HABÁNAME (Havana [Verb Transitive] Me) by Ana Ortiz Copyright © April 4, 2002 Ana Ortiz All Rights Reserved
Disclaimers: Not written for profit. Several languages are used profanely. Consensual f/f eroticism. Thanks to Prof of Xena Warrior Lesbian, and to Jessica Michallet for coming on board as beta-readers and editorial advisors for this story. Thanks to the Masked Punctuation Goddess. A special thanks to Old Warrior for test driving this story. Note to readers: In previous scenes set in the United States, I used the convention of italicizing dialogue when ? in bilingual contexts ? characters were choosing to communicate in Spanish. In scenes set in Cuba, I will be inverting that practice: when characters opt for the use of English in dialogue, it will be italicized. Como pajarillo mago que vuelve, te esperé una mañana Sentada ante mi ventana, mirando el monte más verde Y al ver amanecer entre las flores del campo, me vino mejor tu canto Te volví de nuevo a querer. Amor mío no te vayas que no quiero verme sola otra vez. Amor mío no te vayas, que lloro. Tu pelo con mil olores y con su brillo de estrellas Fue la cosa más bella fue un amor de millones Tomó más fuerza mi canto al sentir que venías y di Con la poesía que sé que te gusta tanto. Amor mío no te vayas que no quiero verme sola otra vez. Amor mío no te vayas, que lloro. Me da luz en la ventana cuando se abren tus ojos Y pienso en el antojo de tenerlos mañana Pero sé que con tu trino se impone un combate Y dejo que me arrebate mi sentimiento más fino. Amor mío no te vayas que no quiero verme sola otra vez. Amor mío no te vayas, que lloro.                                 Sarita González, ?Amor de Millones? (Used without permission.) Chapter Six ? Citizenships of the Heart Still the morning after, Saturday - Guanabo There is a song in that soft roar, thought Chela, as she listened to the waves breaking on their persistent march to the shore. She stretched languidly on the sand, the aftermath of the night spent in lovemaking still imbuing her with a disorienting but pleasurable sense of boneless-ness and warmth. Her toes edged at the line of moisture left behind by the departing tide. A song of leaving land: a melody that takes the self I was before out to sea and brings back into this relentless cycle of return the new woman I have become. A woman in love with another woman. A child of the South and of the ocean, who has shared her body in intimacy with a child of the North and of the lightning. Everything is different today. Her musings were interrupted by the clearing of a throat, and the cast of a shadow across the sand at her side. She looked up in great anticipation ? expecting that Barbara had finally come to join her on the beach - and was met instead by the knowing smile and mischievous brown eyes of her old friend Leti. ?Don?t look so disappointed, negra!? laughed the other woman as she threw herself down on the sand beside Chela. ?Although I understand that you were expecting something different, just as I was when you told me you were bringing someone special to spend the night with you here. The cabin was so quiet I thought you had left? so I went in to clean. That was a surprise!? Leti smiled at the look of sheer panic erupting on Chela?s face. ?Look, girl, I said I was surprised, not repulsed. Let me be clear, Chelita. I was very impressed. I mean the sheet was on the floor. That is a marvelous specimen of gringa-hood you have left stretched across my humble guest bed.? Leti paused to indulge in a full belly laugh as she saw her friend attempt to cover her lobster-red face with her beach towel. ?Well, for the second time this morning I badly wish I had a camera. Chela Stevens is giggling and hiding her face like a schoolgirl. Well! And you were never a girl when you were a girl, but now look at you!? Leti reached into her bag and brought out some sliced oranges and a handful of grapes in a paper sack. ?I would try to bribe you with these for all of the details because I?m assuming from the way you have that towel wrapped around your head like a mummy that it was very good, but you?ve never shared such priceless information before. Here, have some fruit. You need to keep your strength up.? Chela finally reacted, whipping the towel off and carefully flicking it at Leti?s shoulder before accepting the food. ?That?s enough, Leti!? playfully grumbled Chela, her mouth already half full of grapes. ?My god, I didn?t think I could be embarrassed but I guess I am?This is all rather new to me. New as in last night was our first time. I mean, I feel very happy about this, but also strange, and it is stranger still to be discussing this with you.? Leti?s eyes grew wide. ?You mean you had never gone with a woman before??? Chela looked incredulously at her longtime friend. ?You mean you knew that I might do this?? Leti shook her head, then smiled wistfully while gazing with affection into the questioning green eyes. ?No, Chela