For the first time in a long time, Ian woke up easily and fully rested. He rose from his bed, not too startled by his surroundings. It was beginning to feel like home, or what he thought a home should feel like if he ever had one.
He meandered to the mini fridge that he finally stocked with his favorite beverage, very sweet iced tea, poured himself a large glass, in one of the liquor glasses that were already there and enjoyed. After the first sip, he lit the first smoke of the day and clicked the button that opened the glass doors allowing the morning in.
He stepped out onto the balcony taking in a deep breath. Sitting his cig in the ashtray nearby, he stretched and yawned, surveying the backyard at the same time. His eyes couldn’t help but wander over it all. It seemed so perfect, laid out and ready to be lived.
It was the first time. Before, every breath he had taken had been determined, when to let it in, when to let it out. Not this time. This time he was in control. He would no longer cower in the corner, scampering about like a rat doing someone’s bidding and then scampering back in order to avoid a crushing blow. No longer would he live on what crumbs he could scavenge.
This was his world. He was under no delusions, he finally had been dealt a winning hand, and he knew good and well that he could lose it all in the next round. He’d played it safe all his life, but this time every move was all his. He could do this. He really could.
A sharp slapping sound made him jump.
“Come on, I’ve got to go!”
He heard it again. Ian darted back in the bedroom, shielding himself behind the flowing drapes, peeking around to see if he could see anything.
The sound smacked a third time. “Ralphie! Damn it, Ralphie! Come on boy, I’m running late!” He heard a deep happy bark and then, “That’s a boy! Now in you go.”
Ian could hear a glass door slide and then a few muffled barks. Within seconds an engine cranked, started and drifted away. He walked back out on the balcony and looked over into the next yard. From the balcony he could only see the other balcony, large, but not as large as his. Instead of a glass wall, there were French doors.
As he turned to go in, something on that balcony in the next yard caught his eye. He had to shield his eyes, as the sun was reflecting on the glass doorway, but he could eventually see a beautiful red Irish setter on his haunches in what he assumed was the bedroom nestled behind those double doors. The dog seemed to be looking at him. He wagged his tail and silently barked.
Ian smiled and waved, “Hi…Ralphie!”
Ian stepped back inside heading straight for the shower. Turning on the faucets, he tested the stream before stepping in to enjoyed the rush of electricity as the warm jets sprayed his body wet.
No matter how dirty he knew he might get, it was impossible to start any day without a shower and washing his hair. It was one of his quirks. Sex, of course, he could do first thing, but anything else, including breakfast, had to be preceded by soap and water.
First things first, he washed his hair. It wasn’t until then that his mind really felt clear. There was something about putting his head underwater that woke him up. After the rinse he reached for the cake of soap and smelled it. Clair used to make fun of him. She said it was “the ritual”.
She never would shower with him, there were lots of things she never would do, but she would always come in the bathroom in the morning, rip back the curtain and watch him shower as she brushed her teeth. And just like Lucy holding Charlie Brown’s football, she would always either flush the toilet or turn the taps on to scald him while laughing “Gotcha!”
It had ruined most mornings for him, but not this morning…and not any morning any more. He sighed contented at last. He looked at himself naked in the full-length mirror when he stepped out of the shower.
His body was ripped and tight. He had worked out at least every other day in the gym. He wasn’t olive skinned but he was naturally a little dark even when not in the sun. There was a nice smattering of black hair in all the right places, across his pecs and a little trail from his naval, but not a fur mat like his Uncle had been.
He thought his blue eyes were kind of pretty for a guy's eyes. His dark hair and long lashes set them off. Yeah, he was a pretty nice looking guy. He toweled dry and then was off to dress and really start the day.
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