Micky was running down the bike path to get a good workout. When he stopped by a park bench to catch his breath, he noticed a beautiful reddish-brown haired woman sitting underneath a tree with a pen and notepad. He took his towel and wiped the sweat from his face and walked over to her. "Hello," he said smiling at her.
"Hi," she replied looking up from what she was doing.
"What is your name?" he asked.
"I'm Elaine, and yours?" she asked.
"My real name is George, however, everyone calls me Micky." he said. "May I sit down?" he asked.
"If you're tired and need to rest, yes; otherwise, if you're trying to hit on me, I'd rather you not." she replied.
"Yes, I'm tired." Micky said sitting down still breathing fairly hard from his run.
"What are you writing?" he asked.
"You sure are very nosey, aren't you?" she asked.
"I'm sorry," he replied. "Just very inquisitive, that's all."
She stretched out her arms and legs and said, "Well, for your information, I am working on a project for my Sunday School Class at Church."
"Really?" he asked. "May I see?"
Elaine looked at him and saw sweat pouring down his face and chest and said, "Um maybe after you use your towel some more. I don't care to have my paper ruined by your sweat." she said.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Micky said taking his towel to his face and chest again. "I had a good workout, that's all."
Elaine looked at him again and then asked, "How old are you anyway?"
"Me? Oh I'm 28, and you?" he replied.
"I'm 35." Elaine replied. "I'll be 36 very soon though."
"May I see your paperwork?" Micky asked.
Elaine showed him the paperwork and pointed out what she had written. "I'm thinking of having them all take a field trip out into our Church yard and before the weather gets bad, have them go through and pick leaves from the trees and then we can trace the leaves onto white paper and label what type of tree leaf it is and put in in a book for each child. They could have their own copy to take home with them."
"How old are your students in your Class?" he asked smiling at her.
"I have the pre-school to 2nd graders." Elaine replied. "And I think this would be something fun for all of them to do."
"Yes, I do too," Micky said looking into her eyes.
Elaine saw him staring at her and said, "Well, I really must get going now before it gets dark. Very nice to meet you Micky."
Micky stood up, helped her to her feet, and said, "Nice to meet you too, Elaine."
"Have a good night," she said walking away from him.
"Thanks, you too." he replied and then ran after her. "Hey wait a minute, I was wondering something please."
"If you want my phone number, it's unlisted and I do not give it out to strangers. If you want my address, I do not give it out to strangers. Yes, I am single; however, I am very happily single, and no I am not looking for anyone." she replied.
Micky walked up to her further and chuckled. "Actually, I was going to ask you what Church you went to because I am looking for a new Church home." he said looking at her.
"Oh!" She replied shocked. "Sorry about that. I thought you were trying to be 'fresh' with me. Most guys try to hit on me."
"Uh-no, Elaine. I think you're a beautiful woman, yes I do; however, I would really just like to know of a good Church that I can call home to." he replied.
"Yes, well it is called 'Emerald Lutheran Church' over on Maple and Peppermint." Elaine replied.
"Thank you so much," Micky replied. "Maybe I will see you there sometime?"
"Maybe," she said walking off.
Micky breathed out a breath and said, "Whoa! Thank you God almighty maker of heaven and earth. She is a beautiful angel." Micky walked back to his car, got inside, and went back to his own apartment. He went inside, threw the keys onto the table, and collapsed on the couch saying, "Thank you for letting me have a good day today, Lord."
____________________________________
That Saturday, Micky was out for his run again and saw the same girl under the tree again. "Hey! We meet again," he said running over to her.
She looked up at him and said, "Yep, and you're still sweating like a stuffed pig."
"I'm sorry, I come out here to run almost daily." he said wiping his face and chest with his towel. "What are you doing today?"
"I'm sitting here working on my project for tomorrow, George, just like the other day when you saw me. Now if you wouldn't mind, I would like to be alone."
"Micky. My real name is George, but my friends call me Micky." he said.
"Fine, whatever, Micky. I want to be left alone." Elaine replied moving to the other side of the tree.
"Bad day?" he asked.
"I want to be left alone. I have a lot to do before tomorrow and I like the peace and quiet of the park to help me to concentrate." she replied. "Now please leave."
"I'm sorry. It won't happen again," he said running off down the bike path.
Elaine looked up and saw him running down the bike path. She blew out a frustrated breath and then went back to planning her assignment for tomorrow. She worked on it all afternoon until the sun started to go down. Then she walked back to her car, got inside, stopped and got a bite to eat, went home, took a long, hot shower, changed into her pajamas, and went to sleep. She had a full day and she was tired.
~~~~~~~~~
At Church that next day, Elaine took her seat in the back pew. She put her purse and books on the seat, opened up her hymnal, got her pages marked, took a deep breath, and then just meditated and prayed at the altar before the service. She loved to get there early to have her private time with the Lord.
Micky walked in the door wearing a black suit and his best black tennis shoes that looked like regular shoes. He saw Elaine up praying at the altar. He sat down in back and looked at his bulletin he had taken from the lobby. After he prepped his hymnal to the songs, he sat there with his arms on his knees, hands folded in prayer position, and he prayed. He was very quiet.
When Elaine stood up from the railing, she said, "Whoa!" and fell back down again. Micky looked up and saw her on the floor. "Are you okay?" he asked running up to her.
"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you. I was just praying and stood up too quickly, that's all." she said. "Thank you for helping me up."
"You're welcome." he said.
"I see you found the place ok?" she said.
"Yes, it was not that difficult to find at all. And it's fairly close by to my apartment." Micky replied.
"Really? What apartment complex are you in?" she asked curiously.
"I'm in the Southeast Ridge Apartments over on Henrietta and Turner." Micky replied.
"Really?" she asked.
"Yeah, why?" Micky replied wondering why she was so happy.
"Oh, just wondering, that's all. No reason in particular." she replied.
"Why don't I believe you?" he asked.
She smirked at him and said, "Well you need to believe me, because it's the truth."
"Where is your apartment?" he asked.
"I told you I don't reveal my address to strangers." she spat.
"But I just told you where my apartment was located." he replied. "It's only fair that you tell me."
Elaine breathed in a deep breath and then said, "Okay, fine, I live across the street in the Tangent Apartments on Opal and Henrietta."
"We're neighbors then," he replied.
"Don't get all excited there buddy because I don't like to associate with my neighbors. I'm a very quiet person." she replied.
"So am I," he replied. "I used to belong to a Rock and Roll Band, but that disbanded a year ago and now I'm just living the quiet life with me, myself, and I."
"You were in a Rock and Roll Band?" she asked looking at him funny.
"Yeah, what of it?" he asked.
"What role did you play in this band of yours?" she asked.
"I was their drummer and lead singer." Micky replied.
"Do you still have your drums?" she asked.
"Yes, why?" he replied.
"Do you still play?" she asked.
"Yeah, why?" he asked.
"Oh no reason," Elaine said as people started to walk into the sanctuary and take their seats.
"Well, I better get back to my seat. Nice talking with you again, Elaine." he said.
"Thanks, and you too, Micky." she replied smiling at him.
Micky walked back to his seat and sat down. He was on cloud nine knowing that they were neighbors.
Elaine focused her attention on the Pastor coming out to the Altar, but she still could not believe that she was his neighbor. "How ironic is that?" she thought to herself.
________________________________________________________________
Over that next hour, Elaine focused all of her attention on the service and then went to her Sunday School Class. Micky quietly took a tour of the Church by himself and saw all the Sunday School Classrooms.
When he heard her voice talking to the children, his heart melted inside. "She's so patient, loving, and giving to them," he thought to himself. He quietly walked around staring at all the different pictures. He saw all the teachers and their pictures, including Elaine's. He took out a pencil and wrote her name down, "Elaine Grace Nelson." He was very intrigued with her. He had never met a woman like her before.
During Sunday School, Micky sat there looking at all the pictures of the kids, mostly of Elaine with the kids; but, nonetheless, he loved to look at her with the kids.
"Okay everyone, hold hands and we're going to go outside now and work on the project I want us all to do, okay?" she said to them.
"Yes Miss Nelson," they all replied walking out of the classroom holding hands. At that moment, Micky wished he would have had a camera. Her with the kids just melted his heart. They walked right past Micky and no one even noticed him there. Elaine said, "Come on little ones, we're going to have a fun time with Miss Nelson." They all followed behind Elaine and went outside.
Micky stayed back far enough to where he could watch her with the kids. He felt somewhat evil spying on her, but he was very intrigued with how her project would work out with them.
"Natalie, just pull the leaf down and I'll write your name and the type of tree on it, ok? We'll work on the rest after we all get a leaf." she said brushing her long waist-length hair back out of her face.
"Donald, I told you no hitting Missy. I'm going to tell your dad about your behavior today." she replied.
"No Miss Nelson, please don't. I am sorry Missy. Love you." Donald replied giving her a hug and helping her with the leaves.
After all of her twenty kids got one leaf each and she had written their name on each leaf, they all went back inside with her saying, "Hold onto everyone's hands little ones. Almost back inside. We're going to make your books."
"YAY, YAY" all the children screamed.
Micky was so impressed with Elaine. He had never met a woman like her before, so beautiful, talented, creative, assertive, and exciting. Nothing to what he was used to back in the touring days.
Micky smiled as they all went back into the Church and then he left going back to his apartment. He did not want to be a stalker or anything. And he certainly did not want to frighten her away.
Back in the classroom, Elaine said, "Okay children, we have your leaves right here. I will hand them to you and then we will put glue on one page and then we will combine all the pages into one book and I will make a copy of each book for all of you to take home, ok?"
"Yes Miss Nelson," they replied.
Elaine helped all of them put their leaf on a page and then she asked, "Do you recognize the tree name on the paper that I wrote down for all of you?"
"Yes Miss Neese, mine is an oas." a little boy said.
"Jeremy, did you say 'oak' tree?" she asked.
"Yes Miss Neese, Oas tree." he said.
"Thank you Jeremy, yes it is an oak tree." she replied.
"Mine was a maple," Natalie yelled out.
"So was mine," Peter called out.
"Mine was an Elm," Donald called out.
All the rest of the kids yelled out what their names were, except one little girl. She kept staring at the name. Elaine walked over and asked, "Jamie, have you figured out your name yet?"
"Fish," she said. Elaine looked at the leaf and it read, 'fig' but Jamie could only pronounce fish. "Yes, very good Jamie. It is a fig tree, but you did such a great job. I am so proud of all of you today. I will go make copies of these pages and then you all can take your books home today, ok?"
"Yes Miss Nelson." the kids replied.
Elaine walked out in the hallway and asked one of the girls, "Charlotte, can you keep an eye on them while I make my copies?"
"Sure, Elaine. I'll be happy to." Charlotte replied.
"Thanks sweetie," Elaine replied walking to the copier.
"Hum de dum," she sang at the copier while she made the copies.
She loved her kids so much and they were such absolute doll babies for her.
When she returned to the class, she took a stapler and stapled all the pages together and handed out the books. She said, "Okay everyone, you all did a fantastic job today. Thank you for helping me with this book. I am so proud of you all."
"You're welcome Miss Nelson." one girl replied giving her a hug. Then all the kids walked over and gave her hugs and kisses.
Then all the parents came and the kids screamed, "Mommy, daddy, look at what we made. Book." The parents all smiled at Elaine and said, "Thank you."
"You're welcome and thank you too. They were all very good boys and girls. I love them all." she replied blowing them all hugs and kisses.
Charlotte walked over to her and said, "Elaine, this was near all the pictures in the lobby. It has your name written on it."
"Thank you, Charlotte. I will take that. I know who it belongs to." she said.
"That man sitting in the lobby, earlier?" Charlotte asked.
"I think so," Elaine replied. "He's a visitor to the Church that I invited.
"Oh okay. Well have a great week, Elaine." Charlotte said walking down the hallway to leave the Church.
"Thanks, you too, Charlotte." Elaine said walking the other way carrying her bags out to the car.
_________________________________________________
When she returned home to her apartment that afternoon, she kicked off her shoes, took a long, hot shower, put on her t-shirt, shorts, tennis shoes, grabbed her phone, keys, purse, and left for the park. She was going to spend a nice quiet day in the park relaxing that afternoon.
She kept his piece of paper in her pocket in case she would run into him. As she did her bends and stretches, she felt her whole entire body relax. She was so glad that her project for the kids turned out as she had planned. She loved those kids so very much. "Hey Miss exerciser over there, you want to go for a run with me?" she heard someone holler.
She turned around and it was Micky in his muscle t-shirt and shorts. "You forgot this at Church today," she said walking over to him and handing him a piece of paper.
Micky opened the paper and said, "Oh I guess I did. Thanks."
Elaine had already locked her purse in the trunk of her car and she went running along the bike path with Micky. She made it the whole way down before she had to stop to breathe. Micky gasped, "You're doing great. Keep it up."
"Thanks," she gasped. "I'm going to head back and walk it to get my heartbeat back to normal. I don't want to push myself too hard during my first run."
"Okay, I'll meet you back at the tree when I'm finished with my run, ok?" he asked.
"Yeah, that's fine." she replied turning around and heading back the way she came.
After his long and hard run, Micky found Elaine by the tree sitting there relaxing. He fell on the ground and panted. He was so exhausted. "I (gasp) went (gasp) ten (gasp) miles (gasp) today (gasp)" he managed to get out before panting hard again. She watched as his tummy moved up and down very quickly until he could catch his breath.
Elaine looked at her cell phone and said, "Wow, it's late. I still have laundry to do for the week, yet. Have a good week, Micky." She stood up and walked towards her car.
"Wait a minute Elaine, please." Micky said standing up and walking towards her.
"What is it, Micky?" she asked.
"Um, I was kind of wondering when I would get to see you again?" he asked.
"I don't know. I work during the week and when I get home at night, I am extremely tired. I do not come to the park during the weeknights." she said.
"Well can I call you at least?" he asked looking anxious in his eyes.
"I don't give my number out, Micky. I'm sorry so you will have to respect my privacy, ok?" she said.
"Yeah, ok," he replied. "It's a shame that we are neighbors and can't even see each other."
"Micky, don't push it. I told you I am a very private, private person." she replied. "Just me telling you where my Church was was a huge step for me. And even the apartment complex I am in. I do not normally tell people where I live at. Please, respect me and respect my privacy, ok?"
"Yes, okay," he replied. "I do hope you have a beautiful week at work."
"Thanks, and you too." she replied getting into her car and driving away.
Chapter 2
Back to Cheri's Stories
Home