Wheels of Steel, Book 1

by Pepper Pace

  “We should do that more often,” he said when he was situated in his seat.

  “That would be cool.”

  She wheeled him back into the building and to computer class. Once his laptop was set up, instead of navigating to YouTube, he went into his computer files. He handed her his acoustic headphones. She looked at him in surprise and accepted them. He used his MP3 ear buds and double jacked into the computer.

  Then he played the song. She leaned forward and Jason watched her face take on a beatific expression.

  As the week moved forward, Jason found that Robin had infiltrated many areas of his life. Between classes he took the time to explain the meaning of something that seemed to confuse her. He took pleasure in watching her confusion disappear, replaced by her enthusiasm to understand.

  For the first time in a long time, music took a back seat. His days were spent with Robin and his evenings spent talking to Sweetheart. Link called every day, wanting to work on beats. But he would put it off because he was too busy with two girls; one outgoing and funny, the other reserved but enthusiastic. He couldn’t figure out which he liked better.

  Robin was going through a similar situation. Each day she hurried to work so that she could see Jason and at night she’d hurry home so that she could turn into Sweetheart and be that cool girl that talked to boys and was easy-going and fun.

  Things even changed at the school. One day she was staring quietly, trying not to meet anyone’s eyes. And then the girl that they called Patty spoke to her.

  “Robin.” That’s all she said but then a door opened for Robin as she met the girl’s eyes.

  “Yes.” Not a question, just a confirmation.

  “How bad does this suck?” The girl’s lip curled into a slight smile as her eyes quickly swept the group of loud obnoxious friends…friend’s that weren’t hers.

  “Less than it did one minute ago.” And then Patty smiled full out and Robin did as well.

  Every day after that, Link flirted with her, Patty included her and Amberly ignored her. But best of all, Jason opened up to her.

  Sometimes at lunch they headed outside for the commons instead of the lunchroom and that is what she enjoyed most. After paying for lunch, instead of wheeling for the table of friends he would just wordlessly head outside.

  Then she’d sit on the grass in front of him and they would talk about class, people, music, everything. He didn’t bring up the party to her but he did bring up the Jacuzzi.

  “Are you going to get into the Jacuzzi with me, Friday?”

  “No.”

  “Why?”

  She didn’t want to tell him that she didn’t want to put on a bathing suit. Some girls had bodies made for bathing suits, but not when your thighs and butt were more thick than slim. “I don’t have a bathing suit.” She said honestly. And it is not easy to find one this time of year.”

  “I bet I could find you a bathing suit online.” He said with a shit-eating grin.

  “Never mind. I will find my own bathing suit. And when are you going to practice for that gig next week?” She changed the topic. He chuckled.

  “Fine. Change the subject. Um…I will do that next week.”

  She nodded and he hid a pleased grin that she would even ask.

  Things felt better for Robin this second week with Jason, though Friday loomed ahead of her and the misery of seeing his mother again. Maybe she would come around now that he had. Thursday after classes she followed him into his apartment as he wheeled for the bedroom to remove his braces for her to take.

  He moved to the bed easily and again fumbled with the fly of his pants. She was just about to move forward to assist him when the button came undone and he smiled to himself proudly at the achievement. Seeing that smile made her happy that she had waited patiently.

  Then he easily swept down his pants and unstrapped one of the braces. Robin worked on the other for him, almost smiling at the cute boxers.

  “So your Mom will be here in the morning…which means-”

  “Well, you can come later; at eight because my Mom can help me with whatever I need done.” He gave her an intent look. “But I’ll be honest with you. My Mom is kind of putting you through the test.” Robin gave him an ‘ah ha’ look. “And the quicker you pass it the better it will be for all concerned.”

  She stood up holding the braces. “Do you think that I will past her tests?”

  Jason waited a heartbeat before answering. “You passed mine and that’s the important thing.”

  Chapter 20

  Friday Robin arrived at her normal time. What Jason said made sense. The quicker she dealt with this last obstacle the better. She rang the doorbell and plastered a happy smile on her face.

  Jason answered the door this time. He returned the smile which was the first time she’d seen him do that in the morning. As he had indicated previously, Jason was not a morning person.

  “Hello, Mrs. Hamilton.” Robin spoke. His mother was scrambling eggs and had just slid them from a skillet onto two waiting plates.

  “Hi…Robin is it?”

  “Yes.”

  “Grab the butter out of the fridge, please.”

  Robin did as she was asked as the two sat down to eat scrambled eggs, toast and sausage. The coffee already sat before them so no need for her to do that. And…how was she supposed to pass this test if she had nothing to do? Jason was watching her discreetly. When he caught her eye he glanced at the sink of dishes.

  Mrs. Hamilton continued talking about some event that she was going to hold while Robin ran dishwater and began washing the cooking utensils. The drone of her voice along with the backdrop of music that was ever present in Jason’s home caused Robin to fall into a comfortable rhythm of cleaning. She left the water so that she could finish the breakfast dishes but then went into the living room to gather his things to place in the car. When she returned, his mother was finishing up the dishes.

  Robin studied his shaggy face. “Jason do you want a shave?”

  “Yes!” His mother answered for him.

  Jason’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Sure Robin.”

  She hadn’t shaved him at all this week so he was fairly shaggy. “If you like having a beard I can just trim it for you.”

  “My mom doesn’t like facial hair.”

  So she slathered his face with shaving cream, realizing afterwards that the cream expanded a lot and she had a bit too much. He seemed amused but did not reprimand her. His eyes did close as she rubbed the lather onto his face, and he sighed in contentment.

  Rinsing off her hands in the basin that was half filled with warm water, Robin brushed his curls back behind his ears so that they wouldn’t get snagged by the lather. Then she concentrated on stroking his face gently with the razor.

  Jason could barely keep himself from staring. Had he ever seen a girl as beautiful? Why hadn’t he ever realized how perfect she was; had never taken note of the bridge of her nose and how it sloped upward meeting that round tip of hers? And her lips were full, some would say big, but so perfectly formed that they bowed. There was a blush of color there that had nothing to do with makeup. Her skin was creamy perfection.

  As Robin shaved him, she thought that she had never seen a more masculine jawline. Her eyes caught sight of the pale scars there and she pictured the injury that had caused it. The blood must have been bad. She was so happy that she hadn’t had to see it. She would have freaked out. Her eyes searched his face for the other scars, along his forehead, one on his lip, and she knew that there was some on his shoulder. She had a sudden urge to run her fingers along each scar and to place a slight kiss on them…

  After the shave, Jason looked at himself in the mirror and gave her a nod. Then she used her comb to work on the tangles of his hair and once that was smooth she cleared her throat.

  “Time to use the bathroom?” He nodded wordlessly. This time Robin didn’t care what his mother thought, she went to the door and shut it. Then before doing anything else, she lifted
the toilet seat.

  She helped him to stand, noting the smell of shampoo and shaving cream as well as Jason’s own distinct masculine smell. It reminded her of fresh baked bread. She liked it. And when he leaned into her so that she could help him stand, she closed her eyes momentarily to savor it.

  Once standing and seeming to have himself braced, Robin unzipped his pants. She had thought about this for several days and had come to a practical decision. This was part of her job and she had no need to be afraid. Jason was a gentleman, he never made her do what she didn’t want to do and she was being very unprofessional in not offering to help him whenever he had a need of it. She decided that from now on she would be the Aid that he needed. That would include helping him with his toilet needs, as well as rubbing his legs the way Raymond had shown her.

  As professionally as she could, she reached into his boxers and carefully removed his penis. She aimed it into the bowl and then watched Jason’s face instead of the thing that she now held in her hand. He was looking down, either at the bowl or at his penis, she didn’t know which, but immediately it jerked and a stream of urine hit the bowl.

  Robin decided that if the bathroom door opened at that precise moment then Jason’s mother was a pervert. The door did not open. When he was done she shook it as he had previously instructed and then she returned him to his shorts. She got him buttoned and back into his wheelchair.

  “Thanks.” He said as he wheeled out of the bathroom.

  “You’re welcome.” She flushed and got everything cleaned up and then followed him into the living room. Mrs. Hamilton was sitting in the one armchair smoking a cigarette.

  “Have a seat, Robin.” Robin sat down primly on the couch. Jason was behind his computer and he glanced up curiously.

  “Mom I want you to hear a song.”

  “Play it son.” She turned her attention back to Robin. “So what do you think of being a caregiver for a boy with cerebral palsy?”

  “I…it’s different then helping the elderly. They mostly sleep.”

  Love’s End began to play. “Mom, Robin helped me with this song.” Jason interrupted. His mother paused to listen and then gave Robin another look. “You mix music?”

  “No, ma’ame.”

  “You make the videos?”

  “Robin sang that.” Jason said enthusiastically. Robin felt herself blushing.

  “Ahh a singer.”

  Robin was already shaking her head. “No, no I’m not a singer. I’m a caregiver.”

  “Are you a student?”

  “No ma’ame.”

  “Is this a profession that you intend to stick with?”

  It had been a means to make money…would this be her profession? She hadn’t thought that far ahead. “I don’t know. Maybe.”

  Mrs. Hamilton looked back and forth from Robin to her son. “I like that song. It’s different then Wheels of Steel music. This is more my speed. You should do more of it.”

  Jason nodded in agreement. He wanted to do more…but hadn’t had the courage to broach Robin again with his ideas. He’d already pissed her off once. She wouldn’t be too anxious to do it again.

  The two went on to school, and classes went smoothly with no seizure. At lunch they decided to give Alabama’s Fish bar another shot and again went to the park to eat. This time Jason’s fish came covered in condiment gook mimicking Robin’s and he ate every delicious bite without choking.

  At rehab Jason asked if Robin was wearing a swimsuit beneath her clothing and when she told him no in a loud voice he decided to bypass the Jacuzzi. Raymond greeted Robin with enthusiasm and Jason gave her a worried look. She seemed to like the man. He wanted to kick his friend when they went through their stretching exercises—he even tried to but it only amounted to a tap which Raymond ignored.

  After stretching his tight limbs he got a full body massage. This time Raymond allowed him to lay on his stomach so that when Robin offered to rub his legs she wouldn’t see the effects that her touch had on him. He closed his eyes and concentrated on other things, but all he could see was her brown hand holding his paler dick from earlier, and how he had squirmed not to get hard. Now it was all too much and he lost the battle. He was just 19. He was at his sexual peak. Isn’t that what people said? A stiff wind could make him erect, not to mention the touch of a woman that he found very attractive.

  ***

  Robin had enjoyed her time just working one job. She had been able to get caught up on her rest and to pay another visit to Mrs. Lucille this week. She was getting healthier and would soon move to her new home at the eldercare facility. This they didn’t speak of during their visit. Miss Lucille didn’t bring up her son the, Doctor or her grandkids or the women’s group. Miss Lucille spent the time asking questions about Robin’s new client.

  “How old is he?”

  “Nineteen. He has cerebral palsy.”

  “The palsy. Poor thing.”

  “Yes, ma’ame. But he’s very capable. He goes to college and has his own apartment.”

  Miss Lucille gave her a tired smile. “Is he nice?”

  Robin found herself inexplicably blushing. “Yes.”

  Miss Lucille nodded as her eyes closed. “That’s good, dear. Everyone needs a nice boy in their lives.”

  “Oh! But he’s…well, he’s not in my life or anything.”

  Miss Lucille’s eyes opened. “He’s your friend, right?”

  Robin nodded. “Yes. He is my friend.”

  She closed them again. “I wish I had married a younger man. I loved my husband, bless his soul. I was 13 when I got married and my husband was 27. He died when he was 55 years old. I was a widow at 41.” Robin knew all of this. Miss Lucille had mentioned it in passing as she told other stories. But she never talked about her husband directly, for some reason.

  “He left me money and I was taken care of. And when he died I never remarried. Back in those days only a special kind of woman remarried. I fell into one of the cracks, and because of my position in the social circles, I didn’t dally with men. You only dallied once you were married. People talked and it would destroy your standing if you did anything like being caught having an affair.”

  Robin watched her quietly. Miss Lucille seemed to be saying that she hadn’t been with a man since she was 41…And she was surely in her late seventies.

  She gave Robin another tired look. “Things were different back then. But I wish…I wish I hadn’t cared so much about social standing. There was a man…he was a beautiful man. He was a black man and well…it would have been frowned on.” Robin reached out and touched her hand. “My life, since then, has been filled with fantasy and dreams…” Miss Lucille fell asleep and Robin had a hard time letting go of her hand to leave.

  When she got home she called Pinnacle. “I’m ready to take on a part time client. But it has to be between the hours of seven and 11 pm. I will not work even an hour after that.” Mary Louise’s response was enthusiastic.

  “We’ll let you know when there is something available!” Robin sighed. So many allowed others to create their happiness. She couldn’t stop thinking about Lucille Babb’s sad life. She would make her own happiness, and that meant being Sweetheart in Hamilton County for Jason. She went to the computer and logged in, seeking out Top’s smiling icon.