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I sat across from a stern looking sophisticate in a pinstripe suit. Her blonde hair was twisted into a knot at the back of her head, her glasses perched on the end of her nose while she perused my resume.
“I heard he’s been blackballed.” Ms. Marie Pinto said of Jim, I mean Robert Beam. I wasn’t shocked.
“Doesn’t really matter, he’ll just get himself on some alternative underground station and keep on going.” I said matter of fact. She looked appalled. I didn’t want to blow my chance at a regular paycheck so I covered my tracks hoping my stuttering wasn’t as obvious to her as it was to my own self. “But I sure hope I never see that bastard again, he ruined my reputation as a hard working, dedicated assistant. Ms. Pinto, I worked harder then most of the girls I knew working for the other jocks. I will work hard for you.” She appeared to be a little more at ease.
“Okay, Theodora I will take my chance with you.” Theodora, I gulped. How I hated being called that! “Report back here Monday next. Dress is casual professional.” She stood. I took her cue and stood with her. I extended my hand and she shook it.
“Thank you. You won’t be disappointed.”
“I sure hope not.” I heard her say as I left and the door closed behind me.
It wasn’t Josh who called me for a job. It was the coiffed mannequin Marie Pinto. She was from his management office. I was a bit in shock at first. Little Josh had made a name for himself in the music business and quite frankly I didn’t believe it. Oh yeah, he’d always been a bit of a actor but aren’t most kids in their pre-teens? After my mom reminded me about my relationship with the Groban boys the memories came flooding back. We had squirt gun fights in the backyard where Chris tried to sabotage me by flinging himself at me and tackling me down to the ground where Josh would steal my Super Soaker and saturated my shirt. The whole point to that was to see the babysitter’s bra. Then they would giggle like, well, school boys. As I contemplated my new career I thought about seeing those boys again. I sure hoped they were a little more grown up. Maturity was not something that men automatically became once they grew facial hair. I sure hoped those super soaker days were over!
The first few weeks I was employed I spent with a team in the management agency, learning my way around, getting settled in and learning exactly what my duties were in the organization. Josh had a personal assistant and I would be an additional assistant. Doesn’t that sound confusing? Yeah, I thought so too! It didn’t matter, as long as money was deposited into my checking account twice a month I would sit and shine his shoes all day. Do runners need to be shined? Hahahahaha! I could not for the life of me imagine little Joshie in a pair of Wing Tips but there was a first for everything. Even at his grade school graduation he wore a suit and tennis shoes. I guess you could say he was cool before his time in that respect. I didn’t actually meet up with Josh until a month after I was there. His PA (that would be personal assistant) and I headed out after lunch on a Wednesday and we ended up at a photo shoot. There were photography umbrellas and lights and people milling about. When I saw the subject they were shooting I was taken aback. There, in the center of attention was little Josh, no it was BIG Josh standing handsomely staring off in the distance while cameras clicked around him. My heart thumped loudly in my chest while my stomach flitted with dozens of tiny butterflies. I blinked and shook my head thinking I would focus again and see the dorky little kid I’d babysat not that many years ago. I squinted and centered my attention on him again. Nope, still that attractive man stood there transfixed and then slowly he turned. He gazed across the room and smiled when he saw Cassie, his PA and then he fixed on me, his eyes narrowed as he struggled for recognition. Suddenly his eyes opened wide and he stuck out a finger. With a crooked smile he mouthed the words, “it’s you!” I smiled back at him and felt my cheeks grow hot and pink. Gone was the geeky pre-teen I’d known and in his place, an alluring man. I waited anxiously for the shoot to be over and when it was those butterflies were making themselves known again. Josh disappeared only to reappear in a yellow t-shirt and jeans. He drew near timidly and tucked his hair behind his ear. I smiled shyly, disgusted with myself for having this childish reaction to someone I had known for a long time.
“Well look at you little Joshie.” I teased. He planted his hands on his hips and nodded.
“Not little any more.” He said. His voice was so deep, not the squawk he used to have. I eyed him up and down.
“That’s fairly obvious. How are you?” He reached out and slid his arms around me, hugged me briefly and then let go.
“I’m good. It’s good to see you again. When my mom called and told me you were in town and looking for a job I told her to have you call.”
“I thought you were going to call me.” I scolded, taunting. Mentally I was chastising my mother for telling me that he would call.
“When I hadn’t heard anything then I had Marie call you.”
“Well thanks. I appreciate that since my mother got it wrong!” He chuckled.
“Some things never change, do they?” Even little Josh knew what an awful memory my mother had. It was common knowledge in the neighborhood. I sighed. And some things do change! He sure had grown up and out! He was tall, his body had definitely filled out and his hair was a semi-tangled mass of auburn curls that surrounded his now adult, and comely face. Josh took off shortly after and Cassie and I went to a local record store where he was going to make an appearance the next week. I saw him again a few times that week. That night I floated home on clouds and slept very little. Josh was on my mind. I lay in my lumpy bed that night and pictured his face. Those full, sparkling, chestnut eyes, his bright smile, soft mahogany curls … he had grown into an appealing, hot man and I was aporetic that he had such an outrageous effect on me. I was smitten and that was all there was to it. No man had such an odd effect on me, at least not in years! I felt like a teenager with a crush on the football player who lived next door. In my case it is a younger man, wasn’t that just a bit scandalous as well? Maybe not in these times ….
