the fried chicken, right at the beak, but it didn’t quite make it. It landed in the middle of the street.
I lit a cigarette.
I didn’t go to Gustavo’s because I didn’t feel like it. I didn’t go anywhere. I called the Captain, he didn’t pick up. I called again. A woman answered. Hello? Susana? Who is this? I hung up. But it wasn’t Susana, she had a funny accent.
On Friday, Milagros invited me to go to the islands with them. Her French boyfriend and some friends had rented a couple of cabins. I shaved my legs, packed a bag and then waited with Milagros for them to pick us up. A car with a driver came to collect us and dropped us off down at the quay. Then a boat came in, full of foreigners and hookers. I looked at Milagros, who shrugged. What were you expecting? I thought for two or three seconds. I realised I wasn’t expecting anything. We went aboard. A Frenchman sat down next to me and asked me if I had my life jacket on properly. I said Oui. When we arrived at the beach there was a buffet of juices and drinks. What are you drinking? asked the Frenchman. Negroni. He looked at the table: I don’t think they have it. Cuba Libre, I said. He nodded and went to get some ice.
We were in a hut filled with wicker sofas. Some of the men had gone off to the beach with their hookers; Milagros and her boyfriend were smooching in one of the cabins. There were two Frenchmen left, who were touching up a girl who couldn’t even have been eighteen. She was laughing. She seemed nervous, but she was hiding it well.
My Frenchman returned with the drinks. We sat down on a sofa and he put his arm around my shoulder. It was limp, cold, toad-like. I shrugged his arm off and said: I’m expensive. Very expensive? Yes. I don’t care. Okay: I held out my hand, palm up.
We came back on the Monday, badly hungover. I still had a week of holiday left and I didn’t know what else to do. Spend the money from the Frenchman, but on what, where? I would have been totally justified in spending it on a rent boy who could actually give me a good seeing-to. I called the Captain, but the same woman answered. I hung up. It wasn’t like the Captain was even that good in bed. Then I called Tony’s house. His mother told me that he’d moved years ago, and when I insisted, she gave me his mobile number. Hello? He answered. I miss you, I told him. He was silent for a minute and then said: I don’t. I bought you a present. What? You’re going to like it. I don’t want it. Are you sure? What is it? A surprise: if you come I’ll give it to you, if not… you’ll never know. I don’t know… Come. I got married. I don’t care. I do. I’ll see you in an hour.
I had bought him a Calvin Klein fragrance. He stayed for the rest of the week.
13
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