Faeries Don'T Have To Work - LAZARUS (most read books .txt) 📗

have to do.
I’m gone for no more than half an hour. When I return, after putting the groceries away, I follow a trail of clothes all the way to the bathroom. Two sneakers, t-shirt, and my Levis. I hear singing and splashing behind the partially shut door.
“Is that you Cal? This is fun. I never had a bubble bath before. Sorry about the mess. I think I used too much soap. The bubbles are everywhere. Don’t worry, I’ll clean it up. Can you pass me some more towels…I used all the ones that were in here…the water overflowed a bit. Sorry again.”
I go fetch some extra towels and pry open the bathroom door a crack and shove the towel through. “Come in. Don’t be shy. I can’t reach them from here.”
I cautiously step in and find my Mel completely covered with soap suds. Only her face is visible. There’s a pyramid of soapy suds on top of her head. She has a huge grin on her lovely wet face. Even like this she is so adorable.
I drop the towels on a chair and leave.
“Don’t be too long. I’m fixing the supper now. Should be ready very soon.”
“Ok.” She sings out, as I hear more splashing.
Supper is done. The table set. I hear bare footsteps scurrying into the bedroom. Soon she emerges wearing the bra upside down and the panties inside out…and nothing else.
I gulp and rush over to explain a few things to her.
Soon she’s back wearing a nice skirt and top…almost matching.
She lifts up the skirt to ask me if she had put on the underthings correctly. I tell her…’Yes’.
What am I to do with her!
Outside the air is a little cool but not unpleasant. As we are walking, Mel is showing her surprise at all the fancy window dressings. Things she’d never seen or imagined before.
“So much stuff that is unnecessary. Why do people need all this? Like that electric mixer, when a good arm will do fine. Electric this and that. Electric tooth brushes…what a waste of money and energy. And all those clothes. I’m very content with just a few.
Soon we near a shopping mart…a huge one, probably the biggest in town. As we enter, Mel’s jaw drops.
“My goodness, this is crazy! Can’t folks live simply anymore?”
I tell her that as a consumer society, mankind has become obsessed with material possessions. One is not enough. If it’s a few months old, they need a newer, bigger, fancier and faster one. The trash piles are reaching sky high. Even before something is passé another one is waiting to replace it. It’s a vicious cycle, which humans have created, and can’t get off of.
“The cars are nice…much more colorful and streamlined,” she says.”I like that one.”
“That’s a Maserati Gran Turismo…an Italian job.”
“Is it expensive? Can you get one?”She asks.
“That car costs about one hundred and twenty thousand. The price of a nice small home,” I tell her.
She drops the subject very quickly.
After walking awhile, we take a rest at a small park and sit near a fountain. She runs her hand over the water and looks at me. Under the halo of the street light she looks angelic. I move closer and place my hand on hers. It feels as if electricity jumps from her smooth skin to mine.
She just smiles and puts head on my shoulder. Next she asks me if I’m glad that we met. I tell her that in all my life, I never imagined that one day I would be sitting here with the most gorgeous and unique woman in the world. She is pleased to hear that, and gives my hand a warm squeeze.
The walk back to my flat is as if I am stepping on clouds.
Back at my place, I tell her that she can have the bedroom, and I’ll take the couch.
“No, it’s your room. Besides I prefer the couch. I’m used to small places where I can curl up.”
There’s no arguing with her, but I have an idea.
“Why not do as we did in the tent? I’ll take the double bed, and you can have my jacket.”
“That’s a wonderful suggestion!” She is jumping up and down like a school child.
I have a large soft chair not far from my bed, and I place my coat neatly on it.
When the evening gets close to midnight, I am comfortably tucked in. She, too, is nestled in cozily under the window. She loves that jacket of mine.
Nearing one a.m., I tell her goodnight. She yawns and bids me likewise.
I can’t fall asleep. There’s too much on my mind.
Erelong I hear that familiar purr coming from Mel’s corner of the room. I eventually drift off.
A couple of hours later I feel a movement and a quiet sound behind me. The sheets are shifting, and I feel a soft knee up against my leg. Next, a warm breath on my neck sends shivers down my back, as an arm slowly reaches over and rests on my chest. It feels so delicate. I don’t move. I pretend that I’m still fast asleep.
I have no doubt as to who it is.
Not a minute passes before that soft snoring commences again.
Is this a dream? Or is this real? Here I am, in my bed with a sleeping beauty. This has truly got to be a faerie tale.
I, too fall back to sleep not long after.


Chapter Eleven

Some excitement downtown


Precisely at eight o’clock I wake suddenly. The room is empty. The day has begun like every other day in the city. Cars honking, airplanes thundering by overhead, loud music coming from the apartment below me, a dog barking down in the street, and somebody whistling for a taxi. Just your normal cacophony of sounds welcoming a new and busy day. Monday…to be exact.
Mel is nowhere to be found, so I panic. You would too, if your friend who is unfamiliar and foreign to this city is on the loose.
I look outside my door to see if she’s there, but not a sign of her. I hear laughter coming from above me. I glance up, shielding my eyes from the sun, and see her sitting with her legs dangling off the roof’s edge.
“What on earth are you doing up there? And how did you…you changed after you flew up there…didn’t you? What, if I dare ask, are you wearing?”
“Oh, Cal, you worry too much. I threw a pair of jeans and a shirt up to the roof before I flew up. So there,” she says as she sticks her tongue out at me.
“Come down before someone thinks that you’re a jumper. I’ll make us some breakfast, while you clean up. That roof is dirty.”
She’s done washing up just as I finish setting the table. Bacon, and eggs over easy, and toast with strawberry jam. Orange juice on the side. That’s what I call a great start to what seems like the beginning of a good day.
“This is delicious…I’m going to miss this after I go back to my home and friends.”
I put down my fork and look at her, thinking that it’s true…she will be going back to her natural surroundings, where she belongs. The thought saddens me. I get up and walk to my window and merely stare out into the street below, seeing nothing. My thoughts are on my losing Melissa. Although I tried not to believe it, it is inevitable.
I go back to finish my meal for which I’ve lost my appetite. I don’t let on as to how I hurt inside. Fortunately she doesn’t see or sense the great pain deep within my beating heart.

----------------------------
Earlier that day I made reservations at Nishino’s. One of my favorite Japanese restaurants in town. The seafood and vegetable tempuras are out of this world. Shrimp, snow crab, squid, whitefish and an assortment of fresh vegetables fried in tempura butter always had me going back there.
Sometimes I would have the New York steak with teriyaki sauce just for a change. This time I was planning to share a nice plate of oysters on a half shell with Mel. I know she loved raw fish.
At the moment we were At the Blake Museum of Natural History. This place is over one hundred years old, and has a massive collection of about twelve million artifacts, of anthropology, geology and zoology. The zoology interests Mel the most.
She wants to visit the Seattle Aquarium next, which is not too far away, but I tell her that it can wait. It’s getting close to our reservation. “We can take in the aquarium tomorrow.” I tell her, as we head off towards East Madison Ave.
As we wait for our main course, we split the oysters and I order a Shirley Temple for Mel and a Bloody Caesar for me. I didn’t tell her that her drink was nonalcoholic. I was being cautious.
It’s a pleasure watching her chew up the oysters. I tell her that most folks just sprinkle some lemon on them and swallow them whole, but she prefers it her way.
The steaming plates arrive and my mouth is already watering.
Mel digs in without any hesitation. “Mmm, this is so good! You can have the vegetables, Cal, “she tells me. “I only like meat, fruits and berries.
“Well, ok, but try the deep fried cauliflower, you’ll like it.”
She does, but shakes her head. “Not bad, but you can have it.”
I see that she’s glad we came here.
Soon the waitress comes around to see if we want some dessert. “The Boston cream pie is to die for, “she lets us know.
Mel looks at me and asks if we could share one, but has me explain to her what the waitress meant by ‘to die for’.
I laugh and explain that it just means that it’s really good.
When it arrives Mel tries a small sample. Then her beautiful eyes light up. “This is great! I feel like making myself tiny and diving right in.”
I chuckle as I’m picturing this in my mind. So cute! I reach over and wipe the excess cream from her upper lip.
Not long after we leave the place, we head off to find Nellybelle. I had to park her around the block. The restaurant’s parking was full. It always is, no matter what day of the week it happens to be.
I decide on a shortcut through the short alleyway to the next street.
As we turn the corner a dark figure comes up and asks for a light.
“Sorry, I don’t smoke,” I tell him.
“That’s ok. I don’t either, “he says, as he nears Mel. She quickly moves closer to me. Just them another guy steps out of the shadows. He is tall and powerful looking.
“What is it that you want? I have some cash. Take it and leave,” I tell him as I go for my wallet. There is no way I can take these two on in any fair fight. Running is an option, but we are helmed in.
“That a mighty fine looking lady you got there, buddy,” he says as he pulls out a huge knife. “Hey Joe, what do you think, this gal should be fun for the evening, eh?’ he asks his buddy.
I begin to fear for the worst, not knowing what they are planning to do to us. I start to protest, but his pal already has his blade next to Mel back.
“You got a debit card, fella? We