I forgot to hang the sign from the doorknob
DO NOT DISTURB
in my defense if I thought to defend myself
I could plead the housemaid making my
bed bent over its foot with her skirt
yanked up high
distracted me
to hide my fluster I excused myself
I
took a chair before the desk in the antechamber overlooking the bluest ocean
through the balconeys plate glass windows
the door across the hall from mine had
been open when I entered my room and
discovered my housemaid
a maid was working there
I did not know they shared the housekeeping
cart in the hall
I heard a passkey slip into my
doorlock
-- Hola
I
assumed the maid from across the hall
I heard a hushed exchange in the bedroom then hushed laughter
and the maid from across the hall entered
the antechamber
she eyed me
she greeted me -- Hola
--
Hello
smiling pertly she stepped back into
the bedroom
another hushed exchange hushed laughter like music
in a mirror on the wall I saw my ears
grew red
I sat distracted at the desk
imagining
the stories housemaids could tell
not having to pry
but by simply just observing bedrooms
habits
blatantly
exposed
in the rented rooms bathrooms and
antechambers they worked
where people didnt have to clean up
after themselves or care about the bedding
or carpeting or furniture
or
appearances
like babes in a playpen
the visceral disconnect from Outside is palpable
a book is closed
its then spread wide open yawning and revealed
then its closed again
the maid who was making my bed who had
shapely thighs entered the antechamber
her skirt was still hiked up on her
thighs
in the bedroom cooed the other maids
laughter
in delicious broken English she asked
if I wanted fresh towels for the bathroom
her fingers played at the side of her
thigh
she ran her nails up to the hem of her
skirt playing at it
I had to speak up over the pounding of
my heart
Fresh! Yes! Wonderful! Please!
then regrettably
she took her hand from her thigh
and covered her mouth
stifling an amused expression
she nodded and left
and again in the bedroom was their
hushed conversation and hushed laughter
a trickle of sweat streaked my spine
Hispanics
like Asians
I could never guess or read their
expressions
I always defaulted that they were teasing me
if any had been sincere in all these
years I never knew
I was ever intrigued
but I never sought to know
the pair entered the antechamber
their skirts hiked up
they entered the bathroom leaving its
broad door swung wideopen
they moved in and out of my line of
sight they threw their reflections off the
substantial mirrors
bending and twisting
wagging their fannies and breasts
distracted or thoughtful full-lip pouts
a newspaper laid on the desk
I held a pen in my hand atop the pages of
hotel stationery
a pose
witnessing poses
in the mirror the maid from across the
hall reached out and grabbed her younger
cohorts ass and shook it
the young one placed her hand atop
hers
their fingers intertwined
when I looked up into their faces
they were looking back at me
they laughed
I laughed
they teased I think
I didnt know
I stood up when they exited the bathroom
their ample breasts were atop the
towels they had replaced
warm brown puddles quivering to their
heartbeats
I tipped them each a ten dollar bill
their very large brown eyes approved
they smiled subversive white smiles
-- Mucho gratis
--
Gratis I replied
and gently turning their heads
bobbing
their bound black hair
they departed
DO NOT DISTURB
Ill never use it
1111, Twosday,
15 1. 13
