I have a 6-foot privacy fence around my back yard and in warm weather I enjoy spending time out there dressed fem to one degree or another -- it's the closest I ever come to being "out" here in my little community. It's where I do my bikini-bottom tanning, and there's no better way to relax after a long summer day than slipping on something gurly after showering and shaving everything, popping the top of an ice cold beer and retreating to the yard to enjoy the cooling of the day. I was doing exactly that late one afternoon this past summer, dressed comfortably casual in a sleeveless top, my favorite sandals, a little jewelry, just a touch of lipstick and a short, snug-fitting, worn-out denim miniskirt badly frayed and actually torn in a couple of places from many washings but oh so comfortable. I was lazily inspecting my garden's progress and picking some new lilac blooms when I suddenly heard a man's voice speaking to me.
I whirled around to see a middle aged hispanic man peering through a small gap in the fence. He was working in the yard across the alley, had noticed that a section of my fence had blown a bit loose in a recent wind storm and was asking if I would like him to fix it. Now normally I would have panicked and beat a hasty retreat into the house, but for some reason I kept my composure this time and stood my ground. I met his gaze, smiled and explained that I had already purchased the materials to make the repair and planned on doing it myself, allowing my voice and gestures to take on a mildly effeminate manner as I spoke.
I could see his eyes scanning me up and down from head to toe, lingering on my skirt and legs. He didn't seem to be shocked or unsettled by what he saw, and he made no mention of my appearance. I don't know if he was attracted to what he saw or was simply intrigued by the novelty, but it was obvious he was trying to think of a way to prolong the conversation. Maybe he was hoping I would change my mind, maybe he wanted to be invited into my yard, maybe he had stumbled into an awkward situation and didn't know how to exit tactfully, I dunno. Before things got too awkward I thanked him for his offer and pivoted a bit to signal I was turning my attention back to my garden -- and to give him another view.He returned to his work and that was that.
I really enjoyed that unexpected moment of unintended exhibition and interaction. I hadn't felt trapped exactly, but I felt very much on display, in a good way. I wonder if he knew that if he had made any sort of overture at all I would have suggested he clean up after his work was done and come back for a cold beer ...
Originally Posted by Sami Brown
