Part One:
I was up in my bedroom studying when I heard Nora's distinctive and nagging voice, shrieking at her husband Jim.
"You're not suppose to cut the lawn like this! The lines are suppose to go up and down, not sideways!" Nora yelled.
At that point I looked outside my window. They had been arguing for a good ten minutes at least. Jim and Nora were our neighbors across the street. Married and always bickering and fighting. I felt bad for Jim, he deserved a good woman. Jim and Nora were standing out in the yard arguing.
"You told me to mow the lawn, I mowed the lawn!" Jim yelled.
"But when I said that, it's implied that you're suppose to do it right!" she screamed.
Jim abruptly walked away from her and got in his car, starting up the engine.
"Where do you think you're going?" Nora nagged.
And with that, Jim sped off. Good for him, I thought. I don't understand how anyone could actually stay married to someone like Nora for nearly thirty years. She was annoying, nosy, rude and sometimes downright mean. I truly was surprised no one had killed her by this time.
I walked away from the window and sat down at my desk again, trying to concentrate on my schoolwork. I had always liked Jim, although I was only 19. He was tall and had the most beautiful eyes you'd ever come across.
Although he was an adult (55 years old to be exact), he had this boyish innocence about him that I loved so much. He was skinny as a rail, and his clumsiness added to his boyish charm.
Sometimes our family would have Jim and Nora over for dinner, and there were times when I thought Jim looked at me differently - like with a little twinkle in his eye. But he never said anything that was inappropriate. Maybe because Nora was there. Maybe because he was a gentleman. Maybe it was a little bit of both.
I looked at my watch. "Holy cow!" I had to get my ass moving or I'd be late for work.
I ran downstairs and grabbed my keys and my purse.
"Where are you running off to?" asked my Dad.
"I'm going to be late for work, love you!" I called, as I ran out the door.
Part Two:
I worked at a Ramada Inn hotel. I was the front desk clerk. It sometimes could be interesting, other times boring or frustrating, but it provided me with cash nonetheless.
It was kind of a quiet afternoon, and I was cleaning up the front desk area, as it was part of my job. My back was to the front counter, so I didn't see the customer standing there.
"Excuse me, Miss?" he said.
I turned around, "Oh, I'm sorry, I - Jim?"
"Hi Natalie!"
"Hi Jim, it's nice to see you what are you doing here?"
"I'd like a hotel room for the night please...That is part of your job isn't it?" he teased.
I giggled, "Of course."
I knew he wanted a room just to get away from Nora, even if just for the night. I didn't blame him on that one. I thought bringing up the subject of the argument might upset him, so I kept my mouth shut about it.
I helped him check in. I had butterflies during the whole time I was talking to him.
"That's a nice sweater," he said.
I looked down, "Oh thanks."
It was a soft, low cut, lavender sweater and it gave just a little hint of cleavage, teasing whatever man happened to be looking. I'm a 32b, and so I try to do whatever I can to show off my boobs. I also liked to wear short shorts, to show off my legs and my bottom, but working in a hotel, we just weren't allowed to do that.
I gave him his key and after a little more chit-chat, he went upstairs to his room. Like in most hotels, the front desk looked over the lobby area.
About an hour later, Jim came down the stairs and approached the desk again.
"Hi Jim, what can I do for you?" I asked.
"Well, I was kind of bored up in my room. Do you mind if I keep you company?"
I smiled, "No, not at all."
"Do you have a boyfriend?" he asked, his arms resting on the counter. I was surprised by his question. He normally wasn't so straight-forward and he rarely asked me about personal stuff like that.
"No, I don't have one," I smiled and leaned forward. I saw his eyes look down my top. I traced my finger along his hand, and looked in his eyes, teasing him. "So what have you been up to today?" I asked him quietly.
"I-I went to, um, to work today."
"Oh?"
"Y-yes." A calm came over him and his nervousness disappeared, he grinned at me. "You little tease, torturing an old man like me. Does your father know you do this?"
I giggled, "Daddy doesn't know a thing. But what he doesn't know won't hurt him." I held his hands and played with his fingers. "Jim, I think -"