Rainy Night Walks

Rainy Night Walks




The neighborhood I grew up in was one of those cookie cutter suburbs. All straight streets, a lack of trees, houses that all look the same. A plain of houses only broken up by a mall, a few civic buildings and schools.

I did so-so at school, but I was a loner. My parents were divorced and busy so I found ways to amuse myself, on my own. I really had very few friends, and none that lived close to me. My interests are wide and varied but do not include sport. I am the very definition of awkward and uncoordinated. I am not comfortable with bats and balls, but I do well with a paintbrush, a pen, a Meccano set. It was a life on the sidelines. At school I was a fringe player, never in with anyone. I knew people but I didn't confide in them, or them in me.

Girls were part of this. Like almost every other guy at school I lusted after Linda Butler. She was, to put it lightly, the very model of teenage lust inducement. Imagine an old school Playboy bunny. She was tall, her breasts were large and round, her legs shapely and tanned. She had a ponytail, perfect teeth, and a mouth you would kiss all day while you worked out how to please her in other ways. She lived close to me, and one day, as I walked past her house, I caught a glimpse of her emerging from her swimming pool. Water cascaded from her shapely, nubile body, running off her. Her large, erect nipples were evident in her mostly their crocheted bikini. I also imagined a faint shadow of pubic hair, but I reflect now that I was probably imagining it.

I couldn't quite believe my luck, and that image was useful for more than a few jerks. I would lie in my room in the afternoon after school, or late at night in the dark, and imagine how I would make love to Linda. I was beyond sex, rather imagining that I loved her. I know better now, but as a teenager I remember it being easy to mistake carnal lust. I can't imagine now that she would even know who I was, let alone respond to my spotty face and gangly frame. She went out with a series of sportsmen, none of whom seemed to last too long. I often wondered if, they got what they wanted and moved on, or if Linda made them wait beyond the time, they imagined they should have to wait to get her panties off.

As is the wont with teenage boys I also enjoyed lusting after many other girls. I wasn't too choosy, enjoying fantasies of blonde, brunette and redhead, short and tall, thin and rangy through to curvy and stacked.

I asked one girl out, and it didn't go well. Sue accepted my invitation, and we went to a movie. It seemed to be going quite well.
The movie was light and funny, very mainstream. I walked her home, and asked her if she wanted to do it again. She prevaricated, and I let it go for the moment. The next day she came up to me at lunch, accompanied by some of her friends. She told me that she wouldn't see me again. I could live with that I guess, but then her friend Josie, somewhat unnecessarily, added that Linda had only gone out with me for a dare. I turned and walked away, my cheeks radiating embarrassment while the laughter echoed behind me. Later, in the library, Linda found me and apologized. She admitted what Josie had said. I knew there was no point asking again, but I did feel a bit better. However, the story ripped through the school and any chance of going out with another girl was nonexistent.

I retreated into myself. Movies are one of the things I enjoyed most at this time. The local cinema, a multiplex, had an arthouse screen. It showed a real mix, including independent local films and a range of foreign movies. The view of the world was so different to the one I inhabited each day. I reveled in the different languages and locales, and the multitude of other ways of seeing the world. I went by myself every single time. I had a routine that included a drink and some snacks. I found this helped me survive the last difficult year of school.

I couldn't get away fast enough. I went away to university, and completed my degree in fine arts. It was a good degree, and augured well for a bright future, though the pay wasn't going to be high. I only returned to town when my father died. My mother needed help. It was awkward at home. While I needed to be there, we both needed space. In the months of waiting, I found my way back to the mall and the movie theatre. I was still a loner, having worried about my grades. I wasn't a virgin, but the one relationship I had at university had ended when I came home and she went to London to study more. I wanted to go with her but I couldn't. It was a shame because I really liked Olivia. She was slightly taller than I am, quite thin, with long auburn tresses and sparkling green eyes. She was out going and gregarious, and was willing to overlook the more socially awkward parts of my character. I had never really recovered from the humiliation dished out by Linda's friends so Olivia was a blessing to me. She led me into the world, she helped me talk to people, to feel for her. The sex we had was good, though probably unadventurous. She let me explore her body like the novelty it was, and later, with experience I found my, away across her peaks and valleys with more subtlety. In turn she took her pleasure by riding me until she was close. She often finished off by frigging herself in the final moments. I didn't mind: I was too busy being in awe of the thing I was doing and whom I was doing it with.

The split, forced by circumstances beyond my realm, allied with my father's passing, left me low. I went backwards, retreating from what should have been the start of a promising career to a life of suburban routine. I found a job that gave me pay but did not fulfill me. I knew it wasn't forever, but it was the right thing at the time. I found solace in that same movie theatre, and I discovered the joys of the food court at the mall. It had changed, and now had more than the usual fast-food brands. I could now choose other styles of food when I went, including Indian, Turkish, Greek. I tried them all, and my new favorite was Japanese.

The Japanese place had a range of dishes. I knew about sushi so that was all I had the first time I ate there. I looked up some of the other dishes, so when I went back, I knew what ramen, chicken Kara age, and tempura were. I've always liked fried chicken so I had the chicken Kara age on my second visit. I went back again and again, eschewing all the other food options in the mall to work my way through the menu a couple of times. This was quite a small café and was family run. I call it a café, but I suppose it was really a small restaurant, a few tables and quite healthy take away trade. I was usually greeted and served by an older couple, Mr. and Mrs. Yamaguchi. Occasionally their school aged son was there, particularly if I was eating after the movie.

One afternoon, after I had been patronizing the café for about three weeks, a young woman served me. We didn't speak except for the necessary conversations like being greeted and when I ordered and paid. I don't think she took much notice of me, but I certainly noticed her. I had a vague notion of having seen her before but I couldn't place her. She wore a loose orange tunic, a sort of kitchen uniform, and a scarf covered her head her ponytailed shiny black hair escaped out the back. I caught glimpses of her liquid dark eyes as she fleetingly looked up. Mostly she was head down and all business.

On my next visit, a few days later, she was not there. In fact, it was about three weeks later that she reappeared, and then every time I went in there she was. She was all business, efficiently and gracefully doing what she was needed to do, though she did start to talk to me about more as she greeted me or took my order. She would even ask me about the movies I was seeing.

After four or five visits, wanting to get a bit closer, more intimate, I said to her " Hi, I'm James."

"I'm Saki" she replied.

Whenever I went, we chatted as much as was possible without affecting Saki's work.

One Tuesday afternoon I was in a bit earlier than normal. It was quiet, and Saki was on her own. She told me her parents were away for the day, attending the funeral of a family friend. She was on her own for a while, and then her brother would join her. I ordered sushi, and while she prepared it, we talked properly for the first time.

Are you still at university? I asked her.

I've just finished.

What did you study?

"Pure mathematics."

"Wow. That's pretty cool" I responded. "I'm the holder of a fine arts degree, and I need to pursue work in the city. There's nothing happening here. At the moment though I live at home. My father died not long ago and I'm needed here. It isn't forever, at least I hope not."

That's tough. I'm sorry to hear about your father. She paused. My situation is a bit simpler than yours. I needed to save some money while I think about my options. I plan to leave at some point. It is nice being home for a while and spending time with my parents, even if I have to work.

Well, I am happy about you working. I really like this café, but it is even better when you are here. I wondered if I had been too bold, but I think I was okay.

Saki looked at me earnestly before replying. "Thank you" she stated simply. She paused, before asking me if I wanted something else.
 

To be continued