THE SECOND PART

City break

Part two

“Please take the sun away from my face” Ras said with his right eye still closed and the left, half- opened. It was a beautiful sunny Sunday morning but Ras was used to get up at noon on Sundays. That morning not only he got up very early but a girl dressed with an old T- shirt of his, had already painted one of the dingy yellow walls of his bedroom, light green.
Lilly and he, had already spent one month together, mostly talking and visiting different places in the city but this was the very first weekend they had stayed together. The night before they had made love for the first time; a night they both were waiting for since that afternoon they met each other, when Ras crossed the door of “Napolitano”.
They were having a great time together, one could say unexpectedly good time, though neither Ras nor Lilly was seeing their relationship as a serious commitment; not even a date. They both had honestly made clear from the beginning that due to many reasons, they could never be a proper couple. Ras claimed job worries and family matters- nothing of these was true- he was just afraid to link his life with another person’s after the traumatic split up he went through from his last long term relationship, even though this was almost one year behind him and Lilly claimed the independence of her nature. That was something Ras could discern in every move of hers but he was fine with that, not say convenient.
Lilly was a shot in the arm for Ras’ mood for doing things again after the long time he went through with his focus round upon more self- centered and unrelated with other people goings on (commonly, he had a hard time overcoming his past relationship and in general he was trying to redefine and reassess his goals and the path he was following in life) and Lilly had found someone who felt like he was in need of her constant presence. Because that was Lilly all about. Subconsciously or not, she was always finding people to associate with, who were either in need of a shelter or in search of some kind of protection and she was open-handedly, providing them with exactly what they were hankering. Maybe that’s why that morning she was changing the color in Ras’ bedroom walls without telling him anything first. She literally and metaphorically wanted to create a brighter environment, from the one he was living in. To tell the truth, Ras was taken a little aback by that gesture of hers but he neither misunderstood her nor considered that she was getting into fields she wasn’t allowed to. Within that whole month, there were many times she had surprised him nicely, that this was not making any strange sense anymore.
The first thing that had impressed Ras about Lilly Elli, even this might sound odd, was that she was sharing the same passion with him about the movies from the back 40s and 50s. She was even fond of the classic western films in which there is always a macho guy, wearing extraordinarily tight trousers and the characteristic hat on his head, riding a horse and firing the villains just outside the local bar or the hidden ones behind the cactuses and the dried bushes. More surprisingly was that she, as Ras, believed that these films were loosing all of their magic in the new generation plasma TV screens.
Apart from that, Ras caught himself being intrigued and stunned many of the initial times they had hanged out outdoors. One day Lilly challenged him to use the elevator while they were spending time in one of the innumerous city’s malls, after the second he mentioned that he was probably claustrophobic. And he said “probably” because he had never got into an occasion that he could find it out, excluding the time he was very young and got locked up by his big brother in the closet for a few minutes and the only he remembers is himself yelling and panting hard, but ever since he was trying to avoid as much as he could, to be in places that could potentially give him the same sense. That afternoon they ascended eight floors with Ras turning pale, but the view, that Lilly seemed like that had faced again, left him speechless. The people and the cars and everything else Ras could see from up there, the top of the building, seemed like ants and the whole city seemed like an ant’s tiny society. For a minute, Ras had an unprecedented feeling of sheer supremacy.
Even though that braveness she had forced him one or two more times to embrace was a natural trait of Lilly’s, Ras hadn’t discerned it from the very first moment. Taking in mind her elegant characteristics, someone would rather describe her as a fragile and delicate woman than a fearless spirit. In any case, her perception about how someone could overcome a fear of his or a callousness, was different from the majority of the people and maybe some could tell that she was, if not bizarre, definitely unlike from the most of the girls of the same age.
Laying there in that bed, that Sunday morning and seeing the girl with the young and well- shaped body wearing only, one of his old shirts as painting his walls in a bright color, wasn’t to make him feel awkward. He just thought he was lucky to have met her. Lilly as if had read his mind, turned to his way and gave him the same every time smile. She moved towards the bed and sealed his lips with her own. “Get up sleepy” she obliged him playfully. Ras moved to kiss her once more but instead, he got a green stain from the brush she was holding, on the top of his nose. Lilly laughed with all of her heart, as the spectacle of the prematurely awaken Ras, with his nose painted green, seemed pretty funny right that moment. Before she even realize it, she got even more stained too and not only in her nose, when Ras got her into his arms and leaded her under the sheets with the oil-color imputed brush, still on her hand.
At afternoon Lilly had her short backpack with all of her stuff in it and even though Ras begged her one million times to stay, she acted as they already had arranged from Friday. They had agreed that she would only stay over during weekend and not a minute further than that. Because even this little variation, was way too big step for the peculiar relationship they had. For a month they were doing all the things friends or couples do and the previous night did only what lovers do, but still they were both acting like they hadn’t unlocked their selves completely to each other. It must had been almost cruel, two people to match so perfectly but still to be afraid to admit it or most likely to pretend like totally ignoring it.
On his doorway, they settled to meet at “Napolitano” the next day after 6:00 o’clock that he would be off of work and could wait for her as she would be doing the shift ‘till 9:00. After that they would go and see a movie or something, but this was still too early to be specified.
That Sunday night, when Ras was alone again, he suffered a sleeping problem. He woke up many times during the hours he was supposed to enjoy his comfortable bed with the smell of Lilly’s perfume still on the covers and the pillows, since the same odd dream was coming over again and again. Neither the new face of his formerly dull bedroom had proved powerful to change that. Although his room had turned into a brighter and more beautiful place, where someone could only dream of waterfalls and beaches with palm-trees in it, he just couldn’t help but having the same awful dream each time he was closing his eyes. That night he dreamt that he was walking with Lilly side by side, going probably for something joyful to do- a dinner in a fancy restaurant or a in a gallery- because as he could recall, he was wearing the brand new coat they had bought together for formal and special occasions some day between the passed week and she, was wearing an ethereal dress in the color of ice he had never seen her wearing it before in the real life and each time he would turn to see her face, she was every time getting more and more older. She was remaining the same smiley and with the same warmth in her eyes but her skin was becoming unnaturally wrinkled as if years were conquering her with every step she was taken.
The hours until the dawn to come, passed terrifyingly slow for Ras- that’s how it seemed at least- and while being at the office, he was counting the minutes to cross the door of “Napolitano” and see that Lilly was absolutely ok and he was just a fool to worry just because of that stupid dream he had.
At 6:00 at the dot, he was outside “Napolitano” but when he got in, the owner told him that Lilly had submitted her resignation very early at that same morning. Ras asked for information but the fat man with the blue apron with the name “Napolitano” pricked on it, didn’t have any. He was muddled by the resignation also and he actually asked Ras if he knew any of the reasons that could make Lilly leave, since she hadn’t said anything to him either.
Ras thought that he should probably dial her cell-phone number from his own mobile; he was already holding it in his hands, though he hadn’t done that neither once during the entire duration of the month they were hanging out. They had agreed that only in case of emergency they should call each other. This was one of the many untold rules they were firmly following for not getting too close. Not getting too couple-y. Each time they were going somewhere or they were just together, they were arranging the next one in order not to have to use their phones. For that afternoon they had made plans too but Lilly was mysteriously absent.

MODERN TALE

Today I wanted to post one of the short stories I’ve written but the thing is that I didn’t know which one exactly… And then there was this blog Sunday Scribblings. This week’s theme is chronicles and I wondered which of my stories has anything to do with this. To tell the truth I didn’t really get what I should or I shouldn’t post for S.S since I’ve never participated in the past.
So, this is the first part of a story named city break and it’s a specific period of a fictional man, or you could say the chronicle of a fictional man who was feeling lost and alone and everything else you can find out by reading the story and the transition to a different situation.
For those who are here through S.S, I wish my post is related to the prompt and you’ll not get disappointed…



City break



Part one

It was one of those nights -which were becoming more and more frequent lately- that Ras was feeling all alone. A couple of times he thought about getting the phone and call the first person that would come on his mind, but every time he was thinking to himself that this would be nothing more than a futile try. Of course, that was not because each person from the ones he knew would be indifferent to spend a few hours with him hanging out- he used to be a quite joyful company when he was in good mood- but mostly because he was feeling very numbed and submerged into his own loneliness. He started troubling his mind with silly worries and unrealistic conclusions that he was very lonely and he had nobody to cling to in such dark and obscure times like the ones he was going through right that moment.
The truth is that no previous time of self- contestation and criticism could be compared to this current one. Paradoxically, a few drinks later and much more cigars, he was somehow pleased to the thought that maybe after all, he was just overreacting. Perhaps, an adjective outside look from a stranger in his life would come along with that view but certainly many would confirm that a change in this blood-thirst condition of self-pity that he had subjected his own self, should be required urgently.
It mustn’t had took him much, probably five minutes staring at the ceiling were enough, and he was already asleep with the last glass of gin tonic still intact and the ash-tray full with cigarettes, left at the scratched night table aside. The bedroom’s window at his fourth floor apartment was wide open, though it was already the last days of September, regarding that nights, were still warm enough, to allow him let the smooth fresh air fill the empty from decorative pieces, like pictures or any kind of paints, bedroom. The woman who was sitting beside her husband in the balcony from the opposite block of flats, felt a bit guilty as she gave a quick glance to that strange to her man while he was sleeping, but she wasn’t in position to perceive how important or not were the things he was dealing with, in his everyday life just with that one look, though she instantly wondered which his name might could be or how he might had spent the earlier hours.
The next day came and as the clock didn’t miss to ring at the exact time it was programmed to, he got off the bed, unwilling to begin his day to day routine. It was long time ago since he had stopped having proper breakfasts, basically since the days he was still living at his parent’s house while being a teenage student and his mother had always ready for him eggs and cereals before he made his way to school. That morning he just had his typical, which was just a couple of hurried sips of black coffee.
As he was about to reach the rather architecturally uninteresting building he was working in for the last four years, he decided to take the long way for the first time and stop by at the city’s most famous for the tourists central park. He had no reason to do that but somehow he felt forced to do something different than what he was used to be doing every other single morning. He didn’t mind that this alteration could be easily regarded as a pretty small one.
He bought a cup of coffee from the nearest cantina, already the second for the day though it was still 8:30 am and instead of going straight to his office, he preferred to sit in one of the many unoccupied benches for a while and drink it over there. It was such a sunny day but he noticed that everybody around were already dressed with their heavy coats. He was one of the few who were fooled by the apparently good weather. The summer was only less than a month away and even though nights were still unbearably hot, during daytime, the cold was already present. “Funny weather” he thought and he wished he had predicted it forehand and had worn a warmer jacket as well. He also noticed that most of the people who had gone there that morning seemed really relaxed, like there was nothing on earth that could make them feel rushed. Or most likely, that’s how all those people seemed to his eyes.
The observable contrast of his inner condition and everyone else’s in that out and out green and well- reserved oasis in the middle of such gloomy and grey metropolis, made him wonder what he was doing there, while a stack of paperwork was waiting just for him, only few meters away, at his office. Although this last contemplation was really suspending, he abruptly and subconsciously managed to shrug it off. He continued, almost like drowsed, sitting in the left side of that bench, staring at the two dozen of ducks, the beautiful artificial lake’s summer visitors, which hadn’t moved yet to their next warmer destination, catching the peanuts some little kids were throwing to them and he thought that maybe the passers- by who would happen to notice him, would assume that he was waiting to meet somebody there; but in truth he wasn’t.
At afternoon after work, he walked back home thinking that warm nights had probably been history ‘till next April or May, as every year was happening. It was extraordinarily cold considering the last night’s high temperature and he wished once more he had taken along that God dammed jacket he hadn’t thought to. He also noticed that days had started becoming shorter and this observation instantly made him recall all previous winters, when it was already dark outside before he even knock off.
He had taken the same long way he also had at morning and he still was far enough away from his neighborhood at Cockpill street, which almost entirely had turned into a Working Class suburb, due to the recently- built Worker’s Homes premises.
The Italian- style cafeteria which was standing by the side of the pavement he was treading at, across the always busy 5th street, seemed like a very cozy and familiar place, so he decided to treat himself a hot cup of coffee in order to fight the chill he had started feeling. The fourth coffee for the day actually.
He crossed the door and a pleasing wave of hot air spread all over his body within a second. He didn’t have to choose in which table he should sit because only one, at the back of the room, was available at that time.
“Excuse me, can I get you anything?” the seemingly friendly waitress with the flimsily tighten blond ponytail and the green apron with the name of the café on it, asked for the second time. “Sorry” he responded, “my mind was one thousand miles away” he said and he raised slightly the bulged blue briefcase from the table, implying that work matters were preoccupying him. Of course, that was such a tremendous lie and he was pretty lousy at saying those, as he was never thinking of his work, even before than a minute right after the immediate moment he was out of his office. And what to think of… He didn’t have such significant responsibilities -he never challenged himself or his bosses to acquire some- and more importantly, he wasn’t that interesting in accounts, in the first place.
“I’ll take a cup of black coffee… or better… a cup of hot tea if I may, because I already had a few more than my stomach can handle for a day” he said after the enormously long pause. “Sorry…” he added as the waitress was on her way to go… “Could you make it a gin tonic actually…?” he said with the lowest tone of his voice and with a hint of misgiving due to the many alterations. The girl put that down on her block after the little smudge she did with her pen in the spot where the previous order was and she gave him an enigmatic smile -but not an ironic one, despite his awkward baffle- as she walked away for once more with the unused pricelist, firmly kept near her chest.
A couple of hours later, he found himself being the only client still unmoved from his sit. “Napolitano” was one of those places that open really early in the morning but close around 9:00 pm and the regulars apparently were aware of that. He looked at the direction where the bar was located and he saw the blonde girl with the ponytail walking towards him. “I’m sorry if you’re working overtime just because of me” he rushed to say preventing her from saying anything. “I’d say that you might stay further, if it wasn’t for that man over there, who is really filthy- stringent with the schedule keeping” she replied as she discreetly indicated the fat man, who obviously was the owner and was standing in front of the “STUFF ONLY” door. “Well, I think I’ve postponed you both more than enough already, but you’re really kind saying that anyway” he gently responded. “So, what do I own for the drinks, please?” he said as he was looking for his wallet inside both pockets of his jeans. “Store buys…” she said with that same enigmatic smile sculptured on her lips and her glance for once more. “Oh, no that’s not right, please I want to pay” he seemed shocked by that strange girl’s initiative. “Well…” the girl insisted “as you see we are just a small David café between all those Goliath… lounge bar- restaurants or whatever these multi-places are, around us and we always identify our first- time clients. So, it’s our policy to treat them when they first get here” she explained. “Then we rip them off” she said in a try to be bantered. “Plain Marketing” she added without meaning it. “I guess you’re practicing it for the first time on me, but I’ll take it since you don’t seem you’re from the ones who change their mind very easily… Contradictorily to me, I think…” he said a little flattered for the treat -never before a strange woman had treated him anything even though he could be considered as a good- looking man that could attract the females’ interest but with no any special features to point out his charm- and he reciprocated the genuine smile. “So I’m a sycophant and the Lady Stubborn now. That’s very kind of you to say... Thank you very much then…” she teased him a bit more. “No, I didn’t mean it that way… All I said was…” he seemed confused “It’s all right I’m just teasing you a little. You seem like teasing…” the man in front of the “STUFF ONLY” door cleared his throat. “I think the guy is pretty much out of his time keeping now…” he said. “So, thank you…” he stumbled, “Oh, I’m Lilly… Elli…”she stretched her hand for the handshake “Ok, thanks, Lilly… or Elli…” he laughed while he responded to the gesture by enclosing her hand into his. “No, no. That’s my name… My whole name… Lilly Elli….” “So, nice to meet you Lilly Elli… I’m Ras. Just Ras, though I’d prefer something as complex as yours…” he let her hand free and felt a bit weird when he realized that he hadn’t done it earlier. “Maybe if you visit us again I might have made up one just for you; and I promise it to be very complex...” she replied. A couple more things were said until they both said “bye” and when Ras let the door close behind him, he thought that by then, the fat man was possibly rebuking the blond girl for not making him leave any sooner but he didn’t felt guilty because he believed that she wouldn’t mind.
As cold had reigned every inch of his body on his way home, he kept thinking that at last, the deviation from the regular route proved worthy. He had really enjoyed the small talk with that strange and kind young woman named Lilly Elli, though it was wondering him the fact that she didn’t feel like a total stranger. This was one of the rare times he could be so open and talkative with a person he had never met before in his life and despite his try, he couldn’t remember the last person that had managed to provoke him that same sense. He thought that he wanted to go straight back and ask her things about herself, like how old she was - she mustn’t had been more than twenty three years old, which means that Ras must had been about five or six years ahead her- or if she would like to have a dinner with him, but, he reconsidered it as a very childish and impulsive idea. Maybe some other day he thought… Maybe some other day….

THE WISDOM TREE

BRANCHES

In a big moment like this,
You found the time to become
Oh, so philosophical
You even talked about Aristotelis
Though you admitted you couldn't comprehend
Neither from the five pages of the book
You read last night before you sleep...
Tiredness proved to be more powerful than his theories;
The sun was shining
But I couldn't feel less happier
Even if the strongest storm was there to stare and interact;
We said big words
In a very plain way;
Mostly, you said
And I just listened,
While cutting small branches
From the tree beside me
To smaller ones
And then throwing them recklessly
Down to the concrete street;
If you can say about anything
That is concrete for sure

TO THE CITIES

This was a great weekend! I can say I really enjoyed it, as I enjoy this very moment, feeling clean after a hot bath, drinking coffee and typing… reporting my urban adventures… Not the kind of wild adventures but invigorating none the less…
So, as I was saying I visited a couple of relatives and friends of mine who live in Athens, I love being there, and I just got back. Athens… Athens… Every time I find myself there I feel like I’m back to civilization again. Compared to the majority of the rest of the European capitals I know that Athens is still quite primitive; ok, Olympics 2004 kind of improved the situation a little bit, but still the city is still quite primitive, though, compared to my 3000 populated hometown and the 80000 populated city I study for the time being, a trip to Athens is indeed a trip to the civilization…

On the way back, we detoured a little bit from the highway and we crossed the city I used to live in for about two years. This is where I used to study also along my sister and I hadn’t been there for a long time, two years I think…
I loved it walking at the streets I walked before so much time and have good memories from… Unfortunately, it was a very short visit but I did discern a couple of things that have changed in the space between. For example, minor but striking difference, is that the video club, we used to rent DVDs (it was tapes back then, but anyway) closed… That’s a shame really…
The important thing though, is that while being there I thought that sometimes a memory, a place we used to live and have abandoned for a reason, a scent, or even a route with the bus we used to take so often can become palpable again so easily…
I don’t know if letting our memories in the dust is the only thing we should do because life flows so fast, but I like remembering things… I like remembering the pleasant ones…
As for that time, it was wild I think and I feel glad it was… I was only 18, I was feeling like the protégé of the company, happened to be the very youngest one, and I liked it, now that I think about it, we were clubbing all the time, we were learning from each other and from our experiences, we were living alone for the first time in our lives, we didn’t mind how much money we had inside our pockets to have a good time…
See? I guess getting some things out of the dust may is not such a waste of time…if you know that you have to leave them back again once they seem so overwhelming and enticing…

Road trip pictures:



Athens suburb... posh and seaside...


The central park at the city I used to study...


A lake on our way...


Me...

A NEW YEAR

I wish everyone a happy new year…
This year it was rather some yellow Christmas than white –no snow at all and too much sun- but it was fun…
I wish everyone had some great time also
For me it was so much food, going out, enjoying the companionship with my friends, having good time with my family, playing with my dog…
Furthermore, there is a tradition in Greece which says that in New Year’s Eve you have to play this game with the cards named 21 and you need to bet some money, you know not so much, just to get it a little more interesting and I’d say that last night for me was ripping my friends off… That was fun definitely...

Here, everything you need for a nice New Year's night... a glass of gin, cards and salty bisquits playing the role of money


Here, me clubbing