We met in college, a long way from home for either of us. I came from a comfortable middle class home, parents just celebrating thirty years together.
I was the middle child, an older sister and a younger brother. Didn't have any of the normal middle child issues, because according to my mother, ignoring me was like trying to fill a tub with a thimble, possible, but not probable.
Not that I was a whiny kid. Just demanded my due. I had always been a little obsessive[I preferred to use the word driven], and when I wanted to do something, learn something, go somewhere, I did everything in my power to make it happen. I got a lot of this from my grandfather.
He was seventy, and he was taking dancing lessons with my grandmother, something she had always wanted to do. They were taking lessons twice a week, practicing constantly, happy to show us their new moves. Then one night, in the middle of a waltz in the biggest ballroom in town, she collapsed.
She passed two hours later, a stroke. The doctors were puzzled, she was in really great shape for someone her age. A couple of months after the funeral my grandfather sat me down for a long talk.
"If you want to do something, do it now. We'd talked about dance lessons for forty years before we actually took them. One thing I've learned from this, you never know when it's your time. So do it now, son. If you want something, don't wait."
It became my personal mantra. I studied like mad, to the point I jumped a class in middle school, and one in high school. Graduated top of my class at sixteen. I worked, even though I didn't need to, saved every dime. Got a fake ID, got on a plane, went to Carnival in Rio. Had sex for the first time, with two women. Liked it so much I basically fucked my way through a month long hike in the Andes. Then went from there to Europe, spent a month in Germany. Loved those blond goddesses.
I called home a few times, just to let my parents know I was alive. My mom cried, my dad railed, then told me to be careful. I came home just in time to get into my dorm. I was on a full ride scholarship, and my parents sent me money from time to time. And the first thing I did was get a part time job.
College was interesting for a seventeen year old. I looked and acted older, so no one asked my age. Thanks to my travels, I knew how to please women, something the coeds soon learned. I never lacked for companionship.
I didn't take summer breaks, and graduated in three years, second in my class. Got an entry level job at a major firm, and worked my ass off. Went as far as I could without an MBA, and after I got passed over for promotion twice, I tendered my resignation. They weren't happy, I was one of their top producers.
We reached an agreement. They would partially fund my quest for an MBA, give me half days at full pay. I had to sign a contract for five years service after graduation, but I liked the company, so it worked out for everyone.
I was twenty four when I met Elsa. She was nineteen, fresh faced and eager to take on the world. We were in the library, and I heard her cursing under her breath, she was obviously having trouble. I looked at her book, a class I had taken years before.
"That's wrong," I said, looking at her answer.
"I know that, dumbass." she snarled not looking up. I laughed.
"I may be a dumbass, but I know the correct answer."
"Well then help me, and don't tell me the answer, tell me how to get it."
So we went outside and I spent thirty minutes walking her through it. When she got it, her smile was like a sunrise.
"Thanks," she gushed, "do you tutor?"
"Only redheaded freshmen with potty mouths. You got it now, the rest will be easy."
She was five four, red hair that shined in the sun. Oddly, she had brown eyes. Nice body. Smallish breasts[34A, I found out later], trim waist, and a cute little butt. Great legs, for her height.
I left her. I had done my good deed for the day.
I ran into her two weeks later at the library, again. I felt a presence, and looked up.
"I'm stuck again. See you outside."
I sat right where I was. Five minutes later she was back.
"Why didn't you come out?"
"Because I didn't hear the magic word."
"What word?"
I grinned.
"You don't seem dense, you'll figure it out eventually."
I left.
The next day she was back.
"Hi. I'm stuck. If you have a moment, could you help me. Please?"
"Ah, the magic word. How could I refuse?"
I ended up helping her get through her freshman year. She was on a scholarship just like I was at her age. She was from a single parent household, and money was tight. He mom took every overtime hour she could get to help her out.
I had my condo, a loft in the business district. I helped facilitate the deal that enabled the developer to acquire the whole street. As a gesture of gratitude, he let me have the smallest for a very reasonable price. We still work with his firm.
She lived in a dorm, with all the noise and distractions. I remembered well what that was like, so I took her home.
"Wow," she said, looking at the space. "Who decorated?"
"I did."
"Wow again." She looked at my 'history wall', my life in pictures. My childhood. A few from Carnival, from the Andes, Germany. My high school and college diplomas, and graduation pictures. My family. No women.
"How old are you?"
"Twenty four."
"For the third time, wow."
"Enough. You're here to study."
................................................
We didn't date until after her sophomore year. She had acclimated to college life, and used the study habits I taught her to good advantage. We talked every time we crossed paths.
Then one Friday night she knocked on my door. She had obviously been crying. I brought her in, gave her a cup of tea.
"Want to talk?"
"Yes. No. What I really need is a place to sleep. Can I use your couch?"
I got it out of her in bits and pieces. She and her new roommate basically hated each other. They'd had a big fight, so she went to spend the night with her boyfriend, to find her place in his bed occupied by another.
The couch was a foldout, I sometimes had my younger brother stay with me, between jobs. I had helped him get two so far. I didn't hold out a lot of hope he'd last at either one, and I was right. Finally he moved back home.
I put fresh sheets on, gave her a tee shirt to sleep in, and went to bed. Got up the next morning to find her still asleep. She'd tangled the sheets up, and one leg was out, all the way up to her hip, the sides of her tiny panties visible.
One good thing abut living in a loft in a business district, all you had to do was walk downstairs to shop. Two doors down was a bagel shop that had been there for forty years. The best in town, in my opinion. The drink was selection was outstanding, if you liked coffee or coffee. Sal couldn't even pronounce barista,
let alone consider hiring one. The coffee was the best, dark and strong. I got half a dozen bagels, some flavored spreads, and two large coffees.
She was still asleep when I got back, so I set out the bagels and spreads, and waved the coffee under her nose. Her eyes popped open.
"Where am I?" she asked, disoriented.
"My condo. Remember last night?"
It came back to her, and her smile faded.
"Shit! Well, I'm not going to let that bother me now. What's that smell?"
She ate three bagels, she hadn't had anything since lunch the day before. Sated, she sat back and sighed.
"Thank you? Can I hang out here for awhile?"
"Sure, until about four. I have a date tonight, and I don't want to explain to her how I happen to have a hot little redhead lounging around in one of my shirts and pink bikini panties."
She blushed, tugging the shirt down.
"I need to change."
"Don't bother on my account," I said, grinning.
Showing some humor for the first time, she stuck out her tongue and threw a napkin at me, before flouncing off to the bathroom. I was cleaning the table when she called out to me.
She was standing at the door, looking back over her shoulder.
"Barry? They're not bikinis, it's a thong."
She had flipped the tail of the shirt up, showing that cute bottom in all its' glory. Instead of being flustered, I did a half bow.
"I stand corrected. Nice ass, by the way."
She colored, but was giggling as she closed the door. I heard the shower run, and she came back out in her jeans, but still had my shirt on. She helped me tidy up the apartment, remarking how clean it was, and asked if I had a service.
"No. I live alone, if you tidy up as you go, it doesn't take much to keep it clean. And I don't really like letting others do what I can do myself."
"Wow seems to be my favorite word for you. Apparently you're successful, you're good looking, polite, why aren't you married?"
I laughed and told her the truth. I hadn't fallen in love yet.
.................................................
To shorten it, she broke up with her 'asshole' boyfriend. She would date occasionally, but told me she wasn't looking.
"I'm waiting to fall in love, and it won't be with him." she once told me, when I asked why she stopped seeing a guy I thought she liked.
I got her an internship with my company that summer. It was a different department, we were a large company spread out over three floors, and I hardly ever saw her.
They were having their Fourth of July picnic when fate brought us together again. I didn't bring a date, not planning to stay, and she hadn't brought one, having the same plan in mind.
The CEO thwarted that when he asked us to help with the children, set up the games, generally supervise so the parents could enjoy themselves. I had no problem, I liked children, planned on having a few myself someday.
