Confrontation2

The Confrontation
Page 2

   She tried to gulp down, as quickly as possible, a cold supper of roast beef, cheese, and a loaf of bread, expecting the owner to throw her out at any minute.
    Then the waitress put a mug of ale before her, and held out her hand for payment. "One dollar, please."
    Michele stuffed some meat into her mouth and shrugged. The woman waited.
    "Go to the Silver Slipper," Michele growled. "I left all my money there." She yawned and leaned her head on her hand.
    "Mack!" the woman called.
    "I want to go to sleep," thought Michele.
    Then a short, broad-chested man with glossy black hair and a beard came out of the kitchen, wiping his hands on his pants.
    "What's the matter, Maria?"
    Maria pointed to Michele.
    "You, get out of here," he said, advancing on her threateningly.
    He had brown eyes and fair skin.
    Michele was in love.
    She looked up at him with a ravishing smile. She had never seen such a short man. "I like brown eyes," she said.
    Mack jerked his head towards the door. "Up!"
    Michele could have cried. She was still hungry and had no place to sleep; she had no money, and it was still raining outside. Now a man she found overwhelmingly attractive was trying to throw her out into the street. "It's not fair," she mumbled. "Go away."
    She watched him from the corner of her eye. When he bent over to grab her arm, she shoved the table into his stomach and sprang to her feet, leaving him doubled over and gasping for air.
    When he had recovered his breath, he leaned on the table and told Michele in a tense, quiet voice precisely what manner of lice-ridden bitch he considered her to be. Then he vividly described how she might amuse herself after he had thrown her into the gutter where she belonged.
    But Michele wasn't listening. When he came at her again, she backed away, laughing. "I think you're beautiful," she said, and hit him on the jaw. Mack staggered against the table, lost his balance and fell, dragging Michele down with him. He rolled on top of her and tried to pound her head against the floor.

    Michele didn't even try to fight him off. Instead, she wrapped her
legs around his hips and pulled him closer, sliding her hands under his
clothing. "Don't go," she protested, as he leaped up, gasping,
embarrassed. Maria and a few remaining customers stood staring, while the cook and service-boy watched from the kitchen doorway. Bringing her thoughts back to the present, she felt, for the first time in her life, a betrayal and bitter loneliness --the man she loved was about to leave her.
     Meanwhile, Jessica Douglas entered the tavern. She was a lifelong friend of Michele's, and stood a head shorter in height than her Amazon friend. She had a very pale complexion, with grey eyes and delicate, fine-boned features. Her black hair was close-cropped, revealing a high forehead and arched brows. When she walked, she moved as gracefully as a queen.
     Jessica saw Michele leaning up against the wall with her eyes
closed. Passing Mack and giving him her order for a plate of meat and
coffee, approached Michele's table. Seeing a tear roll down her face,
she felt the need to help her friend through whatever dilemma she was
facing.
     Sitting down across from Michele, she placed her hand on Michele's for comfort. Michele didn't move her hand at first, because of Jessica's familiar touch; she had no reason to be afraid.
     Jessica turned toward the bar as the waitress placed the food and
coffee she ordered on the table.

     "Hello, Missy," the waitress said.
     "Hello. You're new here, aren't you?" asked Jessica.
     "Yes, just today."
     "I'm Jessica. Everyone calls me Jessy."
     "Okay, Jessy. I'm Sarah."
     "Thanks, Sarah."
     After Sarah had left, Jessica sat with her hands curved around a cup of coffee, her eyes plumbing the dark depths. She had put her dinner aside untasted and had appeared lost in her own thoughts. But now she looked up, giving Michele a frowning look. "I know something that might help," she said softly. Jessica smiled faintly and took another sip of coffee. "To do what I have in mind, you must close your eyes." she said slowly. "You must sit up straight, but not stiffly, and take in two breaths. You're going to become a tree."
     A hard laughter came from Michele's guts. "Get serious," she said in amusement.
     "It might sound silly, but it does work."

The Catherine Brosnan