Soul Mate (The Mating Series) by S. Swan Read Free Book Online Page B

said, and shook his hand making as little skin contact as possible.
    Some younger guys in the back started making c at calls and kiss noises at me. “Them boys have no manners.” Norm said, shaking his head. “Hey, you boys. This is a lady show some respect.” This brought howls of laughter and jeers at the old man.
    A skinny , pale, and pimple faced boy with greasy blonde hair plopped in the seat in front to me. “Hey,” he said. He turned in the seat facing me with his arms draped across the seats. He wore a grimy tank top. The smell of body odor emitted from under his arms. “How ‘bout we get off at my stop.” I inched closer to the bus window. “Are you afraid?” he asked.
    “No.” I replied.
    “Then why are you scooting away?”
    “Because you stink!” Norm said, from behind.
    “Shut up old man!” He put his hand on my leg. “I like this material it’s smooth.” I jerked my leg, but his hand tightened. “Don’t be like that.”
    The bus lurched to a stop in front of Mary House. The boy flipped backwards. The hobo, Norm, kicked the boy. A scuffle ensued between the boy and hobo. The bus driver put the vehicle in park and headed to the altercation. As the driver approached, I jumped out of my seat to an adjacent seat. As the driver passed, I slipped off the bus unnoticed. As I descended the steps, I heard the driver say, “Ima gonna bust some heads if you don’t break it up.” The bus rocked as I hopped onto the curb. I darted to the front doors.
    Glad to be at work in one piece, I mentally noted not to wear a dress on a city bus. I walked through the glass entrance and ran straight into Walter, the janitor. My feet tangled in the cord of the floor buffer. I flipped over and landed flat on my butt. Nessie bounded out from behind the reception desk. “Miss Cassie. Are you alright?”
    I only wounded my pride . “I’m fine,” I said.
    “Why don’t you look where you’re going?” Walter said. Walter was the only man at Mary House. Mary House didn’t hire men, for obvious reasons. Mary hired Walter as the handyman/janitor because the women at Mary House couldn’t perform some maintenance tasks. We could change a light bulb, but none of us knew how to change the heating element in the stove. Walter worked three days a week doing odd jobs around the facility. Walter and I didn’t get along. When I ask him to do a task, he always made some surly remark, and refused until Mary Lazarus confirmed its necessity.
    “Di d you hear me?” Walter snapped. He sported a mustache and sideburns, with huge blue-green anchor tattoo on his forearm. Walter reminded of a cross between Captain Quint, from the movie Jaws , and a retired porn star.
    “You get on out of here Walter!” Nessie interjected. “You can’t talk to Miss Cassie like that.” Nessie took my hand and yanked me to my feet in one movement. “She’s your boss when Miss Mary’s away.”
    “Humf.” Walter grumbled. I ignored Walter. He always gave me an uneasy feeling.
    I dusted myself off and checked my clothes for damage. I had a run in my hose. I sighed. It’s not even eight o’clock and I’m already having a bad day! The date with Jimmy seemed the only redemption for my mood. Fortunately, my first session went without problems. After my morning session ended, I went to lunch. I found it easier and cheaper to eat in the dining room with the residents, than go out for lunch. The small dining room had only a few tables. I had to move quickly or there would be no seats.
    The kitchen ran like clockwork, by an equally small woman named Cookie Jones. Cookie Jones had been the head cook at Community Hospital for twenty years. She kept the menu at Mary House similar to the hospital with simple meals. I decided to eat light, but the aroma wafting from the dining room told me it was lasagna day. Once a month, Cookie made her famous lasagna. She made the best lasagna. Why did today have to be lasagna day? I got in line. No lasagna , I told