Bear's New Cub
Devin pushed the old mower across the final stretch of thick grass with a grunt. What I would give for one of those wide zero-turn mowers that most landscapers were using. His old Craftsman was barely still running, and he had to maintenance it after each job. Lucky for Devin and his bank account, some people did not like those big loud machines and preferred the cut of a push mower. At 20, home from college for the summer, Devin could not complain. He stopped and looked at the green square of fresh mown grass before him. He smiled at the uniform job he had done on the well-kept lawn.
Devin lifted the corner of his XXL shirt to wipe sweat from his face. He quickly pulled the shirt back down before anyone could see his round belly. I guess I need to stay away from Early Bird's and Martha's homemade eclairs.
He chuckled.
Whatever dude,
his inner smart ass said.
You know you can't say no to that rich chocolate and creamy indulgence!
Devin frowned briefly as he watched two girls exit a VW convertible at the neighbor's house. Looks like they have been shopping. Both girls were petite and had tank tops and shorts on. One of the girls looked toward Devin and he smiled and waved. She looked shocked that he dared to interact with her. She pointed and said something to her friend and they both began to laugh.
Devin felt his cheeks burst with heat. The girls grabbed bags from the backseat and then ran inside, still laughing at his expense. Devin bowed his head. He was used to it. He was chubby. Always had been. It was partly genetic, even though he had tried to lose weight, it just seemed to come back.
It wouldn't be that bad, but he was also considered short, at only 5'7", and weighing in at a modest 230. Devin exercised and tried to eat right. He patted his round belly and could feel the musculature hidden under the soft padding. His cargo shorts revealed thick knotted calves covered in curly brown fur.
Screw those bitches he thought. Superficial. Airheads. Whatever
, he growled!
Devin loaded the mower into the back of his older model Ford truck. He gazed back across the yard, making sure that he had not missed anything. This was the first time that he had done this yard. The owner, Mr. Elliot, had called him from one of his flyers.
Devin had only spoken to Mr. Elliot twice on the phone, but they had agreed on today and the amount Devin estimated for the property. Satisfied that the yard looked good, Devin headed up to the front door of the large home. It was the last house in a cul-de-sac in a more affluent section of Little Creek. There was a tall privacy fence hiding the back and side yards from street view.
As he approached the door, he saw a piece of paper taped to it. His name was penned on the folded sheet.
Devin pulled it down and opened it to read,
Mr. Wilson, when you finish come on straight through the living room to the back yard. Please leave your grassy boots on the porch.
Signed,
Ben.
Um, ok thought Devin, as he kicked his boots off and placed them beside the welcome mat. He opened the unlocked door and poked his head in.
"Mr. Elliot?" he called to the large open room. There was no response, and Devin stepped inside, pocketing the note. Just in case the cops get called and accuse me of breaking in.
Smart move there college boy!
"Shut up you!," he told himself.
Devin looked around the well-appointed room. A large screen tv took up one whole wall. Dang! It looked like it belonged in a theater. He ran his hand across the back of a large comfy-looking leather couch, big enough for him to sleep on. Nice. The room opened up into a dining area with a long white wooden table with seating for 8. There was a centerpiece on the table with what looked like fresh flowers. Fancy. Behind the table was French doors that appeared to open onto a back patio and yard.
Dude must be wealthy,
thought Devin.
This place is fancy.
Devin opened the door and stepped out onto the expansive covered patio. Beyond it was a large kidney shaped swimming pool, with an attached hot tub. Comfy lounge chairs lined one side of the pool and on the other side was an outdoor cooking area, complete with smoker, grill, and covered bar. Wow, thought Devin, I would never leave home if I had all this.
At that moment, Devin heard a splash and saw a bald head break the pool's surface about halfway down its length. Mr. Elliot, Devin assumed, was facing away from him, and slowly turned around. He immediately smiled and threw up his hand to wave at Devin.
"There you are Devin, are you finished already?" Devin noticed that Mr. Elliot had a trim salt and pepper colored beard that was dripping water.
"Yessir, Mr. Elliot. I just got done."
Mr. Elliot swam to the edge of the pool and waved his hand dismissively, "Devin, call me Ben, I insist. You look hot, I poured you a glass of iced tea over at the table if you would like some."
Devin looked to where Mr. Elliot, Ben, was pointing to a high-top table with a pitcher of iced tea and two glasses were. He realized that he was really thirsty, and the thought of some iced tea was a bonus beyond what he was being paid for the yard work.
"Thank you, Mr... um Ben." Devin corrected himself as he walked around the pool to the refreshments.
Ben swam over to that side as well, and as Devin was taking his first sip, he pulled himself from the cool looking water.
Devin was surprised to see that Ben was only a couple of inches taller than him and built like a barrel. He was thick from shoulders to waist and appeared to be covered in curly hair that matched his beard. And more surprisingly, he was wearing a bikini style pair of swim briefs. Devin had never seen a grown man wearing anything like that. He covered his surprise by taking another gulp of chilled tea.
Ben grabbed a towel off the back of one of the chairs and brushed the water from his smooth head and wrung it from his beard. He briefly wiped the towel across his broad hairy chest and down his thighs before draping it back over the chair and pouring himself a glass of tea.
Devin was surprised that he had not covered himself up with the towel. Instead, Ben held his glass up and waited for Devin to clink his together. Ben took a long drink of his tea as he looked at Devin. He turned and looked back across the pool, as if surveying his domain. Devin was surprised again as he glanced down at the bright blue and orange swim briefs. He saw that the front was bulged out and when Ben turned away that the bottom of the briefs hugged the curves of his round butt.
"What do you think Devin?" Mr. Elliot asked.
Devin almost choked, "Um, what sir?"
Ben pointed with his glass of tea at the home and back yard. "What do you think about my place here? I bought it so I would have a little oasis to get away from the world. To have some privacy to just relax and be me."
Devin recovered, "I think it's really nice Mr. Elliot." He reached up with the back of his shirt sleeve to wipe sweat from his brow.
Ben watched him, and started, "I am so sorry Devin, here I am bragging on my place, and you must be burning up after working so hard. Would you like to use the pool shower over there to knock some of that grass off, and then you can jump in the pool if you would like to."
Ben pointed to a little open shower used to wash off before or after the pool. "That was here when the pool was chlorine. I had it switched over to saltwater, but still use the shower when I need to."
Devin looked at the shower and at the inviting pool. It would feel so damn good after getting all sweaty. And the grass was starting to itch.
"Thank you, Mr. Elliot, but I don't have any swim trunks." "Call me Ben, ok Devin?"
He looked Devin up and down, "And I bet I have some that would fit you just fine. You try out that shower and let me see what I have. I won't take no for an answer!"
This last was said as Devin began to shake his head. Ben placed his hand on Devin's forearm, "It's the least I can do for the amazing job you did on the yard." Ben held up a tablet, indicating a camera's view of the front yard and Devin's truck.
Devin was torn. He knew that he should politely say no and head home, but the way the sunlight reflected off the surface of the pool was calling to him.
