they met at the grocery store

she worked there 

hed dated more than one cashier

it was destiny he was to date another

Sounds like a line to me her head tilting It’s worked for you before?

he chuckled

              Yare funny When you get to know me better youll understand I woudnt use a line  Im not one to fish

she thought 

             he could see it in her Mexican brown eyesonly her eyes she wore a black mask 

                                                                                                 he did too 

she wasnt wearing a ring

briefly he read her nametag bottom angling forward busty

                                                               Esmeralda he said meeting her eyes My names Joe

I don fish

he wondered if she knew cocksure  he wasnt

he was confident

thought complete

                   her eyes crinkledshe smiled It’s nice to meet you, Joe.

he would have shaked her handcould hear his mother Shook he liked shaked as when he swore she scolded him You know better, you had a good upbringing, education, your father and I . . .  she was right  but there was an acrylic panel between them  there because ignorant peoplethoughtless people shopped there too many old enough to have contracted polio but for their parents who thought better of community 

                                                      Woud you like to go out with me  

handing him the receipt I’m working . . could I think about it?  

he torn the extraneous portion off REWARDS AVAILABLE  POINTS EARNED TODAY  at the bottom of it he wrote his telephone number 

                    handing it to her If youd like Id like if you did      

her eyes crinkled again 

he was certain his did

they met for coffee twice drinks once a movie plain popcorn not buttered dinner once  more frequently they met to walk and talk during her breaks at work 

they ran in the rain from his car through the parking lot to the staircase to her second floor apartment 

                                                                                                           Nooo dammit! 

she forgot to take her keys from her purse while in the car 

he laughed

NO. This isn’t funny we’re getting wet . .

. . Rainwater rinse As a kid good for our hair

                                               bursting into her placeYou’ll have to tell me that story but first let me get us some towels.

Here give me your purse jacket Ill hold them so you don drip everywhere

she did then kicked off her shoes pranced into the livingroom disappeared right into the hall 

cupboard doors opened yankedtussled towels laughter padding of naked feet 

                                                                                    rounding the corner she had one over her headanother on her shouldertossed him a third catching it her purse almost came off his shoulder  she continued to himstood beside him on the tiled foyer That better?

Yes thank you  Your towels smell amazing

OH . thank you. she saidpeeking out from under a towel as she dried her hair a chore  thick black hair to the middle of her back

         Do you need another towel?she started stepping away 

No  Plenty   Im good

out from the folds of plumcoloured fabric wild mussedtossed hair she smiled wide eyes crinklingkilling him with her dimples when they first met he thought she might  unmasked she did 

                                                                    I have to get out of these clothes. I have a robe I think will fit youlet me get it then I can take your clothes, dry them.          

Now yare thinkin  he smiled

she followed 

              You'll have to forgive me, I was engrossed with our conversation in the car. 

You were talking 

Would you stop? failed at acting perturbed You’re a tease.

Anyare my muse I cant help me his mother a tease herself said Myself

humoured Esmeralda shook her head In my defense . . you distracted me.

There you have it serving my purpose

she shook her head vigorouslysmiling I’ll get the robe. Then while we change, when you’re finished, you can pour us whiskyin the kitchen he knew neat to warm us up.

Sounds like a plan 

he undressed the robe fit left his clothingroughly folded on top the towel on the tile eventually found the whisky poured two glasses then went up the hallway to her bedroom at the end

he thought she would have heard him fumbling around in the kitchen opening cabinets finding glasses finding whisky 

evidently not 

              making the bedroom threshold a glass in either hand she gaspedquickly snatched a robe off the foot of the bed held it up in front of herself 

                                     her hair curled at her throatlaid lazy on her shoulders

he tried not to smile wasnt in him Excuse meI apologise Thought Id given you timetha youd heard me

shaking her head no a hand came up to her mouth 

                                                     then her spine went erect then standing tall she tossed her head backshook her mane 

her expression was priceless  

her voice more priceless

                          The mirror’s behind me, yes?

   a freestanding mirror body length

Yes

You can see me?

   Yes

      Beautiful backyour ass is fantastic  Ass setsdefinitely assets

she didnt movedidnt blush

he set her whisky on a low bookshelf beside the door 

                                                         Ill leave this here See you again  in a bit

returning to the livingroom sipping whisky remembering that they were joking about the black masks they wore when they met how much he was enthralled by her Mexican brown eyes but but tha  he was dying to see her wearing a black blindfold for a counterpoint

0050,  Sunday,  11  12. 22

1250,  Sunday