Better close up the car.

Jan wobbled out and closed up her car. She waved to Jason as she started back to her apartment but she did not make it very far. After a few steps a shooting pain in her calf had her falling and cursing. An over taxed leg muscle from the lifting she had done was cramping. All she could do was cry and grab at her leg. She rolled on her back trying to pull her leg up far enough massage it but that just made the pain worse. The business skirt she was wearing riding high up her thighs.

“Don’t bend your legs like that Miss Jefferson. Stick your leg out and point your toes toward your nose. “ Jason commanded. He was quickly at her side. Grabbing the bottom of her foot and pulling it up while his other hand started to push down on her thigh making her leg stay straight and stick up in the air. This exposed her crotch and panties to his sight but made the pain ease a lot. “You have to stretch out a cramp. If you bend into it like that it will give you very bad knots that will hurt for days. Now how does that feel” Jason asked.

Jan found most of the pain fading. But the back of her leg was still twitching and she knew if she stood on it the leg would spasm again. “It doesn’t hurt that bad now but I do not think I can stand on it.” Jan told Jason .

“I will carry you to your apartment Miss Jefferson just hold on to my neck I will get you home and off your feet. I am sure after a little rest and a cool drink you will be able to walk in a bit. ” Jason lifted Jan with ease. Jan was instantly aware of the warmth of Jason’s body next to hers and of his strong arm and hand on the back of her legs. Jan’s sunburned and chafed skin throbbed with the extra heat next to it. It should have been painful but strangely it was more like a tingling that needed touched to be soothed. They entered Jan’s apartment and Jan started blushing all over again. The statue stood right there in the way to her couch that Enda’s box was still sitting on.

Jason stepped around it and set Jan gently down on her couch next to the box. “Keep your leg straight and I will get you some water. Where do you keep your glasses or cups?” Jason asked Jan.

“There is a clean one on the rack next to the sink.” Jan told Jason as he walked into her kitchen. Jan was touched by the kindness Jason was showing her. She had never given him or anyone like him a second glance. He was a black maintenance man, one of the lower class, service, dead end job working drones doing just enough to get by. Sure he was at least working. Jan had seen plenty of black men loafing on street corners selling **** and up to no good. Jan even knew a few black people that had been small business owners. She had bought and sold their failing businesses out from under them just like Aunt Edna’s.

Now there was a tall strong black man in her apartment. Not fixing a clogged drain but showing her kindness. And for once Jan wanted to show some kindness back.