Lacrosse Stick
JoAnn watched him from her living room window. Brown sugar skin and taunt young muscles moving back and forth between the two brick walls of the old school building. What was he doing practicing lacrosse? She only knew the sport from when her girlfriend had dragged her to one of the indoor games. Her girlfriend had become a fan since she had dated one of the players. JoAnn didn't see the fascination.
So what was this young black man doing practicing lacrosse in the inner city? Whatever the reason he was dedicated. He had already worked up a sweat and she had been watching him for 15 minutes already. Back and forth he'd fling the hard rubber ball from his stick against the wall, catch it, run, fling it against the other wall, catch it and repeat the procedure. She watched his taunt muscles flex with each toss. Her eyes would follow the jumping of his thighs as he ran. Her fingers itched to run over his washboard abs and down the 'V' of his hips to... She wanted to know what he had in those shorts.
She tore herself from the curtain of her living room window and went into the kitchen. When she came back she had two tall glasses of lemonade filled with ice. She checked herself out in the mirror and walked outside.
"You look hot!" she called out as she crossed the street.
He turned and looked at her. His stick twirled back and forth between his hands as he watched her walk across the street.
"You look like you could use a drink," she said, and lifted up one of the glasses.
He smiled, straight white teeth between two full lips.
"Thanks. It is hot out today," he said.
"Especially if you're running around practicing your lacrosse throws."
"You know lacrosse?" he asked, his voice rising at the end with excitement.
"Not really," said Joanne. She smiled and placed a hand on his forearm. "I'm not really a sports fan but I've seen a game or two."
"That's cool. Not many people around her even know what a lacrosse stick is, much less have seen a game."
"Why don't you come inside my house and tell me what you're doing practicing out here in the hot sun," she said motioning towards her house.
"Umm I don't know. I appreciate the drink and all but.."
"But you don't want to be seen going into some old ladies house?"
"No, no! It's not that at all. It's just that I don't know you and..."