Chapter Three:

At home, Ratburn sat on his couch, thinking. About what? nothing really.He just sat there that evening. After cooking himself dinner. He just sat there, staring off,' What is wrong with me?'He asked himself Throwing his head back against the couch,. And he realized that he was indeed thinking about Michelle. He had not expected to think about her. Well in the ways that he found himself. The thought of her went into his head the moment he walked into his lonely, empty house. Well empty as in no one was there to greet him.

It never dawned on Ratburn that he was getting to that point in his life where he should be married and have at least one kid. That he should already be settled down at his age. 32 years old and he had not ever been married. True in high school he had a girlfriend. Who had been a cheerleader. While he was a football player. B ut they broke up after high school, when she went to collage elsewhere.

As popular as he used to be in high school. It seemed that Ratburn was less looked at by women then he used to be. Most of his friends from high school were alreay married and had kids. Some of which were in his class. But he never hitched.

The last girlfriend he remembered having was a rabbit woman by the name of Alisha. And she was caught cheating on him, on his couch! Since then, he had been playing on the safe side and avioding women all together. He could not bear the thought of more heart break. But when he met Michelle...something long burried woke within.

So, digging in his pant pocket, he looked at the paper with Michelle's number on it. He had to call her. Maybe she would leave his thoughts all together if he were to call. He did not klnow why he wanted to call though," What am I thinking?" He asked himself. The problem was, it was not his mind doing the thinking at all. perhaps it was something else. Something further south.

He picked up his phone and took a deep breath and dailed. He got at least three rings then the answering machine."You've reached Michelle..."A female vvoice started on the outgoing. Then there was a little girl's voice who continued."AND Abby."Followed by Michelle's voice again." We are not home right now, so please leave us a message and perhaps if I am in the mood, call you back...BEEP!!!" Ratburn had said nothing, only hung up.

" What was I doing?" He asked himself. After hanging up the phone. And again tossed his head against the back of the couch. He stared for a moment and did nothing. But the ringing of his phone aroused him." Hello?" He asked as he answered.

" Who is this?" Asked the female voice on the other line.

" Nigel Ratburn...who is..." He started but the woman's laughter cut him short.

" Sorry, I was not sure of who called a second ago. It's me, Michelle."

" Michelle? How did you get this number?" Ratburn asked.

" Caller Id. Sorry I was not fast enough to get to the phone. I was trying to help Abby with her paper on the letter O."She said with a slight chuckle.

" You...never mentioned you had a daughter." Ratburn said.

" You never asked." She stated." So you called me for a reason." She mused.

" I...uh...wanted to..uh...make sure you were going to supply the worms and the...uh...tools for the project ..."

"Yeah of course. Is that all?" She asked.

Ratburn bit his lower lips and opened his mouth to ask a bold question. "? Actually I wanted to know if you were married?" He asked, and almost immediately slammed his head lightlu against the phone. There was a pause.

Then he heard her speak." No."

" No?"

" Why?" She wondered.

"N...no reason...okay good night." He quickly hung up. And held his face in his hands " Damn!" He cursed himself. Then got up off the couch and went into his kitchen to pour himself some iced tea. He stood there against his counter for a second. Thinking about the question he asked Michelle, and why.

And also he gave her the okay to disect worms in his class. That sort of thing was his job. Last he checked her job was to help him grade papers, control the class, and assisting him in other ways. At least that was what Ratburn saw her job as.

' I'm thinking about her again!'He growled lowly. " perhaps a nice warm bath will help me get my mind off her." He mused to himself And went upstaires to take a nice hot bath.

Removing his simple white t-shirt, and his dark green dress pants. As well as his boxers and socks. Ratburn stepped into the full tub and sunk himself down into the water. He sigfhed and leaned his head comfortablly back...and closed his eyes.

Authoress Note: Suggestions are also helpful. Thank you to those who gave me feedback.