Ch. 2. A little performance for the boys:
Pam awoke Sunday morning to an empty bed. This was not unusual. Bob always got up before her to get ready for school and left the bathroom open for her to get ready for work during the week. When she decided to get up, she noticed a large note taped to the bedroom door. She removed the note and headed to the kitchen to pour herself a glass of juice before reading it. She sat at the kitchen table and grabbed the note while taking her first sip of the nice cold orange juice.
Bob just told her that he had gotten a call from his Dad and he had to head to the warehouse to help his father for a few hours. He told her to call him there when she could and that he might have a better idea when he would be getting home. Bob ended the note like he always did. "Love, Me."
Pam picked up the Sunday paper and started looking through the store advertisements for any interesting sales while she finished her juice. She thought she'd wait until she finished to call Bob.
After a few minutes she called the warehouse. Bob told her he should be home around noon. After hanging up she thought, "Oh good. It looks like it's going to be another warm spring day. I can get out in the yard and get the garden completely ready to start planting flowers next weekend. Bob will be home around noon, I'll wait until then to go out in the yard. It'll be warmer then." Her thoughts flashed back to yesterday and how Charlie was looking at her. She admitted to herself that once it was obvious that Charlie was looking at her in a sexual way, she did experience mild tingles in her belly and vagina, but would never admit that to Bob. It was kind of fun, in an awkward and different way, she thought to herself. Still confused and embarrassed by what she was feeling.
Bob got home a little before noon and was telling her that his father called telling him that the guy who was scheduled to come in today with him called with a family emergency, something about one of his kids or something. "You know how that works," Bob said.
"Well, your father pays you as a full time employee while you're going to school. He's good to us, so it's the least you can do. I'm sure he appreciates you going down to help him on such short notice. The business will be yours one day, if you want it. He's already told you that. And he's very proud of you."
"Yeah, I know. What's for lunch? I didn't get to have breakfast this morning. I've got to keep up my high school figure. You know."
"You still look like you did back then to me."
"Back then? You make it sound like it was decades ago. It hasn't even been four years yet."
"You're one month away from getting your Degree, so you might as well say four years."
"And two years, next month, since you made me the luckiest man on earth."
"Well thank you, kind sir. And two years since you made me the happiest woman on earth. We're even. Now, kiss me, you fool." Then she laughed that shy little impish giggle she liked to use at times like this, when she's feeling just a little frisky and naughty.
"I'll do more than kiss you," he said, as he grabbed her arm and placed her on his lap.
She giggled naughtily again, and said, "Oh, no, big boy. You're hungry. You didn't have any breakfast. You've got to keep up that high school figure, remember?"
"Speaking of figures ... have you thought anymore about wearing that green polka dot outfit with no bra and giving our neighbor a better look at your tits? You'd give him a pleasure he's not experienced in a very long time. And you'd give yourself the pleasure and satisfaction of knowing you're making an old man feel better than he has in years!"
"He's not a bad looking man, although kind of on the short side. He still looks like he's in pretty good shape. No huge gut like most men his age. His hair is thinning, but he's clean cut and shaven. You say he's a wonderful man with great qualities. I bet he has no problems with the ladies. What would you say he is? About 5' 7 "or thereabouts? You make it sound like he's been a hermit or something."
"Yeah, that's about his height, I would say. But don't be so sure about him getting the ladies. It seemed like he worshipped his wife and I'm sure he would be very particular, fussy even. You know what? He might just appreciate the attention of a young beautiful woman such as yourself giving him a look or two to stimulate his blood flow."
"No, I haven't thought about it." "A little fib," she thought. "You make it sound like I work in elderly services and would provide him some great service that they normally do in those places to make the elderly feel happy and special again. You make it sound so clinical."
"You would be providing a service, kind of. And it is kind of clinical, in a way. You absolutely would make him feel happy and special once again. That fact alone would be a nice feeling for you, I would think. I bet he hasn't felt special since his wife died."
"That last part is such a sad thought. I told you I would think about it. I've never lied to you before."
Pam got off Bob's lap and went into the kitchen and asked, "Would a few nice juicy cheeseburgers satisfy your hunger until supper time?"
Pam couldn't get the thought of how lonely old people must be, especially once they lose their spouse, the person who made them feel most special. She had never thought about how old people must feel once they're completely alone. The thought saddened her, a thought that would linger, as she would soon find out.
"Perfect," Bob yelled out. "Just like you."
"I'm far from perfect," Pam said under her breath. Still confused about these new sexual feelings she was experiencing. And feeling somewhat guilty at the same time.
While Pam was putting his favorite condiments on his cheeseburgers, she saw Charlie getting onto the large boat. She brought two burgers out to Bob and said, "I'm going to take a shower. By the way, Charlie's back on his boat. I just saw him climbing onto it."
"Oh really? After I eat, I may just go over say hello and reintroduce myself as his new neighbor. I'm sure he'll remember me and be happy and surprised to see me again."
Pam didn't say anything, she just went about getting ready for her shower.
Bob finished eating and brought his plate and glass over to the kitchen sink to rinse them. He looked out the window to make sure Charlie was still out there. Bob went out the back door and approached the rear fence that divided their properties. As Bob got closer he said, "Hi Charlie."
Charlie looked up, squinted, and said, "You look very familiar, like I should know you, but my mind isn't as it once was. Please forgive me for being so absent minded but—"
"Bob ... Bob Taber. I had you for Civics one year and U.S. History another, at Hawthorne Jr. High from1958 through 1960. And you were my infield coach for baseball there."
"Oh, I'll be damned. Bobby Taber, of course. How are you? You haven't changed at all, just got taller. You the husband of that lovely young lady that just moved in last month? Come on, get up here on the boat so we can talk and you can tell me what you've been up to."