Alexander (2)

2.

Their first weeks at the farm were cold and damp. Even though it was supposed to be Spring dark clouds constantly threatened to unleash icy rain. At the end of each shift the caravan, warmed by a small electric fan heater, was heavy with the odors of mud, sweat and exhaustion.

Because Lidia wasn't strong enough to work out in the field she was allocated a job in one of the large hangars that stood near the farm’s milking plant. Along with seven others she cleaned and packed vegetables that had been harvested, and washed, cut, and trimmed flowers that had been picked, as well as helping to load small boxes of produce onto pallets ready for distribution. Danuta and Alexander teased her, saying she had an easy job; but they knew that Lidia, whose slim frame constantly looked in need of nourishment, worked just as hard as any of them.

One night, as they were lying in their beds, with Lidia asleep and Tomas snoring, Danuta, freshly showered, drew back her bedclothes and revealed to Alexander her body. ‘Look, Alexander’ she said ‘my body has become toned and muscular. Do you like my body ?’ Alexander let his eyes follow the contours of her hips, shoulders, and breasts. She could see that he found the sight of her alluring. ‘Come and lie beside me’ she said. He got up and found space next to her, the bed so narrow they could do little else other than entangle themselves, like the thick red ivy that covered the farmhouse where the owner lived. Danuta began to lick his flesh, caressing his hair and neck, massaging the loneliness of her into him, extracting his loneliness and molding into something enticing and sweet.

In the weeks following his lovemaking with Danuta Alexander decided that he had to leave. His plan was not to live with other Poles, eating Polish food, making love to a Polish girl. No, he had come here with the intention of becoming an English gentleman. He'd tried to keep his distance from Danuta but had succumbed too easily. Now it was time for him to find his own way.

At the end of their tenth week he queued with the others for his wages. It was usual for the group to go by bus into the nearest town. Once there, Alexander boarded another bus for a town further to the east. He'd left a note for Danuta and Lidia telling them that he'd returned to London. He wished them both well.

At first he was disappointed with this new, easterly town. It boasted a medieval church, a high street, a river, and the regional municipal offices. Otherwise, it was unremarkable. There were towns in Poland that boasted more interesting shops, offered a greater sense of the past. Where was the history of this town ? There was a war memorial, yes, but it looked neglected, as though the inhabitants were too lazy to keep it in good order. Alexander sat with his rucksack on a bench near the council building. It was Saturday and on the opposite side of the road he saw a number of men making their way towards a cafe. Some of the men, he could tell, were East European. He crossed over and asked if they knew of any work that was available. The men laughed; one of them ruffled Alexander’s hair. ‘Come with us, little comrade’ they said ‘and we’ll introduce you to someone who might be able to help.’