by A M Jenner
“It’s called a soda-can stove, or a penny stove, and I made them. Long-distance hikers like them because they’re small, don’t weigh much in their pack, and are easy to replace if they break. You burn denatured alcohol in them. A full stove will burn for about 20 minutes or so, just about long enough to make Hamburger Helper or Rice-a-Roni.”
“That’s one seriously cool stove.”
“I like it.”
Anders reached into his box and pulled out a can of green beans, which he opened and put into a second, smaller cooking pot. Within a few minutes the second stove had been lit and the beans were heating up.
Sheila held her hands near the tomato can, warming her fingers, while Anders busied himself getting out plates and utensils. He poured water into cups for their beverage, and they chatted about their lives while they waited for the food to cook.
Anders was remarkably easy to talk to, and Sheila found herself telling him about the fire which had destroyed her life last January and her struggles to deal with grieving for her parents while she tried to build a life for herself.
The dinner was delicious, and Sheila made a note to ask Anders how to make the little stoves. Clean-up was easy, almost everything went into the trash can, except for the cooking pots, which Anders tucked into his box and announced that he would clean them later at home. Shortly everything had been returned to the box, and the box had been returned to the trunk of the car.
“If it wasn’t the middle of winter,” Anders remarked, “we could finish the evening off with a game of Frisbee, or go play on the playground, but this time of year it’s just too cold once the sun goes down.”
“Agreed, but at least we aren’t neck deep in snow like some parts of the country are.”
They climbed into Anders’ car and he drove her home in an agreeable silence, then walked her all the way to her third-story door. They stood for a few moments, looking at each other. Sheila felt almost like they were teenagers on a first date, knowing that there needed to be something to bring their date to a close, but completely unsure about what they should say or do next. Finally, Anders shrugged slightly, then held his arms out in a silent invitation to hug.
Sheila smiled and stepped close to him, wrapping her arms around his waist, and feeling the warmth of his body as he pulled her close. She tipped her face up toward his, and he ducked sideways to kiss her cheek. This time she was ready for him, and turned at the last minute, catching his kiss full on her lips.
What she wasn’t ready for was the blazing sensations that overloaded every nerve in her body. She couldn’t move. She couldn’t breathe. She could only cling desperately to Anders as his gentle kiss became hungry. She hoped he wouldn’t ask to come in, because she wasn’t ready for an intimate relationship, but she also knew that whatever this man asked of her, she would give him.
When he set her away from him a few minutes later, she was both relieved and a little disappointed. He wouldn’t be coming in tonight. She kept trying to remind herself that it was a good thing. She also had to keep reminding herself to breathe.
Anders’ breathing was ragged as he whispered hoarsely, “I’ll call you.” Then he turned and all but leapt down the stairs. Was her kissing that bad? Or was he as frightened of their bodies’ responses as she had been?
Chapter Seven
Sheila walked slowly home from the bus stop. Her day of job hunting had not gone well. She’d had four interviews. At three of the places, it had been made subtly clear that they had only been conducting the interviews as a matter of form, as they intended to promote from within and already had their candidate for the position chosen.
The fourth interviewer was curt and rude to her, and although she had left the place with him swearing that he would seriously consider her application, she was certain that she would not accept the job, based on his rudeness during the interview. She didn’t want to get into another situation like the one she’d had with Miss Jacobson.
Even though it involved a lot of walking and more energy used, she’d taken the bus today to conserve what gasoline was in her car’s tank. When she got a job, there would still be at least a week-long gap, more likely two, before she got her first paycheck.
She was grateful she hadn’t bought a lot of furniture, but had stashed the money in a savings account instead. That saving account was all the gas and grocery money she had until she got a job and money coming in. Yesterday she had spent some of her job-hunting time applying for unemployment, and looking into filing a wrongful termination suit against her old company. It wasn’t legal for Miss Jacobson to have fired her because of how badly the party had turned out.
She didn’t really want the job back, but she had found she could ask the court to make them give her a severance package. If she did file the suit, she would ask for three months of wages. She wanted Miss Jacobson to sweat a little about the way she treated her underlings. After all, Sheila was suffering a pending eviction and loss of her job mostly because of Miss Jacobson’s actions. In the end, she’d decided not to begin any legal action until after she got her last pay check.
Sheila stopped at the large communal mail box center and opened her small box. There was a handful of mail inside, and she grabbed it out without looking at it. She tiredly trudged across the complex and up her stairs. Inside her apartment, she draped her coat over the half-wall, tossed the mail onto the low counter, and quickly made up her favorite comfort food; a box of macaroni and cheese, with diagonally sliced hot dogs mixed in. She’d found if she tossed the hot dog slices in while she cooked the macaroni, they got plenty hot enough, and also added just enough oils to the water to keep the macaroni from sticking together. A can of peas heated on the other burner completed her meal.
She put half the food on a plate, and the other half in containers in the refrigerator for tomorrow night’s dinner. Then she gathered up her mail and dropped into her bean-bag chair. With her plate balanced on her knees, she went through the mail. Most of it was junk. Her electric bill had arrived, and she set that aside. She would pay it on Friday when she collected her final pay check.
She opened the last envelope and discovered it contained her official eviction notice. She now had only thirty days to find not only a job, but another place to live. The anger built up in her chest until she thought she would explode. It wasn’t fair! This was all Miss Jacobson’s fault! If she hadn’t forced Sheila to host the Christmas party, she wouldn’t be unemployed and facing homelessness! Tears dripped onto her blouse and soaked through, wetting the skin beneath.
Sheila flung the paper as hard as she could. In her mind she pictured it flying across the room and making a splatting noise against the newly painted wall. Instead, as soon as the page had left her hand, it fluttered gently down to rest on the pristinely white carpet.
Chapter Eight
Sheila sneaked another glance at the clock on the wall. It was nearly noon. She’d been sitting in the reception area for a full two hours. Her appointment had been at ten. She’d arrived ten minutes early, as she usually tried to do. She’d announced herself to the receptionist, who had picked up the phone and apparently passed that message to the individual sequestered within the office. At the conclusion of the call, the receptionist had requested that she have a seat, and Mr. Kessington would be with her shortly. She had then turned back to her computer.
In the last two hours the receptionist had kept busy with incoming phone calls, computer work, and a little filing, but had very pointedly ignored Sheila’s presence in her office. No one had come into the office or left it in the time she’d been sitting here. What a waste of time. The snooty executive might feel his time was valuable, but so was hers. Sheila had another appointment set up in an hour, and she would need half of that time to get there.
She silently got up and left the office. The receptionist didn’t try to stop her.
Sheila sat at the bus stop, waiting for the conveyance to appear. While she waited, she pulled the peanut butter sandwich she’d ma
de that morning out of her purse and devoured it. A small bag of chips completed her repast, and was washed down with a long drink of water.
Her purse was large, and the lunch had fit nicely. She saved the last bits of the water in the bottle. Quickly looking around to see if anyone was watching her, she pulled a toothbrush from her purse. She used it dry to brush the remains of her lunch from her teeth, and slid it back into its holder before returning it to her purse. The last of the bottle of water served to rinse her teeth, then she swallowed it. She popped a peppermint Life Saver into her mouth, and knew that the next interviewer would never know she’d had a PB and J at the bus stop for lunch.
The vagaries of the bus service brought her to her interview fifteen minutes early, but no one was ahead of her, and she was ushered right in. The gentleman interviewing her was pleasant, though very formal in demeanor. She had answered all of his questions succinctly and felt the interview was going well.
Suddenly, rock music poured out of her purse. Her cell phone was apparently not on vibrate, though she would have sworn she had muted it before setting out on her day’s hunting expedition. The interviewer developed an immediate crease between his eyebrows. Sheila grabbed her purse, reached inside, and without even looking at the device, shut the music off, then turned her attention back to the interviewer.
“Sorry about that, I could have sworn I put the thing on vibrate this morning.”
“I believe our interview is now concluded.”
“Because my cell phone rang?”
“Indeed.”
“I do apologize for the interruption, but I can’t control other people calling me.”
“I concede the point, but the very fact that the phone rang shows that you are either inobservant enough that you did not notice the sign prominently placed in our lobby proclaiming this building a cell-phone free zone, or you are arrogant enough to believe that such rules do not apply to you. There are valid reasons that cellular telephones are prohibited in the building.
“I was about to offer you the position, however, we do not need employees who are inobservant or those who are arrogant. Therefore, I bid you a good day, and wish you every luck in your job hunt.”
He turned away from her, opened a file on the side portion of his desk and began to read.
Sheila had noticed the sign, but as it had read “cell-phone free zone” rather than “cell-phone free building”, she had assumed it referred only to the lobby, and not to the whole building. Because she had thought her phone was on vibrate, she had not bothered to turn it completely off.
She rose and left his office, silently retracing her steps toward the bus stop. Nearly a week gone, and she hadn’t managed to get a job yet. She had no more interviews scheduled today. Tomorrow would be entirely eaten up with a stop at her former workplace in hope of getting her final pay check, and a stop at the unemployment office that would likely take several hours even though she had an actual appointment. She also had a few leads on apartments she hoped would be affordable. In addition to hunting a job, she now needed to look for a place to live.
She pulled her phone out to find out who had called during the interview. A warm tingly feeling filled her from head to toe as she saw Anders’ name on the screen. Could you fall in love in only five days? Sheila decided that you could, and it felt good.
She punched the screen with her fingertip to call him back.
“Sheila, thanks for calling back. Did I call at a bad time?”
“I was in the middle of an interview. Sorry I had to just cut you off like that.”
“No problem. How did the interview go, do you think you got the job?”
Sheila laughed, knowing Anders had no idea.
“No. As a matter of fact, he told me that he’d been about to offer me the position when the phone rang. Apparently they have a very strict no-cell-phones rule for their whole building. Even vibrate isn’t enough, the phones have to be turned all the way off. And somehow, my phone had switched itself from vibrate to ring.”
“Oh, geez, I didn’t mean to mess you up like that. I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault, you couldn’t have known. What did you need?”
Anders tone brightened.
“I was hoping we could go out Monday night? I’ll be off, and I’ve got an idea that might help you in the job department.”
“I’d like that. What are the chances of us getting together before that? I’ve been officially evicted, and the sooner I get a job, the better.”
“Can’t, sorry. I’m booked all weekend.”
“That’s all right. What time Monday? And what should I wear?”
“Five o’clock all right? And wear your Denny’s best.”
Sheila laughed.
“Five it is. See you Monday.”
The phone gave the beep it made when a call disconnected, and she punched the menu buttons to close the phone app and turn the screen off before she returned it to her purse. She’d once left the app open, and something in her purse had dialed an international phone call and then kept the line open until the phone ran out of battery power. International calls weren’t covered on her plan, and it had cost her a goodly amount of money that month. She didn’t care to repeat the experience.
When the bus came, Sheila was more than a little glad to climb into its warm interior and stare out the window all the way back to her apartment.
Chapter Nine
Sheila was ready and waiting when Anders’ knock came at the door. She swung the door open and stepped out, directly into his hug. She loved that he was open with his affection, and not shy about expressing it in public. He ushered her down the stairs, and then they linked arms as they walked toward the parking lot.
To her surprise, they walked through the parking lot and out onto the street.
"I didn't think there were any Denny's-level restaurants within walking distance," she said.
"I don't know if there are,” he chuckled. “We're actually going to a place I know clear across town. It's a little hole-in-the-wall deli, that has the most divine ham and cheese in a tomato and basil wrap that you've ever tasted."
"Across town? We're not walking clear across town are we?"
"No, silly, we're taking the train."
They arrived at the bus stop with two minutes to spare before the bus arrived. They found seats together on the very back row and settled in for the ride down to the transit center where they would get on the train.
Sheila enjoyed looking out the bus window at the Christmas lights decorating all the shops on Main Street. Even though it never snowed here like it had where she had grown up, she still loved all of the beautiful lights and decorations.
Anders put his arm around her shoulder, and she leaned against him while continuing to watch the Christmas lights out the window. He started drawing designs on the leg of her jeans with his finger. The spiral designs he drew seemed to uncoil and flow throughout her body, filling her with warmth and desires that were best pursued after marriage.
She turned her head to tell him to stop, but found he had been waiting for her to do so. As she faced him, he claimed her lips in a soul-shattering kiss. Sheila's mind went blank. The only important thing in the world was Anders, and the way he was making her feel. She held tightly to the open edges of his jacket, pulling him as close as she could manage.
Sheila gasped for breath when Anders finally broke their kiss.
"Now I know why you wanted to take the train," she said. "If you're not driving, you can be busy doing other things."
Anders chuckled in her ear. “Actually, I just didn’t want to mess with downtown traffic. However,” he brushed his lips across her cheek, “there are certainly some other benefits to not driving.” He nibbled on her earlobe, biting it gently and flicking his tongue across the bottom edge.
Sheila tipped her head at an angle to give him better access to her ear and neck. None of the boys she’d dated in high school or college had made her feel this way. She’d
always given them a polite kiss or two, but had never wanted to give – or take – more from the relationship than that. This was the first time she’d been tempted to offer a man everything, or had a desire to take everything in return.
Anders’ mouth returned to hers, devouring her as though he was a starving man. She was delighted to share in the feast. They were both breathing hard at the end of the kiss, and Sheila wasn’t quite sure how she had ended up sitting in Anders’ lap. However she’d got there, she really didn’t mind remaining in place.
She snuggled closer to him, and felt the changes in his body pressing against her leg. He was apparently as affected by their kisses as she was. She considered that a good thing.
The bus came to a halt at the transit station, and Anders helped Sheila to her feet, then followed her from the bus. He wrapped one arm tightly around her waist as they walked to the train platform and boarded. The warmth from his body penetrated her thin jacket, and she welcomed it. There were certainly a lot of benefits to having a boyfriend who wasn’t afraid to hold more than her hand in public.
As the train pulled out of the station, Sheila had a sudden thought.
“Anders, the bus route that goes past my complex quits running at eight.”
“I know.”
“We’re going to have to eat in a hurry, if we’re going to back on this side of town by then.”
“There’s no hurry.”
“No hurry? It’s an awful long walk from the transit station to my place.”
Anders laughed. “I know. That’s why I parked my car at the transit station’s park-and-ride lot. The train runs almost all night. After dinner, we simply take the train back to my car, and I run you home in that.”
Sheila warmed inside at his careful and thoughtful planning. The train took them into the next town, right past the huge town Christmas tree which had been decked out with oversized lights and plastic ornaments that fit the scale of the tree. They crossed the river, where lights from office buildings and boats twinkled on the surface of the water.
