My Dinosaur Era Chapter 31

 

patrycja texts me

people pass us

I run my hand along the wall of the buildings

for comfort, for balance, sustain me, please

message me when you are near, it says

I pull out my phone

we are close, just other side of the square

timmy, are you ok, she says

I feel weak, I say

come on, babe, we can do this, she says

she holds my elbow, guides me

we emerge into the main square, keeping to the shadows

a group of african men play drums in one corner

the beat revives me somehow

pum, pum, pum

through my legs, releases my shoulders

almost dancing, stronger

pum, pum, pum

ginny lets go of me, I walk faster now

past the pintxo places, skirting close to tables 

ginny struggling to keep up

what is waiting

what is waiting

what is waiting

by sorginzulo now, it’s busy

scanning, scanning, scanning

see them, patrycja, legs crossed

she raises a hand, waves me over

to her left, petula, head bowed

black shorts, black tee shirt

I move slowly through the tables

petula looks up

her eyes seem smaller, she seems smaller

I stand by patrycja, she stands too

petula joins us upright

ginny scampers to my side

I feel her hand against my lower back

not sure if she is pushing me or holding me up

hi, I say

hi, says petula

so, you’re here, I say

yeah, I am, she says

ok, says patrycja

we all look at her, looking for guidance

this is the handoff, payload delivered

patrycja moves to petula, kisses her on the mouth

that same gentle kiss she spreads around us

she moves to me, kisses me too

then she moves to ginny, takes her by the hand

ok, we go, says patrycja

ok, I say

ok, says petula

ok, we meet up later, patrycja says

ok, I say

ok, says petula

 

we sit at the table, a waiter appears

¡buenas tardes! ¿qué te puedo traer? ¿algo de beber?, he says

para mí, un kalimotxo, I say

¿y para ti?, he says

petula looks at me, smiling, mouth twitching

um, I’ll have the same, she says

ok, very good, says the waiter

my best spanish and he still switched back to english

must try harder on the accent

do you know what a kalimotxo is, I say

I have no idea but it sounded nice when you said it, she says

ok, well, it’ll be a surprise for you the, I say

she smiles, pushes the ashtray around the table

do you want to tell me why you are here, I say

I suppose that would be the sensible thing to do, she says

tell me what you can, I say

I will, I shall, but look, there is quite a lot to tell and I’m feeling very confused at the moment so maybe it won’t all spill out in one go, ok, she says

then we are both confused, I say

yes, I know, you must think I am insane, she says

I don’t know what to think right now, I say

she seems to be shrivelling in her chair, receding

I stand, take her by the hand, she stands too

I think we should hug and see where we go from there, I say

she nods but doesn’t move

I put my arms around her, she puts her arms around me

the squeeze is long, hard, can I even let go

she pulls back slightly, looks at me

thank you, she says

what for, I say

just for the hug, I thought you might be angry with me, she says

what for, I say

for disappearing, or for following you out here, or both she says

that was my first question, how did you know I was here, I say

the waiter appears with our drinks, we uncouple, sit down

well, I went back to your flat a couple of days ago and you didn’t answer, I thought you might be out so I tried again later and still no reply, she says

I take a long taste of my drink

then, I went to the hotel where ginny works, she told me the name of it one time, they said she was on holiday but didn’t know where, so it seemed obvious you were here, she says

did you not ever find your phone then, I say

no, I ended up buying a new one, I lost all my numbers, I’m dumb with technology, didn’t back anything up, she says

she takes a sip of her drink

this is nice, what is it, she says

it’s red wine and cola, I say

wow, how can that be so nice, she says

when did you get here, I say

this morning, the early flight, I’ve been walking around all day, she says

we were here earlier, me and ginny, I say

I couldn’t remember the name of the place you liked, I guessed wrong and went to the place over there, that’s where patrycja found me, she says

and she never let on that she knew me, I say

no, not till about ten minutes ago, she says

she really is something else that woman, I say

tim, can I ask you something, she says

sure, I say

does she kiss everybody like that, she says

well, it’s a small sample size I’m working with but yes, it does seem that way, I say