| HABÁNAME, Chapter 7 - 9 - |
| holding out in front of her face. ?Some girls like souvenirs. Swiss baby? Good Swiss stock, strong, handsome like me.? She turned away, and he laughed, flinging the condom with its cargo of dying gametes out into the void of the alley. She heard his steps receding, and felt herself crumple back down to the curb, barely catching herself to remain in a sitting position. Then she felt another presence drawing close and her muscles tensed. The touch on her shoulder made her flinch and she prepared to scream when a familiar voice broke through the darkness. ?Compañera. I have been looking for you since you left the bar at the Nacional. I lost you out here in the dark.? The man knelt down - concerned at her lack of response - and was horrified to look into a face full of tears, bruises and anguish. ?Oh, compañera. Oh, Chela. Come on, let me get you home.? She let Pedro half-carry her back to the apartment. She was starting to come back into herself fully, the gentleness of the man?s ministrations tugging her into her everyday awareness. Pedro carefully dabbed at some light scratches on Chela?s left temple with a moist napkin with one hand, as he held a bag of shaved ice up against the swelling on the opposite cheek. ?I know this hurts and I really am sorry, compañera.? Huddled at the edge of the bed, Chela groaned despite the lightness of his touch. ?Why were you following me, Pedro?? she asked warily. The man swallowed hard before answering, and she could feel his hands tremble slightly through her aching flesh. ?Compañera, I was worried about you. And I have been watching for a few nights now. I don?t understand ? I imagine you must need the money. I was going to offer to buy tonight myself to keep you inside and safe ? I have no woman or family to spend my pay on. I have some cash laid aside.? Alarmed at this confession, she jerked away from him. ?Pedro, I could not have consented to such an arrangement. It would be too complicated.? He tentatively placed his hands back on her injuries and tilted his head down so she could see his face and appreciate the earnestness of his words. ?And this is not complicated? Chela, I am not blind. I was not thinking of violating what you have with her. I am a bit old-fashioned that way ? I would not be with a woman that I had no hope of winning for myself.? Chela smiled, then winced as her skin pulled. ?I guess we didn?t do a very good job of hiding it at work.? ?No, you very much did,? reassured Pedro. ?I cheated. I have a sister who is that way and I remember how it looked when she and her compañera tried disguising their love?they are in Miami now.? He finished with the cuts and stepped back to look at his handiwork, nodding approvingly at the cleanliness of the torn areas. He pressed the ice bag into Chela?s hand. ?Let me get you some water, compañera, so I can give you something for the pain.? He stopped and laughed sadly. ?At least for the pain in your head. I can imagine that is the least of it. What were you thinking? I could understand if you didn?t have a good job right now. I had a girlfriend once that did this ? worked the business when she didn?t need to. But then again,? he sighed and turned to walk to the sink. ?Maybe chocolate really was a necessity for her. I just couldn?t afford it.? Chela waited until the man returned to stand in front of her before replying to his question. ?Pedro, it is true that right now ? tonight ? I had no financial need. But I was desperate to know, could I just jump back in to how things were now that this big change ? this Barbara ? has come into my life.? Pedro considered his response while he watched her swallow the medication. ?You know,? he said quietly. ?I think I am in love with her too in a way. She has such confidence and presence as a physician. When I think about the kind of doctor I want to become she looms large in front of me ? a real heroine. Silly of me, I guess. I am just a half-starved Cuban jackass, and I will probably end up cutting cane before I end up really practicing medicine the way I want to ? with that brilliance that she puts forth.? He looked on as Chela, exhausted, picked up her knees and got up into the bed, pulling the covers over herself. ?Compañera,? he whispered. ?Would you like me to stay? I can put some chair cushions down on the floor.? ?Yes. I wanted to ask, you know. But I wasn?t sure how it would sound.? ? It would sound like you need a friend here? I only wish I was a better man and could offer to hold you, but you are attractive and I don?t want to disrespect you without meaning to.? She heard him settling down on the floor beside her, and thanked the Orishas for having sent her this tangible comfort in the absence of her lover. Chela reached down to touch Pedro?s head. ?Thank you for your friendship, compañero. And I can tell you that you are a real hero, even though you cannot see that fact.? She lay in the darkness, absorbing all that had transpired since the morning Barbara Murphy left for the airport. It is clear then. Yes, I can survive, I suppose, by occupying a rung lower than that of jinetera and becoming a street |
