Ethel

“I’m so glad to see that Doctor Smith is finally putting himself out there,” the elderly property manager, Ethel, said, smiling ear to ear. Her curly hair had begun to take on a slightly bluish tint of late, something Dave was sure she was unaware of. When Dave had knocked on the glass door to be let into the building, she was already waiting for him, her strange outfit of a Christmas sweater, jogging pants, and crocs.

Dave didn’t judge. He barely put time into his appearance himself. Ethel had lived a long life. If she felt comfortable dressed like that in her autumn years, the Dave said have at it. She earned it.

“Putting himself out there?” Dave’s soprano voice asked.

“You know,” giggled Ethel, “playing the field! In all the time he’s lived here, I don’t think he’s ever had a woman upstairs. He’s such a good boy, it’s good to see him find someone.”

“Oh we’re not…” Dave began, then second guessed himself. Maybe what Ethel thought would be best, at least did now. It did give a plausible explanation for why this blond bombshell was going upstairs dressed in only a lab coat and bikini. “What I mean is, Dave and I, it’s still very new. We haven’t put labels on it yet.”

“Labels!” The old woman cackled, “You young people and your labels! Just call it for what it is! You’re going to get down and dirty! You’re going to go upstairs, get naked, and screw, just like young people do! I don’t know why everyone makes such a deal of these things.”

Dave could feel his cheeks blush at that last bit. He wondered if the colouring carried forward to the bodysuit.

“Oh hush up with your embarrassment,” Ethel said, answering Dave’s question. She took Dave’s hand and placed a key and a fob in the palm, then closed his fingers.

“Apartment 1407,” she said seriously, “and I wish all the happiness in the world on you two.”

“Thank-you, ma’am,” Dave said, padding past her in his bare feet, heading for the elevators. He pressed the up button and waited, all the while feeling Ethel’s eyes on him.

“Honestly,” Ethel said, “looking at you, I’m not sure how Doctor Smith got your attention. If you don’t mind me saying, you Lady, you are beautiful. The doctor is friendly, but he’s a little frumpy. What do you see in him? Is he rich?”

Dave smiled. “Something like that,” he said, cryptically.

“Well I hope to see you around the building more,” Ethel said kindly as the elevator door slid open, “I don’t even know your name! When I see you next, what should I call you?”

Dave stepped into the elevator and realized that he hadn’t picked a name, he said the first thing that came to mind.

“You can call me Alexa!" he said, as the elevator doors began to slide shut.