The iPhone rang loudly, pulling Anakin out the sleep. Without opening his eyes, he felt the night stand, and when he had the damn loud thing in his hand, he put it to his ear, trying to sound somehow awake.
*It is Skywalker.*
*Good morning, Anakin, Rony here, listen…*
*Do you actually know what time it is?*
*I know it's seven o'clock on a Saturday morning, and I know you don't work for me on Saturdays, but it's an urgent job and it's paid double.*
Anakin immediately threw his long legs over the edge of the bed and was wide awake.
*Where do I have to go?*
*16632 Bienveneda Pl.*
*Oh no, you can't do that to me...I was there two days ago, no not again.*
*You always say that the old lady is the only friendly one who always makes coffee for you and feeds you with cakes. Why are you suddenly complaining?*
*The price for this is too high.*
*Oh yeah?" Anakin could already imagine his grinning face, "Tell me, come on, I love all these dirty details.*
*Nothing like that. As long as I eat cake, I have to listen to her stories about her smart, successful, beautiful Harvard granddaughter, and it has been doing so for four years. But I've never seen her granddaughter. Sometimes I think she made it all up. Well, the only good thing about it is that I'm perfecting my French. She is from New Orleans and French is spoken at home.*
*And why should she make everything up?*
*Maybe she's just lonely and needs someone to talk to, and she always orders me, right. I'm probably the only one who has patience with her.*
*Maybe one day you'll get lucky and meet that beautiful Harvard granddaughter...and now, get your ass out of bed, get in your junk car and leave.*
*OK., OK., I'm already on the way, bye.*
*Then have fun, bye.*
Anakin lived on his scholarship, so the summer months were hard, he had to either save for the year, which seemed almost impossible, or to work multiple jobs, what he did. Working as a pool boy during these months was an ideal job, unfortunately it wasn't nearly enough.
The job in Watto's garage, where he spent a lot of time, paid a lot more, in fact, yes, this job brought in the most money. Although he wasn't a car mechanic, his ability to fix anything, was the main thing that made Watto hire him. In Watto's garage he had also restored his Mustang, his greatest treasure. The garage owner was a pain in the ass, but he paid well.
Anakin worked as a barkeeper in The Edith lounge three evenings a week, and occasionally played the piano there to entertain guests. These evenings also brought good money, he got many tips, mainly from the ladies because he was something of a visual attraction there, the Adonis himself, whose blonde curls and sky-blue eyes contrasted perfectly with the black shirt and pants he always wore.
Working three jobs wasn't easy, sleep was short supply and fatigue was a constant companion. But that was just in the summer months.
So, Anakin put on his jeans Bermuda shorts and a white T-shirt, made himself a quick coffee and ate the leftover slice of pizza from last evening. Ugh! But that was his chaotic student life, which became serious from the fall semester onwards. He applied and received a scholarship and will be a doctoral student from September on.
Before he left, he had one more call to make.
*Good morning, Mr. Watto, this is Anakin. I can't come today until this 12:00 pm.*
*Do you need to sleep out or do you have another job?*
*No, it's something personal, my mother really needs me. See you then.*
*Okay, see you later.*
He hated lying, especially when he used his mother as an excuse, but it was necessary now to sound credible. Damned.
So, he got in his Mustang and drove towards Monte Bienveneda Pl, it wasn't that far from Holmby Ave, where he lived. Not that far...well, if you consider the expanse of L.A...
As always, the cheerful, nice old lady Mrs. Naberrie was waiting for him. "Bonjour Madame."
"Bonjour Anakin, good that you could come. There's a party going on here tonight, so I thought everything had to be perfect, and the caterers would be coming soon to set up everything that is needed."
"Pool party?"
"Anakin, don't look at me like that, of course I'm not the hostess, I'm a bit old for that, pas vrai. My Padmé is celebrating her passing the bar exam, she thinks now is the right time, well, so it's a party."
"Will I get to know her…after so many years and so many things you told me about her?"
"She's still sleeping, the little late riser, but maybe she'll wake up before you're done."
With a smile on his face, he went into the equipment shed, where all the equipment he needed was located.
Padmé was awake, standing at the window on the first floor next to the half-drawn curtain, watching the conversation between her grandmother and the pool boy.
Her grandmother told her a lot about the pool boy over the years, but she never said how good-looking he was. He was a feast for the eyes, beautiful face and perfectly built, he would have to spend a lot of time in the gym for that, she thought. Well, just good-looking wasn't enough for her, she had higher standards for the man she was friends with, or just dating. It's a shame, but having sex with such a beautiful young man would be...maybe just once...no, stop it, she told herself and then repeated the words of her friend Dormé; if you are so picky, you will miss a lot. In this aspect, Dormé was someone who didn't want to miss anything.
After showering, she put on a light summer dress and went downstairs to get something to eat. She also had an overview of the entire garden and pool from the kitchen. A cup of coffee was enough, so as looking at the pool boy. With every move he made, the muscles in his broad shoulders and biceps flexed, and you could even see his six-pack working because he intently took off his T-shirt. Very pleasant feelings spread in the pit of my stomach. But not a pool boy, Padmé, but not a pool boy, her own words swirled in his head.
"Na mon cher, do you like what you see?"
"Grand-mère!"
"What?"
"With what kind of eyes do you look at this young man?"
"Through the eyes of a woman. Why are you looking at me like that, mon cher? Old women have eyes as well."
"I...I don't know what to say."
"This pool boy is very attractive, pas vrai….and maybe full of surprises."
The grandmother knew a lot about Anakin, he had told her a lot about himself, and she always thought that Anakin would be a good match for her granddaughter, she just had to find the right time to introduce them to each other, and now the right time has come.
When Anakin finished the cleaning, Mrs. Naberrie called him to come into the kitchen, maybe have a cup of coffee, and of course to get a tip. He always got an extra twenty dollars in his hand.
"Do you still have time for a coffee, Anakin, come in, I would like to introduce you to my granddaughter Padmé."
She spoke to him in English, she neither told Padmé that he knew French, nor mentioned to him that Padmé knew French as well as English. Maybe she didn't want to spoil any surprise...old vixen.
For Anakin the moment had finally come, he was curious and perhaps a little excited.
"I have to go on right away, but I can't...uh, I can't...uh...yes please, I would like one coffee." He looked at Padmé and a hundred million volts of lightning, thirty thousand degrees hot, hit him, he was burning, his face must have been red like a fire.
"Anakin, this is my granddaughter Padmé. Padmé, this is Anakin, who has been looking after the pool for four years."
He held out his hand and opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Padmé looked into his eyes and saw the blue sky, the ocean, blue flowers and, clarity, loyalty, trust... all the blue in the world, and then she shook her head quickly to avoid staring so obviously into his eyes, but he didn't notice because he was staring at hers.
"Hello Anakin, I've heard from my grandmother a lot about you."
Her hand was still in his, but she makes no move to pull away. The grandmother noticed it, of course, an experienced old woman who knew all about life.
"What are you doing tonight, Anakin?"
"I was supposed to work longer in Watto's garage today, I need to make up the time, I usually work for him all Saturday."
"You'll probably be ready by seven."
"Actually…"
"Wonderful. Padmé, you have many guests this evening, many of your friends will be coming, Anakin would definitely feel comfortable in their company. What do you think?" and looked at her sternly.
"Uh yeah, sure….Anakin, come to my party tonight….It would be nice...if you can."
"Well, I can't promise I'll be on time."
"It's going to be a long evening, just come when you're done working." The grandmother wanted to encourage him to come.
"Well then...I'll hurry up, thanks for the invitation, and see you tonight."
The grandmother put a twenty-dollar bill in his pocket and walked him to the door.
"Grand-Mère, what was that now? Why did you invite him? There will be tons of highly educated people here, and he's just a pool boy. Do you think he will feel comfortable among them?" Alone again, they spoke French.
"Don't be so snooty, Mademoiselle ! He looks good, and I can see you like him."
"Yes, he looks good, actually he looks devilishly good, but that's not all, I have higher standards for the man I marry."
"You don't have to marry him straight away."
"Grand-Mère ! Are you trying to point out...I don't believe it. Since when have you been so open-minded?"
"I've always been open-minded, but we've never talked so openly about such topics before."
"I think I need to lie down and think about what you said."
"Yes, do it and think about whether your good reputation and your father's wishes are more important to you than your happiness, whether you really want such a conceited, egotistic, arrogant, scheming and manipulative Rush Clovis in your bed, or a man you love and who loves you…who you still have to find."
"I don't think you said it."
"Why? Is there something wrong with my description?"
"It's all true, I just never expected you to be so clear."
"And to be even more clear, I would prefer not to open the door for Monsieur Clovis this evening. I just don't like this man."
"But the father wanted me to invite him."
"You don't always have to listen to your father. You have to know yourself, what's good for you."
"Yes, I'm going to my room."
When she got to her room, she threw herself on the bed. What was that? Her grandmother suddenly so open, so energetically expressing her opinion and this great sympathy for this pool boy...full of surprises? What does all this mean? He should have fun with her friends...yes, with Dormé for sure, she wasn't that picky, but happy and satisfied with everything she did, a reason and an argument for all her actions and in the end, she will definitely achieve what she wants. It was similar with Sabé. Rabé wasn't any better and her older sister Satine didn't allow her parents to suggest her the man for life, she found him alone. He was ten years older than her, but it worked. Yes, Ben Kenobi, Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at University of California Los Angeles, was considered a capacity and was highly valued.
Countless considerations and no approach to a decision. Bow to the parents' wishes, or enjoy the life and be happy, but does it have to be a pool boy? She fell asleep thinking about his beautiful body.
.
Best regards from Germany