I noticed him on my first day's work at the Orchard in Provence that summer. He was tall, with dark hair that looked almost black and dark eyes ringed with long lashes. I found myself looking over at him time and time again for attraction had me tensing my stomach. It wasn't until a week later, that I found myself working next to him. We picked fruit until the bell announced break time.
I gulped down my water, for the heat was oppressive, looking bereft at my empty bottle, for I knew I would have to work thirsty until lunch. "Here?" he said throwing me a bottle. "Cold?" I exclaimed, "How did you do that?"
"Look," he said, pointing to his bag, there were solar panels on the outside and a mini cooler inside. "That's ingenious," I said pressing the bottle to my forehead cooling myself. "This job leaves plenty of time for thinking of ideas Elisa," he said. "How do you know my name?" I asked. "People talk, especially men about girls they like," he said, looking over at the other workers. My cheeks instantly reddened. "What's your name?" I asked. "Joe."
The bell sounded then and we returned to work. After lunch, I brought two bottles of water with me. "Give them to me," he said before I could ask him to store them for me. We worked until the afternoon break and we gulped our water down quickly. "Would you like to spend the day with me tomorrow?" he asked. "What did you have in mind?" I asked smiling. "Just dress for cycling," he said.
The next morning I met him with plenty of water in my pack. He held his hands out for my water and packed into his cooler. "I thought we could cycle around Avignon, I've heard it's a beautiful city." "Let's go then," I said with a smile. Chiding myself I realised all I did was smile in his company.
We cycled inside the city walls all morning, stopping only to take pictures and quench our thirst. At midday we found a place to sit next to the river Rhone. Joe took out a blanket which he lay down for us to sit on and unpacked a picnic for us to eat.
"What do you do when you're not working here Elisa?" Joe asked biting into a juicy tomato. "This and that. Any job I can get," I shrugged. "And you?" "I make things to sell, like the water cooler. I may stay here and find a shop that will sell them." He reached over and brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. "Elisa, I would like to see you again," he said, his eyes fixed on mine. "I would like that," I smiled. "You are so beautiful my Elisa," he said drawing me into his arms. He flicked his tongue over his lips before pressing them to mine. We lay on the blanket, kissing, and talking until the sun set.
Saturday 21 June 2014
Friday 20 June 2014
The Assistant
A policeman stood outside my door. I opened the door again to check again that he was still there, and he smiled at me, his white teeth shining bright against his skin, "Still here." I closed the door again and walked to the window. What bad luck, a weekend in the Caribbean and I was stuck in my room. I poured two glasses of rum & coke and took one out to him. "Can I sit with you for a bit?" I asked. "You really shouldn't Ma'am." "I'm so bored and lonely," I said sipping my frothy drink. "Why would anyone want to hurt me?" "I don't know," he watched me, pity on his face. I rested my head on his shoulder peeking at him through my lashes, "Keep me company?"
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