Aaah, yes...
I lived in an apartment building that had two floors with eight apartments. The four on one side faced the parking lot, and the other four had a view across an expanse of lawn to a roww of evergreens that screened us from the back of a shopping center. My apartment was on the second floor, facing out over the lawn. All of the apartments had balconies, about eight feet deep by sixteen feet long.

My balcony, since it faced north, was quite sheltered even during storms, so I had a fair bit of furniture out there- a table, a small loveseat and two battered old wooden rockers. (I nicknamed them Mick and Keith, by the way.) I had plants on the table, but also had smallish candle lanterns all over the place out there- four along the edge of the roof, four on the railing below them, and a hanging set of candle holders. At night, with all of the candles lit, it was a very cozy and romantic little spot.

One night I had a woman over for the weekend, and after cooking dinner for her I took her out to the porch to sit since it was such a nice night out. I settled her in a rocker and started putting tea lights in all the lanterns and lighting them, starting at the far end of the porch. I chatted with her as I worked until I was up to the last couple of lanterns. As I finished lighting the last one I turned as she put her hands on my hips to turn me and slid down my shorts.

I stood with one hand on the railing to keep my balance as she worked on me, and as she was getting me closer to the vinegar strokes I heard a gasp and a metallic jingle. I looked down in time to see one of the gay guys from downstairs scrabbling around in the grass for his keys, then running inside in obvious distress.

It wasn't until a couple of years later that I mentioned this to the woman in question. (She's still a good friend, even though we didn't work as a couple.) She was silent for a moment, then burst into a startlingly raucous laugh...

I really miss that porch.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Thu 11 Oct 2007, 18:38, Reply)