With a flick of her wrist and a disconcerted sigh, Mary tossed the magazine she had been reading for the past half hour down beside her on the couch. It was a cloudy, windy day and she was alone in the cottage on this the third day of her mini getaway with Tony. He had met up with his pal Wilf yesterday who had talked him into a overnight trip to his hunting cabin an hour and a half north of here with a few of their other "'buds'. "You don't even have to like hunting," Wilf exclaimed, "It'll be more of a drink fest and crash as opposed to anything else. Let's see if we can round up a few more takers and have ourselves a good time." It's hard to be selfish she thought, and say no to Tony when he begs and pleads as he does. She just asked him not to stay any longer than the next day. She still wanted at least some time with him before their stay at the cottage was over and they'd have to head back home to the regular routine and work.
"It's just so boring today!" She was also a little sour because Tony had also taken the car and she had no way to head into town for supplies. Like toilet paper for example. Just over an hour ago, the call of nature sent her out to the outhouse where she discovered he must have used up the last role. He didn't replace it and didn't even let her know they were out! Men! She had nothing to wipe herself with and didn't want to be seen outdoors picking tall grass. The neighbors weren't that far away, so she hitched up her britches and prepared to do a little wash up later inside
Dressed in her favorite blue jeans and comfortable white blouse, she was just about to root around for another old copy of something, hoping to find an article she hadn't read when a knock came on the door. Startled, yet grateful for the diversion, she got up to answer it.
Standing on the step was Jim, a neighbor from a couple of cottages down with a cooler hanging from a strap on his shoulder. He was dressed in denim pants and a short sleeve shirt that showed his toned muscles. A little roundness to his paunch and a little grey around the temples was all that showed for his age in the mid forties. Tony and Mary had met him at a few of the community cookouts and Tony and Jim seemed to hit it off in a natural way. He seemed nice enough and easy to talk to thought Mary, but there was something about him, perhaps his personality was a little too smooth or strong, or something.... She couldn't quite place her finger on it, but he did seem quite sure of himself.
"Hello" she said as a pleasant smile broke across her face, "And what can I do for today Jim?"
"Oh hi Mary! Sorry for the intrusion, but I didn't have much going on, and thought I'd take the liberty to see if you and Tony wanted to help me drink a cold twelve pack I brought with me" gesturing to the cooler. A warm smile spread on his face.
"I'm sorry to say you're out of luck Jim, Tony is gone for the day up north a ways. A friend talked him into some hunting trip. I'm expecting him back around midday tomorrow."
With a half a moments thought he answered back "Oh yea, that's right, I heard talk there was a few campers goin' up somewhere's. I didn't know Tony would have thought to leave you all by your lonesome while he's out pall'n around. He must'a had to do quite some begging to get that go ahead outta you" he said with a chuckle.
"Long and hard" was Mary's quick quip, "And he doesn't let up! I finally had to say yes just to get some peace and quiet. Only now it seems just a little too quiet." She wished she hadn't given in so easily. Jewelry is always a nice way to barter.
"Well since I'm here, you're here, and so are the brews, what would you say to you and me having a few each, and we can split Tony's share! His loss! What do you think?"
"Well..." Mary mulled, it would be nice to break the monotony of the day, I should get to know Jim better for Tony's sake... and besides, why should Tony have all the fun... "Sure, why not?" a half laugh broke out, "Just a couple, I think that would be quite nice and thanks for the invite, c'mon in" she said as she stepped back from the door and let Jim walk through.
They sat at the kitchen table, and while Mary went to get herself a glass...Jim just wanted to drink from the can, he popped a couple of cold ones and they started to chat.
The talk was friendly and bright and after a couple of beers each, Mary was feeling more relaxed and starting to enjoy the day. Mary couldn't help but notice now and then as she watched Jim talk on, cracking out a few of his seemingly endless jokes and jibes, twinkling glimpses of some sort of crystal medallion he had hung from a necklace. It would occasionally peek out from the opening in his short sleeved shirt and dance among the chest hairs. Finally her curiosity could hold her back no longer and at a momentary lull in the conversation, she felt the need to ask.
"Jim, if you don't mind... that necklace you've got on...what is it? Would you let me take a closer look?
With a bit of a sheepish grin, he parted his shirt a little more as Mary leaned forward and picked it from his chest and brought it closer to her eyes for inspection. It looked like a small circle yet was star shaped. The purity of the crystal and how deep it seemed you could look into it intrigued her. It certainly was eye catching. "I don't like to make a big deal of it," he said, "but I'm sort of into hypnotism, I do a bit of self hypnosis on myself."
"Seriously!" exclaimed Mary looking up, "If it's all right to ask, why would you want to do that?"
"Oh," Jim replied catching her eyes with his gaze, "It's been a godsend for me. A few years back, I used to be much more shy, nervous, unsure of myself and afraid to talk to women. I was too afraid of going after the things I really wanted in life. Now I feel a lot more confident, ready to take on the world!" He shouted as he said the last piece and chucked at his half joke, half truth. "I've even helped hypnotize a few others, so they could feel less stress in their lives, more relaxed, or confident or whatever they needed help with."
