"Yeah, I am," he said. "We're busy enough right now to do it. I have four houses scheduled now and am biddin' three more. I'll need to try and push some of them back 'til next year 'cause we always have bad weather during the winter."
Our East Texas winters rarely had snow, but we always had to deal with cold, rainy days.
"I know a guy that I think would make a good helper. I've had him work for me in my shop, and he's pretty sharp and willin' to work," I said. "He's like me and still has another year of school to graduate. By workin' with me, he could work the same hours I do during the school year. He's my age, and I sure could use a helper with some of the jobs you have coming up."
"Let me think about it, because that might save me havin' to pull a helper from the framers. Right now, I've got to go to the lumberyard and meet with a bricklayer. I'll be back around noon, and we'll talk about it then."
"Sounds good to me," I said. "I'll be here."
Raymond left on his errands as I started laying out and cutting materials for the kitchen cabinets.
I had the overhead cabinet casework cut out and dadoed before noon, and was ready to start assembling after lunch. I was working alone because Raymond had the rest of the carpenter crew working on a large framing job close to Longview.
I stopped for lunch at noon, and Raymond drove up about ten minutes later.
"Hey, boss," I hollered at him.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," he said. "How's it goin'?"
"I've got the overheads cut out and ready to assemble," I told him. "It'll take a couple of stiff legs to set one of 'em. You know one of these overheads is ten feet long. I'll need a helper with that one."
"I know," he said. "The customer didn't want it split into two cabinets. That's one of the joys of custom work."
"Yeah, I am findin' that out with the small jobs I do on weekends. Seems like they always want it done the hardest way."
"Why don't you start cuttin' out the base cabinets this afternoon? There's room to work on 'em, here in the garage. Bring that guy you know with you tomorrow, if he's available. I'll talk to him in the mornin' and if everything looks good, I'll have him fill out the paperwork, and let you have him for a helper. That way he can work after school the way you do.
"You know, I was kinda hesitant to let you work like you do durin' school, when you started, but it's sure worked out well for me. You've turned into a good cabinetmaker and finish carpenter, and always get the job done on time," he said.
"Raymond, what can I tell him to expect for pay?" I asked.
"I'll start him at three quarters what I'm payin' you, since he's already been workin' some for you. After a month we'll know how he's gonna work out, and if we're satisfied with him, I'll give him a raise then," he said.
"What are your plans after you graduate, next spring?" he asked, changing the subject.
"Right now I don't know," I told him. "Mom said something about takin' a vacation for a few days right after graduation, and we were talkin' about goin' to the Gulf coast, down south of Houston. Nothing's definite though. Why're you askin'?"
"I'm workin' on an idea," he said. "If everything goes like I want it to, it'll put you in business full time. I still have to think about some things and talk to some other contractors first."
"This ain't gonna put me out of workin' for you is it?" I asked.
"No, it won't do that. The thing is that you could specialize on buildin' cabinets and have a lot more work to do than now," he said. "I'll know more in the next month or so, and we'll talk then."
I went back to work, cutting out the base cabinets. I usually worked nine to ten hours per day during the summers, and during the past school year I worked seven to eight hours per day after school, making up the balance on Saturdays, if needed. The next year I had a light schedule and would be able to leave school by 12:00, each day. I could average eight hours per day, maybe more, depending on where the jobs were located. I needed to find out about Larry's schedule.
I finished and cleaned up so I could leave for home at 5:00. I'd be home by 5:45.
***
Arriving home, I parked my truck in its usual spot in front of the shop. It had been a long, tiring day, and I was glad to be there. I went in the back door, noticing that Mom had the grill lit. Good, I could start cooking as soon as I got cleaned up.
Mom met me at the door with a hug and kiss.
"Evenin', Baby," she said. "How was your day?"
"Long and tirin'," I said, "How about yours? Did Darla say anything?"
"Yeah, she did. She was runnin' around all over the office tellin' 'em all that somebody needed to grab you while they could," she said with a chuckle.
"Oh hell," I said. "That's all I need, somebody tryin' to fix me up with all their nieces and daughters. Tell her that I'm off the market; I ain't interested in any of that right now. I don't have the time between work, school, and you.
"I'm headed for the shower. What time are they comin'?" I asked.
"I talked to Connie about fifteen minutes before you got here. They'll be here in about fifteen minutes," she said.
"I'd better hurry," I said, leaving for my room. "We're not dressin' fancy, are we?" I asked as I went.
"No, nothin' fancy." She was in her usual around the house attire of a tee shirt and shorts.
I undressed, grabbed some clean cutoffs and a tee shirt, and headed for the bathroom.
After taking care of business and dressing, I left the bathroom to hear people talking. I walked into the living room, to find Mom, Connie, and Lawrence all sitting around, talking. Larry was nowhere to be seen.
"Hey, how is everybody?" I asked, as I walked into the room.
"We're fine," Lawrence said. "How was the day?"
"Kinda long. Where's Larry?" I asked.
"He's gone to get his girl. I asked Patsy if it'd be all right and she said yes. He left about ten minutes before you got home, and they should be back in fifteen or twenty minutes," Connie said.
"Well, he'll have to make a short night of it tonight, 'cause I'll need him to be ready to go with me at 6:00 tomorrow mornin'."
"That's great news," Lawrence noted. "Will he be able to work with you?"
"Yeah, it is. I talked to Raymond this mornin' and again over lunch, and he's willin' to hire him and let him work with me as a helper to start. I need to find out what his school schedule is like next year, 'cause if he can get out early, like I will, it'd sure be good.
"Is everything ready except for cookin' the meat?" I asked Mom.
"The vegetables are cut, the patties are made, and I only have to toast the buns."
"I'd better get busy, then," I said.
I went into the kitchen. The patties were on a platter in the refrigerator. While I was getting them and a spatula, Lawrence came in. He went out the back door with me to the grill.
"Mike," he said, "Connie had a talk with me last night."
"I figured she would," I said. "What'd she say?" I had a good idea what was coming.
"She told me about the talk y'all had Sunday mornin'," he said. He appeared very nervous, lighting a cigarette from the butt of one he'd been smoking.
In the course of their conversation, on Sunday, Connie had revealed that she and Lawrence were first cousins and that their families had thrown them out and cut them off after she got pregnant.
"Lawrence, I hope you don't mind. Connie told us what happened to y'all, what your families did to you. We know it must have been hard for both of you. No family support and a new baby? I'd sure hate to think about havin' to do it myself. You've done well, though, and you have my admiration," I told him.
"Now, I need to know, does Larry know any of this?" I asked.
"No, he doesn't."
"Okay. That tells me what I need to know. He'll never hear it from me, and you can tell Connie for me that we'll keep your secret."
We heard a car pulling into the driveway. There was Larry with his girlfriend Karen. They got out of the car, coming to where we were standing by the grill.
"Hey, Larry, how've you been?" I asked.
"Hey, Boy," Lawrence said.
"Doin' okay," Larry replied.
"Who's the pretty girl?" I asked. "And what's she doin' with the likes of you?"
"Karen, this is my best friend, Mike. Mike, this is Karen," Larry said.
"Hello, Karen. I'm Mike, welcome to my Mom's and my home," I said.
"Thank you," she replied. "I've seen you around school, and you were in my Geometry class last year. You didn't say much."
"I remember you now," I said. "You were a couple of seats in front of me on the next row."
I was busy turning the burgers.
"Larry, you gotta take this pretty girl home early tonight, 'cause I need you ready to go at 6:00 tomorrow morning."
"That's good," he said. "What'll I be doin'?"
"You'll be workin' for Raymond Fields as my helper. I started the cabinets at the Center Point house today. Eat your Wheaties in the mornin', 'cause you'll need 'em."
I told him what the starting pay would be and that he would be reviewed after a month.
"Is he gonna need a car?" Lawrence asked.
"Not right away, 'cause with Larry workin' as my full time helper, he'll be able to ride to and from work with me for a while."
"You usually work long days, don't you?" Larry asked.
"Yeah, most times I do. I put in nine and a half today," I told him. "Most days in the summer I work nines or tens. This comin' school year, I'll try to work eights, so I don't have to make up time on Saturday."
Mom and Connie came out the back door.
"Hi, Larry. We thought we heard you out here," Mom said, before she turned to Karen. "Hello, I'm Patsy. You are?"
"I'm Karen," she smiled, "and I want to thank you for letting me be here tonight."
"You're more than welcome. Any friend of Mike or Larry is always welcome in our home. Come on in the house with Connie and me, and we'll get you a drink. Mike, how long on the meat? We've got everything ready inside."
"I'm almost ready here. I'm taking 'em off the grill now."
With that I started removing the burgers from the grill.
Everything was set up assembly line fashion on the kitchen counter. I sat the meat by the buns and invited our guests to help themselves.
We all took seats at the dining table and began the meal.
"Larry," I asked, "what does your class schedule look like next year?"
"I need four classes to have enough credits to graduate, and I think they'll all be mornin' classes. Why?"
"Raymond offered to let you work my schedule next year," I told him. "Last year I left school after 2:00 and went to work. He came to the school with me last summer and we made sure I was enrolled in the vocational program to make it legal. I worked after school 'til about 9:00 each night and some Saturdays when I had to. I averaged thirty to thirty five hours per week. This comin' year I'll be able to leave at noon, and it'd be great if you can too, 'cause that way we could both get a full 40 hours in without workin' Saturdays."
"Sounds good to me," Larry said. "I'll have to find a day to get by the school."
"Larry, I'll call the school tomorrow and talk to them about it. When do you want to go by there?" Connie asked.
"Connie," I said, "let's wait for a month. Larry can show Raymond how he works, and I know he'll have to go by the school to do some paperwork with the counselor as his employer. He had to do the same for me, and he also has to send a report to the counselor every month about my hours, so I know he'll have to do the same for Larry."
The conversation turned to a general discussion of Karen and Larry's future plans. We learned more about Karen and she learned more about all of us.
Conversation continued for about another hour before Lawrence told Larry and Karen that we had an early day tomorrow. He and Connie walked across the street to their house, while Larry drove Karen home.
Finally, Mom and I were alone together at last. We cleaned the kitchen, and since we'd eaten off paper plates there were only a few dishes to wash.
"I need a bath," she said, after we'd finished the clean up. "I feel like I need a good soak and I need to shave my legs."
"Can I shave them for you?" I asked. "And I'll massage your feet and legs after."
"Sure," she said. "Come on and I'll show you how."
Following her to the bathroom, we undressed. While I was adjusting the water temperature in the tub, she sat on the toilet to pee. I was already half erect from the thought of seeing her naked, and the sound of her stream splashing in the toilet and knowing where it was coming from brought me to a full erection quickly.
She leaned over and felt of the water.
"Make it hotter, 'cause my feet and legs need the heat."
We got into the tub together, where I took the soap and washcloth and washed her feet and legs.
"Mmmmmmm, that feels so good," she murmured.
Turning her in the tub, I washed her back and reached around to wash her front. Of course, particular attention was paid to ensure her breasts were clean.
Mom turned again and sat on the edge of the tub. She took her razor off the shelf at the end of the tub and handed it to me.
"Take the soap and lather my leg," she said. After I did so, she said, "Baby, it's no different than you shaving. Just move the razor up my leg to remove the hair."
I took my time for fear of nicking her leg. After shaving her leg, I ran my hand up and down her leg to feel any stubble I missed. After rinsing the soap from her leg, I turned to shave the other. When finished, I trailed my fingers through her pubic hair.
"Have you ever shaved your pussy?" I asked.
"It's been shaved twice," she said. "Bill wanted me to shave it after we married, just to see what it was like, and it was shaved again when you were born. I didn't like it because it itched so much when the hair was growin' back. It's also a very sensitive area and I had to use a moisturizer after I shaved. Bill didn't like the taste of that, claimin' he'd just eat a hair pie with sardine sauce," she said with a giggle.
She just said something about being born. Oh shit!
"Mom, are we gonna be in trouble? I didn't use a rubber," I asked.
"Now you worry about it," she laughed. "Baby, I can't get pregnant again. I had some serious complications carrying you. The doctors told me that I most likely wouldn't survive another pregnancy, so they recommended a procedure called an ampullary salpingectomy. Basically the ends of the fallopian tubes are shaved and burned to seal them. My ovaries are still in place, and I still have my monthly cycle, but I can't get pregnant."
Hearing her say that strengthened my resolve to care for this wonderful woman that had lost so much.
After we finished her bath, Mom joined me on the sofa. I took her right foot in my hands and began to massage it gently, working from her toes up to the calf of her leg. She lay back and sighed.
"Let's get a glass of iced tea. I need to tell you something," I told her, after I'd finished massaging her legs.
She had a serious look on her face when she came into the kitchen.
"What's goin' on?" she asked.
"Well, I'm not sure, but I think Raymond is gonna make a change in the way he does things. He wanted to know what my plans were after graduation, and he also said something about puttin' me in business, more than I am now," I told her.
She thought for a minute.
"What do you think he has in mind?"
"I'm not sure, but I believe he's thinkin' about sub contractin' a lot more of the work on the houses he builds. Right now he subs out the electrical, plumbin', and paintin', and just recently started subbin' the roofin'. The only direct employees he has now are the framin', sheet rock, and trim and finish crews. I overheard him and the framin' foreman talkin' a few days ago, and thinkin' about what I heard then and what he said today it adds up," I told her.
"How would that affect you?" she asked.
"It'd put me in business, for myself, full time," I said. "If that were the case I'd have to bid on doing his cabinet and trim work. I could do the same for other contractors also, and it wouldn't be any different than the bookcases and cabinets we build here in my shop now. I'd end up becomin' an employer, hirin' help to do the work. That means I'd probably need a part time bookkeeper or somebody like that to help with doin' payroll and keepin' up with the accounts.
"Right now I'm just gonna have to wait. Raymond said he'd know what he was gonna do just after the first of the year, so there's no reason to worry about it right now. I just wanted to let you know what was happenin'. Thinkin' about it, though, I'll probably have to have a bigger shop."
"I'm glad you told me, Honey," Mom said. She looked at the clock saying, "Guess we better get to bed. That clock'll go off early in the morning."
I did get the chance to eat her pussy to orgasm while she sucked me off. The lateness of the hour, and having work tomorrow, kept us from doing more, as much as we wanted to.
28 June
I awakened the next morning, as before, to the loud raucous buzz of the alarm. I rolled over, shut off the alarm and headed for the bathroom. Mom was already in there.
"I've got to go in early today," she said. "We've got a staff meetin' before the office opens."
"I'll start breakfast then," I told her, before going to the kitchen where I started the coffee and started eggs boiling on the stove. I quickly went to my room and dressed for the day. By the time I got back to the kitchen the coffee was done. I poured cups for both of us and started the bacon cooking on a low heat. Picking up Mom's cup of coffee, I carried it to the bathroom for her.
She was finished with her make up, and had her bra, garter belt, and white stockings on and was just pulling up her panties. At this time most nurses still wore white dress type uniforms with white stockings and shoes, although some were beginning to wear scrubs. I sat her coffee on the countertop of the vanity and got a kiss.
She followed me to the kitchen after putting her robe and shoes on. I set the table and prepared my lunch while she finished cooking the bacon and removed the shells from the hard-boiled eggs.
We sat and ate while discussing what we had to do during the day.
After eating, I went to the bathroom to shave and brush my teeth. Mom was in the bedroom, putting her uniform on. I got another kiss and a tit squeeze while telling her to have a good day at work.
Leaving the house through the back door, I found Larry waiting for me at the truck. He had a lunch box and thermos with him.
"Good mornin', Larry. You ready to go make a day?" I asked, while unlocking the truck, before we got in to head out.
"What're we gonna be doin'?" he asked.
"We've got to build and set cabinets in the kitchen and utility room. Then we'll have to build and set the vanity cabinets in the bathrooms. Raymond's supposed to have the interior doors delivered later this week. We'll have to set them and then build the closet shelves," I told him.
"There's also a wall in the den that'll have picture frame moulding on it, along with a wainscot on the other walls that'll all be done in ash. We'll have to be careful with that because it'll get a light stain and lacquer finish. The painter'll do the stainin' and finish on this one.
"Then we have to install the balusters, spindles, and rails on the staircase and balcony after we get the treads down. That'll all be red oak. You're gonna be learnin' a lot the next few weeks," I told him.
We stopped at a small country store about six miles from the jobsite. I asked Larry what type of soda he preferred.
"You'd better get it now, since this is the closest place to the job," I told him.
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