I have a hot lawn crew. That's all there is to it. There are are four of them, are all of a different ethnicity than me, handsome, raging in age from maybe a little older than me to almost-embarrassingly (but not quite) young. They are all close to my height, which is a rare treat for me, and a bit of a fetish for that reason, and they are dark skinned and fit, with nice hair, and they dress well, even to work on lawns. They are also cheerful, confident, efficient, friendly, polite - all things that add up on my abacus.
They usually call before they come (that seems polite and standard in many situations, really), so I can pick up dog toys and the garden hose or watering can or anything that's out (and really, put on some clothes and draw the blinds. I am not that trashy.*) but today they did not. The weather has been very wet, so I have been expecting them to just come when they could, so I wasn't actually surprised, and they apologized. They caught me in the middle of making breakfast though, and it was such a nice, rare sunny morning that I had my heart set on eating outside, so I did.
I couldn't help but feel a little lady-of-the-manor shame, lounging in the shade, having my polenta and cubano** while they did my yard, but I was barefoot, doing my thing, looking and acting just as I would if they hadn't been there. I don't pay their wages, so I didn't feel that for long. Maybe even let myself feel a thrill of it before it was gone. I enjoyed the morning, their presence part of it, and did my best to not make them feel observed or uncomfortable. I mostly sat back and stared at the leaf canopy above my head, focused on my good breakfast or chatted with the dog, who behaved beautifully and make me look like A Good Master. I like that in a dog.
The three elder crew members were all in the back and sides, 2 mowing, one weed-eating, a ways from me, and i did not see the youngest, most sharply dressed and fancy-haired, for a moment. Then, out of the corner of my eye i saw him kneeling, right in my eyeline, but in such a way that it should have only been obvious to me, stop for minutes and carefully pull every weed from around my budding blueberry bush. He never looked at me, that I know of. I didn't watch him the whole time, because that would be trashy, but he was there long enough that I had plenty of time to observe him over my coffee cup and while petting the dog at my feet. Not one other plant in my yard was weeded in such a way, probably ever HAS been, even by me. That was intentional and very, very fun.
I was looking so grubby, morning-rugged, slightly fuzzy all over, dirty feet-bottoms, as always,tank top, baggy old army capris, farmers tan - don't give a damn, and yet here is a beautiful young man taking very deliberate time to weed one specific plant, across the yard, in the direction i happened to be staring off into. It seemed like time stretched watching him there, because it was such a stand-out flirt. I wish I could have applauded.
Of course my mind went a million directions after that, and I hope his did too.
There are so many shades of hot, so many ways to let a person know they are appreciated that fall outside the heretofore accepted norms, and bring you far beyond the heretofore accepted thrills. We are a gift to ourselves, to each other, to the Universe, just as they are all a gift to us, and we should unwrap them often and be grateful.
Muchas gracias señor. Eres muy dulce. Usted ha hecho mi día.
- ZF
*Though I think about it, especially after today. Lots of new stuff for the library. Mm. Lordamighty.
**that is really what i was having, i was just accidentally trendy and thematically correct.
