don’t think any of us knew just how great until we caught a glimpse of her returning from the shopping extravaganza sporting some of her new attire. She was wearing a button-up, orange and white plaid shirt from which she’d removed the sleeves. Her petite jean shorts hugged every curve and melted away into creamy white thighs and the sort of long, smooth, yet muscular and quite shapely legs every man dreams of and that only stopped when they met the cute little Converse tennis shoes she wore with no socks.
I had to wonder if she was doing it just to torture me, and I did my best not to stare.
In sharp, and somewhat libido-crushing contrast, Claire came back sporting a too-big Georgia Tech t-shirt, baggy “mom” shorts, and unflattering black sandals. I found it kind of cute in a way that only a husband could; still, I couldn’t help but wish she’d followed Joanna’s lead during their wardrobe selection.
I wasn’t about to mention my disappointment though.
Upon the return of our lovely shoppers, and we got them settled around the picnic table under the shade of the store’s covered porch, we sent Shane and Paul out with the trays of hors d’oeuvres. The girls were immediately smitten with their tiny waiters and “oohed” and “aahed” over the spread set before them.
Will and his wounded rear helped watch Jason since he was having trouble serving and walking at the same time. Meanwhile, dad and Ray followed behind our miniature wait staff with cold beer in real glasses that we’d brought down from the upstairs apartment’s refrigerator. I mentioned to Ray that it would probably be fine for Pam to have a small glass just to tingle her taste buds. But with it being his first child, and knowing the birth would likely have to take place without a doctor present, he and Pam were being extra cautious. I couldn’t say I blamed him. Claire and I had been much the same way with Jason. Instead, Ray mixed her a special glass of chocolate milk from the powdered milk and chocolate syrup we had on hand from Mary’s.
Dad, Ray and I served the appetizer and main course, while Paul and Shane acted as bussers, removing finished dishes and going to retrieve more beer for those who wanted it. For dessert, we let the boys take a break from their work and join in the delicious apple treat.
It was a fabulous feast, and the women relished the attention that was lavished upon them. It’d been too long since they’d had time to relax and indulge in some pampering, and it was far past due. It also made us men feel good again to be able to provide our women with some level of comfort and spoil them just a little bit. But I think that more than anything, it was the feeling of a slight return to normalcy that made us feel the best of all.
After the women were finished, the men sat down to eat and have a beer themselves, they boys enjoying a soda as their payment for a job well done.
Later, we all lounged contentedly on the front porch, basking in the late-afternoon warmth, watching the kids play in the empty street, and enjoying a day that would live on in all our memories.
* * *
“Moo doggy!” I heard Jason yell outside. “Big, big moo doggy!” he kept on.
Claire and I were inside the store sweeping the first floor’s play area free from dust and debris the kids had tracked in with them during their last play session.
Jason had been playing out front in the street with Paul, Sarah, and Shane.
Moments later, I could hear the sound of Paul’s voice from the street yell, “Holy crap!”
I looked at Claire just as Jason yanked the screen door open, stepped inside, and let the door bang violently shut behind him – something we’d asked him to refrain from doing more times than we cared to count.
“ Biiiiig moo doggy!” he drawled, pointing behind him toward the front door, his eyes wide with excitement.
Claire and I leaned our brooms against the store’s front counter
I had to wonder if she was doing it just to torture me, and I did my best not to stare.
In sharp, and somewhat libido-crushing contrast, Claire came back sporting a too-big Georgia Tech t-shirt, baggy “mom” shorts, and unflattering black sandals. I found it kind of cute in a way that only a husband could; still, I couldn’t help but wish she’d followed Joanna’s lead during their wardrobe selection.
I wasn’t about to mention my disappointment though.
Upon the return of our lovely shoppers, and we got them settled around the picnic table under the shade of the store’s covered porch, we sent Shane and Paul out with the trays of hors d’oeuvres. The girls were immediately smitten with their tiny waiters and “oohed” and “aahed” over the spread set before them.
Will and his wounded rear helped watch Jason since he was having trouble serving and walking at the same time. Meanwhile, dad and Ray followed behind our miniature wait staff with cold beer in real glasses that we’d brought down from the upstairs apartment’s refrigerator. I mentioned to Ray that it would probably be fine for Pam to have a small glass just to tingle her taste buds. But with it being his first child, and knowing the birth would likely have to take place without a doctor present, he and Pam were being extra cautious. I couldn’t say I blamed him. Claire and I had been much the same way with Jason. Instead, Ray mixed her a special glass of chocolate milk from the powdered milk and chocolate syrup we had on hand from Mary’s.
Dad, Ray and I served the appetizer and main course, while Paul and Shane acted as bussers, removing finished dishes and going to retrieve more beer for those who wanted it. For dessert, we let the boys take a break from their work and join in the delicious apple treat.
It was a fabulous feast, and the women relished the attention that was lavished upon them. It’d been too long since they’d had time to relax and indulge in some pampering, and it was far past due. It also made us men feel good again to be able to provide our women with some level of comfort and spoil them just a little bit. But I think that more than anything, it was the feeling of a slight return to normalcy that made us feel the best of all.
After the women were finished, the men sat down to eat and have a beer themselves, they boys enjoying a soda as their payment for a job well done.
Later, we all lounged contentedly on the front porch, basking in the late-afternoon warmth, watching the kids play in the empty street, and enjoying a day that would live on in all our memories.
* * *
“Moo doggy!” I heard Jason yell outside. “Big, big moo doggy!” he kept on.
Claire and I were inside the store sweeping the first floor’s play area free from dust and debris the kids had tracked in with them during their last play session.
Jason had been playing out front in the street with Paul, Sarah, and Shane.
Moments later, I could hear the sound of Paul’s voice from the street yell, “Holy crap!”
I looked at Claire just as Jason yanked the screen door open, stepped inside, and let the door bang violently shut behind him – something we’d asked him to refrain from doing more times than we cared to count.
“ Biiiiig moo doggy!” he drawled, pointing behind him toward the front door, his eyes wide with excitement.
Claire and I leaned our brooms against the store’s front counter
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