you guys engaged?"
"As a matter of fact we were," said Allison. "I broke off the engagement."
"My ex husband came home one day and caught me with Jenny."
"That sounds kinky."
"We were just kissing. We weren't in each others panties."
Allison didn't reply.
I added, "Jenny dumped me after 4 months. I guess she thought I was bi and she didn't like that."