She wasn't sure why she had even taken the job in the first place. Sure, it sounded good listing a prep school on her resume, and the pay was a bit more than usual, but when it all boiled down she was a Lunch Lady and it sucked, big time.
At 40 plus (nobody ever managed to nail down the exact number) it was getting harder to keep up with the physical side of the job and she was pretty sure the boss had it in for her. Take this morning, for example: After a snide comment about the burnt coffee- like it was HER fault the machine was a piece of shit- he sent her down to Clean The Storeroom. Ah, hell, at least the basement was cooler.
Her arms ached from moving box upon box of dusty crap and she had spider webs God only knew where when she heard someone enter the storeroom. Thinking it was her boss, she turned around with a smart remark on the tip of her tongue and bumped into the chest of a very tall student.
"Hey, Mrs. O..they need you upstairs." She turned again, to follow him, and felt pain shoot through her side. A yelp escaped her lips before she could stop it. "You okay?"
"No, it's ok, I'm fine. Just turned wrong, that's all." Still, he insisted on holding her elbow solicitously as they walked from the storeroom. She hadn't seen him in the kitchen before, but it was a new semester. He was tall and solid, but in that lean way that only teenagers and athletes can accomplish. Longish hair, brown, and strikingly pale blue eyes..she found her eyes wandering to his backside and stopped them. This kid was probably 10 years younger than her daughter.
Her back was still aching when she got to the top of the stairs, but her hovering protector had thankfully disappeared and she mustered as much dignity as she could before walking into the dish room. She was greeted with a glare from her boss and he briskly told her to grab all the glasses from the dirty trays and rack them. Three reaches in, her back could take no more. She ripped her apron off-which sent more pain stabbing through her- and ran out. She was sitting on the stairs asking herself just how much she needed the money when her boss came out.
"What the hell happened back there?"
"Look, I threw my back out downstairs, OK? I'm going home, and my doctor will call you tomorrow."
"You better hope it gets better soon, lady, because if you can't handle the job there's plenty of people waiting to take your place." He turned on his heel and walked away.
She looked up and saw the student who'd come to fetch her earlier. She tried to duck her head but it was clear that he'd seen the whole exchange, and she blushed.
"Hey, you should have said something. I woulda told him I couldn't find you." He extended a hand to help her up.
"No sense in both of us being on his bad side. I can handle myself just fine, anyhow." The statement might have carried more weight if she hadn't stumbled just then and fallen into the student's chest for a second time. As she steadied herself, her fingertips brushed against sculpted muscle, and she could feel his strength. He took an elbow again and insisted that he walk her to her car.
"My name's Eric, I don't know if you remember but your daughter Judie used to babysit me. How is she?"
"She's doing great, she just left on a trip to Spain for a client. And I'd like to thank you for making me feel even older," she joked. "You were what, 11? when I last saw you? Gotten a bit taller I see." He chuckled.
"You don't look old, Mrs. O, you look great." He shuffled his feet. "Is Judie your step-daughter?"
"No, she's mine. I was 19 when I had her. Not one of my brighter moments, but she's turned out ok anyway. And it's not Mrs. O, never been married a day in my life."
"Oh. Wow..how come you put up with so much of Don's shit? I mean, you must be a pretty tough lady."
"Trust me, the single-mom-as-romantic-figure is a bit exaggerated. I'm a human, and a human who needs a job at that." They were at her car, and as she turned the key she saw her reflection and realized that she was still smudged with dust from the storeroom. "Well, shoot." She sighed.
"Yeah, I meant to say something about that." He reached out and gently wiped the worst of it from her face. "I got practice..you take it easy!" He loped off in the direction of the lacrosse field. As she climbed behind the wheel of her car- a substantial effort with her back hurting as much as it was- she could still feel his touch lingering on her cheeks.
That night, after her shower, she stood naked in front of the mirror and took stock. Her hair remained an appealing shade of red that was still more nature than science, and while her eyes were surrounded in fine wrinkles they were green and gold and full of light. No longer the lithe young thing, to be sure, but gravity hadn't taken over her body either. Her breasts were small, high, and firm, and her middle had resisted thickening. In her mind, great was stretching things, but there was no doubt that she retained much of the attractiveness of her youth.
She confirmed regularly that her parts were still in working order with the help of her "friend", kindly dubbed Mr. Duracell. He may not have mowed the lawn, but it was the most action she'd seen in a long time. A few dates here, a few there, but even after Judie moved out she remained a step back from the dating scene..she sighed and wrapped herself in a blue silk robe. Silly to think that she was a hot commodity at this point.
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