I want to extend a HUGE thank you to my editor! I am sure this was a tall order to edit.
To the readers:
I hope you enjoy the story. Please let me know what you think, feedback is really the driving force behind my writing these stories. Also, is it worth continuing?
*****
Day 5: Giving a Bath and Showing it all
In her usual fashion, by the time Clare arrived the next day, she had regained much of her confidence. That is not to say that she still did not have her doubts about what had transpired the day before.
Flashing the guy was one thing, but going down on him? What the fuck had she been thinking?
Yet, she had found some solace in the fact that nothing like that would happen again. Even if, however she tried to deny it, some crazy part of her had found it exhilarating. That was the part of her that remembered Greg's innocence, remember the pure delight radiating from him during it all. That part remembered how she had felt like a Goddess, in complete control of another's enjoyment. Clare had spent a long time looking in the mirror this morning, trying to figure out who exactly who was staring back at her.
Clare remained lost in thought as she entered the facility and headed to the locker room. She did not even register Billy's greeting. When she entered the locker room and passed the Pride Wall, two new pink slips caught her attention. She stopped to read them. The first read, "Clare is a great caregiver!" and the second, "Clare is amazing!" this one signed Greg. Clare smiled, she thought she recognized the first as Mr. Grange's handwriting, which was shocking. That Debby-downer did not give anyone good reviews. Although, he sure had perked up yesterday, something Clare had still not given much thought to.
The pride reviews surprisingly alleviated her stress. Things had definitely gotten pretty wonky recently, but the glowing reviews somehow made it seem better. She was making a difference for the first time in her life. Clare crossed the room to her locker, refreshed. As she put on her uniform, she giggled at the thought of removing her bra. While there was no way she was going down that path again today, the fact that she could joke about it was a relief. She would rein things in and bring a bit of normalcy back into her life. Clare was once again cheery when she ran into Nathan on her way to Mr. Grange's room.
"Clare, hold up a second," he called as he waddled toward her.
Clare stopped, what could he want now. The worst case scenario sprang into her head.
Had Greg reported her?
As Nathan approached, she could hear him wheezing a bit.
Jesus
, she thought,
the guy can barely walk through the halls. He would probably be a resident here before long.
"I just wanted to say great job!" Nathan beamed, catching her off guard. "Three pride reviews in a week, extraordinary."
Clare found herself responding in kind. She had never been praised by her boss before.
"Keep it up and you might make employee of the month," Nathan continued.
"Thank you," Clare responded, more than a bit flustered.
"Well, back to work. I am sure Mr. Grange is waiting."
Clare watched her boss waddle away and shook her head. What a crazy few days! Clare shook her head and continued to Mr. Grange's apartment.
The scene before her was a stark contrast to every day before. Mr. Grange was wide awake and quite animated. He almost seemed as if he had been waiting for her to arrive. Clare definitely noticed this change, but with so much on her mind, she barely gave it a second thought. In her rush to get things back to normal, Clare failed to notice how the old man's eyes immediately locked on her chest and the sigh which followed when he realized that she was wearing a bra. Clare had awoken something in him yesterday, and the twinkle in his eye suggested he was not about to let it go easily.
"Hi Mr. Grange," Clare said, smiling at the old man, "How are you today."
"I'm fine young lady, how about yourself?"
"Great," Clare responded. "I saw someone gave me a pride review," she chided, hands on her hips.
The little bit of color that rose to the old man's cheeks betrayed him. It was cute. Mr. Grange "ahem'ed" as if to clear his throat and turned away in embarrassment.
"Well, what should we do today?" Clare asked rhetorically, planning on simply following the set routine.
"Uhm, would you mind helping an old man with a bath?" Mr. Grange responded, catching Clare completely off guard.
She stood there, trying to process the request. Residents often talked back or refused to do something on their daily worksheet, but no one had ever asked her to completely deviate from the routine. Clare was not even sure if she was allowed to give a resident a bath.
"I... uh," Clare stumbled.
"Sorry to ask," Mr. Grange pressed, "But, the nurse this morning was busy and didn't get around to it."
Clare's heart quickened and she began to worry.
What did she know about giving a resident a bath? Although... really, how hard could it be?
"The nurse said you could probably take care of it," Mr. Grange said, pressing even harder.
Well, if the nurse told him to ask, I guess it would be okay
, Clare thought. "Sure, I guess we can take care of that," Clare finally responded, convinced that the request was not that unordinary. She did not notice the devious twinkle that appeared in the old man's eyes or the sly smirk that followed.
Clare grabbed the menu and asked, "Would you like to eat lunch first?"
"No," Mr. Grange replied abruptly, startling Clare, but his voice immediately softened, "I mean, can we do the bath first?"
"Sure, why not?" she replied, once again missing the warning signs. Clare just assumed the broad smile that spread over his face was his satisfaction at the thought of getting clean. She knew she would be happy to get a bath if she needed one.
Clare retrieved Mr. Grange's walker and proceeded to help him off the bed. She allowed him to drape his arm over her shoulder as he slid to the floor, ignoring how his hand "accidentally" brushed across her breast a few times in the process. Helping an elderly man to the bathroom was not part of her normal routine and she figured it was normal. When the old man was finally on his feet and had gained his footing, Clare was shocked at how quickly he shuffled across the room. He seemed to be in quite a hurry. Clare shrugged, the guy must really want a bath.
Clare followed him into the bathroom and stopped.
What was she supposed to do now? Did he disrobe himself? Should she turn around?
Clare honestly had no idea, and she was too embarrassed to ask. Sheepishly, she stood there, hoping Mr. Grange would make the first move and not notice her ignorance.
Mr. Grange was a wily, old coot and he noticed. He had been in this blasted group home for a long time and he knew the nurses gave baths, not caregivers. The fact that this little lass did not even know that bode well for him. Visions of those wonderful tits were already dancing in his head.
"A little help, please," he chided, and Clare sprang forward.
Clare exhaled with relief, she was supposed to help him. Easy-peasy. Clare guided his robe free and then untied the gown underneath. Mr. Grange shrugged the loose gown to the ground and Clare watched it fall to the floor, revealing his nudity. She could not help but stare at his nakedness—even though she felt she should look away. Mr. Grange was quite thin and wrinkles adorned nearly every part of his body. Clare's gaze was inevitably drawn to Mr. Grange's manhood, which hung limply between the sticks he called legs—a mere remnant of past glory.
"You gonna stare all day or help me into the tub?" Mr. Grange asked, breaking the awkward moment.
Clare's face went beet red and she scolded herself.
Really? Staring at an old man's wiener? Get ahold of yourself!
Clare took Mr. Grange's outstretched arm and gave him the support he needed to step over the tub's edge. She then carefully lowered him into a sitting position. That done, she turned the faucet on, making sure to test it for warmth. Mr. Grange just watched the whole process with a big smile. Anyone could see how nervous the lass was, she had no clue what she was supposed to be doing. Oh, and how she had stared at him when he disrobed! Mr. Grange's old mind was spinning with possibilities. He had no doubt that today's bath would be a wonderful blast from the past. It had been a long time since he had seen a naked woman, and even then, he was not sure he had ever seen one as pretty as this lass.
When Clare was satisfied with the water's temperature, she turned back to Mr. Grange.
Shit
, she thought, a
m I supposed to wash him or does he do that himself?
"The scrubber is right there," Mr. Grange said, answering her question before she could even ask it.
Clare was thankful for the guidance and picked up the soft sponge. She lathered the sponge with soap and hesitated, unsure of whether Mr. Grange had intended for her to hand him the sponge or use it herself. Clare watched to see if Mr. Grange made any effort to reach for the sponge. When he didn't, she concluded that she was supposed to use it. Clare smiled, taking a bit of pride in what she believed had been a clever way of solving that dilemma.
"Uhm, Clare?" Mr. Grange asked as Clare started to spread soap over his back.
"Yes, Mr. Grange?" she responded, worried that she made a mistake.
"Would you mind changing the faucet to the sprayer? I like the feel of the water on me?"
Clare exhaled in relief, no mistake. "Sure."
She moved back to the faucet and pulled the pin to send the water out of the shower sprayer. The sprayer head sat about a foot above the faucet and worked as a sit-down shower for the elderly. Clare understood why he would rather it be that way, she liked showers better as well. It was not until she moved back to Mr. Grange's side and retrieved the sponge that she realized her predicament.
"Uh, Mr. Grange?" she asked hesitantly, hoping she was not asking a foolish question, "I'm not sure I can wash you with the sprayer on."