Green's Thumb (Men of Retail)

by Alexander Elliott

  He and the dogs went back into the house, while Suzanne took a quick look at the items I was planting. “Karl seems like such a sweet man. I’m happy for you, Mitch. I understand things have gotten much worse at Green’s Thumb, and I am truly sorry, but that’s one reason I wanted to see you today.” She pulled a folded slip of paper from her pocket, and I wondered what she might be up to. “These are the names of two friends of mine who live in Nottingwood Estates. They are both looking for someone to help them create new garden spaces. I told them you might be available soon for some consulting work, and they are prepared to make it worth your while.”

  I knew Suzanne was very well connected in the city, but The Nottingwood area was filled with large, beautiful, expensive homes. A little bit of work there could give me some great references, but I didn’t have the resources to start my own business. “Just give it some serious thought, Mitch. You are well known in the community, and you certainly have the expertise and personality to be successful. There will be many others at the Garden Club meeting this weekend who would be interested in your services too. Perhaps after your presentation, you could share your plans with everyone. I would love to help you, so let me know if there is anything I can do.” I thanked her for her kindness and told her I would call if anything came to mind.

  I returned to my interrupted planting, mind swirling with possibilities. I never seriously considered starting my own business, but it certainly seemed like an interesting idea. Working for myself would be expensive. Things like insurance, a work vehicle, office equipment, and tools came to mind. Of course, I still needed to pay the rent and all the other normal expenses. How could I possibly make it work? My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a truck pulling into the driveway. The Garden Mart was here with the trees, and I was busy for the next hour overseeing the work. By the time they left, I was getting really hungry, and it looked like there was just enough time to eat before my helpers arrived.

  Karl was just about ready to come and get me when I wandered into the kitchen. While we ate, I told him about my discussion with Suzanne. He listened quietly to my thoughts and concerns about starting a business, and then I asked him for his opinion. “I have no doubt you would make a success of it, Mitch. You not only have your first project going here, but you have two new clients just waiting for you to call. If you start with more consulting jobs first, there won’t be as much of a need for the vehicle or equipment. I think you should talk to your kids. I’m sure they would love to help you get started, and you can count on me too. This may be the chance you have been hoping for, babe. Suzanne was right – just think it over for now and you can make a decision after you see what happens tomorrow at Green’s Thumb.”

  The more I thought about the idea, the more appealing it was. Having Karl and Suzanne’s support was more encouraging than they realized, and I knew Lisa and Grant would be glad to help if they could. My musings were interrupted by the arrival of my helpers, so after a quick hug and kiss, I returned to the front yard. Karl even reported for duty a few minutes later, and I put him to work. The four of us made a good team for the rest of the afternoon; digging, mulching, fertilizing and planting. The plain vanilla yard was starting to show some snap and color, and I was pleased by how it was coming together. By supper time, everything was planted in its new home, and all the heavy work was done. There were still some minor things to finish and several decorative touches I wanted to add, but they were things I could easily handle by myself. When I told the hired help there might be more work coming up, they were very interested, and Karl cut them each a generous check.

  After supper, Karl and I spent some time playing with the dogs in the back yard until it got dark. I was really starting to feel the effects of the day’s physical labor, and asked Karl if there was something I could take in his medicine cabinet. He got it for me, and ordered me into a hot bath to soak for a while. When I got out, he told me to lie face down on the bed for a massage, and I wasn’t going to argue with him. He poured on a little bit of almond oil and then worked everything form neck to feet. I fell asleep more than once, despite the fact my handsome boyfriend had his big warm hands all over me, and my dick was hard as a rock. When he finished, Karl wiped off the excess oil with a warm wash cloth and turned me over.

  He was standing next to the bed, naked and hard, a bead of precum at the tip of his engorged penis. He crawled up over me and straddled my chest, feeding his manhood into my waiting mouth. He thrust in and out slowly, careful not to push too far, and I gave him all the attention he deserved. I reached up to card my fingers through his chest hair, scraping my nails over both nipples in the process. His body was so different from mine, and I would never tire of touching him this way. He inhaled sharply and began to pump faster. I was prepared to swallow him down, but he suddenly stopped and looked down at me with a sly grin. “I want to try something different if you don’t mind. I think you’ll like it.” I just nodded at him, and he slid down my body until our dicks were side by side. Reaching over to grab the oil, he dribbled some over both our cocks and then wrapped his big hands around us and started thrusting.

  I gasped at the warm slippery contact and pressure, feeling his meaty penis sliding past mine, over and over. I wanted to close my eyes and just savor the sensations, but I was locked into an intense gaze from Karl which refused to let me look away. He licked his lips, glancing down at my nipples and then back to my face. I reached up and began playing with them, giving Karl a satisfied smile and me the extra push I needed. “I’m going to cum, babe. Keep going!” Somehow he squeezed even tighter, thrusting faster until we exploded at the same time. Both loads puddled on my stomach and began to run over the sides and into my belly button.

  Our breathing was still heavy as Karl stopped moving and carefully released us. He leaned down to kiss me, our lips locked while he lay down on his side next to me. When the kiss ended, I lay my head on his shoulder and nibbled at his neck. He squirmed a little, but let me do what I wanted for a while. When we fully relaxed again, I thanked him for the massage and the incredible orgasm. “You realize, of course, you are spoiling me, Mr. Hartman. How can I ever return to normal life after this?” I was being mostly silly, but Karl answered the question seriously. “You don’t have to, Mitch. This can be your normal life, if you want it.”

  I lifted my head to look at him, caught once more in his blue eyes. It was time to tell him, and I couldn’t hold it in any longer. “I do want it Karl – I love you. I want to share my life with you, babe.” Karl’s eyes filled with tears, and he wrapped me into his arms. “I love you too, Mitch, but I was afraid to say it so soon.” We cried a little bit more, though they were happy tears, sharing more warm kisses. It was time for bed, so we cleaned ourselves up and crawled under the sheets. With Karl spooning me from behind, I went to sleep feeling loved and secure and right where I belonged.

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  I awoke long before the alarm was to go off, and realized Karl and I changed positions in the night. I was sprawled over the top of him like a clinging octopus, but he didn’t seem to mind at all. His even breathing let me know he was still asleep, and I was careful not to disturb him. I had been dreading this day, worried what was going to happen at Green’s Thumb and how things would work out. My relationship with Karl, however, gave me a quiet confidence I was not used to feeling. His love was an anchor which made my future look promising instead of bleak. With sudden clarity I realized I could do this, and what’s more, I didn’t need to be afraid.

  I was curious to see what I could get away with before Karl woke up, and decided to put it to the test. Besides, it was time for a little payback. I carefully detached my self from him and got down between his legs. His beautiful cock was flaccid, laying atop a full scrotum, and I enjoyed the sight of his perfectly masculine body. I scooped up his penis into my warm mouth and began to suckle, caressing his large balls with my fingers. As he began to stiffen, Karl made indistinct noises and started to move his head and li
mbs. I was surprised how quickly he got hard, and how long it was taking him to wake up completely. I knew he was awake when his hands gripped my head on both sides and gently guided my efforts. His eyes remained closed, but the smile he wore on his handsome face gave me permission to continue. I wanted to up the game, so I wet my middle finger and started playing with his pucker. He opened his legs to give me better access, and I wormed my way inside and back out while I sucked him harder.

  Karl stiffened, and I could see goosebumps appear across his skin as his face acquired a look of pleasured concentration. I pulled off his penis to suckle at his balls, but continued to stroke him with my hand and tease his hole with my fingertip. Soon, his breathing became more ragged and his hands tightened on my head. I engulfed his cock once more, and without a word, Karl bucked and spilled into my mouth, holding me in place until the pulsing stopped. I swallowed his load and sucked gently until he was too sensitive to take any more. He reached down and pulled me up to his chest, caressing my back and ass with his soft hands.

  I could feel the rumbling chuckle in his chest before he spoke. “Good morning, love. Is this what I have to look forward to every day?” I raised my head to look at him, and he pulled me in for a kiss. Like every other time, I was swamped with sensation and realized I would never tire of the way this man kissed. Unfortunately, the alarm went off, and I started getting ready for work. Though Karl was off today, he got up and followed me into the shower. He cleaned me up and then reached around from behind and stroked me until I released, holding me up with his strong body while my knees quit shaking.

  Before breakfast, Karl let me use his computer to print up a letter of resignation. Even if I didn’t need it today, I wanted it ready to submit if things went the way I suspected. Karl approved of my foresight, “Do what you need to do, Mitch. As far as I’m concerned, you’ve already given more than could reasonably be expected. You know I will support whatever you decide.” The truth was, I did know, but it felt good to hear him say it out loud. We ate a simple breakfast together, and Karl sent me off with a blistering smooch which made me dizzy.

  The drive didn’t take long, and I was pleased to see the cars belonging to our remaining part-timers in the lot. I was a little early, so the three of us chatted for a few minutes before going in. We all agreed if Roger kept up his recent behavior, we were leaving Green’s Thumb for good. A large delivery arrived shortly after we opened, so we were kept busy most of the morning. Strangely, Roger was holed up in his office and didn’t come out until it was time for our lunchbreaks to begin. The three of us were in the back room checking in the new merchandise when the boss made an appearance. He was holding our paychecks in his hand and wearing an ugly smile. This didn’t look good.

  He handed them out, and made an announcement. “It cost over $300.00 to clean up my office last week. Since all of you were here, and didn’t see fit to stop Grace, I have deducted the cleaning costs from your pay. If anything like it ever happens again, you will all be looking for jobs somewhere else. Is that clear?” I jumped in before the other two could say anything, “We had nothing to do with it, Roger, and you know it. It was your own stupid behavior which caused it in the first place. I can’t speak for my coworkers, but I am more than ready to look for work elsewhere.” I pulled the letter from my pocket and handed it to a red-faced Roger who was about to explode. “I am resigning my position, effective immediately. I suggest you start looking for work, since this place will never survive with you in charge.” I turned to my co-workers, “Coming ladies?” We all took off our name tags and aprons, leaving them in a pile at Roger’s feet, and walked out of the store. He followed us into the parking lot, ordering everyone back to work and making all kinds of idiotic threats. One by one, we got in our cars and drove away, leaving a puce-faced Roger Green standing in the parking lot with his mouth open. After ten years, I was finally free, and it really felt good.

  CHAPTER TEN – KARL

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  WHEN MITCH LEFT FOR WORK, I was half expecting him to show up a few minutes later, out of a job and trying to decide what to do. I waited an hour or so, and then debated whether or not to take the dogs to the park. I didn’t want to be gone if he needed me, but since I was sure he would at least call me if something happened, I decided to get out of the house for a little while. The dogs were always excited about the park, and they both seemed to have plenty of energy this morning. After about ten minutes, a familiar looking man arrived with a beautiful Irish Setter. There were very few people in the bark park today, so he limped over to take a seat next to me, favoring his right leg. Now I was certain I knew him from somewhere, but couldn’t place it. He took off his sunglasses and gave me an odd look. “You seem really familiar. Do we know each other?” I laughed and extended my hand. “Karl Hartman at your service. I have to admit I was just thinking the same thing, but I can’t place you.”

  He shook my hand and then settled back for a chat. “I’m David Donner. I know a lot of people in the city, so it wouldn’t surprise me if we have run into each other before. What do you do for a living, Karl?” Blaze came trotting up to sit at my feet, and I stroked her soft coat while we spoke. “Currently, I am in medical coding, but I used to work full time as a nurse at Community Hospital.” David’s eyes went wide as he recognized me. “That’s it! You were my nurse about nine years back after my car accident. It’s great to see you again. You were the one bright spot in the whole mess, and I really appreciated how well you took care of me.”

  The memory was coming back now, though I saw so many patients over the years it was surprising I remembered any details at all. “Yes, that’s right. How’s the leg treating you these days?” He shook his head in disgust. “Darn thing has never been the same, but you are part of the reason I can use it at all. You were very determined to keep me on track, and at the time I don’t recall feeling very thankful.” I laughed with him, as nurses were blamed for many things which were not their fault. “No problem. You were not the first, nor the last, to believe I enjoyed torturing my patients. What keeps you busy these days, David?” He pulled a business card out of his pocket and handed it to me. “It used to be real estate, but all the walking became a problem after I was done with rehab, so I needed to try something else. These days I am the director for the greater area Historical Society. We just acquired several new properties and are in the process of planning their restoration. There’s a lot more work involved than most people realize, and it’s not just the buildings, but the grounds too.”

  Immediately, I thought of Mitch and wondered if this might be something he could get involved in. “If you are restoring the grounds, I assume it would include the gardens as well as the landscaping. I happen to know someone who would do a fantastic job for you.” I pulled out my phone and showed him the before and after shots of my own front yard, as well as some I captured of Suzanne’s gardens. He was very impressed. “Looks like just the type of work we need, though the plants will have to match the time period of when the structures were built. Give him my card, and ask him to call me this week. We are just in the planning stages, but if we can get him involved now it will smooth out the entire process.”

  We visited for a few more minutes, comparing dog stories and other general topics before David rose to leave. I thanked him for the lead, and then hurried home, anxious to share the story with Mitch. If he decided to start his own company, he was going to be able to hit the ground running, and I was excited for him. When I got back to the house, Mitch’s car was already in the driveway. I was pleased he was here instead of his apartment, but I also knew his job at Green’s Thumb must have ended one way or another. When I entered the kitchen from the garage, Mitch was standing at the sink, looking out the window. Blaze went directly to him for some loving, and when he looked up at me he was smiling. I put the dogs out back and sat down with him at the table.

  “You seem to be handling this pretty well, babe, so why don’t you tell me what happened?” I held hi
s hand as he explained the morning’s events in detail and how he was feeling about it. “To be honest, Karl, I feel more relieved than anything else to finally be out of there. On the other hand, the task of creating my own company seems overwhelming. I’m not sure where to start!” After a reassuring hug and kiss, I got a legal tablet and pen, and we made up a to-do list. “It’s true there is a lot to do at the beginning, but you have me, Suzanne and the kids on your team. You don’t have to do this all by yourself, Mitch, so take a deep breath and let the rest of us take care of some of this. Before we get going, though, I have another piece of good news for you.”

  I pulled David’s business card out of my pocket and laid it on the table in front of him. Mitch quirked an eyebrow at me, and I told him the whole story. He looked a little worried when I finished, and I wondered what he was thinking. “I’ve never done any historical garden restoration work before, Karl. It’s like an entirely separate field and takes a great deal of expertise. On the other hand, if I could pull it off, my work would attract a lot of attention and coverage by the press, and would do wonders for my resume. I’m not sure I’m ready for the big leagues yet – I mean I’m just getting started!”