It's funny how things can suddenly change when you least expect it. A few years ago on a hot summer night I was just sipping an ice cold beer and watching the big round Florida sun sink behind the trees.
I had my feet up on the wood rail of my deck listening as the evening chatter began. I could hear the crickets chirping, and the birds squawking for space as they got ready to roost for the night.
It was peaceful and for the most part I'd been enjoying my retirement. It was sad that my wife hadn't lived long enough to enjoy it with me. Such is life as you get older; friends and family begin leaving this world behind.
Not having Marge around made the days seem long and the nights empty and cold. I was only sixty two and still healthy and fit for the most part. Chopping wood was my health club, the exercise left me sweaty and refreshed at the same time.
It's not that I needed that much wood but it was a form of mental health I'd developed. I'd make myself sweat, and work so hard that I'd forget being lonely at least until the next day when it would come back again.
You see, I just love the smell wood smoke whether I needed a fire or not. Most times I'd build a big fire in front of the cabin at night and watch different pairs of eyes reflecting back at me from the woods.
The fire kept the critters at bay, and ever since a bear had trashed my cabin one day, I made it a point to keep that fire going at night.
They say when you retire you need a hobby and mine was exploring every nook and cranny of my lake.
It was a huge lake with many little rivers feeding it. It was just perfect for flying up around blind bends on my jet ski. Somedays I'd pack a lunch, a small fishing pole, and some beer.
I'd be gone all day just trying to find that perfect fishing hole. With over a hundred miles of rivers to explore I became pretty good at dodging gators, and handling the huge machine I'd bought.
Anyway like I said, I was just sitting there when my cell phone rang. I actually jumped because nobody ever called me anymore. Most of my friends my age had either moved away, or worse passed away.
I looked at the display and didn't recognize the number. But I answered it hoping to cuss out some salesman for ruining my peace and tranquility!
"Hello?"
"Dad...is that you?"
It was my daughter Ziva! Yeah, I know it's a weird name but that was the one my wife wanted to give her and so it was. I was a bit surprised because I usually only heard from her once a year on my birthday and it was still ten months away.
"Ziva, it's not my birthday yet!" I teased her.
"I know dad, I needed to talk to you."
I realized she wasn't in the best mood so I stopped my comedy routine, "Sure what's wrong?" I asked, "You need a loan?"
"It's a bit worse than that dad," She sighed, "I'm getting a divorce from Sam."
"What happened?"
"I don't want to talk about it right now," She said, "What I really need is to get out of this state!"
You see my daughter and granddaughter Traci, had been living in California for years. I had to try and remember exactly the last time I'd seen them as she kept talking.
"Dad I know it's a pain but could we stay with you until I find a new job out there?"
"Uhh sure...If you need a place to stay come on out."
"Thanks dad, we'll be out tomorrow!"
Ziva gave me the flight numbers and said she'd get a rental car. I hung up wondering what the hell had happened. Either way it would be good to see her and Traci again.
It had been four years since I'd seen them at the funeral. I got another beer and watched the sun disappear behind the tree line across the lake. Just sitting there pondering what had happened to my daughters long time marriage.
It was already hot on July 9th when they arrived. In fact it was so humid the only saving thing was the light breeze coming off the lake.
I was in my swimming suit and tank top when the rental car pulled in the driveway. Ziva looked tired when she got out but smiled real big as she came over and hugged me.
"Hi daddy!"
"Hey babe."
"Thanks so much for letting us stay."
"No problem!"
"Hi grandpa!" Traci's voice from behind us made me let go of Ziva and look over at my granddaughter.
"Hi Traci!" I told her and was surprised at how much she'd changed.
Traci tossed her black hair behind her head and hugged me. The last time I'd seen her she was fourteen, and now at eighteen she had grown into a very attractive young woman.
"God it's hot!" She said when she let go of me.
"You'll sort of get used to it." I told her.
"I doubt it Gramps!" She laughed.
I hated being reminded of my age and asked, "Will you just call me Johnny...I really hate gramps."
Traci laughed, "Sure gramps...I mean Johnny!"
Traci wandered down to the dock while I helped Ziva get the 6 bags of luggage into the cabin!
It was a good thing I'd purchased a three room spread. From all the luggage, it looked like the two of them would soon overrun my place!
It was late afternoon by the time the girls had all of their stuff un-packed. I had burgers grilling over the fire pit out front when they came out at last.
"That smells so good!" Traci remarked and came over to watch me cooking, "I could eat all of those!"
"You'll get fat that way." I told her.
"No way, I eat all the time and don't gain a pound!"
I had to believe her because she had a perfect figure. Long black hair that ended at her shoulders and I caught myself looking a bit too long at her nice round teenage boobs.
I may have been old but that never stopped me from window shopping, even when I was married. I appreciated a fine looking woman even if it was my own granddaughter.
"Hey dad, I'm starved!" Ziva said breaking my stare as she walked up with her wet strawberry blonde hair hanging down limp.
"Almost done," I told her, "Get some plates ready."
The girls came out of the house with paper plate's buns, beans, and all the stuff that makes a grilled burger meal taste great. I watched them setting the picnic table as I turned the burgers one last time. Ziva didn't look much different than she had at 30 I noticed. She was still trim and had nice looking long legs and had maintained her figure.
The only thing that had changed much was her boobs. I didn't recall them being that big before, and I wondered if she'd had them enlarged. That really wasn't any of my business but it was hard not to notice them. Even at forty she had the looks to make men turn their heads. Thinking that made me wonder why the divorce?
As we sat down to eat I realized that it had been too long since I'd had a woman in my life. Don't get me wrong, I had met several women interested in me after my wife passed but it just hadn't worked out. I still had the desire for them but my plumbing wasn't the same as it had been when I was younger.
I think it started going bad about five years before. My wife had made me go see a doctor because I started having trouble getting an erection. Then it got worse and instead of Cumming like a fire hose, it just sort of dribbled out the end. The doctor gave me some Viagra when he couldn't find anything else wrong, so I tried it.
It worked for getting me hard but I thought I was going to pass out when I had an orgasm. It was so bad that I threw them away and never took it again.
In the last few years I'd accepted the fact I wasn't going to be the stud I was in my youth. Back then I could fuck all night, and my wife got nine inches of rock hard cock almost every night of our long marriage.
It took me a long time to accept that my penis just didn't work like it used to in the good ole days. Sad but true, and I'd done my best to accept it by keeping busy and staying away from temptation. There is nothing more frustrating than getting turned on and not being able to do anything about it!
I snapped out of it when I heard Ziva say, "Dad, can you keep Traci busy tomorrow while I look for a job?"
"Uh sure." I replied, "You don't want to relax a few days first?"
"I'd love to, but I really need to get a job. Traci wants to go to college next fall and I need all the help I can get."
"Johnny, what's there to do around here?" Traci spoke up as she wolfed down her second burger.
"I have a jet ski."
"Oh cool! Can I drive it?"
"Have you driven one before?"
"No, but you could teach me!"
"She'd love that dad," Ziva said, "Just don't let her run it into a tree."
"Mom!" Traci said looking indignant.
