With a dark red head and foam at the mouth the more than seventy years old boss shouted to his wife, who was sitting in face of Kim in the office. The "swine" was his son, a young man in the twenties, who had often banged his head together with his father's. Today he preferred to work out at the olive trees, than to stay at the production shed. Now the young wife of the boss had to put up with her husband's moods.
dared she to contradict her husband, but then she jumped off and ran away, because the old man came to her with heavy steps and a raised hand, ready to beat her.
he shouted like a fool. He followed his wife outside and Kim heard her fast steps and his heavy steps on the floor. Kim heard, when the man reached his wife, when she defended herself and when the punches stroke the woman's face.
Then he went away. All this time Kim had stopped to breath and wished to be invisible. Sure, the boss never had shouted with her, but she was always shocked, when he had it out with his family before her ears and eyes. Later the wife entered the office with tear-swollen eyes and red strings on her cheek, but she did, like nothing had happened. Some days later, Kim was alone in the office, the son came in.
Then he went out and Kim heard the motor of his little car go away. Suddenly the door opened again and the boss entered.
answered Kim, feeling queasy. Perhaps the boss would let off steam on her. But the man turned off and whispered with a horrible voice:
The next morning the telephone rang in the office. Kim took the receiver. It was the wife of the boss, who told her, that she wouldn't come back the next days. Might the boss see, how to cope without her. So it was Kim, who made all work, but she used it to do. Since a long time she had been lowered to the level of a "dogsbody", so if she wished, that there was toilet paper and not an old newspaper in the toilet, she had to buy it herself. There was no warm water in the factory and all seemed to be in dilapidation. The house of the boss was big and nice – maintained with the money from the factory. But otherwise the boss pinched and scraped. The furniture of the office seemed to come from pre-war period, the typewriter Kim had to use was very often out of use, to mend it, cost more, than a new one, but nobody seemed to understand it. Everywhere there was a touch of poverty, but the boss was a skinflint. One day his son had told him, that he could fill his casket with all the money, he hadn't used during his life, but that he wouldn't be happy at all. Kim thought about all these things, when the door bell rang. It happened not very often, that customers came to the office, but when it was the case, it was up to Kim to serve them. This time two men entered and she welcomed them in the name of the boss. After having helped them to make their choice between the different sorts of olives, she finished her daily work. Suddenly the old principal came in and told her, that she will have to prepare a lot of calculation, concerning the enterprise, for the next day. So Kim was obliged to stay until the night in the office. When she finished, she turned out the lights and went off. It had started to rain and the steps before the house were whet. In the darkness, Kim did not see the failure of one step – and stumbled. She touched the ground so badly, that she broke her ankle. While she shouted for help, she was afraid, what might say her chief, when she will not be able to work for a long time. Finally a young woman, who was making a promenade with her dog, heard the voice and found Kim lying on the ground. Kim gave her the keys of the office and the woman called the ambulance and Rosa, to tell her, that her friend will be in the hospital. There the doctor put her ankle in plaster and told her to rest quiet for some time. Rosa came to the hospital and took Kim with her, to her home.
told she her friend.
smiled Kim. After some weeks, when Kim was able to go to work, she returned to the office. When she opened the door, the old principal was standing in the room. He moved his hand to stop Kim entering. Surprised, Kim looked at him.
He gave her a letter and while Kim opened it, she began to shiver.
she asked and the man nodded his head.
Kim acted as in a dream. She took the few things, she had left in the office before breaking her leg, put the keys on the table, took the letter in her handbag and turned out of the office, without a word and without looking back. Her head was like cotton, while she went home. In the letter there was her money for the month – nothing more. If she won't loose her home and have something to eat, she was obliged to find a job as fast as possible. She looked in the newspapers at asked at the employment exchange, but she found nothing. After one week, she was at the end of her nerves and she knew, that in two weeks she would be finished. Even Rosa seamed not to have a solution. Each day was harder than the day before and Kim wished, to be able to die, before to be obliged to turn back to Ireland. But in those times of distress there was hope, too. At the end of the second week Rosa called Kim at the phone and told her, that a friend of her husband is searching for a foreign languages secretary.
she told Kim and gave her the name and address of the man. The next day Kim styled her hair for the first time since she had been dropped out and put a make-up an her face. She found a nice costume, which showed her mince body and gave her a look of an citizen of the world. While she walked down the streets, she obliged herself not to think about, what would happen, if she couldn't get the job. She stopped in face of an old building, which recently had been entirely renovated. She told her name to the man at the reception and was let in. She entered a large office, where the sun shined in and where a man was waiting for her.
asked Kim, while the man stood up behind a large mahogany table and came to her.
said the man with a warm voice. While Kim agreed, he showed her a comfortable chair to sit down and went back to his place.
he started the job interview and began to ask a lot of questions. After a while, he smiled and said:
Kim began to smile much more and thanked the man with ardour. When she had left the building, she started to dance on the street. Then she run to Rosa to tell her the news. The new job permitted to Kim to live a better way of life, rich of experiences and happiness. She had to work hard and often until night, but so the times became rare, when the memories of her sun made her cry until she felt in an exhausted sleep. The month went on and Kim felt better. She earned enough money to be able to think about a new horse of her own. When she spoke with Rosa about her wish, her friend told her, that Kim might have a box at the hacienda.
said Kim, who knew very well, how many work will make a second horse.
said Kim and spent a lot of her free time during the following weeks to look for a horse. One day she saw a small mare, whose rider treated her vary badly. Kim followed the man and when he reached his home, she proposed him to buy the horse. After a short time of reflection, the cruel man accepted. For a small amount, Kim bought a nice horse, which seemed to be happy to escape from it's first owner. Kim named the mare "Dragonfly" and enjoyed it very much to ride again in the countryside on her own horse. One morning Kim's chief told her, that they will have a visit the next day.
told her Mr. Molino, when he entered the office, where Kim was preparing a coffee. She turned around and looked at him.
asked she, because she new very well, that the choice of the place was important, as well as the choice of the dress to wear. Normally the chief was taking his visitors to one of the best restaurants in the town or to the dining room in the five-stars hotel, but today his answer surprised her.
asked Kim.
answered the chief.
smiled Mr. Molino, when he left the office. Kim had something to think about and she tried to imagine, who might be the guests, who are invited in such a special way. The next day her chief allowed her to turn back home at noon, to prepare herself. Kim took a hot shower and washed her hair. For the choice of her dress, she hesitated between a black two-piece suit and a deep green dress, which fitted very well to her red hair. Finally she decided to wear the greed dress, took a discreet make-up on her face and let her hair fall down on her back like a smooth veil. She put a small, golden ring with a pearl on her finger and a golden necklace around her neck – and so she rang the bell at her chiefs door at five to six. His wife opened and take a short look at her.
said Kim. Then she followed the woman into the study, where Mr. Molino was standing in front of a large bookshelf. He was as well dressed as his wife, but her corpulence didn't allow her a big choice of clothes.
began the chief. and he went to a small bar in one of the corners.
answered Kim,
told her the chief and turned to his wife. His wife agreed and went out in the kitchen. When she came back with a big glass of orange juice, she put it on a small table in front of Kim and begged them to excuse her, because she had still a lot to prepare for the meal. During the following time, Mr. Molino explained to Kim how he wished to pass the evening with the guests. Then they heard the noise of tires on the gravel and they went to the door, to welcome the guests. Three well-dressed, distinguished men, two of them in the middle-ages, one much more younger. The chief spoke in Spanish and Kim had to translate it into English.
..... the chief pointed at Kim, Kim smiled and translated the words in English. The men seemed to be pleased and above all the young mans eyes rested for a long time on her body with an appraising look, but friendly. It was he, who answered.
answered Kim and looked in the young mans eyes – perhaps a little bit too long as usual. They all went to the dining-room, where their hostess welcomed them. During the meal, which was excellent, Kim had the possibility to throw some furtive glance at the young man, who was sitting in front of her. He seemed to be bored in the company of the two older men and far away with his thoughts. He had a nice face, long, black, curly hair which he was wearing like an artist, worm, brown eyes under bright brows, a straight nose and sensitive lips. He wasn't a giant, but he had an athletic body, staying power and force. Since an eternity Kim had waited for such a man! The wounds, her first husband had caused to her, were nearly closed up, she had found a new force to live and she wished a man – love, caresses and affection! But how to start? She didn't know, how to flirt, neither how to catch a man. So she had to stay and hope and wait.
Kim, who was lost in thought, looking at some paintings on the wall of the anteroom, turned around like lightning, when she heard this warm and deep voice behind her back. Dan Ackroyd stayed in the room and looked at her.
surprised, she found no words. She had wished so much this conversation and now, while the young man started to speak, she was disturbed like a school-girl. She cleared her voice and looked at him with a smile.
said the young man.
she asked the young man.
told her Dan Ackroyd. He showed her one of the paintings.
he shouted. Kim looked to the painting and back in his face.
she asked and was surprised, as he agreed.
replied Kim.
said the young man. And he opened a small door to a small room, which seemed to be a reading-room. The sat down in the chairs an Dan Ackroyd followed the conversation.
Kim thought a little while, then she told him:
he asked her. Kim was glad, that he was so sensitive to do not ask her about her past and answered:
agreed Kim with him. She didn't know, that she answered a hidden question of the young man. But he didn't show her his satisfaction, that she went into his trap and began to talk about his own breeding.
He smiled to her and Kim smiled back to him.
The young man was just starting to answer, when their host came into the room.
said the chief. He turned to Kim.
The two young people left their chairs with regret and followed their host. In the entrance, the other two men were waiting and their hostess, too. There was no possibility to exchange a personal word. So Kim had to shake hands with everybody. Dan Ackroyd was the last, to hold her small hand in his and he made the most of this moment. Kim felt the meaningful pressure of his hand and looked in his gentle eyes, but the words, they changed, were formal.
he whispered, while he kissed her on the hand.
said Kim. Then they were separated. Kim stayed for a long moment in the open door and looked behind the leaving car, which went more and more fast towards the city. She was overcome with a feeling of loneliness and so she left her chiefs house as fast as possible, pretending, that she had to continue working early in the morning. This night she was lying awake in her bed and tried to analyze the mood, she was in. She couldn't think another thing, but only this young man, who came as suddenly in her life, as suddenly he went out.
she told herself. But that's easier said than done. During the next weeks, she caught herself at looking out for his clear-cut face, when she went in the streets and asking her chief with some threadbare pretext, if he knows, if the young man is still Mister Muller’s guest, but in vain. As time goes by, the memory of Dan fade away, but never went out really of her mind. She tried to get his address in French-Canada, but he neither was entered as interior designer, nor as horse-breeder. So she tried to banish his memory – but she wasn't able to do this. To find some distraction, she visited lectures about arts, bought some books about paintings and sculptures and went to exhibitions of art.
3
DAN – A NEW BEGINNING
When the guide of the gallery mentioned this name, Kim, who visited for the first time this small gallery, turned around as if stung by a bee.
asked the guide and looked curiously at Kim, who seemed to be very excited.
said a deep and warm voice behind her, which sound made Kim shiver and she had to pull herself strong together, if she wouldn't faint. Slowly, very slowly she turned around, to see the speaker.
The young man was touched deep in his soul. Their first, short meeting had left a deep impression. Since they had said good bye after the evening in the house of her boss, he had always thought about her. And now she was here, visiting his exhibition! And she felt the same as he, when he was painting his pictures!
Kim's voice was still insecure and the sensitive artiste felt it. But he also saw, that some visitors turned into their direction, curious, what had happened. he wouldn't cause a stir and because he wouldn't have to speak with some art critic, he gently touched Kim's arm and went with her to the exit.
whispered the artist and Kim followed him willing. They found a place in a small, cozy restaurant, nearby. Kim couldn't still not grasp, that the chance smiled to her.
said Kim and looked at the man, who was sitting in face of her.
In the voice of the young man there was so much feeling, that Kim was really overpowered.
whispered the young woman. The artist took her small hand and begged her with his warm voice:
Their eyes said more, than their lips spoke and their hands were still fold together in a silent agreement.
The voice of the waiter broke the magic of the moment and took them back to earth.
Dan looked at Kim, who agreed with a sign of her head. When the waiter disappeared, the young people looked at each other.
Dan was very happy.
Dan seemed to be angry about himself.
answered Kim and Dan leaned over the table and gave her a smooth and gentle kiss. In this moment it seemed to Kim that she could fly high to the stars, that earth and time and space had stopped their movement. Therefor she had waited all her life long! For this feeling! That was true love and real happiness! She forgot all around her! Forgotten the years of suppression under her mother, forgotten the bad time with José, forgotten the separation of her son, all, all forgotten! Dan should feel it, that she gave him with this kiss her love, her souls, her heart, her entire being! Would he accept? He stand up came around the table and embraced her again.
and Kim followed him, without asking a word. The waiter, who brought the orange juice, looked curiously at the couple, leaving the restaurant and shook his head, but smiled. After a long, long time, when Kim was watching herself in the mirror of the hotel room, she hardly could believe, that it was the same woman, looking at her. Dan was standing behind her and embraced her naked body, while Kim smiled at him in the mirror.
When he ended, Kim felt to loose her footing, but the strong arms of the young man hold her upright. The mirror became black before her eyes and her smile was frozen. And Dan continued:
Kim, who was still hold by his arms, thought very fast about all the things, he had told her. She was torn between her feeling of love and the wish, Dan might stay at her side forever, and the respect of his big plea, to stay together as friends. Would she survive a separation? Would she be able to accept his wish and stay as a friend for him, without feeling the temptation? Would their have the force to be platonic friends, after this wonderful day?
There they were out, those terrible words, which seemed to seal her destiny. When Dan couldn't be her man, lover, husband, she never would have somebody else at her side, that was clear! She felt, how the strain of his arms slackened and he took a big breath. Now she gave her a little kiss on her neck.
Kim didn't understand his words, but she wouldn't interrupt this moment of happiness and so she played his game.
whispered Kim, who tried to hold back her tears. They had dinner in a very expensive restaurant, then Dan brought her back to her home in a taxi. When they stood before the door, Dan took his leave of Kim.
Kim's voice was only a breath.
He took her hand, kissed it and then he disappeared.
whispered Kim. She was able to keep her composure, until the taxi with Dan was out of sight, but then she let her tears run over her cheeks and sobbed unrestrainedly. Another hope destroyed! And she had been so sure, That Dan loved her as she loved him! But what a honest character! In spite of her personal pain, she had to admire this man! Now there was no way back. She had made her choice! Might them resist against all temptations! Dan was in thoughts, too, while the taxi brought him back to the hotel. So he hadn't be betrayed! She loved him so much, that she agreed to be his friend! Sex was less, than real friendship! She loved him because of himself! What a woman! After their first ride they had a lot of others in the wide Andalusian landscape. Kim worked in the office as she used to do, but tried to have some free time as often as possible. She tried to avoid voyages and asked her boss for some holidays earlier as decided. Those things gave sign to her boss and one day he couldn't hold on and asked her about the change of aptitudes.
Kim was confused, because she knew, that her boss had to know about her plans – but did she really have plans? And what was the truth? Wasn't she able to decide herself about her further life? The man shook his head.
It wasn't a question, it was a statement.
smiled the boss before he went back to his office. For some time he will be able to count on his secretary.
with this words Dan welcomed the young woman, when they met one Saturday morning to have a ride. Kim became suddenly very sad. She had never thought, that the happy days would come to an end.
Kim's voice was full of fears, that he would tell her, that he never will come back to Spain and Dan had a little smile, when he saw her face.
laughed the young man, but soon he became serious. Kim became red. In this moment she saw clearly his promised waiting for him in Canada, while he amused with her in Spain. Would Dan tell her lies or the truth – and which a truth? He opened exhibitions of his paintings, traveled a lot to get new inspirations, met a lot of new friends and spent a lot of time with his – platonic – love, Kim. Would his promised believe his words?
swore Kim, then she spurred her horse and started a wild gallop over the wide plain. The strong ride made tears run down her cheeks – but she cried not only because of the airstream! There were tears of pain, too. When Dan reached her, she was able to control herself and to smile to him.
Dan should understand her, because she had told him all about her life. Her youth under the suppression of her mother, her escape into the marriage with José, the fast end of her dreams, the loss of her son – all things, which had happened to her, without making her stand in a better light as it was. And Dan was the only person in the world to know ALL about her and her life. And so he could feel, how much he was for her also or even because they had sworn to be only friends.
He took the reins of her horse and stopped Dragonfly. When she looked at him in surprise, he smiled. He knew very well, that she had been crying because of him and his words. Side by side the went back, filled with happiness about their affinity and lucky to be together. In the evening Dan took the aircraft to Canada. He staid there for a short time, helped his father and spoke to his mother about a lot of things. During this time, Kim was waiting ardently for the loved man, but some little doubts were still in her mind. Would he really come back? Or had he said those words only to avoid a scene? So she worked like a machine and found some joy when she took a ride on her horse. One day followed the other and her thoughts were with Dan. In the meantime the young man had finished his business in Canada and even found some time to went to a jeweler's shop before he took the aircraft back to Spain. Three weeks after his departure he was back at Seville. With a taxi he went to Kim's house and prayed, that she would be at home. He rang the door bell and waited with beating heart. Suddenly he heard her steps on the floor, when she came to the door. She opened – and her face got the expression of unspeakable happiness, when she saw, who was standing on the other side.
her voice cracked, so excited she was.
laughed Dan, took her in his arms, lifted her up and went with her into the sleeping room. There he made her lie on the bed, threw himself beside her and began to kiss her all over. First Kim was speechless, so surprised she was what he was doing, then she was out of breath because of his wild kisses. But a little flame in her brain tried to tell her something: Had he forgotten his promises?
she shouted in fears and tried to free her out of his arms. But Dan surrounded her with his strong arms and kissed her again.
And he kissed her all over. Kim forgot about those burning kisses on her lips and neck and body, that she should be a little bit angry about his comedy – but she was too happy, to say a word. So she nodded her head.
she breathed and then there was only the burning and all consuming love! Ages and some days later, Kim and Dan talked about the future and how to organize their life together. They decided to marry in Spain and to live there until all documents will be in order, to allow Kim to immigrate to Canada. Time was passing by very fast, the authorities worked as slowly as they did before and Kim needed all her energy and free time to go through all the formalities. When one administration said something, the other said something else, when she was asked to bring a translation of a worthless document, the clerk put it aside, to ask her for another attestation. They had to wait a long time, to get the permit of marriage. Two strangers wished to marry in Spain, even when Kim was living and working there, and she was divorced. Because her first marriage had been only a civil one, she had the right to go to church with Dan and they decided to do this in Canada, so the parents of Dan could take part, too. One evening Kim arrived at home with a big smile and kissed Dan with ardor, who was standing in the kitchen, preparing the dinner.
Dan took her in his arms and danced around the table.
he laughed.
Kim disappeared into the bathing room and let Dan finish the dinner.
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AJÁNLOM AZ OLDALT
