Chapter-1: The Old Business of Men
“Special?” asked Diego. “No. Just another trick of your trade.”
Esmehraude’s smile cracked a bit. Still, she continued with her attack. She pushed her alabasters up with a deep inhale, stretched up for a breath and glided her arms down to her sides.
“A year later,” she said, “I found you in the market. You were lost in your own world among the bananas, peaches and cantaloupes of the shops. Seeing you there lifted my aching spirit from a dry spell … oh, it hurt to see you alive and well.”
“Far from lost,” said Diego. “Merely on a different path.”
Esmehraude sighed and looked up at the throbbing sun, its light exposing her smooth throat to the world. She teased him with another inhale, swallowed his image twice and looked back at Diego. No luck. She smelled no bite in his eyes, no rumbling in his chest and no thrust in his hips.
“Honey,” she said, “I thought of approaching you that day; but it was a silly idea for a foolish little girl. A woman knows better. One night you’re the best club de caballeros in Mexico City; and the next day, you’re an empty glass of dried-up pleasures. God, how many years has it been, since we …?” She licked her lips at him and drifted in to caress his arm.
Diego side stepped her touch, pivoted and stepped farther away. He said: “Since 1855, about six years, now, mujer. Excuse me. It was pleasant seeing you again. Take care, Esmehraude.”
“Oh, come, come, honey,” she said with a smirk. “That’s not the kind of stiffness I’m interested in. Relax, we aren’t complete strangers. I know you and you know every part of me too. Say, what has you so troubled that it brings you to church on a Friday afternoon?”
Diego flinched and held his breath for a pause. He relaxed.
“Business,” he said. “The priest and I had an old business matter to discuss.”
Esmehraude glared at Diego playfully and tucked her chin, and said: “Oh, honey, I understand business too. Come here.” She placed her hands over her breasts, cupping them. “There’s no need to worry. The business we share together stays between us, just like a confession or a doctor’s visit.” She laughed, adjusted her dress slowly, staring into Diego’s eyes all the while.
“I know your business,” said Diego. “I don’t need it anymore.”
“Aha, there it is, there she is. If not from us, then from whom do you drink? Honey, I’m not the jealous type. A wealthy man like you needs more than one in his life. It’s only natural.”
Diego looked back at the church with a puzzled expression. He squinted and side glanced at Esmeh, and said, “I didn’t think you were much of a church going woman. Why are you here?”
“Oh, I’m not, honey.” Esmehraude popped a peppermint into her mouth from her blue purse. “Every other Friday I visit the priest for an hour. It tickles me wet to see him squirm. He gets all red faced and sweaty when I tell him about my heated adventures.” She applied fresh lipstick and continued, “You know, he really likes my stories. He tries to hide it behind all this church stuff. Does a poor job at it, I can tell …. All men desire women in their own peculiar way.”
Guiding questions for Comments: (What do you see?)
For those interested in leaving a comment, here is a list of questions to help guide your critique.
Within this page and a half of the story, from my perspective, I think I have provided enough information to answer the following questions. But what do you see?
1. When does the story take place?
2. Where might this story be taking place?
3. What type of business does Esmehraude work in?
4. Why doesn’t Diego tell Esmeh the reason he is visiting the church? Why say a business matter?
Thank you
I appreciate your time in reading this blog post. Next Monday I will upload the next part of Chapter One: The Old Business of Men, from my first novel: Guerrero of Passions.
Total Consciousness 