Weekend with Bob

Stacy wakes up alone in Lizzy's bed. Karen is still powered down on the desk. She hears some rummaging in the bathroom. She gets up and makes her way to the cracked bathroom door. Raising her hand she knocks her fingers gently against the metal door.

"You can come in. I'm decent." Lizzy's voice lightly calls out.

Stacy walks in to see Lizzy brushing her teeth. Hair a mess as always. She has such pretty curly redish orange hair but she doesn't keep up with it.

"Morning." She says finishing up.

"Morning." Stacy looks at her face in the mirror. "Ahhh my eyes are still puffy."

"You look fine." Lizzy says perching herself up on her side of the bathroom sink. Since it is only home to a toothbrush, tooth paste, a stick of men's deodorant and a hair brush that Stacy never see's her use. 

Stacy's side is.... covered. She has her morning and night skin routine products, hair styling tools, hygiene and make up. Lots of make up.

"No I don't. I'm going to need some serious makeup to hide this." Stacy says taking a closer look in the mirror.

"You have that modeling gig after school today too, don't you?" Asks Lizzy.

"Yea first day and I'm going to be showing up all gross." Stacy starts in on her routine.

"You don't look gross. Maybe a little tired but not gross."

"Thank you." Stacy appreciates Lizzy's simple kind words.

"I say this often but dang that's a lot of work just for skin." Lizzy says watching Stacy move onto the 2nd or 3rd wash Stacy has done to her face.

"Not all of us have been blessed with flawless skin." Replies Stacy. Moving onto moisturizing and make up.

"My freckles hide the random acne I do get. So I guess that helps." Lizzy says looking at herself in the mirror.

"You're so lucky." Stacy is a bit envious.

"Ehh. It's genetics."

"Speaking of genetics. How did you end up with red hair? Your dad has brown hair and your mom's is pretty much brown." Questions Stacy.

"Well somewhere both recessive genes came together and bam or I mutated into this form. That's what science class told me anyways." Lizzy swings her feet a little.

Stacy giggles at the explanation.

"You're something alright." Stacy says doing the last touches to the make up. "You going to do something with your hair?"

"I guess I should." Lizzy grabs a hair tie from her brush handle. Without looking in the mirror she puts her hair up in a ponytail. "All done. How about you?"

"How I wish my hair would stay in a pony tail." Stacy says running a brush through her silky long black hair. With a few picks at her bangs she declares her face is good enough for public. 

While Stacy got dressed for the day. Lizzy walks back to her room.

"Come on Karen." She tells the Soleil.

"Yea yea don't be so loud." Karen said groggily. And slowly following Lizzy.

"Is the act necessary?" Lizzy asks.

"Hey you're the one that programmed me this way." Karen defends herself. Lizzy just shakes her head.

Lizzy and Stacy meet in the hall. The two take off for breakfast and then school.

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After school Lizzy and Stacy part ways for work. Lizzy still doesn't fit in. No one's interested in farm animals. Some girls that went to Lizzy's school started some rumors that Lizzy is an animal. Stacy couldn't ignore it like Lizzy did. The girl that started it got a lunch spilled on her because Stacy "tripped" on the table leg. Stacy got a write up due to evidence of her questioning people.

Lizzy makes it to her job. Through the window she could see Alex working at his desk. Lizzy slowly runs up the steps and walks into the office.

"Gramps in today?" Asks Lizzy looking around.

"No he has appointments all day." Alex informs her.

"Oh alright. I do have a question for you though."

"A question for me? What could you possibly want from me?" Alex turns in his chair with an annoyed facial expression. He has to hide the curious side of him some way.

"Well I want to work with that pretty bull. Maybe calm him down so you don't have to fix so many Soleils." Lizzy starts to explain.

"None of that sounded like a question." Alex is getting testy now.

"That's because I wanted to ask if you could also be there incase it doesn't go well."

"The only doesn't go well is you getting crushed by him. Which will happen! Just stay away from that bull!" He turns back to his work.

"I have experience.."

"NO! Stay out of his pen!" Alex raises his voice. He looks over his shoulder. His voice gentle now. "He will hurt you."

Lizzy cowards from Alex's loud command. Yet Lizzy has never had a man talk this gentle to her. 

Karen flies right for Alex. "How dare you.."

"Karen." Lizzy cuts her off in a firm voice. The Soleil backs off a little waiting for Lizzy's next move.

Lizzy is a little scared. She has never taken criticism or even the slightly raised voice from men well her whole life. She takes a ragged breathe.

"Let's go Karen." Lizzy finally says walking to the door.

"Are you sure?" Asks Karen following her.

"Yea he doesn't want to help. No need for further argument." Lizzy opens the door.

"I never said I wouldn't help. I told you to stay away from an animal that will hurt you." Alex explains.

"Yea yea." Lizzy walks out the door.

Alex jogs after her.

"Hey wait!" He calls after her.

"Why? I asked. You said no. End of conversation. Right?" Lizzy says still walking for the barns. Alex is walking beside her now. Hands in his jean pockets, shoes padding on the cement and black graphic t-shirt lightly fluttering in the breeze.

"No I came to ask if you could show me what all you do." Alex asks. He looks over at her snug brown t-shirt that shows some curves, tight jeans that shows curves and cowboy boots.

"You're interested?" Lizzys heart flutters just a touch. He works here so the chances of him sticking around after falling in manure are higher than the average person.

"Yes I'm interested. Not interested in you getting in with that nutcase bull but the other animals. The smaller ones." 

"I'm going to the chicken barn. Surprised you don't have your uniform on out here." Lizzy smirks.

Alex looks down. "Crude. I have spare clothes in the office. So it will be fine."

"Very well." She says.

They get into the barn and Lizzy does her usually and asks for some treats for her chickens. Today is a variety of seeds.

"Alright I want to see how they react to you." Lizzy says pouring the handful of seeds into Alex's hand.

"What?" He regrets holding his hand out when she asked.

"Just stick your hand in through here." She points to the cage door. 

He walks up to it and squats. And the hens cautiously walk up eyeing and talking. 

"The pecks only hurt a little. Come here girls mama's here." Lizzy squats next him. The hens are braver now. Speckles stays back eyeing her.

"Ow!" Alex pulls his hand back. After one pecks him.

"It's not that bad. Come on." Lizzy chuckles.

He starts feeding them again.

"Now with your other hand you can stroke where their gizzard is." Lizzy strokes the bottom of their necks. Alex copies her.

"Wow! They're soft." Alex exclaims. He looks up. "So what's that one's deal?"

"That's Speckles, he is my rooster. He sees me as another rooster trying to take his hens." Lizzy explains.

"Oh." Alex replies. The hens finish up their food.

"Next time I can teach you how to hold one." Lizzy smiles. 

"That would nice." Alex smiles back.

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The weekend is here. Alex is at work while Gramps is using his vacation time doing who knows what with Grams. Lizzy and Stacy are at the barns early. Stacy has to work in the evening, modeling at the beauty shop. 

Alex set up his work computer to pull up any activity done by Lizzy. Not to be a creepy stalker but to keep an eye out for any trouble she might cause.

His computer dings. Both girls are in the cattle barn. Lizzy has a rope in her hand. He knew she was going to pull this. So he locked the gate from his computer.

It doesn't stop her. She jumps over the gate with ease. He thinks to himself he should have seen it coming. He tells a cleaning Soleil in the office to prep for a medical emergency. Alex watches the screen while the Soleil gets the basic meds needed.

"Hey boy." He hears her over the speakers.

The bull cowards a little but then tries pushing through her. With a smooth motion she side steps and gets a halter on the 2,000 pound animal. She braces and he turns around. Alex can't watch anymore he takes off through the door with the Soleil following close behind.

When he gets there Stacy is praising Lizzy. Karen is video taping for Lizzy's work. And Lizzy has the bull tied to a post. She is brushing him. And he is surprisingly calm.

"Pretty sure I told you to stay out of his pen." Alex states.

"You did. I got permission elsewhere and I have someone watching me."

"Besides Lizzy is experienced in catching cattle." Stacy adds.

"You got lucky this time." Alex says flatly.

"Probably. It's easier to work with them when the handler is an open female." Lizzy steps back as the bull moves around.

"Open?" Asks Alex.

"Not pregnant. It's a farming term." Explains Lizzy.

Alex doesn't even know how to respond. He is upset with her for endangering her life. Yet she doesn't bat an eye. Bluntly says she isn't pregnant using a term for animals. Her way of putting the halter on did impress him. He breaths in deeply.

"I will be back. Number 751 stay here incase of an emergency." Alex starts back to the office to get his project.

Stacy's heart skips a beat at him saying he will be back.

"What are you doing?" Asked Lizzy.

"Getting my project. Because scrawny one here won't be able to pull you out when he does end up squishing you."

Alex returns with tools, a small table and a broken Soleil. He starts doing his thing with tweaking wires and replacing sensors. Stacy tries to make small talk with him but he ignores her. Lizzy is brushing Bob down the whole hour she has him caught.

The following day is similar. Alex finds himself sitting next to Bob's pen while Lizzy is brushing him while he is tied up. Stacy is quiet from working late but is still dressed a little suggestively hoping to get a look or two from Alex.

"I can't work like this everyday." Alex informs Lizzy.

"I had a feeling. That's why I'm thinking this can be a once a month thing.... If that's alright with you?" Lizzy asks.

Alex let's out a sigh. "I wish it doesn't happen period but I fear I won't be paid if I don't at least watch you."

"Hey kids!" Gramps shows up in his regular clothes. Jeans and a button up. Everyone says hi back.

"Look at that." Gramps peers through the gate.

"We are finished for today." Lizzy says letting Bob go who runs out to pasture.

"Is that so? I came to invite you all to dinner." Gramps smiles.

"Did you just say all?" Asks Alex.

"Yup! Tonight at 5pm." Gramps gives Alex a wink.

Alex groans while the other two tell Gramps thank you and that they will be seeing him soon.