Twenty-Seven

Ray was feeling nervous, this was not a normal emotion. He stood at the bottom the stairs to Alison’s building, hesitating about which language to use. He muttered the possibilities to himself. `Please come with me.’ `Go on, you know you want to really.’ `Okay. You’ve got no choice - I’ll lie down on the suidewalk and moan and shout until either you or the police come get me.’ People stared at him as they walked past. He smiled hopefully at them. Perhaps I should have brought flowers…Metaphorically girding his loins he climbed the steps and pressed her buzzer.

She was waiting for him when he reached her apartment. She leant round the open door and smiled at his approach.`Hey guy, what are you doing here?’ She stepped back and pulled the door wider, letting him in.

He managed a quick `Hi’ as he walked in and stood near the coffee table. Her apartment was spacious and nearly devoid of furniture. A beautiful Persian rug covered the floorboards and a chaise longue was placed to the side, a pile of papers near the head indicating where she normally sat. Apart from the oak coffee table, on which there was an ethnic carving of a wild cat and nothing else, the room had a lamp, some stereo equipment and a heavily covered armchair - and that was it. Light poured in from the Bay window, the muslin drape fluttered inwards on th breeze.

She watched him fidget with his hands. She wondered what was up; he was normally so cocksure.

`Um, Alison.’ He faltered.

`Yes?’ she began to be amused, the little boy seemed so close to the surface in him.

`I’d like to ask you to a play,’ he paused, `tonight.’ he added.

Damn. She thought to herself. Outwardly she kept a receptive smile on her face. `Oh. I don’t know, Ray. I’m-‘

He cut her off. It’s The Master Builder - I don’t know much about the theatre, but the guy at the paper said it was great. I thought you might enjoy it.’ He finished lamely. Actually, the theaitre critic had laughed when he gave the freebies to him, he’d found Ray’s first date plans fairly amusing and hadn’t needed the tickets.

Alison was touched by his efforts but she had to nip this as near to the bud as was possible.

`Ray, I’m really flattered that you thought of me but I’m afraid I’ve made plans.’ She sat on the edge of the armchair.

Ray’s back immediately went up. `But these are only for tonight - I had to pull strings’ he lied. `couldn’t you change your plans? We’ll have a great time, I promise. And after, I’ll buy you dinner - your choice.’ He hunkered down before her and put a hand on the chair arm.

Alison stood abruptly and moved around him into the middle of the room. `I really am sorry, Ray - perhaps you should have called. If I’d known perhaps I could have tried to arrange something but really, I think-‘ She stopped when she saw he had grabbed the leopard from the table and stood up, running his hands over the figure. He studied it in silence, just rubbing it.

`Ray, lets go for a walk.’ She took the animal from his hands and placed gently on the table.
`We’ll have coffee and talk - it’s beautiful outside. She ushered him to and through the door and locked it behind them.

Despite the heat, the streets were full of people. They thronged the paths and stood looking in shop windows carrying bags of different colours and sizes. Ray and Alison weaved through to the next quiet street and started to walk across town to the Hudson. Ray walked moodily, hands in the pockets of his black Gap jeans, head thrust down and forward, waiting for Alison to speak. She kept quiet and they walked for twenty minutes in silence, hardly noticing the traffic on the busy avenues. Eventually they left the last of the buildings and stood looking across, between the tourist ships moored at the jetties, to the slow moving waters and the Jersey shore.

`We’ll try Divers.’ Alison turned towards a theme bar situated near one of the ticket offices for a cruise ship. Ray followed with no argument.

Once seated, she started gently, `Ray, I think this situation is about to get out of hand.’ He shifted uncomfortably and looked out of the window. Their table was on of what seemed to be hundreds crammed into the little dining room. With lunch over, most of them were empty with just a few early afternoon tea takers spaced around the window tables. The seats on both sides of theirs were empty and allowed some privacy.

`I was genuinely flattered when you started asking me out,’ she continued, `but what I said then stands now. At this time of my life I just don’t want what you have to offer - I want something else.’ Noticing his brow crease angrily, she hurried on - `That’s not to say there’s anything wrong with who you are, or what you are offering. It’s just that you’re’ she thought for the right words,`a certain type of man, representing a certain lifestyle. And that’s a lifestyle I don’t want to have at the moment. I need less excitement and passion right now. You’d be too much for me. I’m looking for calm and a slow pace and we’d just hate each other, very soon, if we got it together.

`Boring.’ Muttered Ray, still studying the river through the window.

`Yeah, that’s right.’ She laughed self-consciously.`I want boring, Ray, it’s solid.’

`Well,’he turned to her, `you’re going with the right guy for that. A laugh a month, that asshole is.’ He looked down at the table. The red and white check really annoyed him.

`Hey - let’s not get nasty, mister.’ She took a sip from her cup. `I was just worried that you were beginning to get obsessional about us and I justwant to make sure that you realise that I’m not worth it. There must loads of girls who’d love to be with you…’

`Look.’ He spoke over her. ` You can say no to me and that’s fine but you can’t just switch me off. I won’t hassle you but I won’t stop wanting. I’d not be able to if I tried. And sure,’ a little of his cockiness returned,` there are girls who like me, but that don’t mean nuthin’. I’ll see you on Monday.’ He pushed back the chair did up the studs on his leather - even though the temperature outside was in the eighties.` Make sure you have a good time tonight.’ He got up and strutted out of the bar, his shoulders hunched to get the jacket straight,his head high.

Alison looked after him, picking up the cup absentmindedly. His tone had been sarcastic and that she’d expected but his choice of words made her wary. She ran her hands through her hair and breathed in deeply. Turning to look at the view he’d been watching she recognised a familiar feeling steal up her legs and down her neck, raising hairs on the way. It settled in the pit of her stomach and emanated up to her breast and down between her legs.

Standing, she left money on the table for the waitress and left, savouring the acceptance of danger.

Twenty-Six

--
It crept stealthily along the wooded path just yards from the side walk, sniffing the prevailing wind, following the scent. Suddenly it paused. The leaves rustled in the cool summer breeze. Darkness had fallen and the shadows were heavy in the quiet air. A glow from the city across the river joined with the streetlights of Laurel Estates to form an unhappy sea of semi-darkness. It hugged the shadows of the trees and bushes, nervous despite its previous forays. Its need was intensifying; The urge to feed more frequent. Blinking slowly, it watched the brightly coloured sneakers getting closer. Saliva started dripping from its jaws, frothing and cloaking its teeth, spattering the leafy mulch below. A low growl reverberated through its upper body.

Bobby Reed hummed the tunes in his head as he loped along. Seventeen today and feelin’ fine. He fished in his pocket and brought out Elli’s present to him. He admired it in the orange glow of the lamps. It’s weight was full and even in his palm. God only knew where she’d got it. The classic face of the fobwatch was a little yellowed with time but seemed perfect otherwise and the time was totally accurate. The real treat though, was when you pressed a recessed button and could then turn the watch over, within its silver housing, to display a compass, the needle swinging lazily round to north as he walked. The quality was evident even in the way the needle moved, smooth and evenly. Must have cost a shedload he thought to himself. Mind you, he hadn’t got any further in assaulting her body, birthday or no birthday. She just laughed him off but he didn’t mind, too much. The ball-ache was a bit boring but they’d been going steady a year and a half and the conversation was an old one. Theoretically he agreed with her - they should wait and being christians helped, most of the time. Its just that sometimes they got to a stage where everything became more…desparate; and that’s where her iron will came in useful. Well, he’d hate to see her face afterwards - it was important to her and he did love her. He reached the corner of Holly Avenue and cut diagonally across the street.

It launched with a massive thrust of its hind legs. Before the boy knew what was happening his head was severed and lolling on his shoulder attached by a stretched flap of skin as he eased too the ground. It sank teeth into his torso and half lifted the body into the bushes, blood still pumping from his carotid, splatting like rain on the blacktop.

It fed hungrily this time. Its voracious need obliterating thought beyond eat, eat. It ripped the flesh from the bones and swallowed quickly. The frenzied activity sounded loud in the evening peace.

`I’ve never had a Belgian waffle, Max.’ Alison had her arm hooked through his and spoke into his ear.`Where can we get one?’

They’d been walking for ten minutes and Max was enjoying himself hugely `well, you can get them loads of places but for real ones you have to go to Brooklyn - and what you desire,’ he put on his most obsequious voice `you shall have.’ He raised his arm and whistled at a passing taxi which obligingly slammed on its brakes and executed a perfect movie-like handbrake turn before drawing up beside them in a cacophany of horn insults.

The wafflarium was stuck down a side street in the heart of oldest Brooklyn. Max had been shown the place by the same friend he’d got the apartment from - part of a crash course in the real places of New York. It was a basic joint, dark orange formica the order of the day. The welcome was warm though and the friendliness almost as expansive as the menu. Max and Alison sat in a booth and stuck some quarters into the table top juke-box selector. An elderly waitress offered menus and recited the specials, which all sounded the same.

Max found again that talking with Alison was easy and he relaxed more and more as the evening went on. They discussed all the usual first date things and discovered that they shared tastes in music, food, politics and movies. Alison was amused that the occasional jog was about as far as exercise went in Max’s life. He, on the other hand, was not surprised that most of her time was spent outside and that health ran top of her interests.

The light from outside gradually waned as the evening drew in. they decided to take a cab back to town and hang in the village for a while. Alison knew a couple of bars that she liked and wanted Max to try them. Paying the check, Max felt reasonably like puking after the weight of cream and sugar he’d just consumed. He figured he’d cope though. They grabbed a cab quite easily and fell into the back laughing, at ease with each other.

They didn’t notice the car pull out from the kerb after them. Ray sat stiffly behind the wheel,`Fuck, Fuck, Fuck!’

At one in the morning they were quietly heading back uptown in another cab. `Your place or mine’ murmured Alison.

Max felt an unfamiliar vice close on his neck. All of a sudden the ditherer returned.`Err’ he said `If its alright with you, I think I’ll call it a night - I have to get up early.’he shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

Alison’s eyes reflected the amber of the street lights as the car passed under them. Her features took on those of a mask as the darkness stole the humanity from her face. Her expression was inscrutable in such light. After a second, she leant forward, level with Max. the headlights of cars on the cross streets illuminated her smile. `Sure’ she said `we’ve both got busy days tomorrow. Her nails scraped gently at his neck. The little hairs at his nape stood up in response. Max gave the driver his address and shortly escaped into the light night air. Closing the door of the cab he waved and went inside. The cab moved off.

Ray sat undecided in his car thirty yards down the street. He’d missed his chance if he wanted to beat the crap out of the guy tonight but it was safe to assume Alison would be pissed at him if he did, so 'not tonight mister, not tonight. I’ll get you though, Oh yes, I’ll get you.’

Whispereing to himself, he pulled out after the taxi and followed to make sure she got home okay.
--

Twenty-Four

Max stared down at his untouched coffee `she’s always walking out on me…’he went back to looking out the window, his mind in a whirl. He was already excited about the evening and wondered whether she really meant deciding at the time or if she actually wanted him to organise the evening. Would she be put out if he arranged dinner and a play - especially if she wasn’t dressed for it. He caught his reflection in the glass and saw he was smiling like a teenager who reckoned he’d get all the way.

Ray sat astride the fence posts of the country park’s car park. Alsion watched him as she drove her truck in and parked it. He didn’t turn or acknowledge her until she’d jumped out and was struggling with the kit from the back.

`Afternoon’ he said.

`Yeah, sorry I was late - got held up in town. Have you been waiting?’ she smiled pleasantly at him.

He grabbed her rucksack and held it for her to reverse into.`only forty minutes. What happened?’

`Oh, I bumped into Max, jogging in Central Park. Or, rather, he bumped into me - I’ve got the bruise to prove it’ she rubbed her waist.

Ray’s eyes had narrowed and he held the rucksack so that her arms were pinned back at a painful angle.

`Ray!’ there was a warning tone in her voice. He lifted the pack onto her shoulders roughly.`Christ! what is your problem, Ray?’ her eyes were blank as she stared at him. He felt on the defensive immediately.

`I don’t see why you like that guy. You do like him don’t you?’ he accused her.

`Look. Whether I like him or not is none of your business but as it happens, yes I do. Do you have an issue with that?. Her hands were on her hips and even though he had a good six inches on her, he felt like a little boy.

`He’s a slimeball’ he muttered, looking down at his feet,`and he can’t dress for shit.’ His chin gave a petulant tilt.`Is it the money? He’s rich and successful yeah? You just -‘ he stopped abruptly at the change in her eyes. Her mouth became a grim line.

`You’re not my mother, Ray. And don’t judge what you know nothing about - I think, from what I know of him so far, that he’s a nice guy but that’s for me to find out and you to accept. Now,’ she turned to the side`are you coming?’ without waiting for an answer she led the way.
Slowly,Ray grabbed his own bag and followed.

Max replaced the receiver and pressed the button that buzzed the door. He checked his tie in the mirror as he walked to the door. The cat wound itself around his ankles`get OUT of it!’ he hissed. Mrs Parker jumped onto a chair cushion and eyed him speculatively. She knew something was going on. She was tempted by the warmth and comfort of her position to go to sleep but she had an inkling the boss was up to something - he’d been jittery all afternoon.
Max opened the door and held his breath whilst she came round the corner of the stairwell. She smiled as she saw him. `Hi!’ she called.

Max waved a hand. He was relieved to see she was wearing jeans and and an open blouse over a T-shirt. She came to him and kissed him on the cheek. `Ready?’ she asked brightly. Her breath was slow and even, the stairs had caused a small blush on her cheeks but that was it. Everything about her seemed so young!

`Come on in. I’ll just get my jacket, unless you’d like a drink or something before we go?’ he opened the door wide for her and followed her inside.

`Something might be fun’ she laughed throatily `Oh! You’ve got a cat!’she knelt by the chair and started to pet the burmese.

`Mrs Parker,’intoned Max `may I present Alison Ellis. Alison, this is Mrs Parker, the matriarch of the house.’

`She’s beautiful. Why Mrs. Parker?’

`I’ll tell you later. Meanwhile, don’t tell anyone - she’s here against the rules of the lease; a stowaway no less.’ He grabbed his jacket from the settee `okay, let’s go’

Getting up she absently minded continued stroking Mrs Parker, the cat was lost in a delirium of purring. Alison looked round the living room of the apartment, taking in the large desk in the window with a computer and printer almost submerged by a frothing tide of papers. The chair was surrounded by books stacked to hand-level.the rest of the place looked meticulously neat, as if it wasn’t used at all. A lack of dust on the tidy coffee table in front of the sofa indicated, she thought, a cleaning lady.`Great place Mr Writer Sir’

`I was very lucky to get it - a friend moved out of state and I took over the lease. It was only two years ago and the cat was already fourteen - that’s why I didn’t have the heart to get shot of her’ he spoke in a whisper so that feline ears couldn’t decipher the words. Even so, he looked warily at the cat.

Alison laughed `I can see who wears the trousers in this place. Come on, lets go and grab some good times. She grabbed Max’s hand and they left, switching off the lights.

Through the big bay, the dimmed lights of a car could be seen to come on as they left the building entrance and started walking down the street. Behind the wheel, Ray watched them go and eased after them `Fucking shithead.’ he muttered.