The botanical garden was in full bloom. As far as the eyes could see were flora, fauna, stunning displays and everything else in between. Alex was completely in his element.
An avid photographer Alex would take his camera with him wherever he went and today was no exception. Whilst his family would prefer to stay home and watch whatever rubbish was on TV, Alex was out admiring the wonders of nature, and capturing them with his trusted companion, his camera.
Alex is a slender guy of eighteen, he has short combed back hair and dark rimmed glasses that frame his bony and dorky face. He wears a thin light blue button-up, grey chinos, and white shoes. The most exciting thing about his outfit is his black socks with small multi-coloured polka-dots on them. Aside from them he is generally a boring and lonely man.
Maggie is his opposite, a woman fifty years older than him at sixty-eight, Maggie has enjoyed everything the world has had to offer, her lover of thirty years Janice passed away before Alex was even born, but Maggie never took another lover, woman or man. Instead she spends her last days coming to the garden and sketching whatever she finds most interesting and right now as she sits on a bench with sketchbook on lap, that something is Alex.
Maggie calls Alex over to her, distracting him from his photography, he lumbers over with a polite smile on his face and asks how he can help Maggie.
"I'm Maggie" Maggie introduces herself "and you are?" Not wanting to appear rude Alex introduces himself and Maggie gets to the point "are you a photographer?" She asks with a grin on her face.
"I am ... well I'm studying, I hope to be a professional someday."
"That's just wonderful it really is, you know I used to be a model back in the day."
"Oh, really? Alex takes a seat next to Maggie at her invitation.
Maggie talks Alex's ear off about her past, her modelling and her relationship. Alex is touched by this conversation and offers to take a few photos of Maggie to relive her old days as a model. Maggie is overjoyed and poses whilst still on the bench as Alex takes her photos. When they look back at them together tears of gratitude form in Maggie's eyes as she is reminded of how beautiful a person she is despite her age.
"How can I repay you for your kindness?" She asks as Alex smiles and shakes his head.
"I don't need anything, just a smile on that beautiful face is enough for me."
Maggie looks down at her sketchbook and comes up with an idea. "At least let me sketch you. She says and Alex agrees.
Maggie tells Alex to stand in front of her in front of a hedge providing the two of them with some small sense of seclusion.
Maggie places her pencil to her lips and shakes her head, something feels off about the image.
"Alex, can you unbutton your shirt for me?" Maggie asks as Alex cocks his head slightly in confusion.
"Why do you want me to do that?" He asks with a nervous laugh.
"Nothing sinister, I just think it will open you up a little more, make you appear more confident and I may be old, but I still enjoy some eye candy."
Alex laughs at the comment and agrees, he unbuttons the top two buttons of his shirt and assumes his position.
"I'm sorry I meant to unbutton it all the way down dear."
"I'm not sure about that." Alex confesses.
Maggie gives him a pleading look. He gives into her and unbuttons the rest of his shirt leaving it fully open revealing some of his bare chest and abdomen.
Maggie sketches away licking her lips at the nervous eighteen year old man in front of her. When she's done she asks him to come over and check out his sketch.
"That looks nothing like me!" Alex laughs admiring the strapping chiselled man in the sketch with a manly hairy chest.
"I might have taken some liberties, but you must admit this version of you is very attractive."
"Yeah I wish I was that hot. I'd date him."
Maggie looks at him sympathetically, picking up the sadness in his voice.
"Are you single Alex? No boyfriend?"
"Worse than that," Alex sighs with a small laugh. "I'm a virgin!"
Maggie smiles and rests a hand on top of Alex's.
