Serendipity Sex

Serendipity Sex

So I'm in TJ's standing next to the cheese bin, trying to decide between an Irish cheddar and a French Gruyère when my old man's tinnitus is overwhelmed by some rather loud yelling over in the restroom alcove. It's Shawna, my favorite clerk and TJ helper. She looks a lot like Alecia Keys, maybe a slightly darker tan, and hair that always is going in all directions at once. She usually has the best smile and is my go to for all things TJ. But there is no sweetness and light today. She is facing away from the main room, but her expletives are bouncing off walls; and any folks in the john must be getting the full treat.

"You fucking beyoch, you've got some humping nerve calling me at work, in the middle of my shift, no less, to tell me we're over. No, no, no, no excuses. Besides, I know that cunt Aline is hanging on your left tit, telling you everything what to say. You tell that ass-sucker to go fuck herself for me. Okay... okay, we're done and I want all your shit out of my place within the hour... or less. Don't you dare snatch the Indigo Girls mix disc. I know you made it but you gave it to me for our third. No, I don't give a rat's ass where you go. Yes, I know Aline lives with her mother.... you..."

A formidable woman in denim overalls and a TJ's sweatshirt materialized and had Shawna by the shoulder.

"Ms. Jackson! Take it outside! Now! We have customers!'

Shawna turned and met my eyes. Hers got big. She glanced at the people frozen in the wine section and the bread bin and her face crumbled. The next thing I knew she is sobbing loudly on my shoulder. The next after that she is dragging me toward the front of the store, wailing. I'm still holding the cheese and hope the store cop in the Hawaiian shirt doesn't think I stole it, even though, technically, I did.

Shawna drags me around the side of the building to the tiny park where they have their lunch. Pushes me down on the bench of the picnic table.

She is pacing in front of me, back and forth, back and forth, pounding her fist into her palm. Angry. Crying. Angry. Crying. Suddenly she stops and looks right at me.

"Mister....?"

"Rowland?"

"Okay... Mr. Rowland... You've been coming to the store for... like... ever... right? You've seen me a bunch of times, dressed a bunch of ways... I think you even saw me in my dancing dress one night when you came in late and I was leaving for that... anyway... anyway, I've seen you look at me. I mean, I know you're old, but you're not dead."

"Thank you."

"Sure. And I'm pretty sure I've caught you scoping my... ass once or twice..."

"Guilty as charged."

"... So... tell me the truth, as raw as you can. Am I fuckable? Really, am I fuckable? Please... Susan says I'm not. "

"Shawna...."

"Please...."

"Oh, Shawna, you know I'm of an age where if it's breathing and it isn't covered with scales, it looks pretty good. Besides... yes... I like women."

"So do I."

"Yes... and I... maybe have to guess as to whether they think I think they are fuckable. "Technically, you're fuckable if you have the right gear in the right places, and even then one can get imaginative... wait... this isn't the point. Take a selfie and look at yourself, Shawna. You have all the god-given equipment and then some. Under that capacious fake Hawaiian shirt I know you have a pretty nice rack, and like you say, you have a high onion in back worth gazing at. You have big, soft eyes to look into and a generous mouth one can imagine having lots of fun with. On the surface it's all there. It's obvious; man or woman looking at you; there is plenty to play with. So here's the real question: What does Susan mean if she says you're not fuckable? I mean...."

Shawna was sitting next to me on the bench now, kind of leaning up against my shoulder. It was nice, cozy, even if she was growling from time to time.

"Susan... what? Oh, yeah. Well, the easy thing would be to say that she got into bed with Aline and Aline just lit her up... rang bells I don't even know where the clapper is. But, damn it, I think it's more than that. Sure, Aline is tall like she is and stuff probably matches up nice. And they both like sports. But maybe it's simpler than that. I say 'no.' I say 'I'm too tired, or busy, or feeling funky.' Oh, don't get me wrong, making love to Susan is a trip, but sometimes you have to know what to pack. I mean, you've seen Susan, right? She's big. Not fat big, so much as tall and strong big, I mean, sometimes it takes work to get all that crankin'. Oh, the reward is amazing; to see all that just lift off. But she's not so great the other way. And I like the delicate stuff. Huh. 'Fuckable.'

"Fuckable."

"So... do you want to fuck me?"

I looked her up and down as a courtesy.

"I'm sure, if I were your flavor, it would be a great pleasure, but...."

She put a hand on my arm and looked me in the face.

"No, I'm not asking if you would fuck me in a different world. I'm asking if you will fuck me... now."

"Really?"

"Really."

"But you don't fuck men, do you? I mean, when was the last time you fucked a guy?"

"Um, never."

"Never."

"I knew girls were for me before I even knew what that meant."

"So you never even 'tried a guy on'?"

"N'really. Oh, I gave Michael Adreeson a hand job once in a movie. But he was gay and it was a gay movie and he... and I... ended up finishing ourselves. So, no. No actual penis inside me, though a bunch of plastic imitations."

"And you're asking me."

"Yup."

"But I'm a senior citizen and you know nothing of my sexual history or proclivities."

"Um, yeah. But the thing is, that seems to be just what I want. And what I want is important right this moment. Oh I could troll off to a gay bar or two and pick up a jaded dyke or a wannabe lezzie and get kind of drunk and rub a lot of stuff together. But I don't want to feel cheap like that. Besides. I like you. I want to talk to you....."

"Talk to me...?"

"Yup. Like confess my sins and cry some and tell you what I like.... Maybe I'm selfish, but I think you would pay attention to what I need. I mean, I didn't say, 'Can I fuck you?' I might say that to a hottie I picked up. No, I said, 'Do you want to fuck me?' Because, I want to know I'm fuckable, and... and here's the thing, I really need to be fucked. I can feel it inside. Like it's just waiting to get all stirred up. So. Please. Let's go fuck."

"O. K... Sounds like a fun adventure. Maybe one of my best fantasies. My place? Your ex is probably ransacking your records and your wardrobe...."

"Nothing I have fits her except maybe an Angels cap. And, fuck it, she can have the fucking Indigo Girls. I'll find me another group. Oh. Bee Tee Double You, this is not the first installment of an open booty call. Girls are my thing. Still. This time I want to do this."

"Okay. Deal. What happens happens. Oh, I walked here. It's a couple miles. Your car?"

"My car, let's go."

"Uh, work?"

"Oh. Well, the badger threw me out. I'm probably not fired. But in a bit I will call her and tell her the truth, the whole truth, and nothing butt. She understands lesbian crash and burn. She'll give me the rest of the day off. But she will make me pay later somehow. I think she 'fancies me', but she's pretty hard ass about on the job fooling around. Anyway, we're good. Which way?"

We headed for my condo and I got a cold chardonnay out of the fridge. Nice glass. Crackers and the stolen cheese.

"Unless you are in a serious hurry to hit the hay, Shawna...?"

"Naw, it can wait a bit. Let it build. Besides, if I may be indiscreet, might a gentleman of your 'vintage' need a little 'chemical build up' before 'engaging'...?"

I cogitated. Certainly a blue pill would ensure more guaranteed results. But the prospect of this adventure was already getting Jolly Roger a bit excited. With a little bit of luck, besides....

"Well, Shawna, I'd love to do without if I can, and besides, good old PIV sex isn't your usual feast. And I actually would prefer to play in your usual ballpark (without the balls)... if that works for you? I'm a little wary of you 'taking mental notes' all the time on the difference between male and female fingering... sorry. TMI?"

"N'really. Let's see what happens. Cheers."

We clinked glasses and drank deep. We enthusiastically devoured the cheese. The Irish cheddar was a good choice.

"Oh, Mr. Rowland...?"

"Jack."

"Sure, of course, Jack. Um... I do sort of want to draw a line. I mean... maybe I'm silly, but I don't really want to give you a blow job. Hope you understand...?"

"Oh. Wait. Yeah... well this is not about you doing me, anyway. Yeah, I want it to be your party. So, sure, no blow job."

"Unless I change my mind...."

"O... K."

"No, it's just that I never have played with a live cock before... except for that one time. And now... and the wine... well, my curiosity is kind of turning me on. But... but we'll see."

"We'll see."

it was easy being there together. And I found another reason for Shawna's breakup. She was smart. Very smart. Studying nights for a nursing degree. Teaching ESL students. Writing short stories. And let's just say Susan was... not.

After a while Shawna's cheeks grew more ruddy and her eyes a bit more dreamy. A subtle thing, but from time to time she gazed into the distance for a while. Her nostrils flared and she drew a ragged breath. She squeezed a hand between her thighs.

"Shawna?"

"Yuh?" She came back to me.

"Were you daydreaming of your ex?"

"Not exactly. Sort of. I was imagining being stretched out on a big warm bed naked, or maybe in something very light and filmy, and I had my hands crossed on my chest pinching both my nipples at once. And I could feel this 'zing' down there, but it was sort of 'balanced' by the feeling of this invisible hot mouth just going to town on me. I was... I am getting so wet. I think, I, we, need to... please."

She stood up, a little unsteady, looking around. If she was drunk I would not go any further. Just take her home. But she seemed to 'wake up' and smiled that amazing sunbeam. She put an arm around my shoulders and whispered in my ear.

"I have this lovely gift. I can unexpectedly have these wonderful short orgasms. Even happens at work sometimes. Who knows what brings them on; a hottie walks in and touches my hand asking for the granola, or a cute baby, or stacking a bunch of heavy boxes. And then... back to normal... except, like now, I'm wet. Thanks for the lovely chat."

Her mouth found my mouth and the kiss didn't stop for a while. It was a wonderful 'blending'. After a while she pushed me away and looked in my eyes.

"Mr. Row,... Jack, you just 'woke me up' with that kiss. Oh, I don't mean I'm just going to 'switch to the regular team' because of it. I mean I see what was missing with Susan and me. Something in your kiss let me know you care for me. What does that mean? I guess, with her, it was more of a game. Maybe mostly about her. Was she getting what she wanted? The way you kiss tells me you are 'listening' to how I feel. And now I know that in my next serious relationship I want to feel this... and the second kiss was also fine. And now I really need to pee."

"Bathroom's first left down there and the bedroom's just beyond. A robe on the back of the bathroom door if you don't fancy being 'nekkid'. Oh, and don't clean up too much; that's my job."

"Oh the boy says the nicest things!"

She scooted toward the bathroom waggling her tail in a way she knew I would appreciate. I sat and sipped and tried not to think at all about how this dream was unfolding.

After a while I did my own ablutions. Maybe she would be sleeping when I reached the bed. Maybe not. It was only late afternoon, and despite the wine I was more aroused than mellow. I also knew how I wanted to begin. I hoped she agreed.

She was under the covers and peeking over them when I came in.

"Jack, this is the greatest bed! I love the way it holds me up and lets me 'settle in'. It's pretty big too. I'm used to my big beast of my ex draping a leg over the side. But this...."

She threw herself back on the bed, starfish. This had the advantage of exposing the prettiest, roundest, fullest pair of tits I had seen in many an age.

"Shawna, don't move. I need to admire those pretties I have only imagined them and they are much nicer than I could have believed. And... and...." I sat down on the bed in my boxers and clean white T. Put a hand on her strong leg. "Shawna, I was hoping you would let me take my time playing with these lovelies. My they are nice. Of course, my mouth may feel quite different than the ladies of your acquaintance, but give a guy a chance. I'd like to spend some time on these."

I slid under the sheet and cupped a hand around the nearest warm breast.

"Okay, here goes. Tell me if this feels wrong in any way. It's your party."

I just put my whole mouth over her nipple and lovely chestnut areola and sucked it in a little way. Swirled my tongue around it for a while. I could have done other things... would do them soon... but I wanted this to be my 'intro'. I spoke into her breast...

"Yes?"

"Mmm. Mm hmm. That's..."

I did the same thing some more, maybe sucking a tiny bit harder. Shawna was making very small noises. I kept it up, realizing that lesbian videos that I had seen showed women just barely tasting each other's nips. Men gobbled for a few seconds and dove for the snatch. I wouldn't do that. I wanted to spend time here. But I switched it up and pinched her tight nipple between my firm lips. Scrubbed the tip between them with the stiff tip of my tongue. Other noises. Motion down below. I left that alone for now. Ignored the nipple for a bit. Kissed all around it. Sneaky kisses under her breast and up the side. Almost. Almost.

"Bastard. Eat it! And don't forget the other one. You can be a little rough; teddy bear rough. That's okay. Rough can be nice. I had this lover who was in the merchant marines. Ooh, that's nice. Keep doing... She even had tattoos like an old sailor. Hair skinned on the sides and a flat top. She had to show me who was boss. Called me her little chocolate cupcake.... Bit my nipples a lot."

I reluctantly lifted my mouth from warm human flesh in order to speak.

"So, not a racist at all...."

"Nn nn." Shawna's words were disappearing. But she was making sounds. Effortful noises. Her hand grabbed mine and pulled it to her vulva. It was furry, and warm, and where my fingertips curved down, quite wet. Though 'wet' wasn't really the correct word. 'Delightfully slippery' might be more accurate. Marvelous stuff the body can make.

"Push," she grunted. I figured she wanted pressure, and when my hand crushed her mons she confirmed this by pushing back against my fingers. "Nngh!"

Now her words came breathlessly. "I... think... I... can... get... one... just from you... SUCKING... oh yes! That's... that's... that's... that's... that's..." Her hips were pumping against my hand. Little noises like she was being punched in the guts.

"Oh yes! I... god I'm going to let it go. Your sheets are going to be a mess. But I can't help it, I can't, I can't... I'm going, I'm going, I'm going..."

She went.

My hand was a wonderful mess.

Heavy breathing for a while.

"Shawna, that was fun. For me. And now I'm going to clean you up. Okay? Tell me if I'm doing it wrong. Or right."

I slid my way down her sweaty body; kissing breastbone and belly and a lick of the navel, and a growl into the top of her curly muff, and dodging to the left of the weeping lips, and a big open mouthful of strong, somewhat messy thigh. Roamed my lips and tongue around that beautiful brown landscape for a while. Skipped over to the other side and asked permission to give her a love bite there. And took warm flesh between my lips and teeth and massaged it that way until I heard the groan and the mons rising. And I abandoned that mouthful and swung quickly to the slippery lips, so close and abundant. And with wide tongue I swiped the slipperies up from the shining spread patch at the very bottom all the way up the groove, but sucking in loose lip along the way as I savored the whole juicy meal; pushing my lips and cheeks like an animal into that feast until my face was well anointed.

I didn't have a good idea of how sensitive her clit was. But it was going to be hard to avoid the impudent tip of it. Some women hide their tiny jewels deep in the folds of the oyster. But this one was impudent, a tongue thrust out of the dark hood at me, raw pink and shining. Was there any way to stay gently above this thrusting little pecker? It would be hard. And it was hard, a stiff column up into the arch of the dark forest.

I waited, staring at this prize. I had to apologize.

"I'm sorry Shawna. I have no idea how you need to be licked. Your former lady lovers probably found just what was enough and danced you to heaven. I'm not your usual beast... I'm just a guy who...."

"Will you fucking shut up and eat me. Trust me, I will slap you if you hurt me. But here's a hint: I've had sweet and tender and I've had rough. Both work. Do what you do."

She put her palm on my head and pulled me in. I thought, 'fuck it. I'll do what I want to do.' My mouth enveloped her clit and a lot of other flesh too. My tongue started its drumbeat.

'Holeeee!' Shawna's hips surged toward my mouth. Fine. I could get my palms under her tight ass and keep that pussy up where I could really get at it. Oh, such good eatin'.

I thought maybe Shawna would need to 'talk me in', like: 'easy now, easy; okay now flick it back and forth with your tongue. Oh! Time to suck hard. That's it. Now up and down.'

Nope.

Not that she didn't 'tell' me what she needed. But it wasn't with words, more like: "Mmuh... mmuh... mmuh... mmuh... ee... eee... ee... oh... oh.. NNNh... ah... ah..." Hands that fluttered and pressed. Hips that lifted... froze... snapped... quivered.

I just let my lips and tongue do what they needed to do. Owning that clit.

Shawna was leaking again. She did that. And soon I could tell from the rawness of her breath that she was so close to tipping over again.

I discreetly slid two fingers into that hot moistness. Pressed my fingertips up against what I figured was her inner trigger. Oh! That deeper spot was better. Mouth suddenly crushed by hungry mons. She was in motion; doing the work against my fingers and mouth.

"Yuh, yuh, yuh... yuh... yuh...... yuh......... yuh. Oh...... my........ GOD!"

I got wet.

"eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"

Shawna pushed my forehead and slapped my hand away and curled up like a shrimp, her hands clamped between her thighs.

Had I been a greenhorn I might have been afraid that I made some awful, stupid, mistake. How could a mere man, an old one at that, hope to please a lesbian with a stable of lovers who knew how to feel what she feels? But I was pretty sure that, together, we had taken her to that place where the whole body is sparking and it just needs to get grounded for a while.

Shawna was making little singsong sounds. Finally, she peeped out of her huddle and gave me that big Shawna grin.

"Whew! Thank you! I so needed that just like that. No, really. No drama. No 'significance', just full tilt mouth fucking. I'm sorry..."

I shook my head.

"... okay, I'm not sorry I soaked your face, and your bed. Damn, sex is so good when it's good. And thanks, I've got a better idea of the kind of woman I want now. I want a buddy, a friend who pays attention to what I need, not a 'people pleaser' and not a narcissist. Does such a human exist? But speaking of pleasing; since you have given me two big wet ones I figure you need to get your nut, right? I mean, I don't want to be selfish, so, how...?"

I was happily lying with my head on Shawna's thigh. My cock was about half way to firm; I feel I really had to get off. Balls were a very light blue. But I sure could enjoy pounding into what I had been licking. I'm a guy after all.

"Shawna, when you are getting dicked by a partner with a strapon, how do you like it best? Missionary? Legs up against your chest? Scissors? Spoons? Doggie?"

Shawna's smile was huge.

"I like the way you think. But... different girl, different day, different mood. No one best way, although...." She rolled over so her magnificent ass was revealed.

"Shawna. Yes. Between those fat lovely cheeks."

"Fat? I have you know I work this ass... hard. Ain't hardly an ounce of..." A bit of a twerk. She slapped. Stuff jiggled.

"Okay, my ladies say they like a little padding back there. I'm not a guy, but this baby is strong. I can push with this thing. Lotta times it's me wearing the strapon. You wanna be my bitch?"

"Not my game of choice; but now I am more than pleased to come at you from the back of the house."

"I'm not sayin' in the back door... although if you are in that region there is something I like. We'll bring that up when the time comes. And, speaking of, can I see this instrument you are going to insert in me?"

I turned so Willie was in view and took him in hand and gave him a tug or two.

"Well, that seems pretty doable without much muss or fuss. But you're not really ready. A little lubrication could help things along... and I just happen to have the very thing to provide what you need."

She reached between her legs and brought her fingers out well coated with shiny slick.

"Let's see." She wrapped her hand around my cock and began a rhythmic up and down. For someone who had never played a male organ (except for that one movie night) she was a natural. My cock responded happily and soon he was just about at full size. Shawna's eyes were wide. "Whoa! This guy really does pump up nice. Would that I could keep one of these in my hand bag... grow it up when I was having a lonely moment. This is... this is different from a dildo, even the ones that are all veiny and look like dicks. It's so nice and warm. It's stiff but it also bends. And the tip is all nice and rubbery. And then there are these soft little lovelies down here at the bottom. Ooh, and you can feel these kind of firm little eggs inside. Cool."

She looked at my face. I was biting my lip.

"What... did I? Are you...?"

"Testicles... are... pretty tender things... y'know."

"Ooh, yeah... right. I'll be gentle, like..."

"Mmm, that's good."

"Ooh, look at that. When I touched them your... cock kind of swelled a little, and some clear... stuff came out of the top. Hmm, feels a lot like mine. Hmm, tastes sort of like... nothing... maybe a little salty. Hey, you know I said I wouldn't give you a blow job or anything, and I'm not really changing my mind... but is it okay if I put it in my mouth? I sort of want to know what... the feel... the taste... the smell even... hmm?"

"It's your party. And it will help me get ready. And usually 'the wetter the better', so, sure, knock yourself out on my cock."

She slowly bent until her mouth was just above the swollen head. Lips parted and....

"Mmmf. Well, it's wider than my strap on. I'd like one like this. Mmf. Yeah, I like the rubbery lip on the head. I can see how that could stroke my insides when you pull. And it is so the right shape to push into me. It's shorter than my strapon, but I can't get that all the way in me. So, how long are you? Let's see. A little more than from the tip of my pinky stretched out to the tip of my thumb. Yuh! I think I can maybe take all of that. And maybe it's time to try. How do you want me?"

"Hmm. How about you get on your knees hips high, but with your head and shoulders on the bed? You wanna try that? Let's see how we match up."

Shawna scrambled around until she was in position; and a very sweet position it was. She was truly possessed of a pair of the most charming 'cakes' a man, or woman, might ever want to meet. They were, indeed, full and strong. And there, between them, was that moist meaty playground I had just enjoyed so much with my mouth.

"Here we go, Shawna. You are free to let me know how you want it. For me, it's all good. A little warning, though. I'm no spring cockerel. It has been decades since I could just 'pop off'. So I will need to work this for a while. Don't know how your lady lovers do, but I..."

"You're talking too much again. Please. Put. It. In."

"Why not?"

I placed the swollen head of my johnson right where it needed to be. Took my two thumbs and parted Shawna's slippery lips. Pushed in. To the hilt. Because I needed to. Because there was plenty of time to play, but I wanted to feel my balls up against her meaty lips. Maybe she would prove me a liar and I would explode in seconds. But for now I was pressing deep and she was taking all of it. Pushing back against me.

"Damn, mister, that is good. Just hold it like that for, maybe, ever. Can you stir me, honey? Yeah, like that. She helped by doing a nice slow grind. She peeked at me around her shoulder.

"You know what is different from getting it this way from my gal with a strapon? It's hot. I mean it's also cool. But it is literally nice and steamy inside me. Just that makes me want to come. And it's sweet not to have a leather harness grinding my ass. And those lovely warm balls of yours nestled against me. So good. Get it all up in there.

After that we didn't talk much for a while. Couldn't. I just went on reaming her all the ways I could: really slow strokes all the way in and all the way out, short shallow thrusts, more grinds, jam in, ease out. And I noticed she was grabbing me inside.

"Shawna, your amazing cunt is squeezing me. Can you do that some more?"

"Uh... sure... I... didn't even know, how's... this?"

"Wow... that's... great. Can you keep...?

"Yuh, sure... only if I... then... I'll probably come... again."

"Really? You're amazing."

"Susan... oh, yes... called me... oh god... the cum queen. She was... so... jealous. It took... work... get her off. Maybe her new bitch is better at it. Fuck me hard please I'm almost there. I can... feel it... in my... ass."

"Like this?"

"Ohhh... like that. And... and... and can you please put the meat of your thumb on my asshole...?"

"Like this...?"

"Exactly like that."

"It's slippery... it might...."

"Let it! Now... I'm getting it..."

"Squeeze me!"

"OH! I'm squeezing. Oh yes... oh fucking yes... here it is... jeeeeeeez!"

There was moisture on my legs. My balls ached but I couldn't release though it felt so... damn... good. And I knew why.

Shawna was flat on her belly now. It was fine to be lying on top of that round ass with my so stiff cock buried in her, but.... I murmured in her ear...

"Shawna. I'm not wearing a condom. I might have leaked squigglies already. I don't know how potent they are. Should we stop?"

"What? No. Please!" She grumbled into the pillow. "Please go ahead. It's okay. I've got it covered. No. Fuck me until you come. Fuck me deep. So deep. I've had mine. You should get yours. I want to feel you get yours. I want to feel that hot stuff come into me. Come on. Fuck me. Fuck me hard. Get your fingers in my hair. That's right. Pull back as you push in."

I buried my fingers in her curly locks and got a good handful. Lifted her head as I drove deep into her.

A deep groan. Her fingers scrambled to clutch her clit.

"Oh! That's so good like this! It just pushes all the good places." Like a sweetie she helped out by driving her ass back against me. So good. I was riding her thighs like my own personal pony... and beginning to gallop. Runaway. Stampede.

"Oh!"

"Yeah!"

"Oh!"

"Yeah!"

"Ohhhh!"

"Yeahhhhh!"

My face must have red as a beet because I was holding my breath as I drove into her the last time. I could feel the tip of my cock pressing the mouth of her womb. She sqirmed, making me rub her so deep. And then I... just... emptied. All out... and gone. Felt her vagina shuddering and flexing around my cock as she came too, yelling into the pillow.

Out of breath I collapsed onto that ass that was still heaving under my hips... her back under my chest rising and falling with gasping breaths.

A long low wail that I felt in the root of my balls.

...............................

I missed seeing Shawna at TJ's. Had she been fired in the weeks I spent with my sister in Maine? I didn't dare ask, but finally I had to say something to 'the badger'.

"I haven't seen Shawna the last couple of times I've come in. Did she...?

The badger actually smiled. Big.

"Oh... that one. Ambitious. She finished her nursing night school and landed a job right away at the walk-in clinic. They are lucky to have her, even in her condition... That one will go places. And she recommended Marita who is almost as good. That's Marita there. She pointed out a cute gal who could have been any interesting mix of Asian. Maybe my next new favorite TJ's assistant.

And I told myself I didn't deliberately fracture my left big toe as an excuse to go to the clinic. But it made sense. And, yup, there was Shawna at the front desk.

"Mr. Rowland, how've you been? Long time no see. Of course I wasn't at TJ's, but I asked Marita to keep an eye out for you. She said, 'Nobody fitting that description'."

"Hey, I could have got by her, lot of guys fit the description of 'over-the-hill white dude thinning on top."

"Hey, I showed her the picture."

"The picture?"

"Ohhh, you've already forgotten the lovely breakfast omelet I made you after you comforted me so kindly after the 'she who shall not be named' breakup? I took a snap of my 'comforter' at his breakfast table. Really, I was more than grateful. And let's have coffee sometime soon. I put my number in your cell. Did you forget that too?"

"Oh, Shawna. I thought maybe..."

"Shh, I understand. Water under the bridge. But I do owe you, in more ways than one. Stay off that foot for a few days if you can."

I waved to her from the door. She stood and waved back. She looked very professional in her new nurse's smock. Even if she had put on a little weight.

Votes and comments welcome. LK