The Meaning of Perfect
by
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When Amanda Ames saw Gill Lanshire walking across the wide yard she was mesmerized. Her mind raced on, that’s the best looking human being I’ve ever seen, he should be on TV or in the movies. Fred said he needs a date for the party. "Dear Jesus," she prayed silently, "please don’t let me make a fool of myself. I want to be his date forever. I’ll try to keep my mouth shut and let him do the talking. I hope I don’t blow it!" As Fred and Gill walked along the path toward the pool, Gill tried not to stare at Amanda and looked at the array of early blooming flowers on the other side of the yard. When the walk way curved, he tripped on a large rock, landed in the bushes and was slowly returning to a standing position when Fred suggested, "You don’t have to put on a show, just stand up and act like nothing happened." Amanda rushed to Gill, "What an awful thing to occur just when you arrived. Quite a few people have stumbled over that rock. I’ve asked the yard men, many times, to remove it but they never get around to doing it." By now Gill was standing with a lobster red face. Fred chuckled, "Mandy, name a few of those people." "Fred Wiggins," she remarked forcibly, "you oaf, you never have had one ounce of human kindness. We both know that your fraternity brother wasn’t paying attention to what he was doing. But he is a stranger in our midst and we should not harp on his inability to walk along a grass path and not fall over a rock that was minding its own business!" Amanda froze, thinking now why did I say a thing like that? Gill placed his open hand over his face as he rotated his head back and forth, "I feel like a fool in this situation," while reasoning to himself, well I blew this, she thinks I’m a ridiculous klutz. She won’t give me the time of day much less a date. I screwed up, big time. Suddenly Nancy Baby yelled from the other side of the pool, "I’m twisting!" Amanda turned to Fred, "She is getting too heavy for me, could you take her?" "No! She flooded me the last time. Ask Gill." Amanda looked at Gill with distress showing on her face, "Would you?" He nodded, thinking here is my opportunity to make points, "What can I do?" "Carry her to the bathhouse, quickly!" Gill rushed to the child, gathered her in his arms and dashed to the bathhouse. Nancy Baby, with her arms around his shoulders, and her legs around his sides, stated directly in his ear, "I am leaking a little." "I know," he remarked quietly, "it’s running down my leg." When they reached their destination, Nancy Baby smiled at Gill and Amanda, "I already did." Amanda was humiliated and furious, "Nancy Baby, just go to the house and have the maid give you a nice warm bath. Then put your ’jamas on, get in bed and read your new book, the one about the little French girl." "No! I don’t want to! I hate the little French girl. She is so stupid!" Nancy Baby yelled as she stamped her foot and held her arms akimbo. When Amanda pointed out that she would have to tell Mother, Nancy Baby changed her mind and slowly headed toward the large two-story red brick house. As Nancy Baby left, Gill asked, as he glanced at his wet body and leg, "How about using your shower?" "Please do," Amanda replied as she looked intensely at the lower part of his body for the first time. His bulge shocked and embarrassed her. From her facial expression, he sensed her reaction to his anatomy and quickly headed for the shower stall. Amanda made a hasty exit. Fred had witnessed the encounter from the doorway, as she passed him he grinned and asked, innocently, "Mandy, you look stunned, what happened?" She glared at him, walked over and dove into the pool. As Gill left the bathhouse, Fred yelled from the other end of the pool, "Gill Lanshire, you haven’t met Amanda Ames, hurry, don’t keep this lovely water nymph waiting!" Gill darted to the deep end of the pool, dove in and swam underwater until he was in front of Amanda. He surfaced and wiped his muscular arm across his wet face as he smiled, "My name is Neptune, god of all the seas, but you may call me Gill and yours must be Amanda, beautiful princess of all the mermaids. Will you grant me the pleasure of you company at the barbecue tomorrow night?" Amanda, smiled, "For years my secret burning desire has always been to attend a barbecue with Neptune, god of all the seas, how could I refuse?" Gill relaxed, "So it’s a date, race you to the other end of the pool and back."
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About the Book
From the first minute Amanda Ames and Gill Lanshire looked into each other’s eyes, they were in love. Fred Wigging, Gill’s fraternity brother, had been told incorrectly, that Amanda is the campus sexpot; he tells Gill. After an evening with Amanda and Fred, Gill could not believe that Amanda was ‘that kind of girl.’ On their first date, aware of Fred’s information, Gill’s strong sexual desire for this exquisitely beautiful girl became an uncontrollable passion. He tried to seduce her, with unsuccessful and alarming results. When Amanda’s father learned of the episode, she was not allowed to date or even speak to Gill. Gill’s mother sought a higher social standing in the community and insisted that Gill marry Janetta Fairhill. Her father owned Fairhill Industries, where Gill’s father was employed. The position of chief executive officer was available. Paula wanted Gill’s father to be selected. These commands and demands could not stop Amanda and Gill as they schemed to resume their romance. With each small success more stumbling blocks were thrown in their path. The young couple began to wonder if they could ever have a future together, knowing that the road would forever be an uphill battle and that road might never end.
About the Author
Kelley Lanier is a former commercial artist and librarian. She has been an avid student of astrology for many years. As the planets moved through the heavens, and according to her horoscope, they indicated that a career in writing should be considered. With a vague idea for a story, she sat in front of her computer until the words began to flow. Kelley said, "I was immediately addicted. Now I can’t stop writing!" The Meaning of Perfect is her fifth novel. Kelley enjoys living Florida’s warm climate. She has two children and two grandchildren.