FAWC2: Plaza de Toros
(Author's note: This story is a submission to the second Friendly Anonymous Writing Challenge (FAWC). The true author of this story is kept anonymous, but will be revealed on August 16th, 2013, in the comments section following this story. Each story in this challenge is centered around a random determination of four "mystery ingredients." There are no prizes given in this challenge; this is simply a friendly competition.)
(The mystery ingredients for this story were: Ambition, Location, Energetic, Sport.)
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Alexis sat mesmerized as she watched the spectacle unfolding before her and listened to the cheering crowd...
"Ole!"
they shouted repeatedly as the matador danced around a huge snorting bull in the middle of the ring. This was her first bullfight and truth be known, she had only ducked in here to avoid the two men she knew to be following her.
Would they have followed her in here?
No, and if they did it would not matter. Here she knew she was safe, thanks in no small part to her host, The Don.
Don Carlos Giovanni had given her a standing invitation some years ago to attend a
Corrida De Toros
with him when she returned to Spain. Now here she was, finally taking advantage of it, even if she had ulterior motives. She did not realize how close to the floor his box was- something that made him more important than she appreciated. When Alexis had stopped to purchase her
billete
, she had gently let slip The Don's name. That was all it took- ticket in hand she had been immediately ushered right to the seats where he rose to greet her with a kiss and a lingering hug. Lexi thought him unsurprised at her appearance, as if he knew she would join him today. Don Carlos sat beside her now, completely engrossed in the action. He was a sweet old man and Alexis smiled inwardly at the many memories of his awkward attempts to seduce her over the years.
"Ole!"
the crowd shouted again, bringing her back to the action. The noise assaulted her senses and she refocused on the
ruedo
, the bullring. She looked hard at the Matador- he looked different somehow, not as resplendent as before. She suddenly realized what it was ... his uniform, what did they call it, oh yes she remembered, his
traje de luce
, it was no longer that majestic gold. Splattered with a mixture of red and brown from what she assumed to be the dust of the arena, and maybe the consequences of the bullfight itself, it had lost some of its luster.
Unfamiliar with the flow of the fight she watched with a mix of wonder and uncertainty as the action in the ring seemed to come to a standstill - both bull and matador locked into a staring contest. The crowd, understanding the moment, cheered louder still, their voices rising in a uniform crescendo and confused or not, Alexi found herself swept up in the action.
"Indulto! Indulto!"
They began to shout. Someone threw a white rose into the ring and the matador skillfully stepped toward it, watching the bull closely... bloodied and tired, he still had enough fight in him to be dangerous.
Tossing his red capote off to the side, he placed his hand on the bull's forehead and deftly scooped up the rose. The crowd roared with approval as he placed it between his teeth. He moved back away from the animal and within two quick steps, he was in front of Don Carlos and offered Alexis the rose.
Startled she was unsure what to do... The Don leaned close and over the noise of the approving crowd shouted to Lexi. "He is asking for your decision."
Looking down at the matador, she responded, "To what?"
"The '
Indulto'
my dear.
The Pardon.
It is now your decision. Did
El Toro
fight bravely enough to have his life spared Señorita Alexis? That is his question to you."
Alexis looked up as The Don smiled and swept his arm in a gesture over the crowd causing them to roar all the louder. "The people want to know if the bull should live..." The Don spoke to Alexis. When she did not answer, he glanced at her and realized the moment had captured her, so he repeated himself in Spanish, trying to refocus her attentions.
"La gente, señorita, la gente quiere saber si el toro debe vivir."
He said, still facing the crowd yet talking to her.
"Como se dice, 'Si?'"
she asked, startled from her thoughts and lapsing into Spanish with him.
"La rosa Lexi," The Don smiled at her. "Stand and bow to el Mataor y los picadors and place the rose in your hair, quickly before El Toro recovers. Do that and the bull lives, or throw it back to the Matador and, well..." his voice trailed off.
Alexis looked at Don Carlos, her eyes twinkling in the moment. She smiled at The Don then stood, faced the Matador, bowed, then bowed to the picadors and placed the rose in her hair. The crowd rose to their feet in unison, their voices shouting their approval of her decision.
Don Carlos watched Alexis as she soaked in the crowd's appreciation. He appreciated her as well, only in a different way he admitted to himself. "What a shame I've never been able to experience you," he whispered aloud. Then he gently touched Alexis' hand and spoke in her ear smiling, "
Muy buena decision mi amor,
a very good decision indeed."
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