Larissa was single, thirty years old and a contract lawyer. She drove a Bimmer and lived in Jamaica Estates. She had not been laid in months. After the fourth month and still no bedroom action she began to put in more hours at her law firm just to keep her mind off sex.
Larissa felt her sex life was non-existent because she had not found anyone whom she felt a strong physical attraction to. In the past, she would get her groove on just to say she had a sex life. But she never felt a strong connection with any of her past lovers. Each time, after the intimacy was over, Larissa felt unfulfilled. So she would move on to a new paramour, hoping for a more pleasing sexual experience. But she would still run into the same problem. Her sexual appetite would remain insatiable after the penetration had ended. So she decided to let her body choose its next lover. Only her body would truly know what it craved and only then would she truly be satisfied.
*****
It was Thursday. Larissa sat in her office and tried to read over a contract for a closing on an investment property she had recommended to one of her clients. But the sound of birds chirping, children laughing and the warm summer breeze coming through her open window kept invading her concentration. She could not remember the last time she had left work and the sun was still shining.
So she decided today would be the day she would leave work early and enjoy the weather. Picking up a few movie rentals on the way home wasn't a bad idea either, she thought. It was another thing that she had not done in awhile: cuddle up on the couch with a bag of popcorn and watch a movie. It was one of her favorite things to do.
Larissa dialed her boss's extension. When her boss picked up the phone she informed him that she would be leaving early to go meet with clients. After she hung up she felt a bit guilty for lying. But she quickly forgave herself and remembered that she was a lawyer. She made a living from lying a little bit. Grabbing her briefcase, she left her office.
When she walked into the video store she heard a man say in a West Indian accent, "Welcome to Video Mania." Her eyes followed the voice. Once she matched the voice with the only person standing behind the counter, she said, "Thank you." She had never seen him before. He must be new, she thought. After spending close to an hour in the store, Larissa headed for the counter. With no one else in line she went to the man who had greeted her when she first walked in. She placed her movie selections on the counter.
"Yuh find whey yuh a look fa?" the man asked.
She looked at his name tag.
"Yes. Thank you for asking, Donovan." Her eyes went back to his face. He had a honey color complexion, green eyes and kissable lips. After Larissa was done looking him over she decided, he had it going on.
"Mi caan get yuh membaship card?"
"Oh, yes of course."
She retrieved her card from her wallet and handed it over to him. Donovan took a quick look at each of her movies.
"Mi see all a de movies 'ere 'ave 'R' rating. Let mi see yuh ID?"
"You're kidding, right?"
"Mi serious."
While Larissa retrieved her ID from her wallet, Donovan gazed at her with interest on his face. When Larissa looked up he pretended he was looking at something on his computer. He had a serious look on his face.
"Here you are," Larissa said, handing over her ID. She was a bit annoyed.
Donovan took her driver's license, looked it over and then said, "Larissa Browne. T'irty. Yuh young but mi caan mek an exception."
The doorbell chimed. Larissa and Donovan looked in the direction of the sound. "Welcome to Video Mania," Donovan said. The woman entering smiled. Donovan gave Larissa's driver's license back to her. Then he scanned her membership card and her movies.
"That was very clever, young man." Larissa said, stressing the word "young."
"But mi mature in oddah areas."
"Is it in your job description to use such language with customers? I'm sure your boss wouldn't be very happy to know about this."
"Mi sorry," he said.
"Mi neva mean fi upset yuh. Enjoy de movies." He handed her video rentals over to her.
"How old are you, anyway?"
"Twenty-one."
"Wow! It must be nice to finally be able to interact with the adults. Have a nice day!"
*****
A few days later, Larissa returned her movies. It was after six o'clock when she pulled into the parking lot. While parking her car she noticed Donovan standing at the bus stop. After returning the rentals she pulled up to where he stood, put on her hazardous lights, pressed the window control and the window on the passenger's side rolled down. She leaned across the passenger's seat to speak to him. Donovan recognized her. He stopped listening to his music and removed his ear plugs.
"No car," she said. "What a shame! The weather man did say it was going to be pretty hot today. Try not to pass out." She smiled.
"Mi different from you. Mi caan 'andle de 'eat. Mi bet yuh nuh sweat in a while."
Larissa stopped smiling. Two girls approached Donovan.
"Excuse me. Do you have the time?" one of the girls asked him.
He glanced at his watch. "Six t'irty," he said.
"Thank you cutie," the other girl said. The two girls walked away giggling.
Larissa rolled her eyes at the two girls. Turning her attention back to Donovan she said, "I can give you a lift."
"Mi good, mon. Mi nuh waan fi inconvient yuh. Den again mi nuh waan
nuh ride from nuh stranga."
"Oh! I didn't know I was still a stranger. Not after you got to know my name and age, very well, the other day." Larissa pressed the window control. The window on the passenger's side went up. She turned off her hazardous lights.
When Donovan saw this he walked over and tapped on the window. He was sweating profusely.
Larissa partially lowered the passenger's window.
"Yuh kno' w'at? Mi t'ink mi will tek yuh up on de ride."
"Too late. The offer has expired. So you stay cool, now, you hear? I know I will." Larissa raised the passenger's window and she drove away. She didn't notice the rusty nail in the street. She drove over it. "What the hell was that?" she yelled, and then she pulled over to the curb and got out of the car to check her tires. The right front tire was going flat. She began to curse.
"Mi t'ink yuh ago sweat after all."
Larissa was startled by the voice. She turned away from the flat tire and met Donovan's eyes. She said, "Can you change the tire for me? I have a spare in the trunk."
Donovan looked away. "Mi bus a cum. Mi will see yuh." He began to walk in the direction of the bus stop.
"I'll give you a ride," she said.
He stopped walking away and turned back to her. "W'en yuh seh dat. 'Ow caan mi seh no?"
"You are too many things."
"Yeah mon!"
After Donovan changed the tire Larissa drove him home. While driving, she said, "So how is it that an intelligent person like you ends up working at Video Mania?"
"'Ow yuh know say mi smart?"
"I don't. I just thought I would give you the benefit of the doubt."
Donovan burst out laughing. Larissa joined him. When their laughter subsided, Donovan said, "Fi real. Mi jus' graduate from college, an' mi cyaan find a job wid mi degree whey mi 'ave. Dem tell mi, say, mi nuh 'ave any work experience. So w'en mi kno' w'at mi ago do, mi will leave dere."
Touching his hand, Larissa said, "Don't worry you'll find your way."
"Dats w'at mi parents did a tell me."
"You live with your parents?"
"Yeah mon. But mi cyann tek it."
Their conversation continued several minutes longer before Larissa stopped in front of his house. Once they arrived she pulled her hand away.
"T'ank yuh fi de ride."
"The pleasure was all mine."
Donovan reached in his pocket and took out his keys. "Mi caan call yuh
sum time?"
"Call me?"
"Yeah mon!"
Larissa took a moment to think. He was too young for her. He lived at home with his parents. He didn't have a car; and how could she ever get pass the criticism from her best friend, Tiffany? She took a deep breath and said to him, "My number is..."
*****
It was late in the evening the following day as Larissa sat behind the desk in her study and reviewed some contracts. She was distracted when she heard the phone ring that sat near her paperwork.
"Hello."
"Good night. Mi waan fi talk wid Larissa?"
"Hi Donovan. What's going on?"
"Nuttin. Yuh t'ink we could link up?"
"Well, I'm busy right now."
"Mi mek it wort' yuh time."