"It's the pump. I can pick one up, and replace it tomorrow," I said, wiping my hands,
"Oh great! The thing's practically brand new! What's this gonna cast me?" he glared.
"Actually, it's covered by your warrantee, sir," wondering why he was so upset. There are more important things in life than a washing machine! I mean, what would he do in a real crisis?
"It better be! And do I get compensated for the two days without a washer? No! I didn't think so!"
I slid the washer back in place in the two-car garage, and wondered why people got themselves worked up over things we can't control? This guy has a beautiful house, garage with full workshop-grade tools, two late-model cars in the driveway, and he was hyper-ventilating over a machine worth a couple hundred bucks!
I wanted to tell him to chill, but I needed this job, and my boss was on my case already. "I can be here at 8:30 and it should be done by 10, sir."
"Honey! Where is she? Patti? He can be back tomorrow!"
The door form the main house opened, and out stepped his wife, 45, killer-blonde, with a body from Penthouse. I could not picture this woman washing her own clothes! She had Daisy-Dukes, cut-off jeans, bare feet, plaid men's shirt, tied at the waist. And even had her hair in pigtails, just like Ellie May Clampett, all grown up!
She looked from him to me, smiling. "Tomorrow's fine, Donald! I ain't goin' no place!"
There was a honk of a horn, and a Town Car pulled up by the open garage doors.
"There's the airport pickup." Donald yelled to the driver, Those two bags! I'll be right out!"
He turned to Patti. "I gotta go, baby. See you on friday." She gave him her cheek and he smooched it. To me, he was all business. "Make sure it's fixed, or I'm writing the company!"
I nodded, "Yes, sir," and let it go, wishing I could give him a few lessons on how to speak to people.
He was pulling out when Patti said, "I'm real sorry bout that. He gets real upset about things and stuff."
She seemed nice, so I allowed myself to comment, "He's gonna wind up with an ulcer, if he keeps it up."
"You know, he has these acid attacks all the time. I said 'Honey, your'e gonna have a heart attack,' but, you know, you're probably right! I bet he has the makings of an ulcer!"
I smiled. She even talked like a hillbilly. "Well, my first call is 8:30, if that's not too earlt for you."
"Lord, no, I'm up at dawn, doing laps or running. I like to get an early jump, before the heat of the day."
"Fine, I'll pick up the pump and come back tomorrow."
"Okay, honey, if I'm not here, I'll leave the garage unlocked, okay? Bye... (she looked at my uniform shirt) bye, Ernie!"
"It's actually Jake. I think they only hired me because I was the same size as Ernie, whoever he was!"
She had a contagious laugh. "I knew you weren't no Ernie. Ernie's are always funny-looking and a litle dim. You don't strike me as dim!"
"Thanks, I think! See you tomorrow!"
I thought about her the rest of the day. Though 20 years older than me, she sure was attractive, not just with her down-home sex-appeal. To be in that shape, she really must have worked hard.
Everything reeked of money. The Mercedes sedan, and Lexus SUV, the shiny new tools, the finely trimmmed lawn. It seemed odd they would do their own laundry, but maybe Patti was a home-maker at heart. She and Donald were a mismatch to me, but I've seen that many times before.
I arrived at exactly 8:30, and only the Mercedes was there. When I got no answer at the door, I tried the garage, and true to her word, it was open. I set about the task, being careful not to scratch or mar anything that would give Donald a reason to squalk.
A short time later, I heard the SUV pull in. She hopped out, came flying by me dressed in leotards which showed off every curve, and there were excellent curves! Her hair was wet with sweat, pulled back in a red elastic headband.
"Hi, Jake! Sorry I'm late! The gym was packed today! Every middle-aged woman in the county must have been there! Like Hormone Hell! How do you like your coffee?"
She snatched open the door to the main house and was gone. I knelt there appreciating the energy I felt as she passed, like a comet or something!
Ten minutes later, the door opened again. having showered, her hair was still wet, brushed straight out. I hadn't realized how long it was! Now, she wore a loose tank top with no bra, white shorts and sandals.
She wore practically no makeup that I could see, and the slight crow's feet only accented her blue eyes, and I couldn't help but see how natural her breasts were, swaying in that thin white top, her nipples clearly visible.
She had a tray, with two steaming mugs of coffee, cream, sugar, spoons and from that bag she brought in, donuts!
She insisted I take a break, and we stood leaning against the washer and the dryer. "So, how's it going?" she asked, sipping her coffee.
"Good, should be done in half an hour."
"Oh? That quick? I was hoping to have some company for a while." She honestly seemed disappointed.
"Well, I'm sure the boss doesn't expect me to be done before noon, but I told your hasband I'd be done by 10."
She took a bite of a jelly donut and almost lost half the jelly onto her place, wiping the powdered sugar from her nose. "I love these things, but they are so hard to eat! But, fun! It'll take me two hours to work this off at the gym!"
"Well, you must be there regularly, as great as you look!"
She smiled, "Thank you, Jake! Except you left out, 'For an older woman' right?"
I shook my head. "That, honestly, never crossed my mind. You can put a lot of these 20 somethings to shame, I bet."
"I have to try my best. There's a lot of competition out there, and Donald has wandering eyes and too much time alone."
I knew I shouldn't be delving into this but she seemed so easy to talk to. "Your husband may be a lot of things, but I don't think he's a fool!"
