The Power of What a Glimpse Can Do

Sometimes you cross paths with people who just want to make your life a living hell.

Photo by freestocks on Unsplash

In the ritzy neighborhood of Ramsey Park, I’m just the local pool boy who cleans out all the muck from the rich families’ luxurious water palaces. No one pays me any mind — it’s a fallacy that rich women will take the time to ogle the guys cleaning their pools when they have better things to do like plan their next shopping trips — and most of the time I like it that way. I put in my earbuds, gear up Spotify (the free version with ads), and get to work.

But today is different. I take a break to wipe sweat from my brow and see that the pool next door is already ready for occupants.

And then out the sliding glass door of the house steps a young woman, her body just barely covered by a stringy black bikini.

I let my gaze linger too long, I know, but she’s a better sight than the usual women who try to get away with wearing less despite their age and the things they haven’t yet corrected with the help of their plastic surgeons.

But soon the girl’s eyes are on me, staring me down with no uncertain amount of dislike.

I duck my head, hoping she’ll just let it go that she caught me staring at her, but I’m not that lucky.