Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 
   Chapter Nine
   I stopped by Martha's and went straight to the back gate.  I opened it
and expected to see her, but she was gone again.  I looked under the deck
and it was dry, well dry enough to dig and re-set posts.  I looked at her
screen door and the note with my card was still there.
   I got my short handled shovel and dug the pipe up with the leaky
coupling.  I cut it with my hacksaw and got a new coupling and a short
piece of ½ inch PVC pipe from my scrap box.  When I had the pipe and
fitting the right length, I pulled it back apart and glued it good, then
slipped the parts back together.
   I dug out all around the four posts that had leaned when the ground had
become saturated.
   When I had them opened up so I could get the dry mix around them, I
brought two bags of redi-mix around and after a few small moves, got the
two heavy bags under the deck to where I needed them.  I filled the holes
to overflowing with the dry mix, then went to my truck and got my cable
come-a-long, with my 20 foot 3/8 inch chain.  I tied one end around a small
tree with an old shirt of mine around the tree to keep from pulling the
bark off, and hooked the come-a-long to it.
   I tightened the chain and made a few more strokes on the handle.  When I
looked under the deck again I knew this was going to work.  I pulled the
posts straight and took some short 2X4's and braced them four ways.  When I
loosened the tension, the posts were perfectly straight and plumb.
   I was pleased with the way the deck looked after I had pulled it back
straight.  I'd come back the next time I'm by here and turn the water back
on.
   I left a note on the door again that the job was finished and that I was
ready for a swim.
   I was excited that I had finished another job and would have more money
coming in; my business was really picking up.  I decided to put a small ad
in the paper next week and maybe I could really get busy.
   I was passing Mooreland's and out of habit I turned in the drive.  Oh
well, since I'm here, I can get the twenty five, 16 foot deck boards I need
for Ms.  Carsons deck, Carol said she was putting it on an open ticket
anyway.
   I went in and they were busy with an after work rush with people getting
things to take home for last minute jobs.  There were three sales people
besides Carol and I stepped up to her.
   "Marion will you enter this order, we have an open ticket on it for Ms.
Mildred Carson." she said handing the man the note I had figured my
materials on.  Carol walked over to me and grabbed me by the arm, pulling
me away from the sales desk.
   "This has gone on long enough, come with me," she said and pulled my arm
until I followed.  I had no idea what had happened and I was afraid I had
messed up someone's job or had put some materials on the wrong ticket. 
Hell I was scared.
   We turned the corner and went all the way to the back where she shoved
me into a break room where the most beautiful girl in the world was
sitting. I looked at her as she looked up at me and jumped up from the
table, spilling her glass of water on her crackers and cheese.  Her face
was blood red and her eyes were wide and full of tears.  I turned to leave
and Carol slammed the door and locked it.  Damn, she locked it.
   Carol grabbed a dish towel from the sink and wiped the water up just
before it ran off into the floor.  She threw the cloth back to the sink and
looked at Kasey.
   "Kasey Mooreland, this is Billy Sherman.  Billy meet the best friend I
have ever had in this world, I love her as much as I love my sister, but
this has gone on long enough.  Kasey, I want you to meet the handsomest,
sexiest, most likable young man that has ever come in this store.  He is
scared to death of you, simply because he thinks you deserve better than
him.
   "Billy, Kasey is shaking in her Rockies right now because she's afraid
that she isn't pretty enough for a good looking man like you that can make
her stomach flip-flop with just a smile and a little wave like you did
yesterday.
   "Now you two sit down at this table, across from one another and I want
to hear a legible conversation from you or you'll not leave this room if I
have to stay here all night," Carol sounded mad and I thought she was.  I
sure hated that she was so mad at me, I mean I wanted to meet Kasey, but I
guess I did bug her about it and told her I wasn't good enough for someone
like Kasey.
   "Billy, sit down," Carol said.
   "Kasey, I love you, but you need to talk to this man, he needs your help
and if you don't help him, some girl, woman or alien from another planet is
going to snatch him from you and break your heart."
   "Carol," Kasey said and she stopped, then she walked back to the table
and sat down.  I sat down too and looked at her, GOD in HEAVEN, she is
beautiful.
   "Billy talk to Kasey about your business, Kasey listen to him and tell
him how he can do even better than he is now.  Kasey, Honey, please do
this, you'll never regret it."
   "Uh Kasey, I apologize for causing your friend to do this to you.  I
guess I'm to blame.  I keep coming in here and seeing you and asking about
you and wanting to meet you, but scared to, afraid I won't be what you
thought I was.  Carol and I have gotten to know each other and I hardly
ever let anyone else wait on me.  Hoping she will talk about you.  Which
she does all the time.
   "I even went to talk to the Morrissey's yesterday about a job and Ms. 
Morrissey, I mean Candace, told me she was your friend and asked if I knew
you and she just went on about you and how she had classes with you and she
wanted me to meet you.  I mean a total stranger to me, asked me to meet
you.
   "I know I'm making a fool of myself, I knew I would if I ever met you,
but I have no choice now but to talk to you, I've wanted to since the day I
first saw you, then I learned your last name was Mooreland and I stopped in
my tracks.  My mind didn't though, and I thought about you a lot, even when
I tried not to, I thought about you."
   "Carol, I really appreciate you trying to help me in my business, I
guess I have messed all that up now, I wouldn't feel right coming in here
now, knowing I've made a fool of myself like this."
   "Billy," Carol started to say something and Kasey stopped her.  I just
knew this was it, as for me trying to have a handy man business, they were
the only lumber supply store in the whole county.
   "Carol, let me talk, please," Kasey said and I looked at her, her eyes
were still filled with tears and I hurt for her, I remembered the times
when I was a kid and felt trapped in my own messes I had made.
   "Billy, I'm glad Carol got pissed off at me, she isn't mad at you and
your business isn't in any jeopardy either.  Please bear with me, this
isn't easy for me, but I have to do this or I know I will lose the chance
to meet a special person, and a special friend.
   "I have bugged the shit out of Carol about you, she has been very
patient with me and asked, no begged me to let her introduce us.  I kept
telling her, `next time he comes in' and she would let it go.  Today I had
asked if you had been and she said yes, earlier and I felt sick at my
stomach, I wanted to see you at least."
   "Kasey, you don't have to....," I started and she held her hand up.
   "No Billy, I DO NEED TO.  Please let me talk to you, let me tell you
about me and how I feel," she said and I nodded and didn't speak.
   "I don't know where I got my complex from, or why it took over my mind
the way it did, but I know it has made my life and the lives of my parents
and yes I even made life miserable for my best friend in the world.  I
never dated in school except double dating with Carol and the only dates I
had in college was with her and her date.
   "I owe her my life Billy and I'm ready to make some changes in my own
life now.  Because of you and all the people that talk about you and ask
about you and because of the way you are JUST YOU.  You never act like the
big macho man, though you are and don't have to act.  You are woman's dream
to look at and I've had so many daydreams about you that I could fill a
diary in a week.
   "I even asked Carol to find out if you were living with someone or
dating, she even went with me to your apartment and watched you come and go
at different times so I would know.  Everywhere I go I see your fliers or
your cards and when people come in here, they ask for Billy Sherman's
number because their friend or neighbor told them about you."
   "Even my Daddy saw you and asked me who you were, I told him you were
Billy Sherman and he smiled.  `So that's the one everyone's talking about',
he said, he floored me with that statement and I had to run and hide.  He
asked me if I had met you, that he'd heard so many good things about you
that he'd like it if I were to meet you.  "My own Daddy likes you and has
never even met you Billy, what have you got, what is it that makes people
like you; and makes me, the shyest girl on God's earth, want to meet you,
want to get to know you so bad that I'm sitting here about to pee in my
pants I'm so scared, but I'm even more scared that if I don't talk to you,
don't tell you, I will miss something important in my life?  "Do you wish
now that you'd never heard of Moorelands, do you hate Carol for having a
scared little shit of a friend that can't speak for herself?  Do you think
I'm some schizophrenic weirdo bitch that's afraid of a normal relationship
with a handsome man?" she stopped and looked at me.
   "No, I don't.  I do think I know now why I wanted to meet you though.  I
wanted a woman just like you, one that was smart as a college professor,
beautiful as a model, and sexy as hell.  As for your family money, I could
care less; I am broke on my ass and I still like myself.  My parents still
like me too.  I really think that if you gave me a chance, you would like
me too Kasey.
   "I'm not going to tell you that I'm the best thing for you, I'm probably
the last thing you need in your life.  I'm not the man you think I am.  I
have doubts about ME as a person and about my ability to make it in this
world.
   "I've met a lot of good friends since I started my little handy man
business.  I started it because I lost my job, my home, and my truck, then
I borrowed Dad's carpentry tools and started this to survive.
   "I've made some mistakes and I've let some things happen that I
shouldn't have, but I'm still standing, and until they bury me, I'll
continue to stand up and try.  You scare the hell out of me Kasey, and you
make my heart beat like a drum when I see you, I'm not talking about
because you're sexy as hell, I'm talking about wishing I could meet a girl
like you."
   Kasey was smiling now, I was grinning because she was smiling.
   Carol stood up and I started to stand too.  She put her hand on my
shoulder.
   "Billy Sherman, if Kasey wasn't here, I'd tackle your ass myself.  I
love the way you express yourself.  Oh to hell with it," she said and
grabbed me and kissed me on the mouth, sucking my tongue into her mouth. 
Then she stood up and grinned at me and turned to Kasey.
   "Kasey I am so happy that I was here to hear you talk, to hear you tell
someone your feelings with no regard as to being hurt or ridiculed.  If
Billy weren't here, I'd kiss you just like I did him."
   "Fuck it," she said and grabbed Kasey.
   They kissed as long as we did, then Carol pulled back and looked at her
friend.
   "I love you Kasey, I think you're going to make it now.  I hope and pray
to God that you and Billy make it together, but if you don't, I hope each
of you make it.  You are both special people; I need to go, I have a
husband that's going to be home in a few days and I need to clean house. 
He's going to get the shit fucked out of his ass and he doesn't even know
it yet," she said and before I even realized she was leaving, she was gone
and the door was closed.
   Here I am now, having told this beautiful young woman how I feel and who
I am and now I'm scared again, I'm right back where I was before Carol
dragged me in here, scared of Kasey Mooreland.
   She looked at me with her big brown eyes and I nearly cried, I was so
happy just to have met her.
   "Want to go get some ice cream?" I asked, my heart in my throat and my
face so red I felt like I had a fever.
   "I love black walnut, do you?" she asked.
   "My favorite," I said and we both laughed.
   When we walked out of the break room and back up front, they were
already locking up for the day.  I opened the door for her and she smiled
as she walked by.
   "I guess we better take your vehicle, mine's kind of junked up," I said
knowing my seat was full of everything, including my tool belt.
   "Sure, over here," she said and walked over to a new GMC Sierra pickup,
nice ride.
   "Nice ride Kasey," I said as I stood on her side and waited until she
clicked the door lock with her clicker.  I opened the door for her and she
looked at me and grinned, I really thought for a second she was going to
kiss me, then she got in and I closed the door and walked around to get in.
   "Daddy bought me this when I went to work here fulltime, he said it
would look better to the customers; image he called it, I love it though. I
drive it more than the car Mom bought me for graduation from Mizzou.  I
guess that makes me sound like a spoiled little rich brat, but I'm really
not."
   "I graduated from Mizzou too.  Rolla, class of 2000."
   "Rolla, class of 2006," she said.
   Kasey drove to the Baskin Robbins ice cream shop at the strip mall down
the street and parked.
   When we had gotten our double-dip of black walnut on a sugar cone, we
sat at a small table in the corner and talked more as we licked and ate our
ice cream.
   "Billy, I'm so happy that Carol got pissed and frustrated at me, I'm not
sure that I would have ever gotten the courage to speak to you.  Now that
we've already talked just a short time, I feel as if a big load is off me
and even though I'm still a nervous wreck, I'm absolutely thrilled to be
here with you.  Thanks for asking me to come here and get ice cream with
you."
   "I feel good about our meeting too Kasey; I wanted to meet you, but I
was afraid that that I wouldn't measure up and I'd be let down even more. I
guess I was thinking that it was better to have you as a daydream, than to
meet you and not even make an impression on you.  I'm still nervous too,
I'm scared also.  But I feel good sitting here with you.  I hope we can be
friends, now that we've been officially introduced, even if Carol did have
to get pissed at BOTH of us before it happened."
   "Carol is the best friend I could ever have; she knows all about me and
still loves me.  Her husband is on his way home from Afghanistan, he's
served two tours now, and she's thrilled that he's coming home safe.  I'm
proud for her too; I know they want to start a family now, even though
he'll be in active reserve for a few years yet."
   "I hope everything works out for them, she seems like a person that has
her head on straight," I said, then noticed the look on her face.
   "I wish I did too Billy, but I'm getting there, believe me I am.  Please
be my friend and I'll find a way to get my head on straight too, you'll
see."
   "I didn't mean that I thought you didn't, I mean, I didn't mean that I
thought there was something wrong with you.  We have the same feelings
haunting us, in a way.  I was never popular in school and Mom and Dad
helped me a lot to get over being so shy around girls.  By the time I was a
senior, I had more friends that were girls than boys.  I was fine as long
as we were in a group or just hanging out together, but I was still too shy
to have many dates.  The ones I did have, the girl asked me out and I
couldn't refuse."
   "Billy, I really think that was the reason I was attracted to you in the
first place, well, maybe the second place, I liked your looks and you're so
tall and you were always so polite to the sales people in the store.  But
anyway, you just seemed to be yourself, you came in and even the married
girls like Carol and the secretaries in back that saw you, they all thought
you were just the perfect man."
   "Me, they thought that about me?"
   "Yes, and I was jealous when I would hear them, but I never told anyone
but Carol that I thought you were handsome and that I hoped we'd meet
sometime."
   "Well, I hope you're not disappointed.  I'm just me and I don't know how
to be anything else.  I wouldn't want to be if I could either.  I told you
I was down and just about out when I started my handy man business.  I'm
not ashamed of that either, I know I can pick myself up and make a good
living doing this.  I sure appreciate the help of your people up front too;
they take numbers and give them to me, especially Carol."
   "I want you to meet my Daddy sometime, you'll like him and I know he'll
like you for your hard work and determination."
   "I know he's a busy man and I'd just be someone you dragged in to meet
him, maybe sometime he'll be in the store and we'll meet."
   "That will work too," she said and we got up to leave.
   "I hate to take you back to your truck now, will you promise that you'll
come speak to me when you come in again, I know I'll be doubting myself by
then.  I'm sorry that I'm that way, please bear with me, I really do like
you."
   "I wish we had more time too, but I'm glad we met and I really enjoyed
sitting and having ice cream with you.  A friend told me once that if I
ever wanted to just talk to a girl, ask her to go have ice cream, so I
did," I said and we both laughed.
   When we got back to my truck I thought about the materials I had come to
pick up, I looked up at my top rack and saw the boards I had ordered.
   "They loaded my truck!" I said.
   "That's Carol for you," she laughed.
   "Thanks Kasey, I enjoyed it, I'll see you soon I hope.  I'm going out
early tomorrow and finish a fence at Ms.  Winters, then finish a deck at
Ms. Carsons, and a shop building at Hoppy Cassidy's next week.  I'll be
back before the weekend and get some more supplies though."
   "You really are getting busy.  Thanks Billy, I had fun.  See you soon,"
she said and put her hand out to shake.  I took her hand and we both just
sat and looked at each other.
   "I had fun too Kasey, I hope you'll have ice cream with me again
sometime," I said, not knowing what to say, wanting to say a lot of things,
but scared to because it may not come out right.
   I got out and went to my truck as she backed out and waved, I smiled and
waved and she smiled really big and left.
   I saw my load ticket and smiled, these folks are really the best.
   I had a lot of thinking to do and wanted to be by myself, it was early
yet and I felt like I was loafing when I went home.  I took a hot shower,
since I was home early and no one had used all the hot water.  I put a load
of clothes in the washer and started it, then lay down on my bed.
   When I heard the washer click off, I took that load out and put another
one in.  I started the old dryer and went back to lie down and relax and
try to sort out my thoughts.  I kept thinking of Kasey and what all we'd
talked about.  I really do like her, even more than I ever thought I would.
I know we'll never be more than friends, what with her being the daughter
of one of the richest men in Meade Junction.
   We can still be friends though; damn, she is really a beautiful young
woman.  If I could have ordered a woman from my dreams, I would have
ordered her.  As I lay there half asleep, I heard the dryer buzzer go off,
I took a pair of boxers out first, put them on, then folded the rest of my
clothes.  I put my jeans in next and set the dryer again.  My washer and
dryer were ancient, but knock on wood; they were still running smoothly and
got the job done.
   I was just about asleep again when the dryer buzzer went off.  I got up,
still groggy and went to get my jeans out.  I plugged my iron up by the
kitchen sink and set my ironing board up.  I straightened the legs of my
four pair of jeans and folded them back tight while they were still warm.
   I use a lot of starch in my rinse water in the washer and then all I
have to do is sprinkle water on my jeans and iron them with a hot iron,
like Mom showed me years ago and I had some really, nicely ironed jeans to
wear.
   I used to take them to the cleaners and have them done with heavy
starch, but times are hard now and I do it all myself.  When I had them
ironed and hung over the round hangers, I unplugged the iron and went
straight to bed.  I set the clock and was asleep in no time.
   I woke up before the alarm went off, still having slept over eight hours
for the first time in a while.  I dressed and left.  I almost stopped at
the Waffle House, but drove to a convenience store and got a sausage and
biscuit and a cup of coffee.
   I was out at Charlotte's really early and took two of my cordless drills
out and my new 25 pound plastic pail of screws.  I finally got all my stuff
together back at the fence and filled the two big pouches on my tool belt
with screws.  After carrying two armloads of fence boards to where I was
starting, I made my mark on the board where I wanted it to be on the 2X4
stringers.
   I was ready; it took me a few boards to get in the routine, but soon I
was putting them up as fast as I could get them in place.  I would put one
screw at the top stringer and one on the opposite side at the bottom,
spacing the boards with a small spacer I had made way back when Dad and I
did this.
   I already had three, 8 foot sections of fence up when I saw Charlotte
walk out with two cups of coffee and head my way.  She was wearing her
pajama bottoms and a tee shirt and was barefoot as she walked across the
grass wet with dew.
   "Hi handsome, want a quick cup of coffee?" she said as she leaned up to
kiss my lips lightly.
   "Sure, and thanks," I said and took the coffee, looking back down the
fence that was finished to check the alignment.
   "That looks so good already Billy, I'll be so glad to get it up, you
sure have done an excellent job," she smiled as she sipped her coffee.
   "I had some good help too; they really pitched in and got a lot done."
   "They'll be up soon and help you some more, but they have cheerleader
practice at 11:00, so they'll be gone by 10:30."
   "By then, we'll have most of it done and I can finish up."
   "Here's the money Billy, I got it in cash yesterday so I could pay you.
I know what cash means to a contractor."
   "Charlotte, I'm not even through yet and this looks like too much
money," I said as I looked at the wad of hundred dollar bills."
   "If I paid you double, it still wouldn't be enough pay for all you've
done here, now put that in your pocket before you hurt my feelings," she
smiled and walked away.
   I just stuffed the money in my pocket and drank my coffee.
   By the time I heard Polly and Sera coming across the yard, I was only
two sections from the corner.
   "Billy, Mom told us you were here and already started, wow, you sure
have gotten a lot done this morning," Polly said as she stood next to me,
naked as ever, smiling as she drank her bottle of orange juice.
   "I wanted to get an early start and finish today, your Mom said you had
practice this morning, if you both want to, you can relax and I'll get this
done."
   "No way Billy, we have our gloves and we're here to help until 10:00,
now give us both a big kiss and let's get started," Sera told me.
   I kissed them both on the lips, they wanted more, but I wanted to keep
it cool.
   After I showed them what I was doing, they jumped right in.  Sera would
mark the fence board at the right place and Polly would hold it up and I
would fasten it, then space the bottom and secure it too.
   With their help, we really took off now and soon were around the corner
and two sections toward the front on the long, west side.
   Charlotte came out at 7:30 and gave all three of us a kiss and the girls
a pat on their naked butts and was gone.  By 10:00 we had finished that
side and they helped me move my stuff over to the short fence on the east
side of the yard.  We moved the remainder of the fence boards over too and
they kissed me again, then went to shower and dress.
   I had changed batteries once and put the first one on charge, I changed
again now and started the last run of fence.  I stood up to take a break
and looked around at the fence.  Damn, now that looks good.
   By the time they came back out, I was just two eight foot sections from
being through.
   "Billy, will you come back and see us sometime?" Polly asked as she
leaned over to kiss me.
   "I'll try my best to get back out one day and see all of you," I said as
she backed up and Sera leaned over to kiss me.
   "We sure hope so Billy, we really have enjoyed being with you and we
loved the sex and the way you made us feel about ourselves," Sera told me.
   "You two are very special women, just remember the things we talked
about, and let everyone know that you are in charge.  Don't do it like
you're above them, just do it like you know what you're doing," I told them
and they smiled.
   "Bye Billy, we love you," Sera said as they turned.
   "Bye Billy, and thanks again," Polly said as she ran back to hug me,
then ran to catch Sera.
   I watched them walk across the yard and somehow they looked like they
were actually older as they talked and looked back to wave at the gate.
   I put up the last two sections, then filled my tool pouches before
starting back around the entire fence to put the last two screws on the
opposite sides of each fence board.  I had to come back and refill my
pouches twice more before I made it around to where the existing front
fence came out to the corner from the garage and joined the new fence.
   I walked all around the fence again now, looking down the straight line
on each side, looking at the tops of the boards and the bottoms too.  It
all looked really good and professional.  I was proud of my Dad all over
again for teaching me about so many things that I could do with my hands.
   I cleaned up all the mess I had made, raking down any piles of dirt
where the holes were dug and picking up anything that didn't belong in the
yard as well as outside the fence perimeter.  I packed away all my cords,
chargers, batteries and drills.
   With one more walk around the whole place, I saw nothing that was out of
place; and I was pleased.  I looked across the wide field to the back and
wondered if the old voyeur was looking as I took my hat off and waved it in
his direction before walking to my truck and leaving.
   I drove back over to Martha's and saw her car in the open garage.  I
stopped and went around back, rattling the gate as I entered and yelled for
her, I didn't want to frighten her.
   "Billy, I'm happy to see you.  You did a fantastic job on my deck, it
looks so good to see it not leaning now.  It's so sturdy too, I feel so
much safer."
   Martha stood up, fastening her bikini top, not in the least shy about me
looking at her perfect titties.
   "I was getting worried about you," I said as she reached up to hug my
neck and kiss my cheek.
   "I'm sorry, my sister had two tickets to three different shows in
Branson over a two day period and she asked me to go with her, her husband
never takes off and goes with her.  It was a spur of the moment thing when
he decided he didn't need to go.  We had the best time though and her
daughter called her last night to tell her that she had met the man of her
dreams and Margaret was on cloud nine."
   "I'm glad you enjoyed your trip then, when did you get back?"
   "We got back earlier this morning, we got up and ate breakfast and left,
it's only a three hour drive."
   "I need to crawl under the deck and turn the water back on, I left it
off to let the glue set."
   "While you do that, I'll get your money," she said and went to the back
door, her sexy butt swaying as she walked.
   I went to the other side of the deck and crawled just a few feet to turn
the water on and listened and looked it over good to see if there were any
leaks.  I was satisfied there weren't and came back out to see her standing
on the steps.
   "Here's your money Billy and I'm so happy to get that fixed.  I wish we
had time for some fun in the sun, but I'm meeting Margaret and my niece for
a late lunch at the country club, will you come back to see me soon?"
   "Thanks Martha, and enjoy your lunch, I'll call you and try to get back
in a few days, I've really been busy lately and have three more jobs I'm
working on plus one yet to start, that is if I get it.  Candace Morrissey
wants a porch converted into a sunroom for an art room and I hope I get
that one, it'll pay good."
   "I know Candace well, if I see her at the club, I'll put in a good word
for you," Martha said and we hugged before I left.
   I drove by Ms.  Carson's and carried all the framing materials around to
her back yard.  I knocked, but she didn't answer and her carport was closed
so I guessed she was gone.  I left her a note and told her I would be back
day after tomorrow and finish her deck.
   I was feeling really good now as I drove through on my way over to
Mooreland's, I wanted to get the materials ordered for Hoppy's building and
get it set up to be delivered.
   When I turned on the next street I saw Clara Millen's house and pulled
into the driveway.  I walked around to the gate and called out.
   Kay came running around the corner of the house in an even smaller
version of the bikini she wore the last time.
   "Hi Billy, come on in, we're all in the pool, the water's still kind of
cool but we got it filled and the filter pump going.  Mom and Granny have
already checked the PH and added some stuff to the water last night."
   She was as happy as she could be to have a swimming pool and she looked
good too, even if she was white with pink splotches on her.
   We walked around the corner and I saw Judy and Ms.  Millen in the pool,
they were both bare breasted.
   "Kay, we're going to skin your ass, why didn't you tell us Billy was
here.  Billy, I hope you don't mind that Mom and I are topless, Kay run in
and get us something to put on," Judy said, laughing the whole time as she
tried to stoop down in the water and cover her huge melons.  Clara Millen
wasn't a bit shy about hers, she stood and walked to the inside ladder and
climbed out.  I was amazed to see what a good cosmetic surgeon could do
with a few stitches here and there.  She wore a tiny black bikini bottom
that was tied low on her hips and her hair was wet and dripping as she
turned to me.
   "Billy, I know you've seen titties before and a couple more won't make
you go blind; besides, I'm proud of mine and you can look all you want,"
she said as she stood proud and erect.
   Judy climbed out then and hers were huge, natural and sagging just a
bit, but still looked great.
   "Billy, if Mom can show hers, I guess I can too, come on over and sit
down and figure us a price on a deck so we can lay out here naked and get
some sun, we love this pool," she said as she sat beside her Mom.
   Kay came back and saw them sitting bare breasted in their chairs and
pulled her strings to expose her big teenage titties to me.  Hers were a
younger version of her Mom's and she knew they looked on her, she was as
proud of hers as her Granny was her own.
   "You all look good to me, I hope I never get tired of looking at naked
women," I laughed.
   "We're not naked, but when you get us a deck built, we want a short wall
on this side so we can all lay here naked and get really dark, all over."
Clara Millen said.
   "Billy, what we had in mind was a deck that sort of curved around this
end of the pool and went all the way to the back porch.  Can you measure
that and tell us what that would cost?" Judy asked.
   "I sure can; Kay, you take this end of the tape and go over to where
your Mom says stop," I said and she took the end and walked across the end
of the pool.
   "Stop there Kay.  Mom, what do you think, more or is that enough?" Judy
asked her Mom.
   "Billy, you back up some more, we want it plenty big," she said and I
backed up a few feet.
   "How wide is that Billy?"
   "18 feet."
   "Kay come here where Billy is and go all the way to the porch and lets
see how big it will be," Judy told her.
   Kay walked with the tape in her hand to the porch as I stood at where
the corner would be.
   "What's that Billy?"
   "30 feet."
   "Wow, well we wanted a big one, can you figure it 20X32 and let's see
what it would cost?" Ms.  Millen said.
   "Sure, do you want it the same height as the top of the pool or a little
higher?"
   "A little higher I think, don't you Mom?" Judy asked.
   "Yes, maybe 6 inches higher and curved around the pool on the end too."
   "It'll take me a while to figure this, but if you have a calculator I
can borrow, I'll figure it for you," I said.
   "I'll get it Billy," Kay said and ran to the house, her firm young
titties doing crazy tricks as she ran.
   I knew the prices of the different boards I'd need from memory, I'd seen
enough tickets I'd gotten from Moreland's.
   Using my measurements, I figured how many deck boards, then how many
2X6's and treated 4X4's to make it as tall as the pool.  I also figured the
2X12's it would take to make the stringers as well as the steps too.
   "I came up with $2150.00 materials, tax and labor included," I told them
after double checking my numbers.
   "Does that include the steps from the deck to the ground, out here next
to the pool?" Ms.  Millen asked.
   "Yes, four foot wide steps included," I told her.
   "Do it Billy, when can you start?" Judy said and Kay was jumping up and
down, making her young titties do even more crazy tricks.
   "I can come in the morning and start setting the posts, then it will
take them a few days to set the concrete good.  I have two more jobs going,
but I'll get back and frame the deck by the middle of next week and then
put the decking on the next day."
   "Then lets get it going," Clara Millen said and she started dancing with
her granddaughter, both pair of their proud titties doing special things as
they did.
   "Do you have an account ay Mooreland's?" I asked.
   "No but we can go by and pay them as you get the materials." Ms.  Millen
said.
   "I'll have them put it on an open ticket for me and put your name on it.
They've done that before for me, I'll tell you when I've picked up the last
of the materials so you can go by and pay."
   "Thanks Billy, I'm so glad we got you to help us with this, we still
want a long skinny dipping swim with you, we'll wait for the new deck now
though, we'll have more room," Judy laughed and Kay giggled.
   I took my long tape out and with Kay helping me, we marked off the
corners and got them squared.  Then I strung my line for the posts and
marked each hole.  I did these the same as the ones for Ms.  Carson's deck
and when we were through, I felt better; I had figured them right the first
time.  There would be forty posts for the 20 X 30 deck with four foot
spacing in both directions.
   It was only a little after 3:00 and I drove by the bank to make a
deposit.  I pulled my bills out and counted them twice, I had over eighteen
hundred dollars.  I was happy but shocked that I had this much.  I
deposited fifteen hundred and felt really good about my business now.  I
called Hoppy's number and Cassidy answered on the first ring.
   "Hey sexy little assistant, I was going to go by Ms.  Carson's and
finish her deck this afternoon, want to make a little money and help me?"
   "Wow yeah, let me holler at Mom and make sure," she said and I could
hear her holler too.
   "I can go Billy, are you coming to get me now?"
   "I'm on the way, be there in ten minutes."
   "I'll be ready and waiting in the yard, Mom said HI."
   "Hi back to Mom," I said and she laughed and hung up.
   I saw Cassidy jumping up and down before I even got there and as soon as
I stopped she was in the truck and talking.
   "Billy, I sure am happy that you are my friend, I can't believe that
you're letting me help you build a deck.  You really don't have to pay me
though and Mom said so too."
   "Cassidy, you're my friend and I want you to make some money, girls need
spending money to buy sexy little things with," I said as I looked her
over. She was wearing another crop top over her big titties, the bottom of
her hard globes exposed and I wondered what Ms.  Carson would think about
this.  She had on some of those hip-hugger shorts that are barely as wide
as a wide western belt.  The top of her butt crack was exposed as she sat
forward in the seat and I could see her pussy lips when she sat back.  I
knew she was naked under her skimpy clothes.
   As soon as we got to Ms.  Carson's house, I started unloading the deck
boards.  Cassidy went around to the back yard with a long deck board and
Ms. Carson came back with her.
   "Hi Ms.  Carson, I got through earlier than I thought I would and wanted
to come on over and start your job, we may not finish today, but we won't
lack much," I said as I looked at her.  She also had on some tight white
shorts, though not as tight nor as small as Cassidy's.  She was wearing a
white tee shirt too and I knew she wasn't wearing a bra today, her small
nipples weren't lying about them being naked under that shirt, way they
were poking through the thin fabric.
   "Hi Billy, I'm glad you came back to get mine done then, I'll help you
and Cassidy carry these boards back there."
   "You don't have to do that, I can get them."
   "Billy, I'm a school teacher, not an invalid, I like working in my yard
and getting dirty, I told you that."
   "Yes I know, I must say you look more like a gardener today than a
school teacher, but I like the look."
   "Hush Billy, I'm too old to look good dressed like this, you and Cassidy
caught me by surprise," she said and smiled at me.
   "Age doesn't have anything to do with a woman looking good in her
clothes, and you know it."
   With the two of them helping, we got all the materials moved from my
truck to the back yard.  I brought a saw and my cordless drills back and
Cassidy brought my electrical cord and my levels.
   I made some quick measurements to refresh my thinking and started
putting up the outside framework.  Cassidy held the boards for me and we
were careful to not move the posts, in case the concrete had not set good.
I knew that as soon as I got the frame up and started the decking, the
posts wouldn't move anyway.
   Cassidy caught on real fast and I had the joists cut and lying on the
ground.  I showed her where the marks were on the outside frame and how to
center each board on the mark.  From there, it went really fast and as soon
as I had a board in place, she centered it and I put screws in it.  I put
one on each end and when we had them all in place, I told her to take a
break and I'd go back and put two more in each end.
   We had the joists in place and secured in a little over an hour and I
showed her how to lay the deck boards across the frame of the deck.  I got
the first board in place and fastened it on both ends and one screw in each
joist, then I started the second one.  I went all the way across the deck
as Cassidy lay them in place, I spaced them and fastened them down.
   The shade of Ms.  Carson's house was now covering the entire deck and
the temperature dropped too.
   When I had the last deck board in place, I popped a chalk line on the
end that I had let run long.  Then I took my saw and cut along the line,
making them all the same length.
   I started putting in the screws now that I had left out when I fastened
the boards.  Cassidy watched me as I did this and I let her put some in,
showing her how to let them sink in just a little to keep from sticking up
and hurting someone barefoot.
   "Go out to the truck and get that other Ryobi cordless drill and you can
help, it already has a bit in it that fits these screws," I told her and
she grinned at me then Ms.  Carson.
   "Billy, that girl thinks you hung the moon, you should have been a
teacher," Ms.  Carson told me.
   "Thanks Ms.  Carson, I guess it comes easy because of the time and
trouble my Dad went to, to help me learn; never fussing, just correcting me
when I made a mistake.  I'm a product of his patience," I told her and she
smiled.
   I was on my hands and knees as I crawled around on the deck, putting in
screws, two at each joist.  Cassidy came back and I took my tool belt off
and handed it to her so she'd have a pouch for her screws and she grinned
again at me.
   I got the plastic pail of screws and scooted it across in front of me as
I took a screw out each time and sunk it into the boards.
   By the time we were through, the sun was down and I had completed
another job, this had been a very good day for me.
   "Ms.  Carson here's a copy of the ticket at Mooreland's, they'll have it
at the front desk when you go in to pay them," I said and handed her the
load ticket.
   "Billy, here's the money you told me you'd do the job for and an extra
fifty for Cassidy," she said as she handed me a wad of bills.
   "I was going to pay her Ms.  Carson, I asked her to come with me so I
could try and finish your deck today.  I know you saw how she works, and I
wouldn't have finished if she hadn't been here."
   "I know all that, but I want to pay her too," she said.
   "Then here, you pay her yourself and I will too, it'll mean a lot more
to her, to know that you were pleased with her work."
   "Billy, like I said, you should have been a teacher," she laughed and
took the fifty dollars.
   When Cassidy came back for more tools, I handed her fifty dollars and I
thought she was going to cry.  She looked at me with her bottom lip
trembling and thanked me, then she lunged at me and hugged her face to my
chest.
   "Cassidy, I want to pay you too Hon, you did a great job and I'd love
for you to come over sometime and help me in my yard, that is if you would
like to, I'd pay you and I love your company," Ms.  Carson said and Cassidy
did cry then as she hugged her teacher.
   "Thanks Ms.  Carson, Gramps told me this morning he was going to buy me
a car before school starts, maybe he and Mom will let me come over and sit
on your deck with you some in the evenings too," she said through her tears
and Ms.  Carson had tears too as I looked at them.
   "I hope so Hon, I've got a good looking young neighbor boy that just
moved in here this summer, he'll be a junior this year too, maybe we can
get him to come over and sit with us," Ms.  Carson said and looked at me
and winked.
   "Wow, really, is he tall like Billy, I mean I hope he is, but if he's
nice, then it doesn't matter does it." Cassidy was excited and I was happy
to see her like this.
   "You'll really like him, he's tall and cute and he grins a lot, we'll
get him to come over and drink tea with us."
   "Thanks Ms.  Carson, you're the best and I'm going to make all A's in
your class this year."
   "I want you to make all A's in all your classes, you can do it and I
won't settle for less."
   We gathered up the rest of my tools and my cords and left Ms.  Carson
sitting on her new deck, drinking a glass of tea.
   "Billy, I think you are the best person in the world, besides Gramps and
Mom, and you know how much I love them," Cassidy said as we drove out to
her house.
   "Thanks Cassidy, and let me know when you get your new car, I want a
ride.  I'll be out here late Monday or Tuesday morning and we'll start
framing the shop."
   "We'll be ready Billy, are you coming in?"
   "No, I need to get back to town, I have to get up early again tomorrow
and I was up really early today, tell your Mom and Hoppy Hi for me and I'll
see all of you in a few days, I do want a kiss though," I said and she
turned to me with a big smile.
   We kissed like we had the last time, out at the creek and I had to push
her away, I was wanting more and I knew she did.

   
  
JRyter's Handy Man Chap. 9