Donna was happy to be home from work. “Another day another fifty cents after taxes”, she muttered under her breath.” She took out her keys and began to open the outside door to her apartment building. As she opened the door, her neighbor in the wheelchair was coming home from where ever he spent his days. She decided to wait for him and to hold the door knowing it was difficult for him to pull it open.

Donna waited for him to cruise up to the door and into the foyer. As they both stopped to check their mailboxes, Donna glanced sideways at him. He wasn’t an unattractive man, but his condition, and the wheelchair, had kept her from getting to know him. For some reason, she decided to change that right now.

“So how was your day neighbor?” she asked smiling at him. She glanced down at her mail while waiting for his reply.

Jerome was arriving home from work. He worked in the accounts receivable department at his father’s investment firm.

Jerome felt depressed because a gal at work had rejected him for a date. This was not uncommon. His disability was a turn off for most women. They generally looked at him as either a friend, or brother, or someone they could mother. Very few considered him dateable. The few that did were more interested in his condition than in him.

As he rolled down the street in his depressive funk, he saw Donna standing by the door, waiting for him. His mood brightened. Donna was a very pleasant lady and always smiled at him when they passed in the halls.

When she asked about his day, Jerome decided to take a shot. Pulling out his iPad, he replied using the voice app, and said “Fine, thanks for asking. Would you like to join me for dinner tonight? I don’t want to go out, but don’t want to be alone either. We could get to know each other better.”

The words made Donna freeze. “Tonight, come over, I ... I ... don’t know...” Jerome knew that Donna found him intriguing, and not for his condition. She was kind enough to wait for him to respond. Most people got irritated when he took so long to answer even the simplest of questions. He typed on his iPad and pressed speak, “Come on, I have seen the way you have smiled at me. You know that you want to get to know me. Give me a shot.”

“NO!” She exclaimed when the iPad fell silent.

Seeing his face at her harsh response she realized she needed to clarify her meaning. “You misunderstood. I was always taught that it’s rude to visit someone empty-handed. I have anything I can bring over, but I can run to the store. What time should I be there?”

Jerome’s iPad said, “Don’t worry about it. You don’t need to bring anything. How’s 7ish?”

“I’ll be there, with something.” She smiles at him and starts up the stairs.

Jerome rolled into his apartment and changed into a dress shirt, and a comfortable pair of jeans. Putting The Very Best of The Eagles on his sound system, he went into the kitchen humming along. He put a frozen Lasagna in the oven, and some sparkling grape juice on the table. Using his good china, and cloth napkins, he set the table for two. As a finishing touch, he put two new candles out and lit them.

Donna went to her apartment and dropped her stuff. She stripped off her work clothes and looked in her closet for something to wear. Shaking her head she felt betrayed by her wardrobe. ‘Way too many work outfits, not enough casual outfits.’ she thought to herself grimacing as she tried to figure out what to wear to dinner with a cute neighbor.

Settling on a pair of jean shorts that emphasized her shapely ass, and left her long legs bare. She slipped her feet into her favorite cowboy boots. Then she pulled on a pink spaghetti strap top with a white button-down blouse over it. She tied the ends of the under her breasts, to lift and expose a bit more cleavage. She smiled at her reflection, debating on wearing her cowboy hat. She decided to let her long wavy locks hang free, then grabbed her keys and wallet. She headed to the local grocer and bought a fresh dutch apple pie, some ice cream, and cool whip. She was three minutes late when she knocked on Jerome’s door.

Jerome pulled open his door and looked her over not believing how sexy she looked in her outfit. “You look amazing,” the iPad said as Jerome stared at her legs.

Remembering his manners, he took the desert from her and gestured for her to follow him. He wanted to show her how independent he was despite his condition.

Donna stepped into the apartment and looked around. “Did you do this yourself. I didn’t know that you were able too ... er uh ... I mean that ... that is...” Her face turned red when she realized that she sounded like she was talking to a small child.

“I always thought you had some help, but I guess you don’t need any help. It’s very nice,” she said hoping she didn’t sound as condescending as she felt saying it.

Taking a deep breath, she looked at him “Lasagna? Homemade or delivery?” she asked wondering how he knew it was one of her favorite foods.

“It’s Stoffer’s,” Jerome admitted on his iPad. “Shall we sit down to eat?”

“Well ... if it’s Stouffers, it’s got to be good.” She giggles at her joke, then says “I’m guessing it’s ready to eat huh?”

Jerome didn’t say anything during dinner. He concentrated on staying neat. He didn’t want to look like an uncoordinated slob in front of her. He let his mind and his eyes wander over Donna’s legs and the boots.

He remembered the night he was sitting by his window and she was going out. She had looked so damn sexy, in those boots, he had to masturbate as he watched her walk down the street.

When the lasagna was almost gone, Jerome got out his iPad and it asked “Any questions for me?”

“Well I don’t want to sound rude, but I can’t think of another way to put this. What is wrong with you?” She asked kindly.

“Nothing is wrong with me. I am healthy as a horse. I do have a condition called cerebral palsy that affects my legs, joints, and speech. I do have help a few mornings a week to help with some tasks I have trouble doing. Showering and certain housework. Otherwise, I’m pretty independent. Any more questions?” He asked not taking offense at the phrasing of her question.

“So all your bodily functions ... function? Is there any treatment or way to lessen or reverse the effects or how it affects you?”

“I did have some therapy when I was young, but there’s no treatment,” he replies. “What do you mean by function?”

“Do you need any medical devices or help with biological functions. Like in the bathroom, or ... bedroom?” Her face flushed red, and she turned her face away embarrassed. But she had often wondered how he dealt with tasks she took for granted.

“I do need help in the bathroom, sometimes. As for the bedroom... , “ his face flushes when he hears the iPad say what he typed “ ... I don’t have much experience. I have the desire, never had anything more than a pity blow job from my step sister. Except for this one time at a concert, a stoned chick thought it would be cool to blow the cripple.”

Donna could see the anger and contempt he had for this woman who used him for her own selfish reasons. “Wow, that’s umm okay, damn.” She had no idea what to say. She could tell he didn’t want pity. She pitied the shallow girl who never got to know Jerome as a person. ‘Her loss my gain’ she thought to herself.

Enjoying their conversation, she asked “When were you diagnosed? How long have you been in the chair?” leaning forward exposing a bit more of her cleavage to his gaze.

“I was born with cerebral palsy. I started using the chair in elementary school,” he said without rancor. “I can tell there’s something you’re especially curious about. What is it,” The iPad asks.

“I’m want to get to know you. We’ve been neighbors for years, and we’ve never talked. So, you’ve been in the wheelchair since you were a kid? That must have made school painful for you? Hell, I had braces in 7th grade and cried myself to sleep every night because of the teasing. I can’t imagine what you went through.” Donna says, trying to empathize with him.

Smiling, Jerome admitted, “It took me 14 years to get through college. Too many professors didn’t know how to work with someone in a wheelchair.”

Donna nods in sympathy, as she realized she was interrogating Jerome. She hadn’t offered anything of herself in return. Sitting up straighter, she asks “Am I being rude? Interrogating you about your life without talking about mine? Do you have any questions?”

Jerome figured to the bold goes the victory, and only hesitated for a moment, “Are you dating anyone? If you are not, would you like to date me?”

“Well, there’s this one guy I hook up with on occasion. It’s somewhere between a booty call and friends with bennies. We aren’t serious, and to be honest I’m getting a bit tired of him. So no, I’m not dating anyone. As for dating you, you’ll have to ask me to find out.”

“Can you at least tell me if you think I am attractive?”

“You answered my personal questions. I guess I don’t have the right to refuse to answer yours.” She paused to take a breath. “You’re not unpleasant to look at.” She said winking him, “As for how I thought about you ... I’ve often wondered if you could enjoy life’s carnal pleasures. I never thought of us ... until tonight.”

Jerome smiled at her admission and wondered how far she would go on a first date. He unbuttoned one more button on his shirt, and said, “I can please you if you give me a chance.”

Her eyes widened at the turn of events. Donna found herself considering his offer. She had planned on calling her part-time lover, but his offer somehow sounded more fun. “Well should we have our dessert, or would you like some warm apple pie and cold ice cream topped with some cool whip?” She asked, teasingly.