Chapter 9: Par

Don’t question me how I know. Kezia wears double panties, that’s right, two pairs. The space between the layers of panty, she uses as her wallet or purse. She’s very smart and lots of fun. Passionate, too.

Faye declares there’s no room to store my drums at her house, when we stop there. Odd, her house is a huge turn of the century mansion. Everyone peeks at my stuff jammed in, filling the Volkswagen bus. Chatterbox Kezia tells everyone about how we discovered my treasures and how she essentially helped and earned my love. Love? I don’t recall mentioning love! Everyone congratulates us, is solicitous of us being a couple. Kezia never had a boyfriend before and her family is happy for her. She’s clingy, proud, unfortunately and a braggart.

Ruth is my solace, my port of refuge. My lover, confidant, and wise counselor. These roles I wished for Faye but she has other fish to fry.

After Margit dropped me off, with my drum purchases, at my parents home, I hopped on my bike and flew to Ruth’s house.

“Hello, stranger.”

Her chilly greeting puts me on skids. Is she upset with me? Does she have reason to be? It’s only been two weeks since I last visited her.

“Is this an inconvenient time for you? Maybe if I help with your project, we can talk while we work? Do you prefer I just leave?”

Fortunately, I have intuitively taken the right tact to rescue the situation. Ruth’s bright eyes and smile light up her face, dispelling the anger and hurt clouding her brow a moment ago.

“You’re always welcome Earl. Really, I’m pleased to see you, I am!”

“Can I assist you with the stripping? I helped my mom do it once.”

“Sure, it’s a simple but tedious process. Paint on the goo, let the old finish bubble up, and scrape it off. Your help is appreciated and will make it less tedious. The stripping will be done quicker and we can chat to help pass the time. Thank you for volunteering, my love.”

“I’m happy you still love me, Ruth. For a moment, when I first pulled into your yard, I was confused. Worried maybe you didn’t.”

“Never believe I don’t love you, Earl. I will till I die. Before you became part of my life, I was doomed forever to be an old maid. I was upset to see you because I believed I had lost you. That hurt!”

“Why would you think you had lost me? I wouldn’t abandon you, not ever. It’s true, I confess I’ve been delinquent. Forgive me for not seeing you recently. I’m sorry you felt hurt and doubtful of my allegiance. It’s been very hectic for me. Faye pretty much controls my schedule, and her demands were I concentrate on golf and the band, and my days were usedup. Used me up, too.”

“You’re forgiven and I guess I should forgive Faye, too. When I called her, to ask you to visit me, she was quite abrupt. Informed me, Mr. Fixit is out of business. How else could I take that announcement? No other interpretation than you didn’t want to see me again! It so utterly devastated me, my screams torn out of me, brought the neighbors running. So, I told them a rat frightened me.”

“A rodent could never terrify you. Your distraught screams so piercing as to alarm your neighbors is totally unfunny, so I’m not tempted to laugh at the rat tale. If Faye was terse with you, I suspect it’s because I had just unceremoniously broken off with her, and all my clients. She isn’t aware our relationship is, that we’re in love. Even though you intended to be, you’ve have never been a client.”

“I was that first time. I was sick to death of being a perpetual virgin. I called Faye, and arranged for Mr. Fixit to unplug my plumbing.”

“I didn’t know until now, you were a virgin that first time. You never told me and you were not a client despite your eagerness to be. I tried very hard to refuse your gratuity, after we made love the first time. Arguing with you, I quickly learned is futile, so I secretly returned your ten to your purse on my second visit. I’m sorry you suffered that indignity of paying me. I’m sorrier still you suffered temporary heartbreak when Faye told you I was unavailable. She never mentioned you had called. For that matter, she never mentioned anyone called and it didn’t matter to me, because I never thought about clients calling. You do matter to me, very much. You didn’t bleed like a virgin supposedly does, our first time together?”