door.
There was that smell again, she looked about trying to place the source but could not. Through the screen and back onto the porch she could see a small, yellow Datsun truck pulled alongside the curb.
She couldn’t help but laugh, “I’m sorry, really, I am sorry. Just Jasper in that tiny truck makes it look like a matchbox car.”
Rufus looked in the direction of her pointing finger, “Oh, he get dat a lot. Pertty big boy fer such a small truck. He’s a good un though, driva dat is.”
Jasper waved a hand, motioning her to the car. On his way to the Datsun he’d taken the time to put on a shirt, to Blanche’s relief. He motioned her around to the passenger door, reaching across to open the door without having to get out. Blanche couldn’t believe that someone so large and bulky could fit into such a confined space. His knees touched the dash and the top of his head grazed the roof of the tiny truck. She bent down to see how she might get in, not wanting to catch her clothing on anything or reveal too much.
Blanche turned facing away from the truck, ran both hands over the back of her skirt, pulling it tight against her fanny, and with the same motion lowered her behind into the seat, pivoting to draw her legs into the cab, being careful not to bang her knees on the frame.
“Ya in?” he asked, and without waiting for an answer, reached across the front of the nervous librarian, grabbed the door handle and pulled it closed with a slam.
Jasper gave her a reassuring nod, extended his left leg, pressed the clutch to the floor, grasped the gearshift knob and thrust it into first gear. Releasing the tension on the clutch and applying the opposite amount of pressure on the gas pedal the little truck pulled away from the curb and rumbled down the street.
“You new to Georgia?” Jasper asked.
“Yeah, only been here a couple of days, just started a new job at the library.”
“You, a librarian, fine looking woman like you? Shoot, wished we’d a had a school librarian nice to look at as you.”
Blanche tightened her grip on the door handle and replied, “Uh thanks, you sure you know where this place is?”
“Sure nough, drive by it all the time on the way to work over in that new housing development, swing a hammer for a living,” he said, as he smoothly shifted the gear box up and accelerated.
In an attempt to keep the conversation light and her mind at ease, Blanche asked, “You read much?”
“Nah, not really, like to read but hard to find the time. Ya know, with work, chasing girls and working out, I have a hard time finding time to do much of anything else. In fact, I was working out when you showed up, try to get at least a couple hours in a day.”
“That’s quite a commitment,” she assessed.
“Tell me about it, would like to be Mr. Universe one day,” and he laughed. “Seriously, would like to try, but got to git bigger to go up against them boys. I’ll be competing in a little event, Mr. Muscle, in a few weeks, you should come,” he said, letting his eyes drift from the road long enough to take in her bosom one more time. “Would be nice to have a beautiful lady, like yourself, rooting for me.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” she said, knowing in the back of her mind she could never see herself at such an event, however, that was the old Blanche.
Thankfully, the chauffeured ride took less time than Blanche had anticipated, and she let loose a noticeable sigh of relief when he pulled in front of Caroline’s.
“There you go, safe and sound,” he said, smiling broadly, a twinkle in his eye.
“Well, Jasper, I just don’t know how to thank you enough. Don’t know what I would have done without you and your dad’s help. It’s certainly much appreciated.”
Jasper bent over to the right as she exited the car framing his face in the car window as she closed it behind her.
“Know how you can repay me?” Jasper said, winking at Blanche as she stooped to say goodbye.
“How’s that?” she replied.
“Come watch me at the competition in a couple weeks,” still grinning ear to ear.
“Well,” she hesitated, “can’t say for sure but I will try.” But she was quick to add, “No promises though.”
Jasper clapped and rubbed his hands together, “That’s good enough for me. I’ll drop by with the details later, now that I know where to find you.”
With that, Blanche offered a wave of her hand and turned to face the B amp;B. Behind her she heard the Datsun’s engine rev and thought she heard Jasper exclaim as he pulled away, “Hot damn!”
“Oh my gosh! What have I done?” she said aloud.
Then it hit her, “Pot”, that was the smell she’d noted at Rufus’s.
“Just great!” she thought, “I’ve just led a steroid pumping, pot smoking, boob crazed, Neanderthal right to my front door.”
Even as one side of her was cursing the turn of events the other side was somewhat intrigued by her newfound ‘friend’, and a wry smile curled across her lips as she ascended Caroline’s steps.
CHAPTER FOUR
The next few days passed quickly, her library responsibilities well in hand, she was able to relax and settle in not only to ‘home’ and work but the community at large. Blanche was learning to love the area and the people, so gentle, kind hearted and the pace of life in general was just so easy going. It didn’t seem that anyone was ever in much of a hurry unless it was the ‘Clueless Wonder’ sharing the bathroom with her on the second floor. Without fail, every morning just as it was her turn for the facility, he would charge down the hall, shaving kit, towel and magazine in hand, rushing into the loo and setting up camp for the next 45 minutes. Blanche had taken to showering at night and wearing her hair up to work so she didn’t have to worry about the time it would take in the morning.
Standing in front of the mirror, Blanche ran her fingers through her strawberry-blonde mane, gently working out the snarls. In no time, the brush slid easily from root to tip. Winding a red, silk scarf among the threads of her hair she quickly manipulated her locks into an impressive updo. Satisfied with her handiwork, she inspected her five and a half foot frame in the long mirror. Freckles, lightly sprinkled across her nose, highlighted her beautiful face and soft complexion. Tan lines strategically marked her most delicate features. Miles across the desert floor were visible in every line, sinew and muscle insertion from her ankles to lower back. She held her shoulders square, trying always to follow the advice of her mother, “Don’t slouch dear, no need to hide what God gave you.” Over the years Blanche had taken special precautions to keep her back muscles in top form. Images of her breasts hanging to her waist had been the source of great motivation and she daily stretched, lifted weights and did push-ups in an attempt to deny gravity the win.
No doubt Blanche was a remarkably beautiful woman but her most striking feature was her eyes. They were absolutely crystal blue, like glacier water reflecting sunlight, changing color relative to her surroundings. An overly large iris diameter and wide lid fissure presented these sapphire gems for the world to behold. It was not unusual for complete strangers to stop Blanche and ask where she got her contacts, commenting on how beautiful they were.
“No way!” was often the response when Blanche indicated that they were all natural, and that went for all of her as questioning eyes were often drawn to her bustline as well.
With so much going for Blanche she still found it difficult to believe that men found her attractive. There was always something lacking perfection that drew her self-confidence and assurance askew. She was happy with who she was and what she looked like but had no intention of flaunting herself for anyone's benefit.
Satisfied that all was in order for another day of work she put on her most conservative, bust reducing bra, beige slacks and modest cotton blouse and headed down the stairs for breakfast with her host and other guests.
“Good morning dear, did you sleep well?” Ms. Carmichael greeted her as she moved between the kitchen and dining area as if on roller skates. “I trust you are finding the accommodations to your liking.”
