All in a Day

149 words 5 minutes
He’s probably seen thousands of piles of underwear. Probably doesn’t even notice. Probably seen worse. He’s a cable guy and as such has entré into the very personal space of very many strangers. Everyday. Bedrooms, offices, living rooms, even bathrooms. Nevertheless, she covered the pile on her bed with a towel, making small talk while he drilled and connected and sliced and braided. His responses were half-hearted at best. Finally giving up, she went downstairs for ice water. Placing the ice water on the bureau, she told him to yell if he needed her. Which he didn’t. He had it down. It was his work. The underwear went unnoticed. In fact, she saw him a few days later, high on a ladder leaning against a telephone pole, installing someone else’s cable. She said hello in recognition. He said hello to be polite. No recognition. Probably didn’t even notice.