Green Eyed Monster

...Envied By His Neighbor

Today I awake extra early, shower, make me a cup of coffee, and then head to my new beautiful swing. With one foot on the porch, I push. Now swinging, my neighbor Joy comes outside to water her flowers. She's a very attractive women in her early to mid-forties. She just recently divorced and moved into Gypsy's old home. She's never worked a job in her life. She married a now ex-NFL player. His spousal support will sustain her for the rest of her life. Joy and I are pretty close. I like her. She's a genuine soul; down to earth, classy, and a joy to be around.

I greet, "Good morning, Joy. Don't you look sexy today."

Grinning, she sits her running hose near her flowerbeds then heads my way saying, "Well, I'll never be as sexy as you Ms Mae."

    "Go inside and make you a cup of coffee and then sit with me."

Joy adheres and then returns sipping her coffee. She sits next to me on the swing sighing, "What a perfect day, huh?"

    "Extremely. My grandson is coming to see me today. He's been studying at Oxford the past four years. He just graduated last week and has promised to hang out with me this weekend."

    "Oxford? Wow. Very impressive. He must be smart."

    "My baby's a literal genius. He graduated early, top of his class."

    "When's the last time you saw him?"

    "I saw him once two years ago, but it was very brief. He's been in Great Britain, learning abroad over 4 years now."

    "How nice. Hope my kids do something with their lives."

    "I thought your daughter was a doctor?"

    "Well yes, she's in school for medicine, so I can't complain. But I'm not referring to her. I'm more so on my sons living this football dream. Their dad is in the Hall of Fame, but they can't even get on the field on a regular bases in college football. I need them both to give up the dream of being their father and find real careers. Time waits for no one Ms Mae. They'll look up and they'll be old."

    "Tell me about it."

    "Oh no! Old and you don't even match Ms Mae!"

    "Kill that flattery. I love my age. Thankful to God I get to see this age. In youth you're crazy as hell and don't know it. That's a dangerous place in life. So, I'm so glad I made it through."

    "Well, I'm past youth too, Ms. Mae!"

    "Nah, you're at the worst age. You're still young yet clinging on to youth as if it's gone, too afraid to set it free and cross over to the next phase of life."

Joy sits carefully listening. She then says, "I can't deny it Ms. Mae. You're so right. All I know is youth. I'm so afraid to relinquish it."

    "Let youthful Joy go and embrace Joy-full! You're at the perfect age now. You know who you are and what you want. Rejoice in that. Your mother gave you a great name. So, live in it!"

Joy and I converse most of the morning. It's now time for me to prepare for Lee. Everyone comes over to see him. Drake and his new wife and daughter. Marshall and his wife and children. Trevor, Jessica, Deuce and Lola Mae. We're in my backyard. It is then Joy comes over.

I say, "Everyone this is my beautiful neighbor, Joy."

Everyone speaks, but once I introduce her to Lee, her eyes light up. I know that look anywhere. I'm instantly perturbed as I see Lee's eyes light up too. Joy's daughter Jazmine comes over and meets everyone as well.