Fiction: Decency
By Ayelet Abraham
arttimesjournal January 25, 2021
She walked through the empty street. It was late or maybe very early, long before her usual waking hour. Yet her skin was alive, craving to be touched. It did not matter if it was coarse or gentle as long as skin touched skin; a hunger that drove her out into the sleeping town, walking to the only place she knew would be open at this time – Danny's place by the main road.
She felt awake, her body warm under the sweater. A Jackal came out of a courtyard, coming to a stop when he saw her. Watching her as she passed by.
"Poor starving animal" she muttered and walked on decisively taking in the fresh cold air. She was a grown woman. Could she not afford to have a little pleasure? Are women not liberated from puritan convictions, free to enjoy the raw pleasures of life?
Impatience and urgency made her spine shiver as she entered Danny's place. Immediately disappointed when she found it empty. There was only the sour smell of old beer in the air. On the walls hung old records and photos of the pub's clientele sitting around the wooden tables and partying. Dani was inside the kitchen by the sound of water flowing.
"Hello" she called out,
Danny came out of the kitchen pulling a paper towel from the role stand, wiping his hands. He had a thick graying beard and his head was shaved clean. On his arm, there was a large tattoo of an Irish ornament, his favorite culture. During the golden days of the pub, he often invited the Blue Velvet to play music at his joint. These days when he was most of the time alone there he liked listening to old Irish records.
"Hello Sunshine. Have not seen you here for a while. As you can see, it is a quiet night. What can I get you?"
"Could you make me that warm wine you serve?"
"Sure. Please sit down" he smiled
Sunshine climbed to a stool by the bar; looking at the row of bottles on the shelf.
"Do you still sell that tequila with the worm inside?"
"Sure. The real treat is eating that worm," said Danny when he came out of the kitchen with a cup of wine and some olives. He placed it before Sunshine who inhaled the aroma of honey and clove rising from the cup.
Danny looked at her with great attention as he did many times with his clients; human beings intrigued him. That was why he loved his pub, keeping it open during good and bad times. He thought a moment while she sipped the wine then said "I was just making myself some grilled cheese toast. Would you like some?"
"Yes" said Sunshine
He came back a few minutes later with two plates stacked with toast. They ate, the cheese stretching in long strands from their chins
"It's delicious" smiled Sunshine
"I can eat this stuff all day," admitted Danny patting his belly.
"How long have you had this place?" she asked
"Thirty years and running. I opened it when I came back from New York"
"What made you come and live here of all the places after living in a big city?"
"I was born here. I came back after I Divorced. I was a successful fashion photographer and my wife was a model. I found her in bed with another man"
"I'm sorry," said Sunshine
"That’s' all right. I remarried since then. I have three children all grown up now, roaming the far corners of the earth" he smiled.
"Nice. I don’t have children"
"Why? Didn’t you want any?" asked Danny wiping his mouth with the back of his hand
"When I could have them I didn’t want any and now that I'm older and much more mature I can't have them," said Sunshine looking down at her empty cup, weighing whether to ask him for more.
"Would you like some more?" he asked
"No, no, It's enough for me" she said
Danny nodded his head "Yes this biological clock for women is a real bummer. So what do you do these days?" he asked as he filled himself a glass of beer from the tap.
"Officially I'm unemployed. But I'm a writer"
"That's awesome, I didn’t know that. I write a little too" admitted Danny "my wife likes it. Sometimes On Saturday mornings, I read her a story or two. I like to write short pieces with an edge. That something you didn’t expect pops up in the end," he said with a large grin on his face.
"Nice" said Sunshine smiling back. Danny was sitting so close and he was such a friendly soul. She wanted to touch him. It could be so simple to reach out to him. Say something like "I like your belly. Can I kiss you?" or "Please touch me, here and here and here," and she would unbutton her shirt. Nothing could really stop them. He would only have to lock the door with a few strides and she would have her fill.
Instead, she looked at her hands that were folded in her lap.
"That was a great toast wasn’t it," said Danny getting up and taking the empty plates into the kitchen.
"I guess it's time for me to go home," she said.
"I'm closing up in half an hour. It is almost dawn. Thanks for keeping my company" he said from the kitchen "You don’t have to pay. It's on the house" Danny smiled through the service window.
"Thanks. I will pay for the wine. It was my idea," she said and placed a note under the cup.
She walked out into the street. A large flock of birds on the tall boulevard trees began their morning bedlam. A newspaper delivery boy passed on his bike. The night was over.