I was hired to replaster the ceiling of the shower-stall in a vacant condominium. I brought a mask and a change of clothes, because I knew I'd have to sand plaster over my head in that confined space, and it would be a real mess. I left my clean clothes in the camper shell of my truck, so I could change later without spreading dust inside the condo. The work done, I brought my tools out onto the common walkway/balcony of that floor of the condo building. There was a man in a bathrobe, leaning against the outside railing smoking a cigarette (I guess he didn't smoke inside his condo.) He greeted me and clearly wanted to talk. (He was curious about why the condo was vacant and whether it was being prepared for sale.) As we chatted, he asked if I'd like to come in. I gestured at my powder-white clothes and my powder-white self, and said I was reluctant to. Then on a moment's reflection I said I could sure use a shower. I knew from how casual he was being with his bathrobe that he would not be undone by the idea. So he showed me in. I closed the door behind me and took not one more step before I stopped to carefully stack my clothes next to his door. Standing there naked, hands and head still very dusty, I asked directions to the shower. He issued me a towel and sent me in. I got cleaned up and toweled off, wrapped the towel around my waist and came back out of the bathroom. Instantly I regretted the wet towel, realizing I didn't dare sit down in it, and took it off to dry myself further now that I was out of the steamy shower. "I should go hang this up" I told him, and went to do so. When I came back to the main room clean, naked, and dry, he had set aside his bathrobe and was naked as well. We went out to his back balcony and sat for a leisurely cup of tea before I pulled my dusty pants back on and padded barefoot with the rest of my things out to the truck to change.

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