Chapter 3: Waiting for the right girl to come along

I was sitting on the porch at my dad's one morning and I saw that cute gal Kim ride by; she waved and honk the horn. Dad hadn't come out yet so I waved back at her as she drove by. A few seconds later I heard a big bang, almost like a gunshot. I hurried to the road and saw Kim's car pulled over to the side. I headed towards it; it was only about a hundred yards down the road.

As I approached the car I saw her for the first time. She was opening the trunk when I approached the car. She then started kicking the tire and yelling at her car. It was the first time I really saw her and I have to say she was a looker. She stood maybe five feet tall and very petite; she looked sexy as hell. Let me try to explain: she was sexy, but not slutty, adorable but yet beautiful and that was what I saw in my first five seconds.

People always ask what you notice first when you see someone. With Kimmy, it was everything. Her eyes, nose, mouth, body, hair, she had it all.

"Stupid tire, stupid tire, dumb car! I'm so mad at you," she kept repeating as she continued kicking the tire.

I was just glad that it was a blowout and not gunfire. I was almost laughing and I know I was smiling as I approached the car. "Can I be of any help to you?" I asked this cute, beautiful, pretty young woman.

"Stupid car has a flat tire. I finally have an interview for a job in half an hour and the stupid tire blew out," she said to me.

"Let introduce myself. I'm Jim Burke. I think you know my parents..."

"I know who you are. Your dad talks about you all the time. I'm Kim Morrison; my friends call me Kimmy."

"Well, Kimmy," I smiled hoping she would consider me her friend. "What say we get the spare out and change this tire so you won't be late for that job interview?"

"Sounds good but the stupid spare is flat too. I'll never make it to the interview," she said sadly.

Even mad and sad she was the sweetest looking girl, or I should say woman.

"Look, wait here and I'll go get my truck and give you a lift to your interview. I don't want to see you lose the job."

"I don't have it yet. It's just an interview but I would be grateful."

I went and got my truck and pulled up along side of Kimmy's car. I got out, grabbed the spare tire out of her trunk and threw it in the back of the truck. "While you go for your interview I'll stop by the service station and get your tire repaired."

"You don't have to do that. Just taking me to the interview is more than enough. I don't want to put you out," she smiled.

"First off, Kimmy, you're not putting me out. I've wanted to meet you ever since I saw you waving to my dad. Besides, if I didn't help you, dad would skin me alive. I think he thinks of you as his daughter," I smiled again.

"I love your parents. I've been talking to them for years now. At least when I'm home. I graduated from college last year. I want to help children in pre-school. I finally got an interview for that position."

"Don't take this wrong but if they don't give you the job, they are both nuts and blind," I smiled.

Kimmy smiled as I pulled up in front of the nursery school. "Thank you again for the ride. I really do appreciate it."

"I'll be back in about an hour and a half to pick you up and take you back to your car, unless you would prefer to walk," I laughed.

I know she wanted to thank me again but she had to go in for her interview. While waiting for her I went and got her spare tire fixed. It was just low on air. I had time to take it back and put it on her car. I drove her car back to the service station and had a good used tire put on the rim of the blown out tire then drove back over to the nursery school and waited for Kimmy. I was hoping I wasn't late getting back.

She came out about fifteen minutes later looking for my truck. I honked her horn and she came to her car smiling. "So, how did it go?" I asked.

"You got my tire fixed and put on the car. You didn't have to do that. What do I owe you?" she asked.

"Right now, an explanation! Did you get the position?"

She gave me the most beautiful smile. "Yes, I start Monday. I'm going to help teach the pre-school kids. From ages three to six. It's a great age for kids. I'm so happy." She was smiling.

There was no doubt in my mind that she would get the job. It's kind of hard to say no to an angel. That's what she seemed like to me. I drove back to my parent's house where I left my truck. I told Kimmy that I picked her up a used tire as a spare.

"What? I have to pay you back. I can't have you paying for things like that," she said.

"I'll make you a deal. Go out with me Saturday and we'll call it even."

She looked down in her lap. "Jim, I have a date Saturday. I'm so sorry."

Damn, that hurt. I thought I'd try again. "Okay, then go out with me next Saturday."

"I can't. I have a previous engagement that Saturday also. I'm so sorry."

I figured I was beginning to understand. "It's okay. If I were you I wouldn't want to go out with me either," I said rather solemn.

"No, I want to go out with you," she butted in very quickly. "I do have a date Saturday and next week I promised my brother and sister that I would take them to the amusement park. Kings Island is less than two hours away and they are each taking a friend; I can't disappoint them."

"Do you have a friend that you are taking?" I asked.

"No. Are you saying you will go with me? Do you really want to be around four teenagers?"

"Yes, but I'll be riding the roller coasters with you. Is it a date then?" I asked.

She smiled back at me. "I'd love for you to come with me. It's been awhile since I've been to an amusement park. I wish I didn't have that date Saturday now," she said.

She told me a man that comes into the store she works at had asked her out a number of times. She had always refused but decided to give it a try. He was a couple of years older than her and worked in an office near where she worked. She did tell me after a lot of discussion that his name was Alan Smith.

She drove off and I told her I would see her later. I sure wish she wasn't going out with this Alan guy. I was already jealous and I hardly knew her. I was going to see what I could find out about Alan Smith.

I had to go to work and figured I'd find out what I could about this Alan guy tomorrow. Not much I could do about it anyway. I had trouble keeping my mind on my job. My mind kept thinking about Kim.

I got up the next morning and went over to dad's and helped with feeding the animals. Afterwards we sat on the porch and talked. He thanked me for helping Kim the day before. He cared a lot for her and was glad I helped her. She had stopped over in the evening and she talked with mom and dad about me.

I told them that I was going to Kings Island with her and her siblings next week. Dad smiled; he said she told them about me when she started junior high. I asked dad what she said and he just laughed. "She'll tell you if she wants you to know. You take care of her, Jimmy. She's not just a piece of tail; she's our friend too."

I knew dad was serious and I told him that he had my word that I would never hurt her in any way. I really meant it. For some reason I was falling for this girl that I knew for such a short time, was it even possible?

"Jimmy," my dad said. "A man is only as good as his word. Your word is good enough for me."

To some people that might not mean much. To some of us sons out there, we want to please our dads and get their approval. It could be at any age. To me this was my dad saying, "I believe you, son. Your word is good enough for me." I got my dad's approval and that means so much to me. I think I might have even shed a tear.

Later that day I went to see Clay. I really hadn't talked to Ellen since the two of them had been a couple. I knew that one day I would have to face them together. I went to the auto dealership and Clay and I went outside and talked a little. He told me his life was so much better since he and Ellen had been dating. He really felt that the two of them belonged together. I felt good for him but at the same time I did have to wonder.

I asked him if he knew this Alan Smith. I didn't know why it bothered me so much but it did. Clay kind of laughed and said that I had met him. I never remembered the name or remembered seeing him.

Clay said, "Do you remember the swingers party, last year? I know you remember the only other young couple besides us."

"Yes, it was that cocky white kid with the good looking black girl. I definitely remember her," I laughed. 'She gave the ... oh, never mind, I know you know."

"That guy was Alan Smith. He usually finds younger women and takes them to the swingers party. Of course I haven't been to any since Ellen and I have been together. Like I told you, I don't want to share Ellen with anyone," he smiled.

A deep depression came over me. This guy was the one Kim had a date with tomorrow. I wanted to stop it but how could I? She and I never dated. Oh, God, maybe she knew about his past. I was really upset now. I had to go to work and wouldn't get a chance to see her. I called her house first thing Saturday morning but was told she went shopping with her sister and was expected to be gone all day.

Shit! Piss! Fuck! I was uptight now. That evening I drove by her house and her dad said she went out that evening. I apologized for bothering him and told him I would call her tomorrow.

"You're Jim Burke, aren't you, Ed Burke's son?" he asked.

"Yes, Mr. Morrison, I am. I met Kimmy the other day when she had a flat tire."

"She told me about that. You saved the day for my little girl. Drove her to her job interview and fixed her car besides. I want to thank you for that."

"No problem, Sir. Glad I was able to help. If you don't mind, please tell her I stopped by and will see her tomorrow."

"You're welcome here anytime, Jim. Thanks again for helping her."

I gave my respects and went home. All I could picture was that bastard putting his hands all over her. I know she wasn't the type - at least I hoped she wasn't. I was falling for her and it really bothered me.

I stopped by dad's Sunday morning and we talked about life in general. After breakfast I told him I was going over to see Kim. I don't know if he knew about her date the night before and I sure wasn't going to tell him. I did tell him that the following week I was going with her to Kings Island. I hoped it was still in play. Hard to tell since I didn't know how her date went.

As I drove over to her house I thought about what transpired between us so far. I saw her drive by and honk the horn at my dad and mom's. I helped her by giving her a ride and fixing a flat tire. I knew she had a date yesterday and I somewhat invited myself to the amusement park next week. Other than that, everything I thought about her was in my head. I knew she looked and talked like a precious angel. But, was she? Dad and mom loved her and she came from a nice family. Maybe I was going a little too fast here; at least in my head.