Several years ago, I used to work at a private club that catered to the well off. It had tennis courts and an 18-hole golf course, as well as steam rooms and Jacuzzis. I was a towel guy. If you wanted a towel, or basically anything, I got it for you.
Most of the women that came into the bath area were mainly late middle aged. They usually were killing time waiting for their husbands to finish a round of golf and then have dinner in the dining room. Most treated me well and it was a good job for a 20 year old, if you could get past looking at droopy boobs and flabby thighs 8 hours a day. Usually, I just wore a bathing suit to work. I was either cleaning up the sauna or running around the Jacuzzis.
One woman used to tip me very well. Mrs. Kelly. She was divorced and was younger than most of the other women. I’d say she was around 35 to 40 tops. She was also a good-looking woman. Where the other women wore one piece suits, Mrs. Kelly wore skimpy bikinis and she filled them out quite nicely. She was about 5’ 6” tall with reddish brown hair and a large amount freckles on pale white skin.
I usually gave the ladies false compliments to make their day, but for Mrs. Kelly, it was true. She knew it too. I never saw her bring a friend or a date to the club. She never really talked all that much either. The only way I knew she was divorced was from the comments she used to make to the others about her ‘ex’.
There were times during the day when the ladies would ask me get in their Jacuzzis to get something they dropped or help them out. Most of the time I would get goosed for my effort. Not Mrs. Kelly. She never asked for my help for anything except for towels, an occasional hand out of the tub or to get her another drink.
Thanksgiving weekend, Mrs. Kelly showed up, while all the other members were either away or entertaining guests at home. She changed in the lockers and went into the sauna for a while. I was just trying to look busy while there was no one to tend to. I heard her call me.
“Terry? Terry!”
“Yes, Mrs. Kelly,” I said, sticking my head inside the steam room.
“Could you get me a martini, please?” she asked very politely.
“Ah, the bartender is off today. I don’t know how to make one. Is there something else I can get you that I can make?” I asked hopefully.
“A screwdriver,” she replied.
“Vodka or whiskey?” I asked.
“Very good Terry. Vodka please,” she said, as she shook stray strands of hair out of her sweating face.
I mixed a small pitcher of Vodka screwdrivers for her. I picked up a glass that looked like the kind you served them in and brought them to the sauna. I poured her a glass and took it in to her.
“Thank you very much, Terry. Tell me, why are you here when everyone else is home?” she asked, as I had started to leave.
“I live here, ma’am,” I answered. “My parents live on the west coast.”
“Please don’t call me ma’am. Mrs. Kelly is okay, but I’m not your school teacher,” she said, sternly.
“Sorry, Mrs. Kelly,” I said, as I turned to leave again.
“Wait a second, Terry. Where are you rushing to? I just want to talk,” she said.
I turned toward her and stood waiting to talk.
She pointed to the row of planks facing her and said, “Plant it!”
I sat down, trying not to look at her scanty bikini. She used a towel to wipe the sweat from her face. How much do they pay you around here, Terry?” she asked.
“I get $250 a week plus tips, but I also get free room and board. I’m saving to go to Penn State to be an accountant,” I answered, still not looking at her bikini.
“I see,” she said as she took a sip of her drink. “Oh,” she said, as she blew out a little air. “A little stronger than I’m used to, but good. Thanks, Terry,” she said.
“I can get you more ice,” I said as I stood.
She waved me back down. “Not everything I say is a command. Do you have a girlfriend?”
“No, I don’t. I just don’t get a chance to get out much, working here. We are pretty remote for a trip into town on foot,” I replied. Indeed, we were 15 miles off the main road to town.
She laughed at that. “Well I don’t get out much either and I do have a car. This is about as far as I get,” she said, while waving her hand around. She finished her drink and handed it to me. I opened the door and refilled it for her. “Resourceful, I see. You think ahead. You’ll make a fine accountant. You can be mine when you graduate.”
“Thank you, ma’… Mrs. Kelly,” I said.
She was in mid sip when I almost said, ‘ma’am’. She just stared a second and then said, “I live alone too. I have no children due to a flaw on my part. Mr. Kelly in now knee deep in kids. I on the other hand, have my pets and my money. I do not date and do not wish to. I grew up around Mr. Kelly, so there was never a real courtship. We just knew each other so well, that it was logical that we marry. Not being able to have kids threw a major monkey wrench in the works. We still talk occasionally. Seems that the new Mrs. Kelly can produce the kids, but she doesn’t satisfy Mr. Kelly in the sack like I could. Oh well, life’s a trade off.”
“Was he able to satisfy you?” I asked before I could stop myself.
She looked at me again, as she took another sip. “One and done, if you catch my drift,” she replied.
Perfectly, I thought.
“Any more of that batch or screwdrivers left?” she asked, rattling her glass.
“Better watch it, Mrs. Kelly. You have to drive home,” I warned her.
“I’m not driving, silly,” she answered.
I got her a refill. She sipped it and said, “I’d like to go to the Jacuzzi now.”
I helped her to her feet and walked with her out to the pools. She was a little giddy. We walked to her favorite one and I helped her in.
“Terry, do you drink?” she said.
“I’m only 20,” I replied.
“I didn’t ask that.”
“Yes, I do.”
“What do you normally drink?”
I felt stupid next to this socialite. I knew she was going to laugh, but I said it anyway. “Beer, I drink beer.”
“See that wasn’t so hard,” she said. “I’ve been known to knock a few back from time to time.”
I looked at her and chucked a bit in disbelief.
“That’s right. I’m a regular girl. My money came from a huge insurance payoff after my Father’s accidental death. It happened after Mr. Kelly and I divorced. He’s still banging his head against the wall. All he had to do was hang in there a few more months,” she giggled.
“I’m sorry about your Father,” I said.
“Thank you, but it happened a while ago. We’re both in a better place now,” she said. “Terry, I want a beer. Bring me a six-pack of Bud.
I went to the bar, opened the fridge and returned with a six of bottles and a fresh glass. I opened one and was ready to pour, when Mrs. Kelly waved me off and held her hand out. I handed it to her. She took a swig and gave a small belch.
“See, I’m just one of the guys,” she said.