The Beginnings – Part 13: AN INTERESTING CREATURE

“Sometimes a man’s shadow is more in the room than he is.”
-as heard while watching
LOVE IS THE DEVIL, a 1998 motion picture about painter Francis Bacon

April 16, 1983

I had my car washed and had it polished and waxed at the South Shore Car Wash. I wanted the car clean for my date with Silvia Rabe.

I arrived early (two o’clock) instead of the intended four or five o’clock. I knew it would be fine with her. We looked for possible apartments for myself in the Contra Costa vicinity. We ate at SOUPERB SALAD at the WILLOWS SHOPPING CENTER. After that we went to see THE LOCAL HERO at the Festival Cinemas.

We returned to Silvia’s apartment again. I met her roommate, Brenda and Laurie (a friend of Brenda’s). We had spiked and veggie salted popcorn with orange juice. We talked and I was invited to go to Napa-Calistoga this coming Sunday.
I told Silvia, “Well, how about if I take a rain check on that because I need to sleep in and go on my long-distance bike ride.”
I left after giving Silvia a few of my voluptuous kisses. I wish she could walk normally and not have to use those Canadian crutches.

I told Silvia’s roommate Brenda, “You’re an interesting creature.”
She laughed at that description.
I later said to Silvia, “I hope she wasn’t insulted.”
“I think she’ll get over it.”
“I didn’t mean for it to be an insult. I picked up the line from that soap-opera called THE EDGE OF NIGHT. The character Ian had a chess partner and he called Raven, his love interest, an interestingly beautiful creature.”

When I left Silvia’s apartment I cruised over to THE HUB bar again in Walnut Creek. The bartender, Dave, remembered me. I think it’s because I left him a tip the night before. The only person I met of any interest was a former real estate chap and jogger from Albany. He gave me his telephone number. I don’t want to seem overly anxious about his invitation to jog together. After all, I’m a biker and not a jogger. Then again, I could hack the running trend. I’ve got good legs. I have him a ride in my car and then we simply parted ways with a polite good night. He was an interesting creature, too.

“But what LIFE is without its regrets?”
-Shyam Selvadurai
CINNAMON GARDENS, a novel