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Welcome to the first "Jerome" chapter, and the first Giant Economy Size chapter.
Copyright 2005 by Lawrence Prichard,
Wednesday Morning- early winter
Jerome's turn:
I love Denys. Love him so much. He really is not a morning person, but he gets up and gets me going on wholesaler mornings.
Flowers in a florist shop are not generally grown in the back room. They come from a wholesaler, who gets them from all over the world.
What goes on in the back rooms of a florist shop? Arrangements are made, wreaths are built, giftware catalogued and sorted. And the other stuff. Lunches, staff meetings, laundry.
The ride is less than ten minutes, and I am glad of that. I like to drive more than Denys does, but not by much.
The eight or so days of decent weather that northeastern Ohio has per year, Denys has been known to walk to the shop. He won't today, because it's not going to be over 20F, plus he'll have lunch with him.
We were very lucky, maybe even blessed, to get this large retail space in a nearby plaza. There's an independent jewelry store, a Great Harvest bread store, an Ohio based chain drugstore...in other words, the foot traffic is pretty good.
I'm there in plenty of time to park, turn of the alarm, turn on the work lights, and make coffee.
Marko, the driver from the wholesaler, likes the coffee that Denys provides to the shop. I like to keep Marko happy. It's good to keep your supply drivers happy.
It's now 8:31, and I hear his truck pull in at the back door. I have it open, and he comes and gives me a short hug. He's very good looking, in that middle Europa way, but he knows that Denys is all the man I need.
Marko pulls out the hard copy of my latest order, and soon the nearly empty stock refrigerator is full again with roses, daisies, all colours of carnations, and the others. The pink, white, and red anthuriums I ordered for a Friday party are here.
There are more poinsettias than ever. Classic red, the new dark red, white, pink, variegated, doubles...I used to love poinsettias. Now, they're just a profit center.
He can sit and have a cup of coffee for a few minutes. We chat about his life, his search for a good man. I tell him that he needs to stop cruising the bars and start cruising cyberspace.
I fill his thermal bottle, and give him a quick, short kiss on his left face cheek.
"See you Saturday!" he yells from his truck.
I smile, wave, and close the door.
Still have over an hour till the troops arrive. I go into the office, flip on the lights, and check my email. Mostly business related, and only of mild interest to me. I redirect some to Denys, some to Maria.
There's one from Hank, my college roommate. He and his guy, Tom, are coming out from New Jersey next week.
Denys loves Tom, and tolerates Hank. Hank is the first guy I had sex with, and maybe Denys is a bit jealous. He shouldn't be. Hank is not so hot in bed. Sexually, Hank is well endowed, and that's it.
Denys uses his considerable brain, and big big heart in bed.
I found this in a book, "I know the characters, but he keeps the plot slightly off-balance." That's Denys.
I fire off a reply, telling Hank that we'll be glad to have them out, but that I will only have a limited time with them. They're looking for farm land here, and want to come and raise herbs and heirloom vegetables for sale. I'll be glad if they do it. Denys has his reservations. Hank and Tom are urbanites, there in Hoboken.
Time will tell.
Maria and Bobby will be here soon. I hope Bobby remembers the bagels. Why not? I'm a big guy, I moved a lot of flowers and plants. Maria is tall, Hispanic, and lovely. Denys thinks she looks like Frida Kahlo, I think she's a wonderful person and a valuable, valuable employee. Maria has a BA in business, and another one in graphics. Yet, she loves to work here. She and Denys love to bat ideas around for the display window. Because of them, we've won some awards.
Bobby is short, muscular, and blond. He cracks me up on a daily basis. I don't know how he does it, but he has every customer sorted within seconds. With most women, and some men, he is this flirty, outrageous queen. He outqueens Betty Windsor and Beatrix of The Netherlands. With older women, he is tender, quiet, and attentive--the perfect grandson. With straight men (a few do wander into our little nook of flowers, gifts and mayhem,) he communicates in grunts and nods. (Almost.)
Bobby wears his leathers to work. He knows Denys is very, very fond of leather, and especially boots. I find it amusing to see my usually very logical, put-together lover come totally unhinged when Bobby flirts with him. I don't think I'd mind, but I know I wouldn't want many details.
Bobby does most of the deliveries. I make him wear a "Something Beautiful" jacket over his vest. He also does most of the computer de-messing.
Maria insists on an Apple,for her graphics, and she does her own de-messing. What the heck? It keeps her happy, and our printed materials look great.
Maria does most of our e-newsletter, all of our print newsletter, and our special event flyers.
They arrive within seconds of each other, laughing, and stomping snow onto the mat.
Bobby did bring bagels! We have a cup and a nosh, and then it's time to unlock the front door. bump up the showroom lights, and face the day.
It will probably start slowly, but by the time Denys comes with lunch, we'll all be glad to take turns sitting down. Maria will be at the register from 12:00 to 12:30, then Bobby's turn, then mine. If Bobby or Maria need a longer lunch break, they just have to ask.
I want my Furball!
Feedback welcome
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