Unexpected Angel (3 page)

Wally managed to get into his car without floating off the ground.  Gravity still worked.  Everything was exactly as it should be, except . . . Wally had been kissed.

Mileah dabbed cotton-candy perfume on her scarf and at the base of her neck.  She knew what effect she had on the others in the office. The women would want to know what kind it was and where she bought it.  The guys would just sniff.  Their faces would have a certain dreamy look, like high-school boys with hormones in charge and good sense nowhere in the neighborhood.  Any man in that state, if he started moving his feet before he snapped back to reality, might walk into a wall, or entertain the ladies by tripping over a waste basket.   Mileah delighted herself in the effect she had on the men.  She intended to use that to get to high places in the agency, whether she climbed on her own merit or got hoisted to the top in a bed.  Whatever it took.

Mileah had a pleasant smile.  She was witty; she was intelligent, though she toned that down unless it was to good advantage.  She liked Wally.  She had figured, long ago, that she was never going to lure Wally to a bedroom.  Putting that aside, she liked him anyway.

Next to Mileah sat Norman Gómez, the office stud, age twenty-eight.  He was not just handsome; he was beautiful.  He had dark brown hair, cut very short, and a photogenic face that sported a neatly trimmed goatee.  His broad shoulders, chiseled torso, and trim waist filled polo shirts to perfection.  He had a butt that gals and guys, alike, loved to watch.  The gals lusted after it; the guys were jealous.  It did not go unnoticed.  It was firm and just the right size and . . . it was perfect.  Norman also had a nice package that bulged just enough to grab attention and cause people to take a second glance. Norman didn’t mind adjusting it, now and then, especially if he knew some of the guys or gals were watching.   There was nothing at all bashful about Norman Gómez. 

Norman liked to flirt, but only if it was well received.  He had been out with a few of the ladies from the office.  No doubt, some of them knew all about the contents of his package, but nobody told.  Norman had a soft, gentle voice.  He moved smoothly, almost like a cat.  His breathing left people wondering if he were somewhere on the edge of arousal.  His smile was contagious.  His eyes were intense, a deep, radiant blue.  He was a hunk.  Norman Gómez and sex seemed to go together.

Wally often wondered what it would be like to be with Norman.  He would shudder with delight when Norman came to his desk, stood behind him, leaned over a bit, and whispered a question.  He was sure Norman knew about his orientation.  Norman appeared to be just as sure of his own sexuality, so it was not a problem for Wally to be a work buddy.  He was not a threat.

Past Norman’s desk was Wally’s, and then, the desk of Dorinda Jordan.  Here was a pleasant and attractive lady in her late forties.  She had a flawless complexion, a charming smile.  She was the most efficient worker in the room.  She was all business most of the time, but she had another side filled with compassion and understanding. Dorinda was a part-time minister of the Gospel at the Apostolic Community Church.  She was an expert at making people comfortable with the situations in which they found themselves.

Dorinda was also an expert at tricking her coworkers into saying things they really did not intend to say.  When she did this, she would smile with delight as they tried to get themselves out of it.  Wally was easier than most to lead into such blunders. She loved it when he got so deeply entangled that he admitted defeat and begged forgiveness.   Dorinda would just smile and chuckle.  Then, she would say something like, “Wally, I think you were born with a tongue that gets disconnected from your brain!”  At this point, Norman and Mileah would join the fun–Norman with an outburst of laughter, and Mileah with a schoolgirl squeal that penetrated every room in the office suite.

Wally and Dorinda would often entertain a mirthful, gossipy conversation about Mileah walking into the office of Jarvis Muncey.  Jarvis, the co-supervisor of the State Employment Bureau, could quote rules and regulations like preachers quote the Bible.  He was all business except when he encountered Mileah.  When she walked into his office, his articulate speech would fumble.  His voice would rise several steps in pitch.  His face would turn red.  He would ruffle papers and drop things. And, he would sweat.  Dorinda loved to predict the outcome of a scenario that would involve Mileah walking into Muncey’s office and closing the door behind her.  She could see it now.  Mileah would unfasten a few buttons, moisten her lips, swirl her hair, bat her eyes, and go after Muncey full force.  Most likely, there were only two possible outcomes.  Muncey would become mentally unstable and apply for early retirement, or Mileah would get a big promotion.  Dorinda and Wally wondered just when that might occur.  Everyone would benefit.  When Muncey was happy, everybody was happy.  When Muncey was out of the office, everybody was happy.

It was into this room that Wally walked on the morning of the kiss. He had a smile on his face that not a shower, nor a shave, nor rush-hour traffic, nor wind, nor city dust, could remove.  In addition to smiling, he had been humming as he walked down the hall and into the office.  He silenced it as soon as he was aware of other people, but not quick enough that Mileah didn’t notice.

“Hey, sugar babe.  You’ve taken to making music in the office.  Not like you at all.  Whoa, there.  You’ve got a grin on your face that can’t be hid.  What have you gone and got yourself into?”

“He probably went to a singles bar and got laid,” quipped Norman, his ears tuning into what could be a thing of great interest.

“Norman, honey.  You’re talking from your own experience.  Wally is cut from a finer mold.  He doesn’t have to prowl around looking for fun and games.  They find him.  Isn’t that right, Wally?  Don’t good times just have a way of dropping in unannounced?”

“They did this morning,” said Wally, “at five o’clock to be exact.”

Norman couldn’t keep quiet.  His curiosity was strained.  “How did you have energy to get into stuff like that at five in the morning?  And who was she?”

Mileah piped in.  “You’re forgetting something, Norman.  It wasn’t a she.  It would have to be a he.  Remember?  Wally and you are different.”

“Thanks for taking care of that, Mileah,” responded Wally.  “It was a he, an incredible he, a motorcycle-riding, gorgeous hunk of a he.  Even people who know him can’t figure him out.  He can be as macho as any pickup-driving redneck in Kentucky.  He can wear leather and ride with a Harley gang.  He can out drink anyone at a bar.  But, this morning, he held me in his arms and kissed me.  That has never happened before in my life.”

“And, I bet he just happened to need some money,” remarked Dorinda as she walked into the office.  “How much, Wally?”

“Fifty dollars, but I only had forty.”

As Dorinda put her purse away, she turned and said, “Wally, honey, I don’t mean to rain on your parade, but you are dealing with a user.  Can’t you see?  Don’t be acting like an ostrich with your head in the sand.  Listen to the people who care about you.  You are being
used!
”

Norman interrupted.  “I don’t know about all that.  I want to hear some more about the kiss.  What was it like?  I mean, was it tongue and all that stuff?”

“Yes, Norman,” said Wally, “it was tongue and all that stuff.  It was incredible.  It blew my mind into next week.  I won’t ever be the same.  If he doesn’t kiss me again, then some other man will have to.  This is defining my life.  I need it.”

Norman spoke with a reserved tone, “There was a time when this would have grossed me out, but I find it very interesting.  It’s like another world is at work here, and it doesn’t seem to threaten.”

Mileah burst out, “And I suppose you’re gonna say that you might kiss a guy one day?”

“Who knows?” snapped Norman.  “I can’t say I would, but I can’t rule it out.  You see a lot of this in the movies now.  It’s something I ponder.”

“Ponder?” giggled Mileah.  “You mean you actually sit around wondering what it would be like to kiss a guy?  Why don’t you just go out and find one and ravish him with those lusty lips of yours?  Then, when you have gotten over the trauma of having your face rearranged, you might just decide to drop out of the clouds and be a regular guy once more.”

“Go ahead and make light of it, Mileah.  It is something that obsesses me.  I am not gay, but I envy the attention Wally got this morning from that guy.  It’s like I could never set out to kiss a guy, but there might come a situation where I would be open to it.  I’m straight, but I’m also kind of mixed up at the moment.”

“Do the thoughts
obsess
or
possess
you?”  chimed Dorinda.  “You must weigh the consequences, dear one.”

Jarvis Muncey walked into the office.  Nothing was unusual about his appearance.  His face was red.  His palms were sweating.  His voice crackled.  “Don’t you folks think it’s about time to begin your workday?  There’s a lot to do.  This chitchat needs to stop.”  He turned and moved abruptly out of the room.

Mileah mocked him under her breath, adjusted her boobs, and sat down to work.  The others went to their desks, also.

**********

About ten o’clock, Norman rolled the chair away from his desk.  Holding a piece of paper in his hand, he walked over to Wally’s desk.  He stood on Wally’s left and reached over his right shoulder to place the paper in front of him.  Instead of pulling his hand away, he let it rest on Wally’s shoulder.  Speaking softly, he called his attention to the paper,  “Wally, I am puzzled about these figures you worked up.”

A sudden sense of wonderment overtook Wally.  Oh, I wish that hand were glued there permanently, he thought . . . or at least this moment in time frozen until the work day is over.

Norman lightly squeezed Wally’s shoulder.  Wally sighed.

Norman was a little amused by Wally’s reaction, so he squeezed it again.

Oh, God, thought Wally. Why don’t you just go ahead and massage it?  I love it.

Though Norman’s hand remained in place, still squeezing, Wally had to force himself back to reality. He inquired politely. “I am not sure I understand which figures you are talking about.”  He leaned back in his chair.  He was almost touching Norman’s trousers.

Norman did not step back. “The figures up at the top.  Here, I’ll point them out for you.”  Norman’s voice was soft.  He was breathing deeper and slower.  He removed his hand from Wally’s shoulder.  He leaned forward and put his finger on the paper to trace out the figures.

Norman’s trousers were pressed firmly against Wally’s upper back.  Wally didn’t try to move. He didn’t want to move.  He sensed that something was different about the feel of those slacks?  Wally smiled.   Oh! Wow!  I think the Norman is getting aroused.  Wally answered Norman without turning his head or his body. “I’ll have to look at these after while and figure what I did.  OK?  I’ve got sort of a mental block right now.”

“Sure,” responded Norman as he leaned in some more.  His breath skipped over the top of Wally’s ear and around to Wally’s face.  Norman had been chewing watermelon gum.

Wally felt a chill come over his body as the aroma of sweet watermelon hovered above his nose. His thoughts flashed back to the events of that morning.

Suddenly, Norman moved away from Wally’s back. He changed the subject.  “Hey, Wally, old boy.  I’ve got the key to the big storage room on the third floor.  Muncey wants me to go get some paper for the printers and copiers. I was thinking it might be good to have some help.  Can you go with me, buddy?”

Mileah latched onto those words like paper clips on a magnet.  “My heavens, Norman Gómez, are you asking him on a date already?  You must have been right serious about your kissing curiosity?”  Mileah had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing.

Norman snapped, “Ah, crap, Mileah.  Muncey wants me to get some paper out of the big room upstairs.  I asked Wally to help me do it?”

Mileah snickered, “You mean you all are going to do it already?  There’s a proper time.  Have you no shame?”

Dorinda had been trying to stay out of this, but her playful nature would no longer allow that.  “You best get on your knees and pray for the temptation to end.  Sounds like you and Wally are planning a sinful escapade behind locked doors?”

“Naw,” said Norman, “we’re just going to get the paper and we’ll be back.  You’ll see.”

Norman could see that Wally was watching him. He stretched his arms and yawned.  A playful expression came over his face.  “Come to think of it, a little bit of hanky-panky with another guy just might spruce up my day.  I have never tried that before.”  Norman smiled at Wally and winked.  “How about it, Wally, would you like to get naughty up there?  Maybe a teeny, tiny sample of another lifestyle?”

“Teeny, tiny?  Would you be talking about a body part?” giggled Mileah.

Norman gave Mileah a look that could have vaporized a concrete wall.  Then he motioned to Wally.  “Come on, buddy.  You know I was just joking around.  Mileah’s got a sex-starved mind.  That’s all she thinks about.  It doesn’t matter what we do, she’s gonna think we got down and dirty.  Let’s go up there and get that paper.”

Just as Wally was getting out of his chair, Gina Martin, from another office in the suite, appeared at the doorway.  Gina was tall and graceful.  She had worked several years for a modeling agency before coming to the State Employment Bureau. She was sweet on Norman and made no secret of it.  Ladies in the office often whispered about Gina and Norman always being together on break and at lunch.

Gina approached Norman and spoke softly, “Mae and I are going on break in a few minutes to get a cup of coffee at the bookstore across the street.  We want you to come with us.  Please.”  Gina fluffed her hair, batted her eyes and shaped her lips into a playful pucker.  “We can’t have our morning coffee without the stud.  Somebody’s got to make sure we don’t get ravished.”

Norman quipped, “Yeah, I’m not the ravishing type. Women trust me.”  Then, turning to Wally, he remarked,  “The paper will have to wait.  I’m gonna take my ladies on break.”  He unwrapped a piece of watermelon gum and popped it in his mouth.  He looked at Wally and smiled.  Then, he motioned for Gina to go before him.