also noticed the endearment, cleared his throat and sat. “It smells delicious.”
Nora, relieved that he was letting the sweetie slip pass without comment, said, “Well, I hope it tastes as good as it smells.” She put a plate in front of him and sat with her own food. “Wine?”
“Yes, please.”
Nora picked up the wine bottle and poured a glass for each of them.
“To avoiding the INS,” she said, clinking her glass against his.
“Um, okay.” Darius clinked his glass against hers a little too hard. His wine spilled onto the white tablecloth.
“Oh, you must not do that where you’re from. It’s called a toast. We drink in honor of something and gently touch glasses.” She took a napkin and dabbed at the stain.
“Sorry.”
“It’s okay, I’ll add it to the list.”
“What list?”
“The list of replacement items I need to buy. You know, one container of cream, a bag of sugar, a new houseplant for my table and now, a new tablecloth.”
“I’ll give you my dollars when I get paid again to help pay for the items.”
“Thank you.”
Mrowley stationed himself beneath the table, alternating rubbing against their legs. Each dropped food for him, unbeknownst to the other. Before long, the cat’s belly was full and he sauntered to the sofa to lie down.
Darakin listened in fascination as Nora talked about her homeland. She described it in the hyperbolic style of an Irish storyteller, making it seem like an enchanted land and Darakin soon found himself wanting to visit. But even more enchanting than the description of her homeland, was Nora herself. She glowed with beauty as she described her childhood haunts and exploits.
When they had finished eating, Darakin took Nora’s cue and cleared the table with her. He picked up a clean dish towel and dried the dishes as she washed them, causing their hands to touch several times.
When the kitchen was clean, they turned toward each other and stood there in an awkward silence.
Finally, Darakin cleared his throat. “Nora, this is … well, I don’t know how to say this. I don’t know how things are done here and I don’t want to make another social mistake or insult you, but I find you very attractive.”
“Thank goodness! I want you, too.” She jumped forward and embraced him.
Surprised by her sudden movement, Darakin staggered back a step or two, but quickly caught her in a strong embrace. She lifted her face to his and he bent down to kiss her. She returned his kiss with fervor and started moving out of the kitchen, pulling him with her.
Darakin allowed himself to be dragged out of the kitchen toward the bedroom.
Dude, the cat nodded his head with approval as the two shuffled past him.
Darakin ignored the cat, who decided to try to tag along. Just as he reached the door, it swung shut. The cat sighed and returned to the sofa.
He looked at the remote and then at the magic box. Nora had left the doors to the cabinet open. The cat walked on the remote several times until it turned on.
Even though the human stories rarely featured cats, he still liked watching the stories. He enjoyed the movement on the screen and found the sound of voices comforting, although music programs were his favorite. He sat there watching the magic box, reveling in the warmth of the apartment and the full feeling in his belly. He was happier than he’d been in a long time.
A few hours later, the bedroom door opened and Darakin came out. He was puzzled that the magic box was on and tiptoed over to find the small box that Nora had used to control it. He found the remote and looked at the symbols on it. He pressed several buttons, causing various messages to appear and changed the channel several times before he found the power button. With the box finally quiet, he turned around.
Dude, the cat whispered.
Darakin jumped at the unexpected sound.
Nora, relieved that he was letting the sweetie slip pass without comment, said, “Well, I hope it tastes as good as it smells.” She put a plate in front of him and sat with her own food. “Wine?”
“Yes, please.”
Nora picked up the wine bottle and poured a glass for each of them.
“To avoiding the INS,” she said, clinking her glass against his.
“Um, okay.” Darius clinked his glass against hers a little too hard. His wine spilled onto the white tablecloth.
“Oh, you must not do that where you’re from. It’s called a toast. We drink in honor of something and gently touch glasses.” She took a napkin and dabbed at the stain.
“Sorry.”
“It’s okay, I’ll add it to the list.”
“What list?”
“The list of replacement items I need to buy. You know, one container of cream, a bag of sugar, a new houseplant for my table and now, a new tablecloth.”
“I’ll give you my dollars when I get paid again to help pay for the items.”
“Thank you.”
Mrowley stationed himself beneath the table, alternating rubbing against their legs. Each dropped food for him, unbeknownst to the other. Before long, the cat’s belly was full and he sauntered to the sofa to lie down.
Darakin listened in fascination as Nora talked about her homeland. She described it in the hyperbolic style of an Irish storyteller, making it seem like an enchanted land and Darakin soon found himself wanting to visit. But even more enchanting than the description of her homeland, was Nora herself. She glowed with beauty as she described her childhood haunts and exploits.
When they had finished eating, Darakin took Nora’s cue and cleared the table with her. He picked up a clean dish towel and dried the dishes as she washed them, causing their hands to touch several times.
When the kitchen was clean, they turned toward each other and stood there in an awkward silence.
Finally, Darakin cleared his throat. “Nora, this is … well, I don’t know how to say this. I don’t know how things are done here and I don’t want to make another social mistake or insult you, but I find you very attractive.”
“Thank goodness! I want you, too.” She jumped forward and embraced him.
Surprised by her sudden movement, Darakin staggered back a step or two, but quickly caught her in a strong embrace. She lifted her face to his and he bent down to kiss her. She returned his kiss with fervor and started moving out of the kitchen, pulling him with her.
Darakin allowed himself to be dragged out of the kitchen toward the bedroom.
Dude, the cat nodded his head with approval as the two shuffled past him.
Darakin ignored the cat, who decided to try to tag along. Just as he reached the door, it swung shut. The cat sighed and returned to the sofa.
He looked at the remote and then at the magic box. Nora had left the doors to the cabinet open. The cat walked on the remote several times until it turned on.
Even though the human stories rarely featured cats, he still liked watching the stories. He enjoyed the movement on the screen and found the sound of voices comforting, although music programs were his favorite. He sat there watching the magic box, reveling in the warmth of the apartment and the full feeling in his belly. He was happier than he’d been in a long time.
A few hours later, the bedroom door opened and Darakin came out. He was puzzled that the magic box was on and tiptoed over to find the small box that Nora had used to control it. He found the remote and looked at the symbols on it. He pressed several buttons, causing various messages to appear and changed the channel several times before he found the power button. With the box finally quiet, he turned around.
Dude, the cat whispered.
Darakin jumped at the unexpected sound.
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