It's a fairly common misconception in many schools... boys are better at math, and girls are better with language. When people find out for the first time that I majored in or teach mathematics, many find it exceptional that a woman would have that interest. What's strange, though, is the thought that someone whose main interest is a left-brained activity like math would not be able to do as well with English language arts.
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We'd only lived in the neighbourhood a few weeks, so when I first saw him mowing the lawn as I pulled into the driveway, I thought it might have been my own mistake. But no, I checked the house number, and I saw my wife's car in the other parking spot, so I knew I was in the right place. I shrugged and got out of the car.
I reached back in for my briefcase, and then watched the young man mowing our lawn as I walked to the front door.
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The wind was already howling. The rain pounded so hard and constant on the windows that it sounded like radio static when Connie decided to finally take the neighbors up on their offer. Hunter and Pilar knew Connie's ex had the kids for the weekend and thought she might want to be with someone to ride out the storm. Connie had planned to curl up with her new Blu-Ray of Gone with the Wind, or if the power went out, a good book.
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The day dragged on and on. Claire watched as the last few minutes ticked away. She had already organized her affairs and was now just waiting until she could go. It was Friday, so the traffic would be horrible, but at least she had a few days off. She longed to be home in her quiet apartment. Eventually, the clock struck five. She walked briskly down to the parking garage and started her car. She hurried and managed to get five minutes down the freeway when she ran into grid locked traffic. She sighed and turned up the music.
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I am one lucky son of a bitch. There. I said it. I have a life any other guy would kill to have. And I have no idea why, except when genes play a role. It certainly isn't because I'm a genius, because I'm not. I'm not the biggest, the fastest, the strongest, or the best athlete. I'm sure as hell not rich. Just lucky.
Now, I did mention genes helped out, and I wasn't lying. I mean, I'm pretty average-looking: brown hair, green eyes, thin, six feet tall even, straight teeth.
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My gut tightened as I walked down the line of tents to Sergeant First Class McNundic's green hootch, For a long time I had felt nervous around him. I had no reason to, really – I was a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army, and he was a noncommissioned officer in my platoon. I had no reason to be nervous around that guy!
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"Snakes and ladders?" Kim groaned. "Snakes and fucking ladders!?"
"I'm sorry," replied Lucy. "It's all I could find." She stepped back into the room and placed the board game on the floor, sitting cross-legged beside it and taking the board and counters out of the box.
Kim sighed and sat down beside her. "But it's such a boring game," she sighed. "Even if we just sat and talked it would be more interesting than this," she gestured at the board before folding her arms across her chest.
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Grabbing our backpacks, my wife and I headed for the car services in Prague's central train station where our driver waited for us. He was charming and very eager to please, which was a welcome change from the dour attendants on the train. Though his English lacked some fluidity it still was very passable and soon we were talking and laughing like old friends.
During the drive to our hotel, we learned from Petr (his name) that he would be moving to Scotland in the fall for graduate school and until then he was working as a hotel driver to improve his English.
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It was my birthday and my husband, James, had promised me a surprise I'd never forget. He handed me a box. When I opened it I discovered a beautiful black dress. It was cut low in both the front and back, came just above the knee, and was slit up the thigh. He told me that I was to wear the dress with nothing on underneath it. As I looked at it, I realized I couldn't have worn much underneath it anyway. The dressed hugged every curve of my body. I felt incredibly sensual as I slipped it over my skin.
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Bob answered the door as I approached, opening it wide to the gently lit foyer behind him.
"Please come in," he said, beckoning me inside. "We've been expecting you."
I thanked him and walked into the spacious home. The lights were low and music was coming from one of the back rooms.
"Thanks," I said. I gave him a quick once-over. We had exchanged pictures online and he appeared to be exactly as portrayed; a fit, well dressed, handsome man wearing a sport coat, button-up shirt and what looked like expensive jeans. "I appreciate you taking a chance and opening your home to me."
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