An invitation to a college graduation wouldn't ordinarily make my heart beat faster and cause a tingling excitement in the pit of my stomach.... Well a little farther down actually. TJ was graduating. Was it two years ago. Already?
Better start at the beginning.
We sat next to the Crandall's at a homeowner's association meeting. My husband 'Double Al' – Albert Alvin Anderson was talking about the cord of fireplace wood he had ordered. It was being delivered while he was going to be out of town Monday thru Thursday of next week, and he worried it would ruin his precious lawn if it wasn't stacked immediately. Mike Crandall said their son TJ was home from college for the summer. and looking for some cash. Mike volunteered his son to stack the wood for the fifty bucks Double Al was willing to pay.
Monday and Tuesday I worked my fanny off doing spring cleaning, etc. while Double Al was out of town. The wood was dumped on the lawn late Tuesday afternoon.
Wednesday morning I got up late, took a leisurely shower and put on white shorts and a faded blue T shirt. I was reading the paper when the doorbell rang. At the door was this familiar looking buff young man.
"Hi Mrs. Anderson. My dad said I should stack your wood as soon as it was delivered."
Now I recognized him. TJ Crandall. Saw him last just after he graduated from high school.
"TJ. Oh yes! How's college. You are a what year now?"
"Junior this fall Mrs. Anderson. Should I put the wood along the end of the garage?"
"Yes, that's where Double Al wants it. Let me know when you are done and I'll give you a check."
TJ left for the woodpile and I returned to my paper. About a half an hour later I rinsed my coffee cup in the sink and glanced out the window. There was TJ, about 20 feet away. Shirt off, old jeans threadbare at the knees, large leather gloves stacking wood against the garage.
'Been a long time since I've seen a man working without a shirt.' I thought. 'He's really large across the shoulders... wonder if he plays football.'
TJ must have felt my stare because he looked up directly at me. He smiled and waved a stick of wood and chunked it into place. I waved back and turned away. My plans for the day included sitting on the back deck with some ice tea and finishing a detective novel. I had a large pitcher of Ice Tea and filled two glasses.
"TJ, how about a break? Come on up on the deck and have a drink." He dropped the wood he was holding and ambled to the deck. Pulling a chair out from the patio table he sat down heavily.
('He's, really big.', I mused. 'I'll bet 6'2" at least. God, and in college. He won't want ice tea!')
"I'll bet a beer would go really good about now wouldn't it? Double Al always has some in the refrigerator in the garage. I'll get you one."
"That would be great Mrs. Anderson."
I got two. I'm not big on beer but decided to have one with him. I handed him a bottle and he chugged about half of it in one swallow.
"Ooh boy. That's refreshing! ... Don't have a whole lot more wood to go."
To make conversation I asked if he had any steady girl at school. He gave me a sheepish grin and said he did HAVE ONE but she dumped him two months ago.
"Well I doubt you have problems finding new ones." (Brilliant Pat, you are great at stating the obvious.)
"Was too busy with finals and I hardly know any around here any more."
"May be she was too busy with finals too?"
He drained the last of his beer and set the bottle down.
"Didn't have breakfast and I can feel that beer." ... "No, she dumped me because she said I was too over stimulated for her."
TJ began peeling the label from the bottle and glanced at me, I think because he was surprised at his frank comment.. And I think the early morning beer was affecting me too because I responded, "You mean too much sex?" "Guys your age usually don't have much else on your minds"
I almost put my hand over my mouth. Where did that come from?
"Well Mrs. Anderson I think she was an unfair tease!" "She would hug and kiss by the hour and when I got so I couldn't take it any more she would have to go in her dorm." "I'm not too bright sometimes."
TJ slouched back in his chair. My eye caught a white line showing on the inside of his thigh. There was about a 3 inch separation in the inseam of his jeans. I could see some bare skin too. I quickly glanced up but he was concentrating on peeling the label off the bottle so he didn't notice me looking.
My brilliant reply was, "Well, you've got all summer." What ever that meant.
"Yep! Lots of cold showers for me." "Thanks for the beer, I better finish up."
He gathered himself up and stepped off the deck. ('Mmmm, NICE BUTT! Be nice to see it bare!' ... Oh, 'C'mon get your mind back in hand. He's half your age.)
I sat back on the lounge to read my book. About 2 chapters later I heard TJ say,
"I'm finished Mrs. Anderson."
"Really?" "O.K. I'll go get my check book." Instead I went in through to the garage and grabbed three more beers. I put two in front of TJ and one by my lounge.
