"Sweaty and Dirty" (Part Three)

(The Conclusion)

Relationships aren’t easy, but when your trust is strong,

Your love will outgrow your heart, you can’t go wrong,

Right now your heart is focused on your friend,

Take time to discover what you want, let your heart mend,

So far, I’ve not been impressed with how you’ve treated me,

When you’re ready to accept me as I am, then we’ll see,

I think your heart is too small within your chest,

I’ll be your friend and nothing more, I think that’s best,”

I left her in her doorway, her gaze fixed on my back,

She had things to think about, things she might lack,

A few weeks later her call woke me from dreams,

“Talk to me,” she said, “I need to face the truth it seems,”

“You told me the truth but I thought you were wrong,

I didn’t realize I was weak, and you were that strong,

I want to know you and not what you can become,

You made me see myself, how I treated you like scum,”

At first we talked and shared about superficial things,

As we relaxed we considered what the future might bring,

Yet as we talked I wondered if she would ever love me,

Would she share my dreams and forget her reverie?

That was the first night, there were several yet to come,

I wanted to love her, I truly tried, but my heart was numb,

 She gradually changed as she looked within her heart,

She loved me for me, but I didn’t know where to start,

I was still her friend, I thought that was for the best,

And I knew her heart had grown, deep within her chest,

I knew I liked her, even loved her, but I couldn’t trust,

Was her heart really open, had she cleared away the rust?

Three months had passed, it seemed an eternity,

We went out to dine, she had invited me,

She said, “My heart has grown, deep within my chest,

I can’t contain my love,” (and perhaps you know the rest),

It was difficult for her to hide her fright,

Her small voice quavered ever so slight,

When she asked, “Are my breasts too small?”

She was exposing thoughts, fears, her very all,

She had pulchritude, talent, and intelligence,

Everything I thought was of the essence,

Her eyes searched mine hoping to find,

That I had forgiven her and made up my mind,

If I loved her, she needed desperately to know,

More than a friendship, she wanted love to grow,

Who knows if I was thinking, but I took a chance,

I wanted a relationship with true romance,

She was a changed person, she loved me for me,

A deep love without conditions, all it could be,

She had finally decided she could settle for poor,

She didn’t know that she was really getting more,

I was hired by a company that was starting to grow,

Within a few years I became the CEO,

And Staci got someone who would treat her like a queen,

Forever and always, and the time in between.

"Sweaty and Dirty" (Part Two)

“Sweaty and Dirty”   (Part Two)

It was suggested I dress formal, I learned from a note,

There were also several emails, they seemed so remote,

Yet I obtained her address, phone number, and name,

This seemed like a secret mission, or a wild party game,

I bought what a saleswoman recommended, yet odd I felt,

Wearing a crisp dark suit, matching watch, shoes, and belt,

I rang Staci’s doorbell at seven, being on time was my norm,

She stared wide-eyed as if I was some unrecognizable form,

“You cleaned up well,” she said as she glanced from head to toe,

 Her expression changed from shock to grin, why I don’t know,

She wore a classic black dress, ready for a night on the town,

I thought, “This is special, my feet aren’t touching ground,”

On the way we shared small talk, about values and goals,

Yet she was not listening, her emotions had taken control,

She was talking about someone else, I realized it was her ex,

About what he wanted, how he was different than she expects,

At the party I was at her side when she greeted her friends,

“Who is that?” they asked in front of me, she says, “Oh, him,”

“He’s just a laundry worker!” scorn evident in her voice,

“I had to come with someone, I really had no choice,”

She saw my hurt, and realized how her words had ripped,

“That’s the truth,” she said, “you shouldn’t have lost your grip,”

Her ex was more than a doctor, a heart surgeon, to be exact,

He was surrounded by women who watched his every act,

Staci led me across the room, bravely clutching my arm,

“Pretend you’re interested in me,” she said, “Show a little charm,”

The doctor saw us coming and came across to greet me,

“So you’re Staci’s new love, or just her wanna be?”

I replied, “I think she’s too good for you, so show some respect,”

He laughed and said to Staci, “What did you expect?

He’s just a laundry worker, dirt and sweat are in his veins,

He’s not what I’d call first class, he’ll work hard with little gain,”

“I would have supported you in style, if you’d just let me be,

Not all of us are monogamists, as you can plainly see,

You could have stayed, accepting me for the stud I am,”

Staci shook her head, “I won’t be part of your adoring harem,”

For her the party was over, she had heard the very worst,

Instead of her changing him, she found her bubble burst,

“Take me home,” she uttered, her eyes filling up with tears,

 The drive back was very quiet, with me, Staci, and her fears,

I walked Staci to her door, then turned to walk away,

I froze when I heard her voice, “Please, I want you to stay,”

This would have been a perfect time, her cruelty to avenge,

Instead I chose a positive way, an alternative to revenge,

“Staci, you’ve been hurt and I want to be your friend,

But even though I’m gullible, I want you to comprehend,

You see me as a laundry worker, with a social ladder to climb,

I hope your relationship expectations change over time,

I think you’re wrong when you look first for status or wealth,

There are better things to look for as you strive for relational health,

Make a list of the qualities you want from your ideal mate,

Decide which ones you can’t live without, or leave it to fate,

(to be continued)

"Sweaty and Dirty" (Part One)

“Sweaty and Dirty”

Forgiveness is a Positive Virtue

She was trembling as she stood facing me,

Was there something she wanted to see?

Her hands were pressed against her chest,

Then I noticed she was cupping her breasts,

It was difficult for her to hide her fright,

Her small voice quavered ever so slight,

When she asked, “Are my breasts too small?”

She was exposing thoughts, fears, her very all,

She had pulchritude, talent, and intelligence,

Everything I thought was of the essence,

Her eyes searched mine hoping to find,

That I had forgiven her and made up my mind,

If I loved her, she needed desperately to know,

The question she posed was far different though,

I thought back three months to when we met,

The circumstances were very hard to forget,

I had been downsized with an economy shift,

Turned loose in the jobless current to drift,

“Overqualified,” they would say to me,

“That’s just the way it’s got to be,”

That was the response I got from several firms,

Saying I had a doctorate opened a can of worms,

I needed work to keep paying my bills,

I finally found work by deemphasizing my skills,

A hospital laundry kept me from going deeper in debt,

And I tried to remain cheerful with no regrets,

Yes, I remember the day we first met,

My shirt was dirty and I was soaked with sweat,

I expected to be alone while I ate lunch,

Usually treated like a pariah by the hospital bunch,

Smokers gravitated to me because I was dirty anyway,

But I sprayed a can of freshener as two smokers puffed away,

“What are you doing?” one howled in dismay,

“You’ve ruined our air and now you’re going to pay!”

I moved to another table to avoid further trouble,

That’s when two nurses arrived bringing trouble double,

The cutest nurse spoke up quickly, she didn’t hesitate,

“That was brave what you did. I think that was just great!”

The other nurse nudged her forward, “Hurry up, we’re late,”

The cute one said, “Would you go to a party?  I need a date.”

“I’m just a laundry worker,” I quietly said,

“Why don’t you ask one of the doctors instead?”

Tears dripped from those bewitching eyes,

At first I didn’t believe she could tell me lies,

“Yes, I’ll be honored to go with you,”

Why she had asked me I had no clue,

But a hospital nurse of stature and style,

Had stayed and talked with me awhile,

There had to be a reason behind her smile,

Was there something about me that she reviled?

Or maybe it was just a set up for a cruel prank,

I couldn’t think of anything positive, I was drawing a blank,

In spite of my misgivings, I knew it was only a date,

If I continued to be positive I would determine my own fate,

I told myself I was just curious, I knew I didn’t really rate,

But I had forgotten about my albatross, my gullible trait,

(to be continued)