"Hello and good day to you, this is Mr. fix-it, what can I fix for you today?" This is my practiced line for answering my work phone. 'Mr. fix-it' is the name of my business.
"Hello," Says the younger female voice on the other end of the phone call before continuing. "Mr.' Fix-it, do you know anything about dryers? Mine has stopped making heat and just tumbles wet clothes forever and will not get them dry. It has not been drying them like it used to and I have had to run it on high to get them dry lately. Can you help me out?"
"Electric or gas" I ask needing more important information.
"Oh, it's electric. I did not want to run gas out to the addition when I had it built."
"Sounds like the heating elements went bad. I can come right over and take a look at it for you," I say pushing to get the work.
The young voice says, "Great, 4253 Robin lane. Come strait up the drive and I will let you in through the garage. Continue through to the door at the back of the garage and the dryer is on the left inside the back room."
Soon the GPS has me traveling up the driveway and as soon as I park my van, the garage door goes up. I open the side door and pull out my small toolbox.
As I open the door at the back of the garage, I see the appliances right where the voice told me. "Hello" I say loudly trying to announce myself.
Around the corner of an upright freezer, a woman walks into the room wearing a robe with a towel around her head and asks, "How much do you think it will cost me to get this fixed um... My names Lori may I have yours please?"
"The name is, Ben Colton, Mrs. Lori, I'm pleased to make your acquaintance." I say holding out my hand. Lori holds her hand out and I lift it and give it a kiss and say, "how may I be of service to you this good day?"
Lori is caught off guard by the chivalrous manner I use to greet her with and I can tell by her blush that she liked it and plays the southern bell by batting her eye lashes and saying "why Mr. Colton. I do declare that you are flirting with me." We both laugh at the humor of it.
As I am checking the dryer over, Lori says that she will be back shortly after I let her know the average cost of this repair with parts and labor is going to be $95.00 and that I could do what ever I needed to do to fix the machine. I have the machine torn down, all the old elements removed, and installing new ones from the van when Lori returns.
What she says to me is lost as I just stare at the beauty before me. I can hear her voice but what she is saying is not registering as I try to take a good mental picture.
Lori is wearing short cut off jeans with a white blouse tied in a knot under her big tits giving them emphasis. Her auburn hair is long and flowing with gently curling curves that give it great body. Her tanned skin perfectly glows from her bare feet all the way up her smooth legs; her tummy is smooth until her breast break the plain with her two double D globes and her green eyes are mesmerizing.
"Mr. Colton, is everything alright?" Is what first registers and I shake my head yes.
"I'm sorry Mrs. Lori, I was just stunned by your sudden appearance, and I wasn't over the shock of having the right parts in the van is all," I say trying to cover myself. "It's a common machine and I carry elements with me just to save time; it's good for business."
"Oh, well I was just trying to find out how things where going but I can see you have it covered. Would you like a cold beer while you work?" She says.
"Thank you Mrs. Lori, I would enjoy a cold beer but, that will have to wait until I'm done with my work. Can't mix business with pleasure you know," I say with a new reason to finish this job quickly!
Then she says, "You know Ben, I get that same stupefied look all the time, but, you recovered very well. Most guys keep stumbling till they end up watching me walk away." While she is laughing, she adds, "I guess that's why I like older men; they always seem to have more control of themselves."
As I place the second new heating coil, I ask, "How old do you think I am Mrs. Lori?"
"Oh I don't know, maybe 40 or so?" She flatteringly guesses fishing for a true number.
One thing is for sure; she is younger than 40 and knows that I am older. I smile and tell her, "I'll be 50 in august," as I set the drum back down on the guide rollers inside the machine.
Lori looks pleased and says, "Ah, which explains the long hair and beard then. A lions got to have his main; and yours looks good on you."
Now it is my turn to blush and I come back with, "thanks Mrs. Lori, an old single guy like me needs to hear things like that occasionally"; the dryer is soon back together and ready to plug in and test.
I bypass the doors safety switch, turn on the dryer, and watch as both elements turn bright orange. I switch it to low and one goes black. I pull my bypass, close the door, and toss my tools back in the box as Lori sits on the utility table and watches me all the while with a smile on her face that warms my heart.
I write the bill in silence hoping Lori offers that beer again afterwards. She looks at the bill in one hand, pulls something out of her shirt pocket, and holds it out to me. I look and count three fifty's; she has over paid and I try to hand one back before giving her change back.
"No Ben, you keep that. This would have cost me twice that if I called the store. The last time when it was the washer I might as well bought a new machine with the amount I was charged and you did good, quick work with out trying to fix everything in site that still works; I appreciate it." Slipping off the table she adds "are you ready for that beer or do you have to run?"
"I think I could use a cold beer because my last call before yours was at noon two days ago; it has been a very slow week, so I'm free till it rings again."
Lori's face lights up "great! Why don't you lock your tools in your truck and come back and meet me on the other end of that hallway around the corner there?" she says as she points towards the freezer.
I smile back and say, "Okay, give me a minute and I'll be right back." Turning with my box in hand, I walk through the garage and soon place it in the van. I look at my face in the mirror on the door and head back inside.
Walking out the end of the short hall, I see it is the kitchen. Two stools set pulled back from the breakfast counter and a frosty pair of bottles sets between them. I help my self to the sink, wash my hands, and dry them with paper towels as I look around the kitchen.
