“We will be delighted to do so. Thank you for everything. Enjoy yourself during your holidays.”
Jill sipped the orange juice gracefully and she felt ready to go to the party. They caught the first bus and they arrived at Albert and Sylvanus’ feast on time. They watched in disbelief at the place already crammed with people. Albert and Sylvanus went to welcome them with their usual gallantry. Albert was a bit anxious. “Let me guess,” said Araon.
“Guess what?” answered Albert.
“You are anxious because the girl you are in love with is not here yet,” confirmed Araon.
“You are right. But these are the latest glorious words. Here she is. She has just come in.”
Jill and Araon were so anxious to see the girl. She was dressed in a pink flowered dress with a pearl necklace. She introduced herself to the guests pretending to ignore Albert “My name is Ravina. Thank you for your invitation,” she addressed cunningly to Sylvanus.
“My name is Sylvanus. And they are, Albert, Jill and Araon,” he answered.
“Have you lived here for a long time?” asked Ravina instinctively.
“Oh, yes. We have been living here since we were ten years old. We were born in Britain but, as usually happens, we found ourselves living here. We are so acquainted with the people that we don’t feel to be immigrants.”
“I am also of Polish origin. I enjoy myself here working in a kindergarten.”
She was so sweet that Sylvanus, Araon and Jill went away to leave Albert alone with Ravina. His heart was making him crazy. He had the stamina to be brilliant but so overfilled with emotions as he was, he didn’t know what to say. He broke the ice by inviting Ravina to dance a slow dance. Suddenly arrived a man in the middle of the party who didn’t seem to have been invited. He justified himself by saying he had the instinct to follow Araon. They met each other at a barber some time ago and there was advertised the book of his nephew, The Hen and the Mud due to be released soon. It was not clear how came he knew about the party. Albert and Sylvanus were as cold as ice. They didn’t know how to behave in front of that stranger. Hopefully he would leave the place soon, dropping a card from his pocket which was promptly grabbed by Jill. Araon was enjoying himself eating sandwiches and drinking Coke while everybody else was rampant on the dance floor. The moment arrived for everybody to move to the rhythm of rock and roll. Albert was a bit awkward in his movement. He seemed to follow more the rhythm of country music than the rock and roll one.
The ecstasy of the party was briefly interrupted by the arrival of some corgis without muzzles. The man holding them looked as if he was a stranger to the situation. He smartly apologized by saying that the dogs were not dangerous. But even this time the annoyance left soon. The man and the dogs disappeared in the fog of the city outside. At this point Albert had the courage to confess part of his feelings for Ravina. He found the most sensual words he could utter: “You look beautiful Ravina.”
“And you sound genial,” answered the woman with some difficulty. They sat to chat and to bill and coo.
Jill, on the other side of the room seemed enchanted by the invitation card she was holding since the disappearance of the weird man. It was a bizarre tool of obsession. Apparently, the man wanted to reach the limelight as simple as this. ‘Altogether I think marriage is a bit of a mistake’, she could read on the back of the card, writing with very small characters. Araon went to invite her to dance but she turned him down saying she had difficulty in moving, even slowly. The party happened to be a success. Everybody was happy despite the occasional accident. It carried on until midnight when everybody was exhausted and wishing to go to sleep. Albert and Sylvanus felt honored by their guests and promised that they would make another surprising party in the foreseeable future..
The following Sunday, Albert and Sylvanus went to pick Ravina up with their cabriolet. They had to go and spend some time in their farmstead in the outskirts of Amsterdam as previously agreed. The summer was drawing close and it was time to gorge themselves on grapes. Ravina arrived with a linen khaki dress and her hair tied in a fashionable way. “Good morning,” she said quietly.
“Good morning grace,” answered Albert and Sylvanus synchronized.
“Now we will show you our countryside house. You will fall in love with it, we are sure. It’s a frame to your beauty. It’s all quiet and peaceful,” said Albert with a warm voice.
During the travel Ravina looked a bit embarrassed. She answered to any word of Albert by nodding. She started to breath and talk normally just at the entrance of the farmhouse. The gates of the place operated by remote control.
“We are finally here. Did you enjoy the travel?” said Albert to a cherished Ravina who answered simply with a gesture of her head.
Ravina was enchanted by the site that she watched with the naive eyes of a child. She had never found herself in a similar situation. Everything was new and brilliant for her, a good chance for Albert to win her heart. They parked the car under the roofing and went into the house straight away. It was clean and tidy purposely for Ravina. Albert played the part of the good host. He took Ravina through the rooms of the house to fill her in with images of immense beauty. She liked the large and comfortable sitting room. But she found the toilet gloomy and dark. Albert told Ravina that she could have a shower in case she had been irritated by the rays of the sun. She answered with half a smile as if she had considered it a provocation. She thought instead of the barbed wire in the walls of the garden. She pointed it out and asked to Albert if they were frightened by the thieves. “Not at all,” answered Albert with an embarrassed expression. “We simply want and need privacy. Sylvanus is in charge of the so-called raising of the hens from which he takes lovely daily eggs. Do you like zabaglione?” he carried on. “You know he considers the hens and the chickens as our personal pets, we are not going to kill them. We pay a person to feed the animals every day. We would never dare to torture our chickens and hens by keeping them awake all the time with light on their eyes in order to make them eat and eat and kill them in the right moment. We are butchers by accident. We love our animals. The meat we sell comes from a place where we don’t attend their torture and the killing of the poor beasts.”
“I’m also very sensitive. I’m not on a vegetarian diet, though. I eat meat.” she said.
“Here is Sylvanus with the eggs.”
“Lovely,” Ravina answered ecstatic.
Sylvanus entered just to give them the eggs and he went immediately to the garden to let the two of them have some intimacy. “Have you been living in Amsterdam for a long time?” said Albert with a certain self-assurance.
“I am here since I was ten years old. Now I am twenty-nine. I work as a teacher even though I have a degree in finance. When I first came here it was very difficult for me to learn the language. But now I am a naturalized Dutchwoman. You are also sons of immigrants as you said at the party, aren’t you? Have you found difficulty in blending with the local population?”
“Not really. Actually, we were very young when we first arrived. My dad was busy with an offshore company and Sylvanus’ dad followed suit. Our friendship bloomed in those circumstances. Now let think of the present. Would you like to go to be cuddled by the rays of the sun?”
“Yes indeed.”
“Look: here is the space where we have been planning an indoor swimming-pool but we have not been given the permit to do it yet. Though we feel blessed to have such a big open place.
“And what is that?”
“Oh, it’s the pit. It’s outside to purify the water from our faucet. Hopefully we don’t drink it. Do you mind some music?”
“You make me feel guilty for such kindness. Yes, I would like to listen to the radio,” said Ravina. Elton John’s song for Marilyn Monroe spread sonorously over the place.
“What do you think about gays?” Albert immediately changed mood.
“Well, what I like about Holland is the unprejudiced people. I have nothing against the coming out but
I think they have to use some modesty,” said Ravina. “I am open minded but I am not sure if I am supportive of guys marriages and parenthood.”
Suddenly Sylvanus approached them after a plunge in the mud. He was all dirty and that frightened Ravina a bit. “Sorry guys. I’ll go to have a shower and change my clothes. I was too busy in the enclosure of our pets,” said Sylvanus and then he disappeared again leaving his shyness as a matter of fact.
Albert thought well to bring Ravina outside to show her the place. There were other farmhouses all around. Ravina nodded just to be kind. In the distance they saw the daughter of the neighbour horse riding. She fell from the horse for a small mistake and Albert and Ravina offered some help.
“Thanks a lot. I’m fine,” she said. “I’ll go back home immediately. My dad, who is here today, has always forbidden me to horse ride in the street. I would appreciate it if you accompany me home just to make sure my mum is calm and quiet.”
Albert and Ravina obliged, of course. They arrived at the biggest house in the surrounding area. The girl was a bit awkward. She didn’t know really how to face her mum’s anger. “What were you doing outside with the horse? Is your dad aware of it? Oh, you make me feel ashamed. There are some guests as I see. Hi Albert, it’s a long time since I’ve seen you. Who is this beautiful lady?”
“My name is Ravina. I come from Poland. Me and Albert became friends after a sumptuous, magnificent party,” Ravina answered.
“Would you like a cup of coffee?” The lady asked.
“You are very kind but it’s nearly lunch time. We just came to help the girl. Actually, the girl is hiding herself because of a pain in her leg. She is frightened about your consequent reaction. But what she is frightened most about is her dad’s consequent burst of violent words,” said Albert.
“Do not worry. For now, she is excused,” the woman said.
Albert and Ravina said hello to everybody and comforted the girl with a clap on the back. Sylvanus was waiting for them with a sumptuously laid table. Pasta and pork were ready to be served. “Welcome on board,” he said.
“What?” asked Albert.
“I am just kidding. It’s just not to offend you for not being on time for lunch. Now feel free to serve yourself,” he said.
They all had a lovely time which lasted till the end of the trip to the country. They made half past seven by talking and joking. It was not easy to bring Ravina back home. She kissed Albert with mischief and promised to see him again very soon.
As soon as she entered the flat, she found a surprise: mousetraps with poor mice embedded in them. She pledged herself not to repeat that stratagem again. She felt relieved Albert and Sylvanus had not the time to enter the flat and have a look at it. It was late and she was drowsy. She abandoned herself on the sofa thinking of the enchanting moments she spent with Albert. Was it the start of a crush?
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
It was the first day off for Samantha who enjoyed the blessing of a stroll along the streets of the Soho. She happened to hear from the window of a house the cry of a woman and the voice of a man which sounded familiar to her. She approached the window and she saw briefly, Phil slapping a woman and shouting: “Where have you been all this time bloody slut? You were screwing, weren’t you?”
“Leave me alone. I am innocent,” Said the woman.
“I won’t protect you any longer, whore,” he said. Phil turned pale when he realized somebody was spying in the window. It was Samantha. He had no options. He went out of the house and chased Samantha who was running desperately. He was breathless when he finally reached her.
“Leave me alone. I do not know if you can justify yourself,” she said emotionless.
“She was a woman of mine. Our relationship ended last month but I cannot stand lies. She told me that she had to go to a party at her cousin’s but she was in bed with a man in a flat of mine. I discovered all that accidentally because I needed to check the electronic system of the opening of the gate in that flat. Believe me I want to meet you again. We have to spend fantastic days together like the other night. Let me arrange everything with that whore and I will be with you?”
“OK. I have to go now” And she went away forlorn. She didn’t know whether to believe or not to the words of Phil. Anyway, they had just spent a romantic day out together, nothing more.
Lucia was waiting for Samantha to arrive. She was on time as usual holding a briefcase. “Lucia.”
“Hi Samantha, we are in a hurry. Let’s go to pick the diamond tiara and take it immediately to Sotheby’s.
They caught the first taxi they stopped and reached their final destination speechless. It seemed that the taxi driver had chosen the narrowest streets in order to extend the journey to get paid more. “Ten pounds,” he said. “I let you pay a lower fair since I had to lengthen the way because of a main street closed to traffic,” he added.
Samantha was going to pay him when Lucia refrained her from doing so. “No love, it’s my turn.” And she took the money from her golden purse.
“Let me know if you have to go back home shortly,” said the taxi- driver “This is my telephone number.”
“We will call you within a couple of hours. Thank you for everything.”
Sotheby’s what a dream. And it was the coziest reality to them. Lucia assured Samantha that she had already made arrangements. The starting price for the tiara was ten hundred thousand pounds. They would sell it for much more. What an interesting day! Among the public of aristocrats there were wealthy Russian businessmen who treated the jewel as a means of breathing out since they had to be forgiven for cheating on their wives. The auction was at its best that day. Among the things to be auctioned there were paintings from Picasso and Van Gogh. But the day started with the introduction of Samantha and Mary’s tiara.
“I’ll buy it for eleven hundred thousand pounds.”
“I’ll offer fourteen hundred thousand pounds.”
“It’s mine. I offer double of this last offer.”
“It’s knocked down.”
Finally said the auctioneer and Lucia and Samantha sold their jewel. They had been paid with cheques and thought properly to fly from the place trying not to be noticed by bystanders. “Now, love, save this cheque put it in your safe. We will open a bank account shortly when the smell of jewels will disappear from our lives for good. I’ll go back to my country tomorrow morning. My child is waiting for me,” said Lucia.
“Your child? You have barely told me you have a child,” said Samantha.
“I know it. It’s the result of an occasional relationship. His dad is so disgusting. I don’t want to see him any more. I give you this piece of advice: do not think to marry early in your life. Enjoy yourself as much as you can and, above all, stay away from churches. We cannot serve God and mammon. We have chosen mammon, of course. When I am home, I’ll contact you. We do not need to change the telephone number all the time any more. Samantha: are you listening to me?”
“Sure. I was just thinking we have to call the taxi. We are alone in the street with this briefcase. I do not feel safe.”
“I dialled his number when we were coming out of the room of the auction. He told me that he would arrive within fifteen minutes. Eventually, here he is.”
“Hello girls,” he said quietly. “The usual destination?”
“Yes, you are right.” And they inserted themselves into the taxi.
This time it took them only ten minutes to arrive home. The driver didn’t charge the two women and wished them a nice day.
“I have to leave you now Samantha,” said Lucia as a flower growing in profusion.
“Good luck and come back to visit me soon,” said Samantha.
The two women were tired, exhausted and skeptical. They couldn’t believe their life had changed for the better once and for all now. Samantha needed to stay at home reading, writing, housekeeping, doing anything but to think of her day at work for the next day. She didn’t forget to put the cheque into the sa
fe and then she undressed to wear a silken night dress. She launched her high-heeled shoes in the other room and sought for remedies to relieve the pains and discomfort of that piece of accessory. Horrible thoughts visited her mind. The image of the boss who had been deprived of two million pounds from the girls he used as sex objects and she didn’t know if he could find her surprisingly there in London. She needed, in a profusive way, to savour a nice state of mind. And then there was Phil. She hoped that their story wouldn’t finish before it had started. She was frightened by the idea of alluring him sexually. She had had short-term love affairs in her life just for the fear of sex. Somehow, she was sure that at least Phil didn’t want to get laid. To think well was no remedy. Her mind addressed her to the situation of the eight million children who died from starvation every year. She sent to the third world, ten pounds per month in the desperate attempt to save those flourishing young leaves. But she was not allowed to be a mellow heart. She was serving mammon, after all. What a strain!
She switched on the telly just to see the football match of the day. She was not a fan but she watched the game every now and then. Birmingham against Chelsea was the joy of the evening. She cried as loud as she could at Chelsea’s first goal. “What’s happening to me? I’m not supposed to react like that,” she said to herself. She decided to have a halt to the enjoyment of the game to consider cooking some food. Actually, she missed the meal. She prepared some toast to the enjoyment of her taste buds. An orange juice just to get some sugar and that was it. She switched the TV off and went to the balcony straight away. What a glamorous sight! But… But there was Van der Baast among her priorities again.
Mark Ward had a hard day to cope with. As soon as he arrived at the riding school, he had to face a sad reality, three of his bay horses had been killed. It was probably death by poisoning. Sure, there weren’t signs of suffocation or bullets of a gun. “Who the hell did it?” he thought crying with despair. “The gate is closed, how could they enter? They probably used a universal key to open and close the gate. I should have listened to the hospital personnel suggestion about using a better key for the gate and even to enclose the walls of the place with barbed wire. It mustn’t be very difficult to climb the walls otherwise. I’m so shocked that I have not the stamina to work. I’ll close the school for one week. Closed: death in the family. I will write on the gate. I have not the time to inform all my customers of the calamity. Who the hell did it? Was it perhaps a question of envy? I have never used these three beauties to train somebody. They were a strong point for me. In the past they won different prizes in the local competition. I have decided: now I’ll go back home, change my dress and go to the Van Gogh Museum to inform my belle of the happening. But I have to call the police to inform them of the crime first.”
The Red Box Page 34
