Page 68 of Sass in the Grass

“You’re all holistic, huh?”

“I try to be, unless I can’t. I’m no fanatic. If I have a little cough, a cold or allergies, I deal with it. Broken bones, hospital.”

“You really are self-sufficient.”

“Why does that surprise you?” He pulled out the chair from the round table where the food was set and waved a hand. “Sit, and we can talk.”

Jovian sat, and the food looked wonderful. Fluffy scrambled eggs and thick toast, ham sliced thin.

After Dixon sat across from him, he asked again, “So why does it surprise you?”

“I don’t know. I guess I’ve met no one that wasn’t dependent on…well, other people, or things, or money.”

“You’ve met one now. I have a little money, Jovian. I’m not so dirt poor that I couldn’t go buy the food I eat or put in a heater instead of chopping wood. I choose to live this way.”

After he took a bite of the eggs, eggs that were seasoned perfectly with fresh herbs, he swallowed, moaned a little and then said, “I both admire it, and will admit it confuses me.”

“Oh, well, I can see the confusion. Most people are confused about how I manage. It’s not hard when you’ve lived this way all your life. I wouldn’t know how to live in your world. So many people, so many bills, worries, concrete!”

“I guess you would be. And…well…this food is amazing.”

“I traded some elk meat for that pork from a friend who raises pigs. We trade a lot. I always have a lot more eggs than I can use, and he can’t grow certain vegetables to save his life.”

“Do I get the tour you promised?”

“Sure. I’m figuring…well, I don’t have a class until this afternoon, so we can sneak in any time. And, uh, well, I’m caring less and less about the gossip.”

“Good. Let them talk. We are providing a service. Gossip is fun, as long as it’s not mean.”

Dixon smiled at him and pinched his chin. “God, you are so cute.”

“Thank you. I will take the compliment and leave you with one. You’re so hot, I could just fuck you all day and night.”

“Oh! Well, I’ll take that.”

“Good.”

It was so…easy with Dixon. He was laid back, handsome, sweet, and tough. Jovian was drawn to him, every bit of him. The food was so good; he took his time eating it, savoring every bite. “This is so much better than the Mess Hall food.”

“I won’t tell you said that. True would be mortified.”

“He cooks?”

“No, but he’s determined for it not to be regular, bland cafeteria food.”

“It’s that, for sure. But I have good taste in food. That’s not conceited, either!”

“I didn’t say it was.”

After they ate, Jovian offered to help clean, and saw that there was a regular faucet that produced water. “I thought…you had a well or something.”

“There is a well. I have a pump that goes here and to the bathroom. The shower and sink here uses hot water from a water heater that only heats water when it’s needed. It uses a lot less of my stored electricity.”

“On demand! My mother has one. They’re terribly expensive.”

“Not too bad for the small ones. I don’t use a lot of water, even for showers.”

“God, I shower for an hour, at least. I like to bathe too, when I have the time.”

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