Vanya swung her tawny eyes from the square concrete pavers swallowed beneath her feet the path wound through the park grounds. Shadows overcast almost obscuring the path in the darkening sky. If it were not for the bright lamp posts strategically placed, she would have tumbled headlong into the fountain that suddenly appeared through the parted foliage. An enigmatic smile touched her lips as her eyes clapped on the towering marbled column, her eyes glazed over at the magnificent stature, caught in such rapture she mused as she did every time the past two years crossing this very path to her apartment complex. The statuette’s fixed stare soulfully beckoned with a hand outstretched. It was a stunning piece of art. Attractive, well endowed the perfectly smooth symmetrical muscular contours in stark contrast to the little chubby winged cherub armed with a crossbow suspended from it’s base. Suspended forever in time above the small stone pond with its never-ending babbling spout. As a warm blooded woman Vanya could appreciate the simple virile contours of the artifice. Many a time she would sit cross legged on the lawn indulging in one of her favorite past times….. sketching. The lines would blur together as the vivid images would take a life of their own, the images mocked her, confounded her, eliciting her heightened awareness. It left her ……wanting more, unfulfilled, empty, deeply disappointed. Was it so wrong to feel this way about a mere piece of stone? Yet those knowing eyes always touch her like a physical caress, and she shivered deliciously.
The following evening, Vanya peered out from her fourth floor apartment overlooking the park. It was a festive sight that greeted her. Picnic baskets and colorful blankets scattered everywhere, a wavering candle burning at each site to mark the beginning of summer. A make-shift stage occupied front and centre, the live music played softly. Corded lights lined the entertainment area. An enormous pine tree was decorated with glow in the dark eclectic décor. Even the lone figure that remained impassive over time was adorned with a twinkling crown of lights to bring it out of the shadows. Incidentally her gaze collided with a shooting star trailing across the heavens and Vanya whimsically made a wish.
The holidays. She joined her many friends for picnics, braais and last minute shopping sprees. Santa’s were underfoot clanging their bells pedaling their wares to passersby's. Vanya’s favorite pastime has always been to stroll through the flea markets on the promenade on a humid summer evening searching for hidden treasures. Religious groups took to the make shift platform at night singing Christmas songs where a nativity scene of the birth of Jesus was erected.
She was reluctant to go home alone for Christmas. Even though, their family Christmases always involved the huge 4-bedroomed cottage overflowing with guests and good spicy home-made food. Despite all the preparations that went into the event of the year Vanya’s mother always always managed to meet a “most” suitable man whom she invited over Christmas day. She had dated on and off, of course but what eluded her was the special affinity her parents possessed. Her younger brother Niven had married this past year. Her younger sister Pam was seeing someone quiet seriously. So that left her. She felt conspicuous, out there for anyone to pity. She was awfully tired of being reminded how old she was getting. Grandchildren! Was that what all parents looked forward to? Hers definitely did. It seemed to be the highlight of every women’s life. One is never complete if one does not have a husband and children in tow.
The night before Christmas she was packed for her long trip home to Durban. All was quite as Vanya walked toward her apartment, her hand rifled through her bag for her keys – she wondered for the umpteenth time why she had brought along her shawl which was haphazardly stuffed into her bag, it was way too humid she could feel the hot trickle of sweat slip between her breasts. So flustered, in her haste the keys slipped through her fingers. Bending over she froze when a flash of silver illuminated the night and the marbled figurine of the beautiful David so she had come to think of him. A burning arrow released from Cupid ’s bow ricocheted of “David’s” massive chest. The stone cracked a sound not unlike a gunshot in the quiet, piece by piece crumbled. In its place was unearthed the glorious flesh and blood image imprinted in her dreams, in all his naked glory. Her legs warbled unable to support her weight she fell to her knees her keys forgotten. What on god’s green earth, she thought.
Poetry in motion he stepped off the pedestal into her life. Her eyes remained riveted to his still bare form. He seemed to be all aglow, his skin pearlescent. His hair. His hair a wonderful fiery shade of red and gold. His eyes so full of gaiety and surprise were an enrapturous deep cobalt. Until now, she never thought about the silly wish she had made…and for one millisecond imagined beggars flying. She cleared her throat loudly, as if it will awake her from another wanton dream. Being a practical person of sound mind she believed in the adage “if wishes were horses then beggars would fly.”
“My Aphrodite” David whispered in a low deep sexy voice, the glimmer from his body slowly fading as he lithely crossed to her side “My life. My love. My heart. My soul” he stared into her tawny eyes roaming the beloved plains of her face like a much cherished object. “Nortia! Tyche!. You positively wicked girls!” He mused radiantly referring to the goddesses of fate and luck. “and how stupendously marvelous.”
“Do you believe in destiny, my beautiful Vanya?“ he said loudly with an air of unaffectedness “I always did believe in the what is, and here we are” Vanya’s eyes grew round at the reference to her name “I have watched you for so long and have guided you to providence” he chuckled softly “I am called Theo for – “
“ – a gift from god” Vanya squeaked stepping back disbelieving she had such a fantastic imagination. At his first touch she flinched at the spark, shocked at her own response. This was no dream. Tentatively she reached out tracing her fingertips up his arm pausing on his well defined bicep, she shuddered with the enormity of it all. The stubborn impractical part of her that wanted to believe in miracles resisted for a split second. It is this very part that retrieved the shawl with a flourish and secured it around his slender waist away from any prying eyes. He was hers. Hers to take. And there he stood for the taking. Theo bent over for a second then enfolded her palm in both of his, when his hand came away a shiny metal object twinkled. Of course….Her keys.
“Then who am I to mess with destiny” she answered breathlessly into his laughing eyes, her fears melting away like ice on a hot summer’s day.
“So young and so wise” Theo cupped her face in his hands “Carpe Diem!” he whispered blocking out all but the feel of Vanya’s lips against his. Time was suspended. Time enough for explanations…much much later.
Theo’s arms stole around her ardently pressing her closer to him, and Vanya felt the rightness slip in like a piece of a puzzle falling into place. She was where she belonged. Snug against his heart, body and soul. She smiled against his lips. Silently thanking the fates that this Christmas will be so singularly special from the rest.
The END
The following evening, Vanya peered out from her fourth floor apartment overlooking the park. It was a festive sight that greeted her. Picnic baskets and colorful blankets scattered everywhere, a wavering candle burning at each site to mark the beginning of summer. A make-shift stage occupied front and centre, the live music played softly. Corded lights lined the entertainment area. An enormous pine tree was decorated with glow in the dark eclectic décor. Even the lone figure that remained impassive over time was adorned with a twinkling crown of lights to bring it out of the shadows. Incidentally her gaze collided with a shooting star trailing across the heavens and Vanya whimsically made a wish.
The holidays. She joined her many friends for picnics, braais and last minute shopping sprees. Santa’s were underfoot clanging their bells pedaling their wares to passersby's. Vanya’s favorite pastime has always been to stroll through the flea markets on the promenade on a humid summer evening searching for hidden treasures. Religious groups took to the make shift platform at night singing Christmas songs where a nativity scene of the birth of Jesus was erected.
She was reluctant to go home alone for Christmas. Even though, their family Christmases always involved the huge 4-bedroomed cottage overflowing with guests and good spicy home-made food. Despite all the preparations that went into the event of the year Vanya’s mother always always managed to meet a “most” suitable man whom she invited over Christmas day. She had dated on and off, of course but what eluded her was the special affinity her parents possessed. Her younger brother Niven had married this past year. Her younger sister Pam was seeing someone quiet seriously. So that left her. She felt conspicuous, out there for anyone to pity. She was awfully tired of being reminded how old she was getting. Grandchildren! Was that what all parents looked forward to? Hers definitely did. It seemed to be the highlight of every women’s life. One is never complete if one does not have a husband and children in tow.
The night before Christmas she was packed for her long trip home to Durban. All was quite as Vanya walked toward her apartment, her hand rifled through her bag for her keys – she wondered for the umpteenth time why she had brought along her shawl which was haphazardly stuffed into her bag, it was way too humid she could feel the hot trickle of sweat slip between her breasts. So flustered, in her haste the keys slipped through her fingers. Bending over she froze when a flash of silver illuminated the night and the marbled figurine of the beautiful David so she had come to think of him. A burning arrow released from Cupid ’s bow ricocheted of “David’s” massive chest. The stone cracked a sound not unlike a gunshot in the quiet, piece by piece crumbled. In its place was unearthed the glorious flesh and blood image imprinted in her dreams, in all his naked glory. Her legs warbled unable to support her weight she fell to her knees her keys forgotten. What on god’s green earth, she thought.
Poetry in motion he stepped off the pedestal into her life. Her eyes remained riveted to his still bare form. He seemed to be all aglow, his skin pearlescent. His hair. His hair a wonderful fiery shade of red and gold. His eyes so full of gaiety and surprise were an enrapturous deep cobalt. Until now, she never thought about the silly wish she had made…and for one millisecond imagined beggars flying. She cleared her throat loudly, as if it will awake her from another wanton dream. Being a practical person of sound mind she believed in the adage “if wishes were horses then beggars would fly.”
“My Aphrodite” David whispered in a low deep sexy voice, the glimmer from his body slowly fading as he lithely crossed to her side “My life. My love. My heart. My soul” he stared into her tawny eyes roaming the beloved plains of her face like a much cherished object. “Nortia! Tyche!. You positively wicked girls!” He mused radiantly referring to the goddesses of fate and luck. “and how stupendously marvelous.”
“Do you believe in destiny, my beautiful Vanya?“ he said loudly with an air of unaffectedness “I always did believe in the what is, and here we are” Vanya’s eyes grew round at the reference to her name “I have watched you for so long and have guided you to providence” he chuckled softly “I am called Theo for – “
“ – a gift from god” Vanya squeaked stepping back disbelieving she had such a fantastic imagination. At his first touch she flinched at the spark, shocked at her own response. This was no dream. Tentatively she reached out tracing her fingertips up his arm pausing on his well defined bicep, she shuddered with the enormity of it all. The stubborn impractical part of her that wanted to believe in miracles resisted for a split second. It is this very part that retrieved the shawl with a flourish and secured it around his slender waist away from any prying eyes. He was hers. Hers to take. And there he stood for the taking. Theo bent over for a second then enfolded her palm in both of his, when his hand came away a shiny metal object twinkled. Of course….Her keys.
“Then who am I to mess with destiny” she answered breathlessly into his laughing eyes, her fears melting away like ice on a hot summer’s day.
“So young and so wise” Theo cupped her face in his hands “Carpe Diem!” he whispered blocking out all but the feel of Vanya’s lips against his. Time was suspended. Time enough for explanations…much much later.
Theo’s arms stole around her ardently pressing her closer to him, and Vanya felt the rightness slip in like a piece of a puzzle falling into place. She was where she belonged. Snug against his heart, body and soul. She smiled against his lips. Silently thanking the fates that this Christmas will be so singularly special from the rest.
The END
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