finally finallyfinally he met her she was a young womanhed had glimpses of herhad glances
suddenly therethen she was not
he had assembled these facets of her in his mind and sliver by sliver he found himselfrecognised that she intrigued him
he liked her
finally they met
he stopped into a small liquorstore it also sold gasoline some groceries he stopped to look at its boasted – the sign said -- collection of craft beers
he was looking for something out of the ordinary
and then there she was behind the counter unmistakably her
turning to greet him she said Hi, hey. . I’ve seen you around.
it is nice to be recognised Hey Ive been around Though curiously I . . think . Ive seen you around too In profile never head-on like this
Well, it’d be impolite to stare, huh? Worse getting caught.
he smiled he liked she was frank Well let me say this bout that had I the opportunity to stare at you I would have an had you caught me I would think by the expression on my face you would recognised that I wasnt leering at you rather appreciating you
Oh, aren’t you a charmer?
I am though only because my mother said that about me She wasnt wrong about a lot of things about meHa whether she liked them or not
she smiledshook her head slowly side to side Men. Can’t live with ‘em, can’t live without ‘em.
maybe he wasnt In Like Flintbut more In than Out
I stopped because of your sign yourah unparalleled selection of craft beers Im crossing my fingers
Boss thinks it’s a good selection, but I could improve it.
You like beer
I like good beer.
Girl after my own heart Youll excuse me
other customers had entered and were beginning to form up for their purchases Gas
he had the crafts that were there they werent what he was looking for
leaving he made eye contact with her
Nothing, huh? she asked
Not that I havent had
Ah. My name’s Brielle.
Joe
Hope maybe I’ll see you again; this is my gig and I’ve been pushing hard to take over ordering. I think I could please you.
I think you could he smiledshe returned his smile quicker Ill look forward to next time Brielle
the smile hadnt fallen from her face and grew larger she then returned her attention to the customer and sale she was ringing up for them
a week and a half later he returned
JOE! as he came through the door
Brielle her enthusiasm made him laugh Were you able to wrestle control of the ordering
No. Though not that I’ll stop pressing.
Is there something worthwhile
Me.
harp music went off in his ears You
Me.
Well I suppose well have to do something about that huh
Yes. We should. Im off at eightthirty this evening, you could walk me home.
Walk you home Any books I can carry for youbeen a long time since I walked a girl home
No books.
Well we wont let that hinder us Lets call it a date
Yes, please, let’s call it a date.
hmm they had a date
as he walked her home she was enthusedlike a small child shed rush ahead of himwalk backwards talking rushing back to his side circling one way round him then circling the other like a drunken square dance
she had a lot to say was very animated
Youah a bit of a conversationalist he asked smiling
Hell, yah, with customers it’s like pulling teeth, they’re automatons, WhamBamThankyouMa'am.
WhamBam Yaknow how quickly yare winning my heart
Good! Good. her lips spread in a small delighted smile Say, there’s a small dinner ahead, could I buy you a grilled cheese sandwich, they make the best grilled cheese. I’m hungry.
Buy me a sandwich
Sure, I think I owe you, I haven’t given you much a chance to chime in, you been listening carefully, and when I’ve given you a chance to say what you say has been on point, spot on, very insightful.
Thank you
No, thank you.
Though I am concerned that your food will get cold
My food’s always cold. Besides, eating should be about sharing, breaking bread, breaking inroads, sharing different perspectives, sharing thoughts.
Brielle I gotta admit I like you
I like you too, Joe.
Yes Please Lets have a bite to eat and talk some more
she clapped her handsrose up of her toes Yes!
damn good grilled cheese
Brielle was tickled when he order a glass of cold milk
Milk? Really?
Really Im surprised when people are surprised Why You think Im too old to be drinking milk
No, it’s just that it’s been a long time since I’ve been with someone who’s ordered milk with their food, usually soda pops or coffee. What the hell, I think I’ll join you.
Great Well compare moustaches
Moustaches. Oh you’re bad.
Wha I think youll look great with a blonde moustache Against your complexion your auburn hair the redhighlights Im thinking Neapolitan ice cream
Neapolitan. Neapolitan. she said it asif it was strange in her mouth Do they still make Neapolitan ice cream?
Somewhere Id bet though Im not keen I like Butter Pecan However for you Ill make an exception
Butter Pecan, shesh. then her eyes went bright So, ah, you think I’m exceptional?
he laughedsounded like a dogs bark
Brielle Yes You are exceptional but don let it go to yer head I still gotta getya out of here through the doorway to walk you home
she smiled deliciously You are so charming.
So you an my Maw say
the grilled cheese was good cold
her moustache was better than his
it was because of the shape of her mouth
in the parking lot she rushed up behind himjumped up on his back nuzzled his neck kissed it
Would you be my pony until the street. I can’t remember the last pony back ride I had; I promise, I swear, I won’t forget this one if you allow me to ride you.
Ifya promise to remember ya got a ride
she wrapped him in her arms her head beside his Ooh, you smell so good.
Good until I start sweating
Aww, then you’ll smell even better, smell like who you are.
he chuckled Yare a queer little bird Brielle
Thank you.
she tugged on his right ear to have him go right at the street
she was light
he thought he could carry her forever
she was thrilled he didnt put her down
she whispered in his ear You’re such a good horsey. and kissed it
he whinnied
she laughed I’M SO HAPPY!
Doesnt take much huh
It shouldn’t, don’t you think?
I think I have simple pleasures too
Birds of a feather! she laughed
Okay Yes Birds Brielle
she tugged on his left ear
he went left
his ears were apparently reins
she laughed then whispered Wish I had spurs
Jesus girl Were becoming mighty familiar mighty fast
You want me to slow dow . .
. . No I can keep up
I believe you can.
they went left then right another right left right another left
Just up the street a bit further; I can’t believe you gave me a ride the whole way.
Tell ya wha next time I ride We can take turns
Haha, oh shit.
You think you can remember how to get here?
Given our convoluted conversations I think if I could follow our currents and flowsoverflows thisll be a cinch Besides yare my inscentive
Incentive, that’s sweet.
In scent tive Brielle If I misstep all I have to do is put my nose up in the air and inhale find your scent Your scent Inscentive
Are you making up words for me?
I told you I write
You have.
Is it, like I’m a . . . a . muse?
You a – muse me
she gave him a big kiss on the back of his head Thank you!
Yare welcome
Which house
Here on the left.
Ooh.
Wha
It doesn’t look the same, like the same house, the fascade is . is . different. I’m disoriented.
Whas the address
5135.
Its 5135 Here he set her downfelt like he was going to launch into the atmosphere suddenly feeling so light with Brielle dismounted Here give me your key
Okay.
after handing him the key she crouched on the sidewalk cowered
Are you okay
I don’t know.
Ill be right back Watch from here
he went up five concrete steps that mounted a berm small decorative lions were to either side at the top he followed the paver walk grass growing up in between them to the front door
the key slipped in
he unlocked the door
pushed it in a bit
he took the key out of the lock and walked down towards her
Brielle he said as he returned to the top of the steps Yare home
Huh Doesn’t look right. The fascade, something’s . . different . Different.
he went down the steps to her and reaching for her elbow she grabbed his arm with both hands frightenedshe startled him Brielle Wha
The key opened the lock?
Yes
5135?
Yes
I’m not sure.
Well lets go up Your key unlocked it . .
. . You’ll go with me?
Ill go with you
Come on Im right hereright beside you
as they ascended the steps she said It looks so strange.
Asif you were in a dream
she lookedupsuddenly into his face Yes. Exactly. In a dream.
I like drea . .
. . Nightmares?
A nightmares a dream
You don’t think they are different?
I don no
they went up the walk slowly as Brielle steeled herself
You recognised the lions an awfully nice touch
The lions, yes.
she didnt take her eyes off the entryway You left the door open?
I did
at the threshold she stopped again I’m not familiar with this, anyofthis.
he stepped behind her and took her by the shoulders pulled her back against his chest then turned her and as he did he embraced her
she was trembling
Therethere Brielle Were okay Yare okay yare okay
Please give me a moment. This is so strange, so strange.
All the time in the world Were okay yare okay he said it with conviction he could feel her beginning to gel feel her strength gathering
Okay.
I . . ah . think, despite my confusion, I think we can ah . . we can enter.
Okay Letting go of you Lets go in
she laughedthen laughed harder and bit harder We’d look ridiculous, huh, shuffling in clutching each other.
Ive looked ridiculousbeen ridiculous before wouldnt be skin off my ass
But you’re something else. No. I’m okay. We can go in.
he liked now the firmness of her voiceliked its assuredness returned Then madam if I may Ill open the door all the way an follow you in
Oh, thank you sir.
she stepped forward without trepidation as he pushed it open and stepped aside
OH MY escaped her
the front room looked asif a kids enormous or many jungle gyms madeup of steel bars pyramids cubes had been pushed over tumbled together laid on modern vibrantlycoloured sectional furniture ottoman a seating group
Brielle was agog then delighted then confusednervous she leapt up onto the bars separate poles climbing them and at once seemed to throw gymnastic moves playing poledancing became utterly childish and alternately utterly seductive working her way up and up to an impossiblyimplausible high ceiling
it were asif a gigantic spider on acid had spun an alacritous glintingsteel web irregular unsymmetric threaded various diameters and upon it as the ceiling seemed to give way opened up upon it strung them were beetle-like carapaces beads smooth insets facets unfurling wings doorways splitting yawning opening into ascending rooms bedrooms dens bathrooms opened segregated private filled with steaming bathtubs impossibly inverted hanging upside down not dumping their water dictated by queer gravities
and she from atop a brightred glistening bead aquiver like jelly like a dribble of mercury freed from a smashed thermometer peeking inside it perhaps through an aperture he couldnt see she she cried Come! You should join me! Join me! I’ve found my bedroom.
she laughed as she disappeared from sight entering it
her laughter became muffled though she continued laughing laughing happily and as he grabbed bars to scale up after her they became malleable they bent they couldnt support his weightturned to cool teardrops under his grasp he let go of them because the failed him
he grasped at other bars they avoided him like wary serpents then suddenly slowly the fractal mass receded moved away from him leaving an opaque pearlescent slime on the wood floor that seemed to harden he likened it more to a surface of an undisturbed pond not telling its depth revealing the depth of the muck at its bottom and hardened like a honeycoloured lacquer like unforgiving resin that would later form amber
the heapthe festooned bars stopped moving presented a gulf between him at it a moat
he couldnt hear Brielle
though he could still see the brightred bead she disappeared into
he wondered if he should risk crossing the floorrisk crossing itrisk the bars that moved away from him failed him
should he risk risk
he decided No
he woke perhaps a cowards way out he didnt read fantasy
1021, Sunday, 17 11. 19
1249, Saturday, 6 3. 21
