David and I kept up the e-mails after he went home, and one day while I was reading his words I thought to myself, "I'd love to see him again." I wrote my response and then began to daydream about seeing him. I decided that I would go to Australia, without a word to him that I was coming. I would surprise him, this time I wanted to play a game. I had loved meeting him, talking with him for the week that he was here, but I wanted to have some fun now and I devised the plan to do it. I wasn't really sure exactly where in Australia he was, but with a little detective work it wouldn't be hard to find out.
In conversations with him, I found out the vicinity in which he lived but I didn't come out and ask him for his address. He would know something was up, and besides I liked playing, Jessica P.I. With the clues that I got from him, I booked my flight and hotel room then went shopping. I bought all new outfits for the trip, some that would look like I was just a tourist visiting the lovely country of Australia, some that looked as though I was a tigress on the prowl. I also bought a short, blonde haired wig to hide my long red hair that David would definitely recognize, and a pair of dark big circled sunglasses.
On the day I stepped out of the airport and into the sunny crystal blue sky of Australia, I was dressed like a tourist. I had pulled my hair back from my face in a ponytail and wore a pair of jean shorts, tank top, and sneakers. I wore no make-up, I hadn't seen the point in putting it on for the long plane trip, but even without it I got many looks from the opposite sex. I found my hotel, with the help of a taxi driver and went up to my room. I pondered for a long time on how exactly I was going to do this. I knew I wasn't too far from where David had said he was and I wanted him to know someone was asking about him. I decided that I should get another wig, that way if he asked the description of the person who was asking about him, no one could be able to give my exact appearance and I didn't want to become the blonde till later in the game.
I phoned down to the front desk and asked where I could find such a place. The helpful woman behind the desk gave me exact directions to a store and I was on my way. As I walked down the street I found it odd that I didn't feel drained from the long flight. I thought that I would have experienced jetlag, but then again my adrenaline was going at full speed, and that was probably what was keeping me up. I found the store with ease and purchased a long black wig. After paying for it I asked the woman behind the counter if she'd help me put it on. I'd never put on a wig before and needed to know exactly how to do it. She looked at me funny when I asked her.
"Why would you want to cover up this pretty hair of yours?"
"Oh. Well, I sunburn easily, especially the top of my head and I look real silly in a hat. So, this is to protect my head, and I've always wanted to know what I'd look like with black hair."
I smiled teasingly at her and gave her a wink. She gave a little blush, cleared her throat, and helped me with the wig without another word. When the wig was securely on my head, I turned to her, producing a picture from my purse.
"Hey. You wouldn't happen to know this guy would you?"
She looked at the picture for a moment and I saw a flash of recognition in her eyes.
"Why do you ask?"
"Oh, I'm here to find him."
"Why? What's he done?"
"Nothing." I gave her that smile again and watched her face and neck blush.
"Then why you want to know who he is."
"I know who he is. I just want to know if you could give me a hint on his whereabouts. He isn't in trouble or anything so don't you worry about that."
I placed my hand on her shoulder and gave it a small squeeze. I felt her body shake a little under my touch and thought to myself, "this is going to be easier than I thought if I can get everyone with my sex appeal."
"That, there." She pointed to the picture. "Is David."
"Yeah. I know his name. Do you know where I can find him?"
"Well, I don't know him personally. His Mum comes in here from time to time to buy products and he has come in here with her a few times."
"Okay. But you don't know where I can find him?"
"No. He doesn't live with his Mum."
I stopped asking my questions when the woman began to give me a scrutinizing look. I thanked her for her help, told her not to say anything about me to David's Mom if she happened to come in because I was here for a surprise. She understood what I meant and I hoped that she wasn't too much of a gossiper. I went back to the hotel. I had decided not to do too much searching today, it was already about evening time and my body was beginning to feel tired. I ordered in and watched some TV before I passed out from the exhaustion that I hadn't felt earlier.
I jumped when I woke up, at first I wasn't sure where I was or why the hell my head itched so much, the itching is what made my eyes pop open. I realized that I was in a hotel room, and my head itched because I'd fallen asleep with the black wig on. I took it off and went into the shower. My head felt much better after it was shampooed and I hoped that the wig wouldn't make my head itch all day. I sat brushing out the black hair before I put my own up in a bun and put the wig back on my head. I sat looking at myself with the fake hair. The blackness of the hair made my already fair skin seem even whiter, but the wig did make the blue of my eyes more vibrant. I decided again, not to wear any make-up today, and dabbed my face with sunscreen before donning on a flower patterned summer dress and a pair of flat heeled sandals. I had told the lady in the hair care shop that I wouldn't wear hats, but I produced one from my luggage, a wide brimmed summer hat that matched the dress. I figured that the hat would help to hide my face while I went searching for David. I looked in the mirror and flipped the sides of the long black wig so that the hair flowered over my shoulders. I nodded to myself and smiled before I went to fetch some breakfast and much needed coffee.
As I sat in the little restaurant inside the hotel, I looked over a tourist guide while I slowly ate a muffin and sipped a most wonderful cup of coffee. I looked up to see the manager of the place walking towards me. He invited himself to sit and smiled at me from across the table.
"May I help you Sir?"
I gave him a little smile and titled my head as if to say, "Who asked you to sit down?"
"Everything to your liking?"
"Yeah. The coffee is delicious."
"Good, good. Here on holiday?"
"I guess you could say that."
He looked at me questionably but said nothing.
"Where's your husband?"
"I don't have one. Why would you ask?"
"I figured a pretty lady such as yourself would have a beau."
I laughed and said mockingly.
"No beau. Though, I'm here to find one."
"Really?"
I could here the hope in his voice and I was about to shoot it down. I pulled my picture from my purse.
"Know him?"
He glanced briefly at the picture and I could see his eyes grow dark with the realization that I had no interest in him.
"No."
"You sure?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, then thank you."
I made a little gesture with my hands to dismiss him and he got up slowly from the table. He gave me a look that said I was a bitch, but I just smiled and wrinkled my nose at him without a come back for the look. I didn't finish my muffin, I wasn't very hungry, and so I headed off to find David.
In my wanderings and question asking for the next couple of days, I came to find out that he lived in a flat on the other side of town. I found the neighborhood and began walking the streets in search of an apartment building. As I walked down a street I noticed an older woman sweeping the walking path to her home. I stayed on the sidewalk and called to her, not wanting to surprise her by walking up beside her. She put down the broom and walked towards me.
"What can I help you with Dear?"
I took out the picture and showed it to her.
"Do you know where I might be able to find him?"
"Who? Dave?"
"Yep."
"He lives about two blocks down."
She pointed in the direction she spoke of.
"In an apartment complex right?"
"Yes Honey, in a flat.
"Do you know which complex or what flat number."
"Oh there's only one complex. I don't know what number."
I knew she was lying but I said nothing.
"Oh that's okay. I can find that out. Thank you so much for your help Ma'am."
"Nothing to it. But Honey, you know he's got him a girl right?"
This was new to me, but I played it off.
"No, but that doesn't matter." I smiled at her.
"Okay. I was just thinking a pretty thing like yourself could only be finding Dave for one reason."
She gave me a knowing wink, and I laughed.
"No different reason."
"Well, alright then. You have a good day now."
"You too Ma'am."
I watched as she went back to her sweeping and I felt a little bad that she had to do that herself. I also thought that if I was this close to David maybe I'd catch a glimpse of him while I helped this poor woman out.
"Ma'am?"
"Call me Evelyn."
"Okay Evelyn. You need any help with that?"
She looked up at me as though she was going to cry.
"Honey that is music to my ears!"
I walked over to her and took the broom from her aging hands and began to sweep the walk. She went inside and came back out shortly with iced tea, a drink I've never been to fond of but accepted graciously since she offered. She whistled when she saw that the sweeping was already done.
"I need you around all the time."
