Johnny Pulaski Chapter 16

Posted: April 05, 2006 - 08:03:39 pm

Updated: April 06, 2006 - 12:56:14 am

I know you are wondering why I put up with all the drama that Rachael

kept heaping on me. Well join the freakin' club, cause I didn't have a

clue either. When she told me before Christmas break that she would be

coming home early, I thought it was going to be to spend the rest of the

holiday with me. So what happens? We spend one night together and she

says she'll see me in a coupe of weeks and she splits for parts unknown.

And the kicker was her reason, "Johnny it is just too good when we are

together." Can you believe that shit? Hey, didn't I say the same thing

about her last Christmas? Well at least this year I wasn't crying all

over myself about her; this time she said she'd see me later.

My first instinct when she drove off was to call one of the other women

in my life and fuck Rachael off my mind. I tabled that as a bad idea,

though. It just wasn't my nature to use someone like that. So instead I

drove down to Jiffy Lube and used one of my gift certificates for an oil

change. That burnt up all of thirty minutes. Since the Jiffy Lube was

right down from Mama's Diner, I stopped there for an early lunch. Mama's

was mostly empty that day, so to my great pleasure, Tina sat down and

gabbed with me.

"So Johnny, why the long face?" she asked.

I knew immediately that Tina was a perfect person to hear my tale of

Rachael induced woe. Since I couldn't legally get into a bar, Tina was

the closest thing to a bartender I knew.

"This girl I like told me she only wants to see me occasionally because

she says she'll fall in love with me if she sees me more often. Then in

the same breath, she says she needs me in her life. Oh yeah, and she

wants me available for sex when the mood strikes her."

Tina grinned and shook her head as if in wonder. "And your complaint is

what? Seems to me you have the opportunity to live every man's fantasy,

a woman who wants to sleep with you for the sex only. What's the matter,

are you holding out for a new bass boat?"

I chucked, you know that joke, right? It goes — This redneck guy gets a

divorce so he takes out a personal ad in the paper: Wanted, new wife,

must be a good cook, love sex, and own a bass boat. Send picture of boat.

Tina laughed too. "Seriously Johnny, you are only sixteen, what would

you do if you two did fall in love? Let me tell you what happened to me.

I fell in love at fifteen to a sweet talking guy two years older than

me. Before I knew it, I was knocked up. So John Roy and I got married,

we quit school and he got a job. He left me after two more babies, just

left one day and never came back. I was a single mother with three kids

at the age of twenty-one. Now I wouldn't trade my kids for anything in

the world. My youngest is in college now and I'm about to be a

grandmother by my oldest. Still, I missed out on a lot of life.

"To top it off, now I'm in a situation similar to yours. I love this

man, but he has other obligations, so we don't get to spend much time

together. So what I do is just enjoy every minute I get with him. Could

be that would work for you, and who knows, maybe when you are older

something will come of it. If not, you'll at least have had the pleasure

of being with her some."

What Tina said made sense and sure gave me some insight into her life. I

was as intrigued as hell about this man that she loved, but I kept my

yap shut. I had a nice lunch that ended up being on the house and got a

big hug from Tina. She wished me good luck and sent me back to Papa's

feeling much better. My cell phone rang as I was driving. I flipped it

open and said hello.

"Hello Johnny, this is Nina Murphy, remember me?"

"Yes ma'am, how could I forget anyone who kisses like you?"

"My brother-in-law wasn't exaggerating when he said you must have kissed

the Blarney Stone," she said with a laugh.

"In Poland the stone like that is named the Pulaski Stone in honor of my

family."

"I can well imagine. Johnny, if you don't have plans on New Years Eve,

would you come to a party at my house?"

I didn't even have a hint of plans. "Gee, I don't know Nina, will I be

your date?"

"You are much too glib to be only sixteen. No, I already have an escort,

but I'm sure you'll meet someone there more your age."

"Hmmm, I smell a fix. That someone wouldn't be named Shelia, would it?"

She laughed again; she had an easy natural laugh. "Could be, although

she didn't ask me to invite you. Actually the twin terrors talked me

into it. I don't know if they are trying to help their sister or if they

have designs on you themselves. So be warned. We'll start about eight,

the dress is casual but not sloppy, okay?"

I told her it would be my pleasure to be there and asked for the

address. She gave me her address and directions. I was pleased with the

invitation if for no other reason than it got me out of the house. When

you are sixteen there aren't a lot of venues for New Year's Eve parties.

I didn't think Dad would have any strenuous objections to me going,

either, simply because of whose party it was.

As soon as I hung up with Nina, my phone rang again. This time it was

Stan Hoffman. The Hoffman's had been up in North Carolina visiting his

grandparents and had just arrived back home. Jen Caldwell had already

filled them in on the incident in the park so Stan was calling to make

sure I was okay. Since I was only a few blocks from their house, I

agreed to swing by for a few minutes. It was nice bull shitting around

with Stan again. It was a pleasant change of pace from all the deep

conversations I'd been having with women for the past week or so.

Stan was stoked about us both playing for the High School's baseball

team this year. Try outs were going to be the week after we came back

from break and practice would start the following week. The conference

our school belonged to had approved a twenty-four game season for the

upcoming year so we would play for twelve weeks instead of eight. The

season would run from February through April with tournaments and

playoffs scheduled for early May.

Michelle came into the game room while we were talking. She had been at

the grocery store with her mom when I arrived. She was all over the

thing at the park while Stan had hardly mentioned it. I even had to roll

up my jeans and show her the fresh scars on my calf before she was

satisfied I was okay.

"Saving that little girl was the kind of thing I expected from you,

Johnny. That's why I feel so safe when I'm with you."

I shrugged off the compliment and motioned her to lean forward. When she

did I whispered in her ear.

'I don't know how safe you should feel, looking as good as you do right

now. I think if Stan wasn't here to protect you, I'd probably ravish you

right here on the floor."

She shivered when I gave her ear a little lick to punctuate my comments.

Then she whispered back.

"You can't rape the willing, Johnny."

I hung out at the Hoffmans' all evening, even cadging dinner off them.

Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman commented on my adventure in the park. Stan and

Michelle had really cool parents. The adult Hoffmans set the rules, and

as long as their kids abided by them, they stayed out of their business.

Disobeying the rules, however, brought swift and severe punishment.

Restriction for a Hoffman kid was the twenty-first century equivalent to

that prison where Paul Newman was in the movie */'Cool Hand Luke'/*.

At eight we watched the Holiday Bowl on ESPN. Even though the Holiday

Bowl wasn't a major bowl that would have an outcome on the Championship,

it was a good game. The Red Raiders from Texas Tech beat up on some team

from California. At half time Stan went up to his room to call his

newest sweet thing leaving Michelle and me alone.

Michelle told me she wasn't dating anyone at the moment. She was all

kinds of put out because the last guy she seriously dated, bragged about

what good head she gave. As is the case with those things, his bragging

got back to her in fewer than three days. Stan had a chat with the guy

but the damage had been done. She didn't know whether any guy who asked

her out was interested in her or just wanted a blowjob, so she was

turning down everyone. I felt like kicking the guy's ass myself. Guy's

like that poisoned the well for the rest of us. I liked Michelle a lot,

she was one of the hottest girls in the school, and we had a history.

"So does the no dating thing include me?" I asked.

"Never," she replied.

"Then will you go out with me Saturday night, dinner and a movie or

something?"

"Oh my God, yes!"

"Good, but I'm going to have to make sure it's alright with Stan, Okay?"

"Sure, Johnny," she gushed, "that won't be a problem at all."

Michelle went to secure permission from her parents; when he returned, I

asked Stan if he minded if Michelle and I dated. He grinned and said he

had been hinting for almost a year that I should take her out.

"Pulaski, I've known you most of my life, I trust you and so do my

parents. Besides that, Shelly has had a crush on you forever. I know

it's uncool to some people, but I care about my sister being happy. Just

don't break her heart man."

I was touched by Stan's little speech, and I sure knew where he was

coming from being concerned for his sister's happiness.

I stuck out my hand, "You have my word that I'll try real hard no to

hurt her."

He shook my proffered hand then gave me another grin. "Alright, that's

enough of that male bonding shit, shut up so I can watch the game will you?"

Michelle returned in about five minutes. Her big old grin told me her

parents had said yes. She gave me the news verbally anyway, and told me

she had a midnight curfew. Then she did something really cool, she told

us good night and let us watch the ball game in peace. Score one for

Michelle.

I was in bed asleep by eleven-thirty. The phone ringing at two AM woke

me up instantly. Phones ringing late at night scare the hell out of me

because it seems bad news always comes with those calls. I mumbled a

sleepy hello into the receiver.

"Hi Johnny." It was Katrina.

"Hi Trina, is everything okay?"

"Yeah, sorry to call so late," she said with a boozy hiccup and giggle.

"That's okay, you know I'm always happy to hear your voice. How ya doing?"

"Okay, I got drunk and got laid tonight." She giggled again.

"Uh, that's nice," I said lamely.

'No, no it wasn't. Wanna know why?"

Hell no, not in a million years did I want to know anything about it.

The thought of some guy having sex with my sister actually made me want

to puke.

"Why, Trina?"

"Cause it wasn't any good. When he finally left I had to do myself to

get off." Her voice dropped to a drunken conspiratorial whisper. "I

thought about being naked in your arms while I played with myself and

came like crazy. Now I'm laying here all warm and cozy, hugging a

pillow, pretending it's you."

I was absolutely speechless. The whole conversation was so bizarre I

couldn't wrap my brain around it. I decided that I was chalking this up

to the liquor talking. She was going to be some kind of embarrassed in

the morning if she remembered any of this. I steered the conversation

onto a more innocuous subject.

"So how's the skiing?"

"It's great, I love the feeling of bombing down the slope as fast as I

can go. You would love it too. One day maybe we can do it together."

More giggles, "Skiing I mean."

We yakked about different things for another couple of minutes before we

hung up. I was going to caution her about the drinking next time we talked.

Jethro got me up at eight. He wanted to go outside and he wasn't taking

no for an answer. I took him out into the back yard and since it was

private out there I peed in the bushes with him. I don't know which of

us was more relieved. I ate some cereal and headed to my house to pick

out some nicer clothes to wear to Nina's party. Casual but not sloppy I

could do by myself, anything past that took the expert eye of Nana. I

settled on a pair of dress pants, a nice knit sweater, and loafers; hell

I even threw in a pair of black socks for the occasion.

With time to kill, I took out the shop vac and car wash stuff and

detailed my truck. I was pretty sure I was going be the only one driving

up in a pickup, so I wanted to make a good impression. It took me almost

three hours to get my ride pimped to my satisfaction. I stood back and

looked at my reflection in the shiny red paint. Damn, if I was a girl,

I'd give me some just for a ride in the thing.

I ate supper with Dad; we chowed down on some of Mr. Poon's fried rice

and boneless spare ribs. After supper, I showered, changed into my glad

rags and jauntily bid the Old Man adieu. My father cracked up at my bad

attempt at sophistication.

"Be home by two, Your Highness or I'll kick your royal ass," he said.

I pulled up to the address I'd been given at ten after eight; I had

lollygagged down at the turn off from the highway so I wouldn't be the

first person arriving. The joint Nina occupied was as big and opulent as

the Cavanaughs' but instead of Colonial Revival it was Spanish in

design. I eased up into the big circular drive trying to figure out

where to park when who, but Al Jerdin, the gate guy from Jane's

development, lopes over to my truck. Al had his hair in a ponytail and

was wearing a white shirt, red vest and bowtie.

"Dude," he said, "valet parking."

"Hey Al, branching out?"

"No man, we are doubling as security too." He whipped a small aerosol

can out of his vest and waved it around. "Check it out, Dude, pepper

spray. If one of those rich geezers gets out of hand, watch out!"

"I feel much safer knowing you are on the job Al," I said straight

faced. "Put my Baby here in a safe place that will allow me to make a

early exit if I need to okay?"

"You got it JP," he said as he took my keys.

With more than a little trepidation I watched as Al carefully drove off

in my truck. When he disappeared I turned and headed for the door. A

crisply dressed Hispanic maid let me in the front door. She asked my

name, consulted a typed list she held and welcomed me to the party.

"Miss Nina is in the great room; it's straight ahead, last room on the

right," she said.

I thanked her and walked down the polished marbled entry hall, my

footsteps echoing as if I were wearing taps on my shoes. I was more than

a little nervous and way out of my element with the whole experience. I

stopped at the entrance to the room the maid indicated and tried not to

gawk; the room was huge, our house could have fit in it. Straight ahead

at the other end of the room a gargantuan stone fireplace dominated the

wall. On the right side a long expanse of floor to ceiling glass looked

out onto a patio and lushly landscaped garden. Nina and a guy who looked

fairly familiar were standing at a bar set up near the doorway; she saw

me and motioned me over.

"Johnny, this is my Brother David, he is Donna's twin. David this is

Johnny Pulaski, Shelia's friend."

David laughed and stuck out his hand. "So you are the scoundrel that has

all the Cavanaugh women in an uproar."

I grinned ruefully as we shook hands. "I don't think your sister likes

Polacks."

He laughed even louder this time. "My sister doesn't like anyone. My

nieces all think highly of you, though, and that's a much better

reference to me."

I tried not to blush and turned towards Nina. "You look beautiful

tonight, Nina, I sure hope your date appreciates it as much as I do."

I was really keeping brother David amused tonight. He laughed again at

my remark.

"I think Nina might be right about you, you are a silver tongued devil,"

David said. He saluted me with his glass and walked off.

I asked the bartender for a Diet Coke as Nina laid her hand on my arm.

"Thank you for the compliment Johnny. I hope he does too, if he even

shows up that is."

The party was just getting started, only a few people were there and I

didn't know any of them. Nina told me that there would be a separate

party for the younger people in the family room with a hipper (her word)

DJ and snacks I'd probably like better than pate and caviar. She did ask

me to stay with her for a few minutes until David returned.

"Let this be a lesson for you Johnny. By not showing up on time my date

has left me stuck doing all the greeting with my brother as if I were

some old spinster. Men who embarrass their dates seldom get lucky at the

end of the evening."

"I'll take that to heart because at my age I don't get that many chances

anyway," I said with a chuckle.

"That not what I hear," she replied.

I was telling her not to believe everything she hears when David

returned. I excused myself just as a group of people came in and went

across the wide hall to the family room. The family room was smaller

than the great room by about a third. It too had a glass wall with

sliding glass doors. The view was of a large pool, though, and not a

garden. I was the only one in the room except for the DJ setting up his

equipment. He was the same kid from school that did my birthday party.

"Hey Curt, how's it hanging?"

He looked up myopically and pushed his glasses up onto his nose. "Hey

Pulaski, it's hanging to my knees. I didn't expect to see you here, are

you working this gig too?"

Curtis Farkas wasn't in any of my classes this year, but I saw him all

the time pushing around some audio-video equipment at the school. He

belonged to the AV Club and filmed all our football games. Curt was a

hustler, always working.

"No Man, Mrs. Murphy invited me the day before yesterday. I think I'm

here to balance out the seating chart," I said.

"Too bad, cause she pays real good and always gives me a tip. There

should be some prime fluff here tonight, and these rich girls don't mind

showing the merchandise after they've had a few. I've got my video

camera just in case," he said hopefully.

We yakked for a few more minutes until he had to start playing music at

eight-thirty. Since I was the only one there so far he agreed to play

some classic rock for me. I asked for some Springsteen, so he started me

off with */'The River'/*. Damn that song sent shivers up my spine. Bruce

was just saying /'I'd lie awake and pull her close just to feel the

breath she takes'/ when company arrived.

"Hey Fartass, this ain't no funeral, play something from this century."

I turned around, cringing when I heard the accent; only one person in

the world was that loud, rude and obnoxious. When I completed my turn,

sure enough there stood Tony Rochelli. Tony was better known as the

Sperminator because he openly bragged about knocking two girls up. Tony

was a transplant from New Jersey; his family was in the construction

business and filthy rich. Tony was also the starting fullback on our

football team. He was as handsome as he was obnoxious. So imagine my

surprise when I took in that Shelia Cavanaugh was hanging on his arm as

if he was the last chocolate in Forest Gump's box.

"Pulaski," boomed Tony, "you working with Farkas? Jesus, with a Polack

in charge of the music it'll be playing backward all night."

Did I mention that Tony was obnoxious? Shelia went bug-eyed when she saw me.

"Johnny what are you doing here?"

"Your Aunt Nina invited me. But I can't stay, I was just leaving."

I was about to hurl Mr. Poon's pork fried rice on the floor if I didn't

get out of there. If Tony Rochelli was the Cavanaughs' idea of a more

appropriate date than me, I had to be really, really fucked up. I told

Curt so long and bolted. I was almost at the front door when sixteen

years of Nana's training kicked in. I did an about face and shuffled

back to the great room. I spotted Nina, still dateless, greeting guests.

I tried to be inconspicuous while I waited to get a moment alone with

her. She saw me after a minute as I stood by the entry. She gave me a

small, sad little smile and mouthed the word 'stay' to me. I nodded my

understanding and leaned against the wall.

After the influx of guests had been received she motioned me over.

"I'm terribly sorry Johnny, I didn't know she would have a date. I have

a sneaking suspicion that my sister set this up, Rochelli does a lot of

building for us."

'Yeah well, if Tony Rochelli is her and Shelia's idea of the right kind

of guy for her, I don't want to be near her anyway. I just came in here

to thank you for inviting me, but I think I better go on home where I

belong."

She looked at her watch and took my arm in hers.

"You are my guest Johnny and you belong here as much as anyone else I

invited. I'll understand if you leave, but I would be grateful if you at

least kept me company until Rolf gets here."

"Your date's name is Rolf? Yeah, I'll stay till he gets here; I never

met anyone named Rolf. I'm betting his polo pony threw a shoe on the way

here."

She laughed and squeezed my arm. "Thank you, you are probably better

company anyway, Rolf has never intentionally made me laugh."

I had to admit Nina was a lot of fun to be around. She was so unlike her

sister Donna it was as if they were from different planets. Nina had

also never heard my shtick, so I had her cracking up. Old Rolf finally

showed up about ten. He blithely acted as if nothing was wrong, no

apology or anything. Miss Nina was not very happy as I made my exit. I

was almost at the door when the Cavanaughs' arrived. Minding my manners

I shook a surprised Mr. Cavanaugh's hand and nodded stiffly to his

equally astonished wife. Before I could do more, each of the twins

grabbed one of my arms. I smiled as I felt the flood of soothing

feelings they were sending me. They turned me around and headed me back

toward the family room.

"Come on Johnny, we want to introduce you to our cousins. Bye Mom, Bye

Dad, see you later," Ellen said.

As soon as their parents turned into the great room, the girls reversed

course and led me back towards the front door. When the maid greeting

people at the front door had her back turned, Ellen ducked us into a

small sitting room and Elaine closed and locked the door behind us. The

girls had certainly dressed up for the party. They wore identical

emerald green dresses, slightly low cut in the front, with matching

shoes and small clutch purses. Their hair was hanging in thick and wavy

cascades well below their shoulders.

"We didn't know anything about that guy bringing Shelia until he picked

her up at the house. When we asked Dad about it he said Mom arranged the

date and asked Shelia to take it as a favor to her. Dad wasn't real

happy about it. No one knew you were coming here, we wanted it to be a

surprise for Sissie," Ellen said.

Elaine nodded and added, "He is a big creep; he even tried to grab my

boobie once at a pool party. I kneed him in his peanuts. He said it was

an accident but I knew better. "

"Yeah, well he and your sister seemed awfully cozy so I think his

peanuts are safe tonight. I was just headed home when you came in."

"You can't leave until we get our New Year's kiss," Ellen protested.

"I guess we could ring in the New Year a little early," I replied.

I kissed them both thoroughly and sat cuddled between them for a few

minutes. I told them I liked them a lot and that I would be their friend

no matter what. I said that I didn't think I'd get to see them much

because of their mother but we could talk on the phone, e-mail one

another and even Instant Message. I also made them promise to tell

Shelia about Tony groping Elaine. We kissed again and walked back into

the entry hall. The girls we not a bit happy about my leaving and were

mad at their mother for her part in it. They walked me outside and

kissed me again as we stood on the big colonnaded front porch. They were

walking back in just as Al came strolling up.

"Young, but nice Dude, and a matched set." he observed of the departing

twins. "You leaving already?"

"Yeah, not my type of crowd."

"Bummer. If I wasn't on duty we'd burn one. I got some Thai Stick that

would make you feel a whole lot better."

We were BSing on the steps when the front door opened and Nina and Rolf

came out. Although they were talking in lowered voices their words were

sharp and ugly. I was about to clear my throat to let them know they

weren't alone when Nina slapped Rolf across the face. Rolf loudly called

her a cheap whore and slapped her back. I ran towards them but

amazingly, Al got there first. He grabbed Rolf in a wristlock and neatly

deposited him on his face on the cold slate porch. Al had Rolf's arm

twisted up between his shoulder blades and was kneeling on his neck. Al

looked up at Nina.

"Five-O?" he asked.

Nina looked at him in confusion.

"Do you want to call the police?" I interpreted.

She shook her head no.

"That's cool," Al said. Then he leaned a little harder on Rolf's neck.

"Dude I'm gonna get up and go get your ride. If you move my friend here

is gonna kick your stupid ass, got it?"

Rolf mumbled something and Al released him. Al pulled out his Nextel and

called for someone to bring around the silver Jag. In less than two

minutes Rolf was escorted to his car. I turned to Al in amazement.

"I'm impressed," I said.

He grinned, "Number one in my class at the police academy. If it wasn't

for that pesky drug testing policy, I'd be a on the Beach Patrol."

Nina had stood by quietly through the few minutes it took to dispatch

Rolf. I took her arm when I saw her shiver and led her back to the same

parlor I'd just been in with the twins. I was the one sending calming

feelings now as I held her to me. She composed herself quickly.

"I should get back to my guests," she said.

I nodded and we stood up. She gave me a hug and kissed me softly on the

lips.

"I guess it's just not our night, is it," she giggled.

I had to agree.

I was back at my grandparents' by eleven. I let Jethro in, changed into

jeans and a t-shirt and made us a bag of microwave popcorn. I turned on

the TV and tuned it to Cinemax. I got Jethro to sit then I'd throw him a

piece of popcorn, he'd catch it, gulp it down and wait for me to toss

him another. We went through the bag of popcorn that way while I halfway

watched a soft porn T&A movie. It was faintly amusing comparing the

women in the movie to the women in my life. There were the usual

suspects, the sexpot, the manipulative bitch, and the wholesome girl

next door. I was bored out of my skull when my cell phone rang, it was

eleven fifty-eight and Katrina was the caller.

"Happy New Year Trina."

"Happy New Year Johnny, I wish I was there to kiss you in person."

I heaved a mock sigh, "Me too, Trina, Jethro keeps looking at the clock

and licking his lips, though, so it could be worse."

"Eww, that's gross," she squealed. "I thought you were going to some big

party, though?"

I told her about my big misadventure. She told me she was sorry to hear

my evening had gone so wrong. I asked her what she was doing because it

was so quiet at her end of the phone. She told me it was only ten

o'clock there (Duh) and the party was just getting cranked up. She had

slipped outside to talk to me.

"I'm not getting hammered like I did last night. And I'm not planning on

sleeping with anyone else either."

"Well the less drinking thing is good, but I can't speak on the other,"

I said.

Katrina laughed at that. We jabbered for a few more minutes and

exchanged corny kisses through the phone. She said she'd save the real

one for me until Spring Break. She didn't mention the phone call last

night directly so neither did I. I felt much more relaxed after talking

to her and soon fell asleep on the couch.

Jethro's bad breath and cold nose in my face woke me up most

unpleasantly. I took him outside and we both watered the flowers again.

Back inside I filled his water bowl and fed him some dry food that he

sniffed disdainfully. Then I had one of my not very bright ideas. I

decided that it was a New Year and Mr. Jethro Pulaski stunk so I'd start

his year off with a bath. Papa took Jethro to the groomer for a bath

every month so I figured the big doof was use to it. I also figured that

I could kill two birds with one stone by just putting him in the shower

with me. Stupid, stupid idea. Jethro wanted nothing whatsoever to do

with bathing; he sat down on his ass and refused to cooperate in any

fashion. I had to physically lift his heavy butt and move him to get the

shampoo on then do it again to rinse him off.

When I open the shower door to get a towel to dry him off he bolted. I

grabbed a towel and chased him through the house naked. He would stop

and shake himself violently sending water spraying everywhere then dance

out of my reach before I could catch him again. It took me an hour to

clean up behind us. I kept him inside until he was dry then put him out

on his runner. I was proud of myself despite the trouble.

I had just walked in the door from tying out the Doofus when I heard my

cell phone ringing. It stopped before I got there so I returned the call

to the number on my caller ID. Nina answered.

"Hello Johnny, I thought I missed you, I was just leaving you a voice mail."

"Nope, I was away from my phone. How are you today?"

She told me she was fine and that her party had been a success despite

her sister and Rolf. Then she asked me if she could take me to lunch,

she had a favor to ask of me, she said. I told her sure, and she said

she'd be right over to get me as she was out and about anyway. Ten

minutes later she was at the door.

I decided that today she could get a taste of my world so I took her to

Mama's diner in my truck. I swear it was almost as if it was Shelia

sitting there she looked so young. I had calculated that she had to be

in her forties, yet she looked years younger than either Jane or

Dee-Dee. She was dressed young too, in snug jeans and a sweater that

emphasized her slim figure. If her long fiery hair was a dye job, it was

a perfect one.

At Mama's Tina made a fuss over me and complimented me on my pretty

date. Nina didn't correct her about it not being a date so neither did

I. After we ordered, Nina slipped an envelope out of her purse and slid

it across the table to me.

"Can you make sure your friend Mr. Jerdin gets this? It's just a little

something for his quick thinking last night."

I told her I could do better than that. I was willing to bet that Al was

sucking up the overtime by working the gate at Jane's subdivision. I

would take her over there so she could give it to him herself. She

agreed and commented on what a unique young man he was. I laughed in

agreement, Al was chock full of surprises. We finished our lunch and I

drove us to the entrance of the Trails. Sure enough, Al was manning the

gate. I pulled up and rolled down my window.

"Dude," he gave me his standard greeting then he saw Nina. "Hello Red,

been in anymore fights lately?"

It was apparent that Al was not one to be impressed by money or status.

When he was working for her last night, he was all business and

respectful, today it was as if she was some chick he surfed with. Nina

actually giggled.

"No Mr. Jerdin, but the day is young. I have something for you for your

help last night." she said handing the envelope out the window.

Al pocketed it without even glancing at the contents. "Cool, but I was

just doing my job." Then Al did something I'd have never expected in a

hundred years; he looked Nina up and down and said. "My name is Alan and

you look pretty hot in those jeans, Red, wanna go surfing with me tomorrow?"

Nina laughed, took a business card out of her purse, and handed it to

him. "Call me tomorrow Alan and we'll discuss it."

The card went in his pocket with the envelope. "Will do. But I have to

warn you, no Ganga until we are out of the water."

Nina looked confused but said okay.

I was cracking up as I did a u-turn and drove off.

"Nina, Ganga is marijuana, I think you just agreed to get stoned with him."

Nina blushed bright red. "Oh my," she said.

I really liked Nina. We went back to Papa's and sat around yakking for

another hour. She told me that contrary to his name and airs, Rolf was

just a handsome, successful time-share salesman. They had been dating

for a few months but it had been nothing serious. She knew he was a gold

digger from the word go but he did have a certain charm.

"Johnny, my husband was a carpenter who started his own small

contracting business. His name was Ben Murphy; I didn't even have to

change my name when we were married. He was the finest man I ever met.

You remind me of him the way you conduct yourself. He was older than me

but healthy and vital. Then on day he had a heart attack and dropped

dead. Just like that (she snapped her fingers) fifty years old and he

was gone. It took me three years to get over that and I still think of

him often. Anyway, that's the type of man I have always been attracted

to, so you can see why my sister's attitude irks me so."

I mostly listened to her for the entire hour. Her conversation was

captivating and it wasn't all about her either. She talked about her

family, including the Turner side of it, and she talked about her almost

mystical Irish roots. I thought that it was amazing that Nana could

trace her family back five hundred years, so I was blown away that her

family history went back three millennia. When she wound down we were

sitting thigh to thigh, my arm on the back of the couch behind her, and

her upper body leaning against me. It was only natural that we kissed.

It was a sweet and very sexy kiss. When she pulled her head back she was

flushed.

"Oops, no more of that right now Big Boy, or I'll get in trouble with my

nieces for poaching their boyfriend."

I shook my head, "I don't see me ever being Shelia's boyfriend."

"Never say never, Johnny. Besides, I was talking about the twins. They

called me this morning and went on forever about you. I think you can

throw the relationship book away when you deal with those two because

they march to the beat of their own drums."

She left at four; we promised to keep in touch.

My date with Michelle was most excellent. I took her to see Jlo in

*/'Maid in Manhattan'/*. It was your typical chick flick fare but Jlo's

ass was in it so it did have some redeeming qualities. After the movie

we went to Steak and Shake. It was my turn to be the perfect date as I

was attentive and affectionate. I started being that way to help

Michelle overcome the bad rep her ex stuck her with, but ended up doing

it because I enjoyed her company so much. Michelle was a wonderful date

too. She obviously liked me a lot and she wasn't shy about displaying

her affection.

We left the restaurant at ten-thirty and went to my grandparents' house.

I put on this CD of romantic eighties rock and we snuggled up on the

couch. One thing I'd always appreciated about Michelle was that she

preferred skirts and dresses to jeans and pants. She said it was because

jeans made her ass look too big. I didn't think so but I wasn't going to

argue the point. In fifteen minutes Michelle was naked on the couch, and

I was working my way south, still fully dressed. I spent thirty minutes

reacquainting myself with her lush body. Her breasts were even bigger

than I remembered them and her fat little cleft, with its soft blonde

hair, tasted heavenly. I gave her four good orgasms and took her home

refusing to let her return the favor. Kong didn't like me being noble

but I wanted tonight to be all about Michelle. I'd take care of him later.

When I walked her to the door I asked her out again. She plastered

herself against me and said, "Yes, Yes, Yes!"

/Edited by Bert/
Joe J
Chapter 17