Have you ever had one of those weeks from hell, when you can’t wait for the weekend and you contemplate quitting, but then something random and unexpected happens that turns the week around? Well I had one of those weeks a couple of weeks ago.
It’s the end of another hellish day and I’m hurriedly trying to print some papers for my Son’s school project before I head home. Of course the printer jams and stops printing right before the final prints. Frustrated, I call the IT department for the “printer fix-it” guys knowing that I also have an early meeting that needs printed material.
It’s almost 530pm and I’m done waiting so I pack up my stuff (muttering at people’s incompetence),and change my heels for my dirty gym shoes (they’ve seen better days) to leave for the day since most of these guys have keys they can use to fix whatever needs to be fixed.

I was to stop at office depot and print the rest of my Son’s stuff before heading to the gym.
Just as I’m about to open the door, there’s a knock, and the IT guy announces himself. My plan is to simply rehash the printer issue and leave him to his devices since I’m already late for everything at home, not forgetting traffic on the way at that time of the day.
I open the door and standing with a backpack full of what I assume are tools of the printer-fixing trade is a tall dark gentleman who I must say smells really good. I immediately notice his well trimmed beard and white teeth as he apologizes for taking so long. I can see he doesn’t miss his arm days at the gym because his biceps flex as he unloads his backpack from his back .
I usher him in and awkwardly point at the corner that holds my printer. ” What seems to be the problem ma’am”… Ma’am?(I think to myself)…so formal, ….I was about to say just call me (my actual name) ..but then I thought why? The man was very professional and he might perceive that as some kind of invitation for more conversation..or would he..what if he
…”Ma’am, what’s going on with the printer?” he repeats as I scramble to appear calm and collected. I explain to him as he nods pretending to take my probably silly issue seriously. Suddenly, I am acutely aware of my not so clean gym shoes and regret not changing in the car.
I should be rushing home like I planned to, but instead, I hang around ..you know, to make sure he was fixing everything right (lol).
As he plugs , unplugs and dismantles the printer, I think to myself, “maybe he’s the quiet type, I haven’t seen him around here, I wonder if he’s new? I respond to some unimportant emails to look busy as he explains what to do next time my printer malfunctions and tips on maintaining the it. I am not really listening, but I also pretend to be wowed at his expertise.
The funny thing is, this man had the physique and several other similarities to my beloved..but somehow, I thought it had been a long time since I saw some eye candy.
He turns to retrieve something from his bag and comes face to face with my dreaded tennis shoes. Surprised, he (I’m sure sarcastically) comments ” oh you guys take this causal thing all the way huh?”and he chuckles and keeps working. I could’ve died of embarrassment. That cures my might’ve-been crush instantly. “actually, I’m heading to the gym after” I could’ve kicked myself for trying to explain..I mean who cares what he thinks right?
Mythbuster alert; If a woman is in a happy relationship, she doesn’t care to look at other men or think any other male species is attractive, other than her spouse/partner..fakenews( I hope this hasn’t been trademarked). And this isn’t one of those “men do it, so should we” kind of situation. This is just being human, with feelings and thoughts and emotions that are, (hopefully) controllable.
Half an hour later (seemed longer) my printer is working, the chocolate-hotness packs up his stuff and leaves and I am hot and bothered to say the least.
I was raised a “proper african woman”. Showing too much skin makes you look desperate, a man should chase you not the other way around and in unspoken ways, it’s a man’s place to initiate sex, no matter how long you’ve been together, otherwise he may think you’re becoming promiscuous..(now this was never actually told to me but it was the impression I got).
Granted, like me, most women of my culture have become overly westernized so most of the cultural norms do not really apply. But I can tell you personally that some of the cultural upbringing is hard to shake. Sex being one of them.
On my way home (forget the gym), I stop by one of the stores that carries, shall we say, not-so-classy lingerie…the kind that you won’t find at Victoria’s secret or agent provocateur, for a fraction of the price.
I get home as usual, daily routine done, kids fed and tucked. My beloved is typing away on his laptop in bed waiting for me to finish my moisturizing and bonnet-ation (not a real word) so we can talk about our day.
I take longer than usual in the bathroom, this being a weekday with super early mornings for all of us…my beloved yells across the room “what’s taking you so long are you ok?” Gosh, I’m hoping he doesn’t think I ate a bad salad he he he…
I look at myself in the mirror and I laugh at myself a little. I expect some gyration music to start blasting at any moment so I could collect my dollars bills if you know what I mean.
Instead, I summon Alexa ..(thank you amazon) to play my fail proof sade music to set the mood. Now I have watched enough movies to know that I should make a seductive entrance, (how else would I have learned these things lol).
I walk into the room to a bewildered man on the bed wondering what’s going on. His look immediately changes, when he realizes that it’s…about..to..go..down.., from puzzled to that of a kid at an amusement park.
I play my part well realizing that I do have a pretty wonderful and also hot human who wants me just as much.
I don’t feel right crediting my printer-fixer to this night of unbridled passion but in the spirit of honesty, he did jumpstart the engine. I told my beloved the story afterwards and we laughed our heads off.
Predictably,I came home the next day to a clean house, sleeping kids (again, a throwback rarity of a man’s job in my culture)..and an eager beaver waiting for part 2 of what he hoped would be a sequel..but who are we kidding?I can’t keep this act up everyday!!..I have an overflowing plate with him, 2 kids, a job, school and everything in between..and frankly so does he. He is busier than I am. So after gently reassuring a dissappointed big baby that there will be a repeat performance just not tonight, we settle down for a good night’s rest.
Recap: I haven’t seen Mr.Printer around again since, but I agree with Mae West- “good sex is like a good bridge. If you don’t have a good partner, you’d better have a good hand ”
Afromomma says…
Feel free to share your cultural sexual beliefs that you still try to shake..or are happy to keep.