He left his drink alone for a moment, fondling the idea of a mistaken identity. "How can we as a society allow such vagrant abuse of common courtesy? How can we continue to stand aside and do nothing as the world crashes down all around us? The words of please and thank you have become hollow and robotic, our people speak but never listen, we are a sad, and lonely nation, filled with lights and whistles, but no sincerity."
His grey green eyes flickered with the excitement of an audience. He looked into the hungry faces of his listeners, all excited to hear more from the great Hollywood producer.
"I grow weary in my adulthood," He shot a glance to the red head on his right. "I find it more and more difficult to engage in my passions, and I am not speaking of just sex." He paused for affect, she giggled. "I understand the role that one must play to achieve any form of success in this world, but can't we find time for the simple and easy pleasures of this life? Are we to busy for late night walks with loved ones, and long chats with grandmothers?
Is there no time to teach something new to kids?"
He paused for a moment, the girls were really listening to him, hearing his every word. Marcel wondered if they would continue to listen if he revealed that he wasn't really famous, he toyed with the idea, he hadn't planned to con these girls, but it seemed appropriate for another night at Denny's. It’s what they did, the three crazy guys always found themselves at Denny's. It was ritual, and it didn't matter where they were coming from, or how late(or early in the morning), it only mattered that they were there every Saturday night to recall the events of the week, and sometimes put on a big theatrical show for the other Denny's customers.
"I once saw a puppy, frozen to the street,” A short moment of reflection. “he was the saddest thing I have ever seen," The girls let out a soft "ooh." Then all moved closer. "And you know what the terrible thing was?” He stopped to look at the quizzical faces, “I watched people walking by, hearing this poor puppy cry, in pain, but no one stopped, no one even tried to help this poor pup."
One of the girls, with tears in her eye said, "Did you save that puppy?" Marcel looked to the ground, then met her misty eyes with his and said, "I've got the little trooper at home right now." Another "ooh," And then "you are so sweet!" Marcel smiled, and gave the best innocent look he has ever managed, then cleared his throat, and reached for his glass, and gave a little jump as a hand stroked the inside of his leg under the table. He tried not to appear to be surprised, as the red head leaned into his ear and whispered, "How long are you in town for?"
\its Dark at night\
As Marcel opened the door of his supposedly rented SAAB for the young red head, whose name he learned was Alex; She said “My, what a gentleman you are.” He smiled and laughed, running around the car, then bypassing and jumping over the door into the driver’s seat he said, “I do love convertibles!”
Marcel enjoyed his car, white, all leather interior, he spent extra time trying to think of what model was in-between sporty and profesional, and this Alex girl was admiring the stereo. “Wow,” she said, “I didn’t know you could rent cars with really nice stereos.”
Marcel pondered this for a moment and responded, “You can do anything with enough money.” Her body relaxed into the seat and she breathed deeply, saying “Yes, I suppose you can.” Marcel was playing his role, and having fun doing it. He had no guilt, and figured if this girl was shallow enough to have sex with him just because she thought he was a big time movie producer, then so be it.
She was wearing a slinky black skirt, cut a little too high, but Marcel wasn’t complaining. He looked from the corner of his eye down to those legs, “Tell me, Shelly, have you ever been to California?” Not caring what she said in reply, “Once, when I was very little, my aunt Nina lives in Salinas valley.” Marcel’s attention perked at the mention of the birthplace of the literary great John Steinbeck. “Did you say Salinas Valley?” He asked.
\Night is a woman\
It was nearly dawn, the dog scratched at the front door, and Marcel stared at the ceiling.
He had been charming and terrible the night before. He thought about all the times he had done similar things, and how he always went to far. He got caught up in the roles he played, and he wondered if he was sick, ‘who gets such enjoyment pretending to be something or someone they are not’ he thought. He had his arm around a woman he had no feelings for, recalling what a great lover she had been, he smiled, and was stung by the guilt of lying to her. She turned her body, positioning her head onto his chest, she sighed, and breathed deeply. Light peeked over the window, casting its pale trail along the morning. Should he start the day with a confession? The light leaking through the window, affirming the reality of the day, Marcel needed coffee. He slid his arm from under the sleeping girl, and managed to move from the bed with relatively no noise.
As he crossed the carpet he heard a quiet “Hey you.” He turned, Alex was awake, her lively red hair seemed out of place in the dim room. She sat up, and held her cheek in her hand, smiling, her eyes full of life, and she was beautiful. Marcel stared, mouth gaping, and wasn’t able to form actual words, “Ah, I-ah was gonna, um…” he trailed off. “That bad huh?” she said, still smiling. He took the time to collect his thoughts, “No,” shaking his head, “no, you look amazing.” Her smile widened. “Oh come on,” she said, “you don’t have to say that.” Marcel walked to the bed, and leaned to her ear, and whispered “it’s true, you are beautiful.”
\BREAKFAST\
She was so careful as she poured her milk, like a child pouring milk for the first time.
When she reached the top of her glass, she gave the milk a small lift and then was done, and moved to Marcel’s glass. The shower in the apartment echoed loudly through the small space, almost drowning out the sizzling of bacon on the stove. The water stopped, “I hope your not getting into trouble out there,” came through the door. Marcel emerged from the bathroom a clean man in a towel. “Much better.” He said. Alex was scrambling eggs and chopping melon, Marcel thought she seemed natural standing there in only her underwear, as if she were part of the kitchen, he liked the addition. “I am surprised.” She said, handing him his milk. “Oh yeah, about what?” He asked. “You have this place pretty well stalked just to have rented it for the weekend.” The corners of her lips raised slightly.
“That wasn’t me,” he said, “my assistant takes care of all of my needs.” He took a step toward the stove, and Alex stepped in front of him. “What smells so good?” He asked.
“and there is quite the DVD collection on the shelves over there.” She pointed at Marcel’s extensive movie collection. “Well I…” She stopped him. “is that dirty laundry?” she looked through an open door into the laundry room. He was caught, she knew, and he knew there was no escape.
“Sit down,” She motioned to the table. “I have cooked you a breakfast for champions.”
He didn’t usually care about being caught. The con always had to end, it was only a matter of time, but there was something about Alex, had he been wrong in assuming that she was shallow? He sat at the table, she placed a plate before him, bacon eggs and pancakes. “I’ll be right back.” She said heading in the direction of the bedroom.
“Go ahead and start without me.” He wasn’t about to fall for such a simple trap, his mother had raised him with the best of manners, and to start eating without a lady was in-excusable. He waited patiently, but did sneak a bite of eggs, cleaning his fork on his towel and setting it neatly in it’s place. There was rustling coming from the bedroom, and a SMASH. “It’s okay, I’m alright.” She said as she walked back into the kitchen, now fully clothed. She was digging through her little leather purse, “Do you have a pen?” she asked. “Yeah, right behind you.” She took the pen from the counter, and produced a business card from her bag, wrote something on the back. “I really had fun with you last night.” She said, kissed him softly and placed the card beside his clean fork. |
