Tell me again again why I agreed to help you with this.'' Daryl, red-face and grunting, continue to push the spa toward the recently cut square at the far edge of the deck. His feet slipped and he could feel sweat pouring from his forehead into corners of his eyes, making them sting. It was hot , way too hot for early May. Too damn hot for this, that's for
sure. Even Miguel's Dog pixie was hidding in the shades panting his tongue hanging out.
Miguel who was pushing the massive box along side he shrug" Because you thought it would be fun." he said he lowered his shoulder and shove the spa which is weigh four hundred pounds, move another couple of inches
At this rate, the spa should be in place , oh....sometime next week.
"This is ridiculous," Daryl said, heaving his weight into the box, thinking that what they really needed was a team of mules. His back was killing him. For a moment, he visualize his ears blowing off the sides of his head from the strain, shooting in both directions like the bottle rockets he and miguel use to launch as a kids.
"You've already said that." Daryl grunted.
"You said that,too."
"And it isn't going to be easy to install.
"Sure it is" Miguel said. he stood and pointed to the lettering on the box."See? It says right here. " Easy to Install." From his spot beneath the shady tree, Pixie a purebred boxer barked as if in agreement and Miguel smiled looking way too please with himself. Daryl scowled trying to catch his breath. he hated that look. Well, not always, Most of the the time he enjoy his friend's boundless enthusiasm. But not today. Definitely not today. Daryl reached for the bandanna in his pocket. It was soaked with sweat, which is of course done wonders for the seat of her pants. He wipe his face and wrung the bandanna with quick twist. Sweat dribbled from it like a leaky faucet onto top of his shoe. He stared at it almost hypnotically, before feeling it soak through the light mesh fabric. giving his toes a nice slimy feel. Oh, that was just dandy, wasn't it?
As I recall, you said Roy and Jhake would be here to help us with your little project and Shasha and kim they would cook some burgers and we'd have a beer and that oh yeah, installing this thing should only take a couple of hours at the most."
"They're coming". Jessie said.
You said that four hours ago. "
"They must be running a little late"
"Maybe you never called them at all"
"Of course I called them. And they're bringing the kids,too. I promise"
"When?"
"Soon."
"Uh-huh," Daryl answered. He stuffed the bandanna back in his pocket."
"And by the way, assuming they don't arrive soon , just how on earth do you think the two of us will be able to lower this thing into place?"
Miguel dismissed the problem with a wave of as he turned toward the box again. "We'll figure it out. Just think how we we've done so far . We're almost halfway there."
Daryl scowled again. It was Saturday, Saturday! his day of recreation and relaxation, his chance to scape from the grindstone, the break he earned after five days at the bank, the kind of day he needed. He was a loan officer, for God's sake! He was supposed to push paper, not hot tubs! He could have been watching the soccer! He coult been golfing! He could been have gone to beach! He could have slept in with Princess before heading to her parent's house like they did almost every Saturday, instead of waking at the crack of dawn and performing manual labor for eight straight hours beneath a scalding southern sun...
He paused. Who was he kidding? Had he not been here, he would definitely spent the day with Princess parents, which was in all honesty, the main reason he'd agreed to Miguel's request in the first place. But that wasn't the point. The point was, he didn't need this . He really didn't. "I don't need this," I really don't."
Miguel didn't seem to hear him. His hands were already on the box, and he was getting into position. " You read?"
Daryl lowered his shoulder , feeling bitter. His legs were shaking! He already knew he'd be in serious double-dose-of Advil pain in the morning. Unlike Miguel, he didn't make it into the gym four days a week or play racquetball or go running or go scuba diving in Coron or surfing in country Z or anything else guy did. " This isn't fun, you know?"
Miguel winked. "You know that already, remember?"
Wow! Jhake commented lifting an eyebrow as he walked the perimeter of the hot tub. By then the sun was beginning its descent streams of gold reflecting off the bay. In the distance , a heron broke from the trees and gratefully skimmed the surface , dispersing the light. Jhake and Kim along with Roy and Nelly had arrived a few minutes before with kids in tow and Miguel was showing the around. "This looks great! You two did all of this today?"
Miguel nodded, holding his beer. "It wasn't so bad" He said. I think Daryl even enjoyed it."
Jhake glance at Daryl who lay flattered in a lawn chair off the side of the deck, a cold rag over his head . Even his belly Daryl had always been on the pudgy seem to sag.
" I can see that."
" Was it heavy?"
"Like an Egyptian sarcophagus! Daryl croaked. " One of those gold ones that only cranes can move!"
Jhake laughed. " Can the kids get in?"
"Not yet. I just filled it, the water will take a little while to heat up. The sun will help , though."
"The sun will heat it within minutes! Daryl moaned.
" Within seconds!"
Jhake grinned. Roy and the three of them had gone to school together since kindergarten.
"Tough day, Daryl?
Daryl removed the rag and scowled at Jhake." You have no idea. And thanks for showing up on time."
"Miguel said to be here in at five. If I had known you needed help, I would come earlier."
Daryl slowly shifted his gaze to Miguel. He really Hated his friend sometimes.
How's mia doing? Miguel said changing the subject.
"Is Kim getting any sleep?
Kim was chatting with Nelly at the table on the far end deck, and Jhake glanced at her direction. " Mia cough is gone and she's been able to sleep through the night again, but sometimes I just think that Kim isn't wired to sleep. At least not since she become a mom.She get up even if mia hasn't made peep . It's like the quiet wake her up.
" She's a good mom, Miguel said. She always has been
Joe turned to Daryl. Where's Princess? he's asked.
" She should be here in any minute", Daryl answered. His voice floating up as if from the dead. "She spent the day with her parents."
"Lovely," Jhake commented.
"Be nice. They're good people,"
I seem to recall you saying that if you had to sit through one more of your father-in-law's stories about his prostate cancer or listen to your mother-in-law fret about Jeffry getting fired again even though it wasn't his fault you were going to stick your head in the oven."
Daryl struggled to sit up. " I never said that!"
"Yes you did," Jhake winked as Daryl's wife, Princess rounded the corner of the house with Kyle toddling just in front of her. " But don't worry I won't say a word."
Daryl eyes darted nevously from Princess to jhake and back again checking to see if she'd heard.
" Hey, y' all!" Princess called out with a friendly wave leading little Liam by the hand. She made a beeline for Kim and Nelly . Liam broke away and went toward the other kids in the yard.
Jhak saw Daryl sigh in relief. He grinned and lowered his voice... " So Daryl's in laws. Is that how you conned him into coming here?"
" I might have mentioned it." Miguel smirked.
Jhaked laughed.
" What are you guys saying?" Daryl called out suspiciously.
"Nothing," they said in unison.