Almost Never A Novel

43


Let’s consider Demetrio’s proverbial visit to Renata’s house. A monarch was arriving, one who would be greeted by many maids all in a row: a reception line and smiles all around (diplomacy). But we’d do better to leave that for later, better for now to dig our teeth into what Doña Zulema said cheerfully when Doña Telma and Demetrio arrived at her ancient abode. Just like that, almost without so much as a polite welcome, she said that she had offered to help with the wedding preparations; that she had made herself available a while back, almost pleaded on her knees, somewhere between humble and obsequious, to the now quite largely looming Doña Luisa, who thanked her so graciously, no, there was no need—not at all!, and this should be understood because Doña Luisa stated that Demetrio’s generous contribution was enough of a boon and, as a result, everything else would be handled by the other party: the two women, first and foremost, and the entire family subsequently, as well as some of their customers. But let’s turn to another key moment, that of the arrival of Demetrio and his mother in the shiny blue truck; a blue you’d have to see to believe: modern metallic blue: full fledged blue, and to be fully enjoyed. The trip there was the nasty part: such a jumble of roads! However, the big guy’s sense of direction never failed and hence the (fleet) feat of arriving, exhausted, sick and tired of the bouncing, needless to say, which was now replaced by boasting. The motorized prodigy, then and there, the sight of which would soon send Renata into raptures.

And with no further ado—let’s go! Driving that solvent and haughty blueness through the streets of the town, Demetrio, the one and only king, though: what’s on view is the luxury, not the proud driver; what’s on view is the shining but cautious advance. That’s how it went, believe it or not. The fact was, Demetrio felt haughty, what with all the unwavering stares, all the way to Renata’s house, where—just watch him!—he whistled, a loud whistle, hence, presumptuous. Naturally they’d come running out of the store: Renata, her mother, and two of her sisters, a rip-roaring whistle, long though not piercing. Then, the evidence: the over-the-briny blueness that pulsated and continued to pulsate, like a shooting of hues into the air, really very attention grabbing. And herewith the consequences that came about just right: Renata, her mother, and her sisters, all amazed, as well as the two husbands, soon added to the mix. All in all we have to imagine astonished paralysis. Six watched as the arrogant big guy descended from the vehicle then strode with a steadfast swagger: in their direction, then said, “What’s up?” And we must say he was received with an almost reverential welcome. They invited him into the living room: everybody! The man’s height impressed the sisters and their husbands: that future family member who had, so it seemed, a plethora of riches. Moreover, because he himself talked about how his business was making him mountains of money, a business he held up to the heavens and spoke about to all who wished to hear, although he had the tact not to mention the particular business it was: Just buying and selling, this simple fact revealed, even if it was a mysterious and indirect hint at the nature of his affairs. Finally, the family left Renata alone with her great love, and just as each felt the urge to formulate a question, they abstained and the whim wisely vanished. They did well to behave discreetly, ergo: back to work! let’s get on with it! Subconscious praise on its way. And Renata and Demetrio once again alone, now knowing that they would soon stand in front of each other naked and amorous; love like a bubble that would have to burst—finally?! because the truth was, he was eager to kiss his beloved on her cheek, a husband’s legitimate right, but she, repulsing him, reminded him that it was better to wait, that it wouldn’t be long before they could get on with their heavenly depravities. Demetrio wanted to shout in despair but ended up resigned, keeping in check an audible pout. Then, all on his own, he changed the subject, as if the cheekiness of a kiss on the cheek had become meaningless to him: with or without a lick? Bah. The thematic replacement was the truck:

“I drove it here so we can take it to Piedras Negras for our honeymoon.”

“Piedras Negras? What’s that?”

“It’s a gorgeous border city. You’ll soon see.”

Piedras Negras: a phonetic affront worth memorizing. Renata eagerly enunciated the pair of words repeatedly. As it happened, her relatives repeated the name later and imagined the distance between it and Sacramento: hence, an ideal occurrence: Piedras Negras, Piedras Negras, Piedras Negras, like posing a question that conjured up an infinity of answers. This happened in a big way during an episode we won’t even recount, for now let’s focus on something very concrete:

“And those tables arranged in a square bracket?” Demetrio couldn’t refrain from asking when he looked out the window onto the patio.

“That’s where the wedding feast will be.”

“There’ll be a meal?”

“Yes, at two in the afternoon on November fifth, after the Mass.”

“What will we eat?”

“It will be a surprise, but everything will be delicious, I promise you.”

“And the bridesmaids and … ?”

“Don’t bother your head about any of it. You did your part by giving me all that money, and now you needn’t worry about a thing. We are taking care of all the details.”

“What time should I arrive at the church on the day itself?”

Let it be known that there was only one semi-impressive church in Sacramento.

“A few minutes before eleven in the morning.”

It could be that this crucial exchange of information was a way to say that Renata and Demetrio shouldn’t see each other again until their wedding day. This is how the big guy interpreted it, hence he anticipated the instructions his beloved was surely about to give him.

“The next time I see you will be in church. Over, forever, is this timid love that doesn’t suit either of us. Good-bye to love on the bench and love in the living room. Good-bye to immaculate bashfulness. We will now live a love with flying colors, with all kinds of kisses and all manner of touch. Soon you will see, my own dear wife!”

Fortuitous good-bye? Imaginative leisure as long as they didn’t see each other. A broad swath of hours like a spring stretched as far as it would go. Only a tight squeeze of the hand and a see-you-later: so: two ideas as one, almost-almost. Then: one more fantasy-filled day. A fluttering array of multicolored lights. Two faces in the clouds getting closer and closer to exchange a long and slippery kiss.