ENDING THE YEAR… Odds & ends (Part 167k)
The box I’d used
didn’t have a top and could only be opened from the ends. When packaged
at the factory the panties are banded with a white strip of paper in
groups of three. I’d opened one end and reached in and pulled out one
pack of three along with the tissue paper. When Woody saw that her faced
immediately flushed and she looked around. She said something that I
don’t remember understanding and made a motion for me to put what I had
in my hand back in the box. I didn’t and put the panties down on the
table in front of me. The tissue paper pretty much covered the panties
but Woody was clearly uncomfortable. From where I was standing there was
no one who could possibly see what was on the table and I tried to pass
that on to Woody but she still wasn’t happy. I remember telling her
about the pack of three and that there was another in the box but all
she wanted was to have them put back in the box. I did and handed her
the box. Without looking at me she thanked me and took the box. I was a
bit puzzled as she hadn’t exhibited that kind of shyness when we’d first
discussed the idea of her trying out the panties. It had been in my car
when driving her home when she’d missed her bus. It had been dark so I
really hadn’t seen her face to know how she’d reacted. I could only
remember her saying “yes…” when asked if she’d like to do it. There
wasn’t much I could say at that point so told her “good night” and
headed for my desk. I was a bit disappointed in not having at least a
comment about the panties but hoped I’d have an opportunity in the
future.
At home Elle had three messages for me. One from Andy,
the realtor; one from Johnny, the painter and one from my old friend
“Big B”. It had been a while since I seen him. He worked for a marine
supply company as an over the road salesman. But, with the renewed
interest in the America’s Cup sailing races the owner of the company had
decided to open a satellite office near where much of that activity was
centered. “B” loved being on the road and the fact that he was on
commission. A very social person, he prided himself in being able to get
new customers. The owner tapped “B” to open the new facility and “B”,
reluctantly, agreed to do it. With the sailing season over “B” was
finally back to living at home and wanted to get together. I liked that
idea and Elle agreed to inviting him over for dinner sometime the
following week.
Andy wanted to thank me for finding where the
squirrels were getting into the house next door. He also told me that
there was a very good chance that the house would be sold. The people
who’d been looking at it had made an offer and he was in the process of
talking the owner into accepting the offer. In closing he told me to be
looking for a package on my back patio the following week. I hung up
wondering just what it might be. When I told Elle about the house it was
like I’d given her a present. She’d been hung up about the house being
empty ever since it was confirmed that migrant workers had been living
in the house back during the Summer.
After I first met Johnny and
told him of my being a part owner in a race car he’d been after me to
take him to see it. I’d told him to just stop at the garage owned by
Cliffy’s father and ask to see it… but he was reluctant to do it. After
talking with him I agreed to meet him there the next morning. I’d go to
the landfill and then to the garage and, hopefully, get back home in
time for lunch. An interesting sidelight to the call was that he’d hired
Nick, the young man living with the minister, to help him since he was
limited in what he could and couldn’t do with his bum arm. I felt good
about that because I’d taken a liking to him right from the time I’d met
him.
I hadn’t seen Cliffy since the night the crew put the race
car away for the Winter. His wife, Beth, was there when I arrived. It
had been a month since I’d seen her when we were at the championships.
She was a big woman to begin with and now with but a few weeks to go
until the due date she was enormous. Elle had never gained more than 20
pounds with any of our three but by the looks of her it had to be a lot
more than that. To make conversation I asked if there was an expected
date and she her exact words were “Only Santa knows…” and then laughed.
Johnny arrived and I introduced him to Cliffy and took him back to the
car. There was no doubt that he was impressed as he asked a myriad of
questions. After a while I looked at the clock and saw noon was almost
upon us. I told Johnny I had to go and took off. As I walked out the
door he was talking with Cliffy. I had a feeling Cliffy wasn’t too happy
with me for bringing him.
On the way to work on Monday I got to
wondering what Woody thought of her new panties and fantasized her
wearing her oatmeal colored slacks while wearing a pair of them. It
turned out to be just that… a fantasy, as she was wearing a skirt. At
least I took some pleasure in pretty much knowing what she had on for
panties. I’d barely settled in at my desk when Joanie let me know I had
phone call. It was Morris. I’d made a bet with myself thinking he
wouldn’t call as he'd said he would and when he didn’t on Friday I
thought I’d won. But, now I was happy I’d lost. The first words out of
his mouth were to warn me not to betray him by letting anyone know that
he’d called me. Then, in a sort of backward way, he thanked me for
getting him involved with the bank. He said he thought that the
committee was a f____d up group but had a feeling that he could work
with them anyway. He said he had a “prime location” lined up closer to
the County line where we’d be able to draw from a much larger
population. He admitted he had a real job ahead of him in convincing the
group to spend the money necessary to buy the property. Then I heard
him sort of chuckle as he said that was how he earned his money. I was
reluctant to ask questions but got up the nerve to ask if he’d let me
know if and when they made a decision. He hesitated and I didn’t ‘push’,
satisfied that I’d gotten the information that he’d shared. After
hanging up I had sort of a smug feeling that in spite of being denied,
physically, of being a part of the planning process I still knew what
was going on.
I knew it was too much to expect that I’d have an
opportunity to see Woody where there weren’t others in close proximity.
It wasn’t until Wednesday, the day of the full Board meeting. One of the
annoying habits that some members had was to arrive at just 3pm where
they wouldn’t have time to transact banking business. I’d get a call to
have someone come to the Board room to collect their ’business’ and take
it down to a teller who’d already started counting her cash. They hated
that. It had mostly been Trish to do it because they were all familiar
with her. I’d not sent Joanie since her move to be the receptionist and
Trish was still the ‘go to’ person… except she had asked for the
afternoon off. So, I decided to be the one. I’ll be truthful and say I
did it because I wanted to see the members who were on the branch
committee and having information that they didn’t want me to have.
Childish, I know… but I did it anyway.
Collecting their
’business’ I headed down the back stairs not really wanting to interrupt
the proof process of any teller. I went to Lorie to ask who I should
take it to and she pointed towards the drive-up area. Without even
trying I’d gotten what I’d hoped for… a few minutes with Woody. When she
saw me coming she looked down and away from me.
To be continued...
No comments:
Post a Comment