next to him, he drew the feather duvet over his head, feeling a sense of anticipation about tomorrow. Why? He had no idea.
As he fell asleep, he hugged his pillow close and smiled.
Tomorrow was going to be a good day.
***
“This has got to be the shittiest day on record,” Ben groaned, as he wrestled a large new water pump into place in the currently empty seal enclosure. “Jesus, this thing weighs a fucking ton.”
“Keep pushing,” puffed Hemingway Dube, Ben’s colleague and best friend. His full lips were pushed back from his teeth in a white snarl as he strained to hold the pump in place while Ben anchored it. “I don’t want my beautiful black self to become mashed against the concrete, my friend. My girlfriends would cry too much, and there would be much gnashing of teeth.”
He gave a wide grin as Ben managed to get out a snort in between his heavy breathing. “You overestimate yourself, Hem. I’ve seen your girlfriends, and I think they’ll hold a party. Finally, they’ll be able to get together and rag on what a two-timer you were.”
Hem had a penchant for dating more than one woman at a time. He’d told Ben it was an ancestral benefit dating back many years for a man to have many women. While Ben didn’t doubt that tradition existed, he didn’t think having affairs with multiple women at once was what had been intended.
“You are jealous because you cannot find even one boyfriend. You are too picky,” Hem proclaimed as he secured the steel straps around the pump. His impressive biceps strained with the effort. Hemmy wasn’t a small man. “Okay, you can let go now. I think we have done it.”
Ben stepped back, still wary of the mammoth structure falling. When it stayed put, Hemingway chuckled loudly and stroked his stubbled beard. “See? I told you it would only take two of us. I am the stronger one among us, but I was glad of your help.”
Ben rolled his aching shoulders, ignoring the bait his friend left hanging. “Shit, that was heavy. I think I might have a hernia.” He scowled. “What a day for the damn pump to give up the ghost. I know the boss intended installing the new one he’d bought, but I didn’t think we’d have to do it quite this soon.”
Hemingway gave a philosophical shrug. “It is what I am here for. I have you as my apprentice, so we make a good team.”
Hemingway also had a degree in zoology from the University of Pretoria in SA and was one of the life support technicians for the zoo. He loved anything to do with engineering and tinkering with parts. Mechanical bits floated his boat. Last time he’d visited Ben, he’d messed about with the toaster, which had stubbornly refused to heat up. Now the thing worked like a charm.
Ben enjoyed getting his hands dirty, and being out in the sunshine with a man he called a good friend was always welcome.
“Talking of boyfriends…” Hemingway said slyly as he plopped himself down on the grass and reached into his overall pocket for a forbidden cigarette. “When was the last time you got laid?”
Ben glared at him. “None of your fucking business. Just because you like notches on your belt doesn’t mean I do.”
Hemingway nodded wisely, puffing on his cigarette. “Ah, so that would mean a long time ago. Do not be embarrassed, my friend.” He waved down at his lean physique. “Not everyone can be a sexy powerhouse like me.”
Ben sat down on the grass next to him, trying to shield Hemingway from the public footpath. If his boss, Hazel, caught him smoking again in public, there’d be hell to pay. His friend didn’t seem to acknowledge the danger, or if he did, he didn’t care.
“More like a fizzled-out sparkler, you are,” Ben teased, eying out the long legs of a tasty park visitor as he strode past. The man had an arse to be proud of. “You know I’m no player, Hem. Until I find the right guy, I’m fine with my own company.”
That wasn’t strictly true. Ben had the occasional hook-up when he was feeling the need, but it wasn’t anything serious, or something he relished.
“You are such a romantic.” Hemingway took one final puff of his smoke then buried the butt end in the dark soil of the nearest garden bed. “You’re thirty-two years old and still waiting for your prince to come.” His tone was teasing. “I