What Emily Needed

What Emily Needed

   The miles showed on his face in burnt etchings of Mississippi Delta sun. He sat at the same table every day, sipping coffee and staring out the window at the Grenada street scene. He seemed to be lost in a universe Kate couldn’t fathom. His world was beyond her reach, cloaked in the darkness of his inward gaze. Something about his remoteness beckoned her. She longed to breach his inner kingdom. But how could she penetrate this elusive creature? He made her think of some mythical beast, like a unicorn, who could never be captured.

Kate
Mr. you look like you could use some coffee. Here let me pour you some. Oops I spilled a little on ya. I’ll wipe it off. Oh my. Sorry my breasts brushed your face. My breasts have a mind of their own.  Hey don’t get nervous. My name is Kate. I don’t bite. I’ve seen ya come in every day, but never properly introduced myself. Please excuse me for being too friendly.  

Nobody
That’s perfectly ok.

Kate
May I ask your name Sir? I don’t mean to pry.

Nobody
I’m nobody. Who are you? Are you nobody too?

Kate
Oh you put a smile on my face. You took me back to high school. So you like Emily Dickinson? That’s one of my favorites by her. It’s simple and funny. I think Emily should’ve gotten out more; had some fun; maybe gotten laid. But then she might not have been who she was and we might not have had her wonderful poetry.

Nobody
I like Emily just the way she was. She was an endearing prude.

Kate
Oh my, it sure is hot in here. I feel all sweaty. Please don’t mind me standing so close to you. So what about you? Do you like to have fun? Get laid?

Nobody
Well, men like me don’t get laid. We are not of the privileged class as it were.

Kate
Now you have me giggling. You look so kissable. Can I kiss you? Just a cousin kiss on the cheek.
Nobody nods yes.

Kate
Darn I’ve done smeared lipstick all over your cheek. Here let me wipe it off. Oh no. I’ve just made a mess. I’m so sorry. Hey can I tell you something? This is just between me and you. So I’ll whisper in your ear. I want to fuck you. Here I’ve written my phone number. For a good time call Kate. But please don’t spread it around. I don’t want a reputation. You look kinda dazed. But I see you’re putting my invitation in your wallet.

Kate watches his luscious ass disappear down the sidewalk.

Closing time at the diner.

Kate
Sherri you and I have been friends since high school. Have you ever seen a guy with as luscious an ass as that man?

Sherri
Girl I’m rootin for you. I wouldn’t mind screwing him myself. Maybe we can take turns.

Kate
We’ll see about that. He may not come back.

Sherri
I saw that look in his eyes. You got him hooked. Just don’t give him a heart attack.

Kate goes home and undresses. She draws a steaming tub of water and lays there soaking in blissful daydreams. The phone rings and she picks up the   receiver from beside the tub. The caller ID says it is an unknown caller and she is about to hang up expecting a sales call. But her heart flutters at the prospect of that gorgeous stranger being the caller. She accepts the call and hears the soft almost feminine voice.

Nobody
It’s me, nobody, from the diner. I was thinking we could get together and delve more into Emily Dickinson.

Kate
Come right over. It’s about time I got some mental stimulation in this red neck town.

Kate rises from the bath like a Goddess from her ritual cleansing. She feels the dust of ages lifted from her middle-aged body. She passes the towel up between her legs luxuriating in the delicious sensation a portent of things to come. There is a soft tapping on her door. Wrapped in her bath robe she opens the door.

Kate
Sorry I’m not dressed. I just felt like lounging around. Come on in and get comfortable. Here let me take your jacket off. Stay a while. Come hither. Sit here on the couch. I’ll sit in the easy chair over here. Don’t be shy. I’d love to hear your thoughts on Emily Dickinson.

Nobody
I hope I’m not being too nosey, but why do you think Emily Dickinson didn’t have enough fun?

Kate
Oh I was just sort of joking. Emily has the right to be herself just like everybody else. I just know I’d go crazy without a good screw once in a while. Hey my robe keeps slipping. I’m sorry to be exposing myself to you. But maybe you don’t mind? You look like you don’t. You’re staring at my nipple. But I don’t mind at all.

Nobody
I’m not offended by nudity. There is nothing obscene about nakedness.

Kate
Listen, dude. It’s fine with me if you want to call yourself nobody and act like some kinda holy man or something. But I bet if I made you crawl to me on your hands and knees to earn my permission to make love, you’d obey. In fact I think if I were to take off this robe you’d give up without much fight. I’ll just take my robe off now. In fact I’ll even spread my legs. You seem to be studying me with those eyes. What do you see?

Nobody
I’m tongue tied.

Kate
Let’s see if we can get that tongue untied.

Nobody
I see a woman whom I’d like to get to know. I’d like dive into the caverns of your heart and touch the treasures within. Within your eyes I see myriad worlds waiting to be explored. Your emerald pools bewitch me. Your face glows with burgundy love.

Kate
That has to be the best line any man has given me. And I can tell you’re for real.

She beckons him with her finger and he falls to his knees obediently crawling toward her pink lotus drawn by the beguiling beauty of her succulent folds.  

Kate
That’s a good boy. You like me stroking your hair with my fingernails? You sure look hypnotized by my orchid. Do you like how my petals are blossoming before your hungry eyes? Now why don’t you let your tongue do the walking? Looks like you’re shy. You need some coaxing. Here I’ll give you a little push in the right direction.  Your lips on my tulip feel so delicious. Go on suck my bud honey. I promise I won’t bite. Oh yea that’s how I like it. I’m all slick and hot now. Baby you got the rhythm and meter down pat.    

Nobody
I’m writing a sonnet with my tongue. Just wait till I put the finishing couplet on our poem. Oh my God! You sound like a wild cat. You’re body is quaking. Jesus Christ! Your muscles are rippling
like a jaguar.

Kate
Ohhh my Lord. You blew me to smithereens. You’ve given this country gal a taste of heaven. I surely would be remiss if I didn’t return the favor. Now let’s unzip those trousers and get to work. Those briefs need to come off too. Oh my, what a prize stallion I’ve found me. Let me touch it. You are hard as the rock of Gibraltar. Oh your bonbons are nice and big like a bull’s. I love to roll them in my fingers. I’ll be gentle with them honey.  Now sit on the couch like a good boy. Are you ready to enter the kingdom of heaven pilgrim? Here. I’ll wrap my velvet hand around your staff, and clasp the crown with my rosebud lips. Your seeds are bursting like pollen. I’m relishing your man essence. I’m savoring your flavor like honeysuckle nectar. Now I’ll wipe you up. Here.  Let me zip you up. Hey Mr. I love to dance. Would you join me in a nice slow dance to Patsy Cline? Just one little request I have. Can I stay naked? You can keep your clothes on. I’d just like it that way.

Nobody
Such an invitation I would be foolish to refuse.

Kate
May I ask what your real name is?

Nobody
Lancelot.

Kate
Sir Lancelot I love your name. To cut a rug with a knight is the ultimate thrill.

Lancelot
Oh I’m not really a knight in shining armor. I’m more like a knight in rusty armor.

Kate
Either way’s ok with me Lancelot. Oh you do know how to dance. I love it nice and slow like this. You’ve stolen my heart good sir.

Lancelot
You’re the first woman who’s ever been sweet on me. I’m touched by your kindness.

Kate
I’m just happy to feel your hands on me. You really make me feel special. I gave you my body and you topped off the evening by gaving this ole girl a night of romance. You know how to treat a woman.

Lancelot
Maybe we were meant to help each other. I’ve been a recluse most of my life.

Kate
Darling you have no need to hide in your shell. The moment I laid eyes upon you I knew there was a passionate man beneath that “don’t bother me” exterior. Oh you dipped me. My heart flutters when you do that.

Lancelot
Honey when you flirted with me at the restaurant I knew you were looking for more than sex.

Kate
How did you know?

Lancelot
Because no woman is interested in me for sex. There had to be more to it. I’m not a GQ model.

Kate
I love men who look rough around the edges. And the way you carried yourself, so dignified, made me fall for you. You have an exotic quality which I just can’t put to words.

Lancelot
I’ve been called nerdy and crazy, but never exotic.

Kate
Oh but you are strange in a way that makes my pulse race.  I mean it as a compliment.

Lancelot
Exotic is a lovely word. Coming from the lips of genuine woman it means a lot to me.

Kate
Oh I could dance all night to your tune. Let’s retire to the kitchen and talk. I make an awesome cup of coffee. Come on join me for some brew. If you don’t mind I’ll stay in the nude. I like how
you look at me when I’m naked.

Lancelot
I could look at you all night. I’d love too. Coffee is my passion.

Kate
I hope I’ll be your passion one day.

Lancelot
My heart stirs at your words.

Kate
Say Mr. have you ever thought of getting married?

Lancelot
Not until tonight.

Kate
When I get old and wrinkled, will you still embrace me as tight as you did this evening?

Lancelot
Let’s just see where the dance takes us.

Kate
Emily couldn’t have said it better.