Michael was the man who lived next door. I nice enough man, I suppose. Not unhandsome, quite fit, a full head of hair, blue eyes and a friendly smile. Rather popular around the neighbourhood.
Although his name was Michael most people called him Mike or Mickey. Me, I called him Mickey Mouse because he seriously annoyed me. He was filled with a happy self-confidence that I thought was totally unwarranted.
You may have noticed that my description didn't mention his height. That's because he didn't have any worth mentioning. If he topped five foot six it would be because he was wearing high heels, and I can assure you his over-weening self-confidence wouldn't let him do such a thing.
That man irritated me so much that I have several times played little practical jokes on him. Nothing really mean or dangerous but maybe not quite nice. He knew it was me, too, but he just dismissed the prank as child's play, which irritated me even more.
If I had to describe myself (which I do) I'd own to being blonde with hazel eyes that tended to turn green when I was in a passion about something. I had a very nice figure, everyone agrees on that, am intelligent, fit, and friendly. Except with Mickey Mouse. I'm also in my early twenties and married, but no children.
One day Brendan, my husband, had to go on a work trip, and he was going to be gone for a week, much to my annoyance. Nothing could be done about it, though, so I just signed and wished him luck.
When Saturday rolled around I went outside and did some gardening. Normally Brendan would do it but with him being away I thought it wouldn't kill me to tidy things up a bit and give the plants a drink.
I did a bit of trimming and weeding. Gardens don't need much work as long as you make sure that they don't get away from you. When they do it can be a real swine of a job getting it back in order. I finished up getting out the hose and watering.
While watering I noticed Mickey Mouse was doing a little gardening, too. It was entirely accidental that when I finished watering and went to turn off the water I left the hose running, pointing at the sky. Normally I relinquish the handle, shutting off the water, as soon as I finish. Anyway, the jet of water rose into the sky and what goes up, must come down, in this case on top of poor Mickey Mouse. He was suddenly a very bedraggled looking Mouse.
"Oh, Michael, I'm so sorry," I cooed, using his proper name to show how contrite I was. "I guess I was a little careless there. Terribly sorry."
It can be hard to keep a straight face when you're dying to laugh.
"That's OK," he said. "It's a hot day anyway."
"That's why I was watering," I conceded. "You know what they say, a little water will make anything grow."
Except him, apparently.
He just looked at me and continued with his gardening while I went inside.
That evening I went down to the club. There was no way I was just going to mooch around the house feeling bored. I could meet some friends at the club, have a drink or two, no more than that, and have a bit of fun.
I'd barely got in the club and was holding my first drink when I ran into Mickey Mouse. He looked at me and then looked at my drink.
"Better drink that fast," he told me. "I don't really want to find myself wearing it."
I gave him a nasty look and quickly skulled the drink, getting a second to carry around with me.
I totally blame Michael for what happened. I always make my first drink last a while before getting my second. Carrying my second around so early I forgot it was my second and when I'd finished it I got a third, sort of thinking it was my second.
Why is this a problem, you ask? I have a very low tolerance for alcohol. One drink and I'm fine. A second drink and I'm happy and feeling no pain. A third drink and I'm definitely feeling no pain because I'll be asleep. This low tolerance does have one big benefit, namely no hangovers. I wake up the next morning feeling great.
Normally if I have that one drink too many Brendan is there to take me home. This time he wasn't there, was he? I woke up next morning on someone's couch. There was a blanket on me and I had a pillow and, thank god, I was fully dressed except for my shoes, which I spotted on the floor next to the couch. I sat up abruptly, wondering where I was.
"So the sleeping loud-mouth awakes," said an irritating voice
I turned my head to glare at Michael. Instead of glaring I swallowed nervously. He was lounging against the door jamb, looking amused, and all that he was wearing were some pyjama bottoms. It was the first time I'd ever seen Michael without a shirt. You notice I'm saying Michael, not Mickey Mouse? That's because Mickey Mouse didn't come with the impressive musculature that Michael was showing. Mighty Mouse, maybe, but certainly not Mickey. The man was ripped. And he wasn't even flexing, just standing there relaxed.
"What am I doing here?" I demanded.
"You passed out at the club last night. Don't hold your drink too well, do you?"
I rubbed my hand over my face, trying to remember. I remembered that first quick drink. I also remembered it was Michael's fault that I gulped that first drink.
"I normally ration my drinks," I said bitterly. "You caused me to lose count."
"One, two, three," he said, lifting three fingers. "Yes, I can see how it might be easy to lose count once you reach two."
"That's irrelevant," I said with a slight blush. "What I want to know is how did I wind up at your house?"
"Well you were sounding off at me so much last night that everyone thought we'd come together and they left it to me to help you get home. Not wanting to kick your door down I just put you on my couch for the night."
I looked pointedly at my purse which was on display on the coffee table.
"You didn't think to open my purse to check for the keys?"
"Go through your purse?" He actually sounded shocked, the swine. "I wouldn't dream of looking through a women's purse."