Jezebel and the Knight in Shining Armor

Jezebel walked into the cafe with nothing on her mind, except a Mocha Grande. She was still wearing her business suit from work: Purple, small striped and elegant. The server was oblivious to her even thought she looked super smart and stylish.  He bumped into her and there went the Tomato sauce from a patron's plate...all over the side of her brand new pants!

She was horrified and asked the other customers if they saw that. She appealed to some other women who gave the waiter evil eyes. He still was unaware of what he did and Jezebel felt silly telling on someone so clueless.

She almost went up to the manager, but she was with a client and it wasn't worth it. But she was somewhat appalled at the cafe and the ridiculous rush. No one needed to move that fast. Awful! She was embarrassed in front of her client-the fact that she had red colored sauce dripping down the side of her pant leg. She asked another server for a napkin and quickly went to the restroom and doused a paper towel with water to wipe her pants clean. Suddenly, a man barged in to the restroom. She could see his hairy forearm reaching around the door. He was wearing a suit and tie and happened to be extraordinarily handsome.

"Oops! I'm sorry, Miss," He said. "Carry on!"

But she couldn't. She was transfixed by his kind, sweet gaze. He was tall and had dark brown, long hair that was cut nicely. He had facial hair-goatee and mustache  Was he Italian, Lebanese, Egyptian or Persian? Inquiring minds wanted to know! She dried more of her pants. That would have to do. He had quickly left. I guess he thought he was walking into the Men's room?

Jezebel walked out of the restroom with as much confidence as she could muster...she had applied lipstick and was feeling OK. She went to sit down with her clients. She was an interior designer and some of the paintings on the wall of this cafe were astoundingly out of place and brash...loud with too many crazy colors, but they were in an artsy cafe. She supposed that the rules of design didn't apply here. 

She started to talk with her client and explained how she and her team could beautifully redesign the woman's kitchen. She had her drawing pencils and her large art pad and was drawing as the client, Jennifer explained to her with gestures and voice what she would want her kitchen to look like.

"Jezebel's Interiors" were a tough price to beat in this market and they always were top notch and had many good reviews on Yelp. Jezebel's mother helped her get this business started after she went to design school and graduated with all A's and earned her certificate in designing interiors.

She showed talent...all her professors said so. Some of her classmates were slightly intimidated by her use of space and creativity, but of course there were some students better than her too. But she liked to think everyone had their own style and uniqueness. she was semi-shocked though when her business took off.

She was the brains behind the operation. She worked more in the office and with initial details and final closure of the sale, while her team of construction guys and decorators completed the actual installations of walls, floors...but many times she was out in the field because they always wanted her approval. They trusted her expertise.

Out of the corner of her eye, Jezebel saw the man from the restroom. He was as handsome as ever, talking with a woman who worked at the coffee shop. He was asking for more mile for his coffee, but it seemed like they were out of milk. He looked a little disoriented with this answer but said...a little flustered...that he'd take anything for his coffee: Soy, Almond Milk, Coconut Milk, Goat's milk...and with this, the server opened her mouth and laughed wholeheartedly.

"I'll get you some Soy, " she said.

Jezebel couldn't help but smile...

She noticed him out of the corner of her eye and he turned toward her and then she saw... oh gees...he was walking toward her. She told her client quickly that they would have to meet another time. Her client smiled and said that was fine and was on her way.

Before he made it to Jezebel's table, she got up and headed toward the door.

"Not so fast, Princess!" She heard as he held the door open for her. She quickly mumbled a thank you and headed outside. The guy was on her heels.

"What do you want?", Jezebel exclaimed...a blush gathering and then spreading like a fire across her reddening cheeks.

She quickly turned to face him...her long black hair swung free from her ponytail that she had neatly styled this morning. He stepped closer to her. 

"I feel I know you," he said. "Jezebel, right?"

"How the hell do you know my name?" she retorted back.

"Well, I saw your name in an interior design magazine...your picture there too. I thought you might help me with my latest purchase."

"House, boat, apartment, condo? More info please..."

But she couldn't help smile..he was looking at her wide eyed and puzzled.

"I'm looking for a condo," he said. Smiling back.

"I don't do impromptu meetings," Jezebel answered. So they arranged a meeting at a nearby breakfast place in the following days.

It was Saturday and Jezebel was at her condo by the beach in Huntington. Stepping out of the shower, she wrapped herself in a big, fluffy coral colored towel  and then headed toward her walk-in closet. What to wear? What to wear? She thought to herself. She had to remember this wasn't a date with the handsome man from the coffee shop..."Gabriel" was his name and even his name was enormously swoon worthy. 

Jezebel sprayed herself with perfume...a flowery blend with a hint of Vanilla  and washed her face, put on deodorant, and threw a t-shirt dress over her head with some wedge sandals and a Peach colored blazer. 

She blew dry her long, black hair and swept it up into a bun, donning on long, shiny earrings. She was ready to go. She put on some touches of make-up and then grabbed her purse, planner and walked a few blocks to one of her very fave breakfast places: Island Joe's. She walked and looked at the ocean on her left. The sea was rising and falling in elegant waves for a moment. She was transfixed in another place and time. Then, a Rolls Royce suddenly pulled up to the curb...out of nowhere. A window rolled down. It's him...

"Get in, my lady!" he said. 

She started feeling giddy...she checked with her conscience...and then climbed in his stylish ride and felt shocked by her own brevity and audacity.

They started driving and it's so smooth and he smiles so authentically. The stop at Island Joe's as planned...

After an hour of talking at a booth with Gabriel, Jezebel knows she couldn't repeat what their conversation was or who or what it was about...to save her life! She finds herself smiling ear to ear...gazing into his soulful, green, very attentive eyes. She knows she has made sense talking about her business and all but she seems herself looking at his hands which are so very sexy. His muscular arms catch her attention in his short sleeved, blue polo shirt. He medium length, dark hair glistens in the sun.

"He had her at hello" but he doesn't even know it...thought Jezebel.

He seemed to be trying to win her over...leaning in to her. She would be helping him with his property and they would go look at it later in the day.

When they were done with their meal and walked outside, Gabriel grabbed hold of her hand and pulled her literally toward the ocean.

"What are you doing?" she cried out.

He ran and ran to the edge of the ocean. She couldn't help but run with him...they ran all the way to the shoreline. He took her in his arms. She felt breathless...her heart beat like thunder against his chest. She couldn't pretend anymore...she pulled back and looked into his eyes.

"I lied," he said. "I have seen you in magazine articles, online...I'd like you to be more than my Realtor."

They laughed and suddenly Jezebel wanted so much to be saved by this man. She knew that she's a capable woman, but she knew that she was done with being capable. She wanted this in her life..him.

All she could do was nod and then relax back into his tall stature...with the wind circling around them, circling them together.



Forever Jazz



 

 

 

My spirit lifts

I hear Billie Holliday

sing the blues...at the sultry,

calming tones.

She speaks to

my soul, where pain and heartbreak lie...

 

There's nothing so hard as loving and losing,

even when everyone says it's better to risk in love.

 

I heart the blues but instead of being

forever in blue, I wish for FOREVER JAZZ!

 

 

 

 

Dreams

 

 

Following my dreams is not easy.

They flow into my direction and I squash them...

Just out of habit-like one would squash a bug pestering them.

 

 

I do not want to turn from the dream of you, however....

 

Your life, your might, the peace you bring to me.

 

You are love and my dream is still to meet you and walk together

in love....

 

 

 

 

Armor

 

 

I'm stripped of my armor and feeling my heart

Who knew it would take the likes of you

to get me back to my soul.

 

Your caring for me came through even after

you rejected me.

 

I feel my heart in a different way.

 

I would like your love but I'm holding on to myself

and won't let anyone knock down my sense of self.

 



Ten Year Old Aliens

Tracy Juniper lived on Diamond Street in South Laguna Beach, California. Her parents had a beachy type of cottage that she grew up in since she was around six years of age. Before that, they all lived in Europe, including her brother, Trent. Tracy wished she had some exotic name, but her parents weren't too creative during her early years of life. Trent and Tracy..how corny, they always thought. Trent was younger than Tracy by four years. he was a tow headed kid-blonde, blonde from the moment he opened his eyes in this world. Tracy had red hair-summer blonde, people liked to say. Her hair was super straight, unlike her blonder than blonde brother-who had a head full of curls.

Tracy was now 19 and still lived at home. Trent was 15. Their parents were two hip hippies that were artists in this unique, but wealthy beach communitmake-up. Actually, she was only turning 45 in a few months. Jesse was 45 too and had a strong build and long, straight hair that fell to his shoulders. They both didn't look like they'd ever been associated with someone named "Trixie."y. Her parents' names were Jesse and Trixie. Another T name! Tracy thought that if she had been named, Beatrix, like her mother , she would keep the formal name. "Trixie" was ridiculous.It sounded like some gum popping waitress on roller skates at some retro diner. her mother was petite, but had thick, thick hair that she tied up in a velvet headband while she worked. She had a bright smile and was known to wear bright, printed clothing...sometimes mixed with denim.
Tracy's friends thought it was funny that she called her family home a cottage. It was very sturdy and an architect's dream. There was wood all around and curtains on the windows, but most of time, the curtains were open to see the jaw dropping view of the ocean. Tracy would never get tired of seeing this view. Her bedroom was faced more toward the trees, but there was a window in her bathroom that captured the sea. Trent got a full view of the ocean from his room, as did their parents.


Today, Tracy got up early, even though it was a Saturday.. She pulled on her bathing suit, a pair of shorts, tank top and dropped into a straw beach bag her wallet, towel, sunscreen, hat and her camera.


She had a 35mm camera with a move-able lens. It was a digital camera, but was designed like a non digital one. She was in a community college class-Photography 101. She had taken pictures all her life. But this was the first level that everyone had to take. Her parents and friends called her, "Ms. Shutterbug." She didn't get defensive about the nickname and it stuck.


Tracy put on tennis shoes and threw a pair of flip flops into her bag. She quickly made her bed.


No one else was up yet. she tiptoed into the huge kitchen, grabbed toast and peanut butter and headed out the door, after writing a note about her where-abouts to her family.


"Be back at 12pm. Gone to beach!-Ms. Shutterbug" She rushed back to her room...to get her cell phone and then she was outside, locking the heavy wooden door behind her.


When Tracy got to the beautiful cove by her house, she stepped into the sand and felt the softness between her toes. She put her multi-colored towel down and then shed off her clothes and ran to the water, putting one toe in....brr. It was cold for May! The she went back to her towel, sat down and took out her camera. She began snapping away. She was close enough to the water's edge. She could see children playing, sand castles being built and the ebb and flow of the waves softly spiraling into the sand. A man walked by her line of vision. He looked her way. he had curly, thick hair and big, wide set eyes. he had on a "Chargers" shirt and short shorts. Tracy didn't consider herself that intuitive, but something didn't sit right when she saw him. She snapped a picture of him when he wasn't looking.


Later, the police in town would ask her how she knew to take a picture. All she could explain to them was that she felt a "vibe", not a great one.


Tracy took a dip in the ocean, dried off and then headed back to her parents' house. She mentioned to her her brother that there was this strange guy on the beach and she got goosebumps and fear scrambled up her spine after he looked at her. Her brother had the TV on. This is unbelievable. Is it this guy? There was a sketched description on the news and it matched her memory of what the man looked like.


"What did he do?" Asked Tracy. Trent looked at her intensely. "He's a rapist, according to Laguna Beach Police. I can't believe you took a picture of him...you could be putting your life in risk!"


"So he's coming after nineteen year old girls?" asked Tracy. "I think any girl, woman.." Trent answered. "So you and your friends and mom are going to have to be super careful. What if this guy comes after you and them?"


"I'm not worried," said Tracy. "I'm going to develop my pictures and then bring them down to the police department."


"Tracy, It may be too late," said Trent in an alarmed tone.


Tracy went into the family dark room. She decided to develop the photos she took. The photo of the man at the beach...came out dark and foreboding.


She let the photo dry, changed into a tank top and skirt...then, when she looked at the print in the light, she saw that there was something in the background... a bright light hanging over the man's left shoulder. She looked closer and saw that it was the face of an alien. She took three raspy breaths, climbed up the stairs and grabbed Trent by the arm. Trent looked at her in shock...


"Trent, he's not a rapist..he's an extraterrestrial!"


He almost looked like he would laugh, but then he saw the picture...


"Then he must have one sadistic twin brother," said Trent.


"That's it!! He has to have a twin brother that's a rapist..or do you think an alien is controlling his behavior?"


"Tracy...really...let the police solve this..they must have some 'Men in Black' swat team!"


Now it was Tracy's turn to stifle a laugh...then, they both heard a crash in their backyard..a gigantic noise of outrageous proportions...it was almost deafening. A huge UFO was in their backyard...and all of a sudden, the man...the man they are planning to turn in...to the police...well, his picture at least..it's him...walking toward the spacecraft out of nowhere...like he's walking toward the bus! And he takes a quick look over his shoulder, with an apple in his hand and the sliding door of the spacecraft opens...no signs of aliens, but a greenish light and then the man is swallowed by the UFO and it shoots up like reversed lightning toward the sky.


Trent and Tracy are now holding each other out of fear and then push each other away..


"You're not really scared are you?" they both ask each other at once..


"So what/who is he?" asked Tracy.


"Some kind of alien or someone who works for aliens?"


Just then the phone rang...fast and shrill. "Bring...Brrring!"


"This is the Laguna Beach Police Department calling...we're calling to see if you've seen a man fitting this description...several women, men, and pets have recently disappeared from our community..."


Tracy interrupted the man on the phone..


"We saw him, but he's not possibly human...he just went up in a spaceship from our backyard..."


"We'll be right there!" shouted Trent into the phone.


He dragged Tracy by her arm. She could barely grab her keys. The police station was in walking distance. They walked in and they noticed there was tension in the air. Police were lined up and held at gunpoint by women and men in big, furry purple uniforms. The faces of these "people" were young looking...almost like ten year old children. Tracy and Trent looked at each other and knew they were the aliens and they looked like Teletubbies!


Tracy quickly handed a head police officer the photo of the man that she snapped the other day.


"He's no rapist! He's an alien! And I think Laguna is going to become drastically underpopulated if we don't stop them!"


The officer looked back at her...stunned.


"He is invincible," Tracy said. "I doubt any bullets will sink into him..." She handed the police officer her picture and she saw that he took out a flashlight that flashed Green, and the man's face turned Green.


"See, Miss. This is an alien detector. If he wasn't an alien, his face would turn purple," said the head police officer...who Tracy learned was named Officer Hanley.


"Well, alright then...my brother and I are going to head out," said Tracy.


"Do as you wish, but the town of Laguna Beach is in extreme trouble and this will take a call to the CIA and all governmental agencies. This is a disaster...similar to a fire or landslide. We need help!"


Before a Teletubby alien could grab either Tracy or her brother, they ran back home. Luckily, their parents were home and they told them the whole story. They turned on the TV and a reporter was in Laguna and ten year old Teletubbies were running after people, but Tracy noticed they were only running after people with stryofoam cups. They would take a cup and swallow it whole.


"Oh wow!" Tracy exclaimed. "They are trying to save the environment! They are eating styrofoam even if it's a detriment to them."


Tracy called the downtown police station and told the chief officer of this recent chain of events. 


"Your doughnuts of glazed and sprinkles are safe. They're after stryofoam. Tell everyone to hide the stryofoam drinks. They are helping us to make sure we use recyclable materials!"


The whole staff of police looked at her in disbelief.


"It's true!" yelled Tracy. 

My Thoughts about You

There's something I can't forget...the way your lips tried sincerely to sound out, pronounce my name. It was coincidental that we met at the campus lounge aka bar with amazing veggie burgers! Over the loud, thumping music...you told me your name..Allen. And my name...Constanuela...you said Constant-wella. It wasn't pretty.

I was walking up to the jukebox and you whistled. I wasn't that dressed up, but I am sure I looked hot. Back in those days, I was wearing miniskirts with boots and  tight tube tops under button down shirts. It would look ridiculous now, but cute then...with my tight abs from swimming and running. My long, black curls surrounded my face and my red, rosy lips looked tough. Except people told me that when I smiled, my whole face transformed and I looked extremely angelic and kind.

A boy walked up to me..not quite a man in many ways. I was 19 and all woman. He was 20 and still very boyish with high top shoes, donning a "Nirvana" t-shirt and Black faded Levis.

You whistled at me right in the middle of a run down campus restaurant pub.  I turned and looked over my right shoulder and was pretty embarrassed. I didn't expect that open kind of hello. You looked at me and made eye contact. You didn't walk away and I started walking backward. A girl to my left smiled and laughed...the place was packed, so it wasn't like many people noticed, but I noticed and those within my two feet radius. You stepped up to the plate...literally, figuratively, and although it was jarring...but looking into your blue, green eyes and  staring at your lopsided, warm grin...I was hooked...and so we dated and eventually settled down together.

We're now living in a house by Bass lake. It's comforting to have you nearby and it's a calm place to live except for the crazy, loud summers when people camp and hike here. I thought we would be a couple of wild things, but here we are...hanging out on a lake..you go work in town and I'm a housewife basically. You don't know, but there's a baby on the way..our baby. I found out it's going to be a boy. I'm sitting outside and the sun ripples through the trees and I feel sensual..wearing my one piece and shorts. I'm only a month pregnant. You have always wanted a child and here's to hoping you will be just as eager as I am to see our first born, but the minute after I have our little one...who I affectionately call, "my heart," I want to move somewhere...not into a loud, crowded city like New York, but at least a bigger town...a place that has some small town charm and open space...and since this place bores me to tears...I don't look forward to our son's reaction. Nature is good, but not if you are wanting raise a little man... while we learn to love one another with that rush of passion again...

Memories of India

I never thought I'd find another family away from my own family in a different country, a different land. We all would never forget that experience....as echoed in many an email from Long Beach, CA to Ahmedabad, India. The effect on many of us volunteers was instrumental to our own growth as lovers of life, of hope, of individuality and connection.

Sitting in a fast food "Natraj Tandoori" restaurant in Southern California. Despite the take out surroundings and Orange tables, booths for families in this middle of a shopping complex, there is still the music in the background (Indian music) and some of the atmosphere and this takes me back to December of 2004. On an adventure..another one after traveling to South Africa with my spirited, humanitarian friends. Why India?

I had this time off around Christmas from the school I work in. It was something incredibly palpable to me..I could already smell the spices in the air, the sweat, the grime, and the flavorful Indian cuisine. My coworkers didn't really understand where I was coming from.

"Why don't you just go to Hawaii?" they asked. "India? Isn't it dangerous there right now?"

I did my research and asked the trip organizers a million and one questions. I finally felt really safe in some sense of the word. i felt right in my heart and it felt not in my best interest to stay home!

As a group, we met fro discussions on what to expect when travelling to a place such as India. We listened to Indian music, learned some Hindu words and learned more about how far Agra was to New Delhi and to Ahmedabad. Soon enough, we were on our way! Somehow the money came through for me to go: a combination of donations, mileage checks and other income. We left from LAX and one of our stops was Taipei, Taiwan and then we stopped in Kuala Lumpur. Some of my fellow travelling companions went to see the Pedronas Towers. i was so sweaty...clothes sticking to my skin. I showered and rested in my hotel room and then met a few friends for a meal. It felt like we were in a different universe. It was quiet and tropical and then it was back to the airport. Next stop....India!!