Dear reader,
I thank you for visiting these chapters of my story. If this is the first one you see I advise you to start with Chapter 1, for that's where you'll be informed about all those characters from the start.
All others, I want you to have fun reading this, please leave a comment, advise or whatever you would like to share with me.
The next chapters will take some time. I have to start writing them....
Love you all,
D.
28 In my car
In this section you best listen to:
Tourist by St. Germain
We drove to her house. St. Germain was playing Rose Rouge on my CD player, with some good advice that I interpreted for myself. "I want you to get together." Well, that was exactly what I wanted. Being with someone. Not with just anyone, but with the person sitting next to me.
Juanita was quiet and drummed in rhythm with her fingers on the dashboard.
My mind drifted to Chittie, I had just talked to her to alert her that I was coming for lunch.
"Of course, Doña Delgado, Chittie will make a nice table for you and ..."
I chuckled and said "Yes, Chittie, for me and Juanita."
"I knew, I knew ... two such beautiful women have to ..." I shut her up.
"Chittie STOP! We are far from that. But I hope we will get to know each other better. "
"Of course Doña Delgado, of course. Don't be in a hurry, take your time for everything, being in a hurry is bad for the digestion as my late Jorge always said. But it's quite hot under those smoldering embers isn't it? This time it will certainly become more, Chittie knows for sure! I see it in both of you. Something beautiful is growing, now let it come to full maturity. Sorry Doña Delgado, I'm rambling again. But I'm so happy for you."
I had said goodbye to her laughing. Juanita had stood beside me with growing surprise. Of course, she had only heard my part of the story.
"Well, that was a funny conversation."
I was still laughing when I told her that Xochitl was a treasure of a human but that she could get carried away by possibilities every now and then.
"She's already seeing us tie the knot."
"Who? She and... ohhh, hold on, she meant you and me?" I nodded as I looked at her with a smile. Her face fell and she started to blush.
"What's the matter, Juanita, don't you think it's a funny idea?"
"Yes, but you can't get married here at all!"
I shook my head and pulled her towards me. With my head next to hers, I whispered in her ear: "Officially, same sex cannot get married here, but Chittie has found something about that. Didn't you notice those photos yesterday?"
Juanita backed away to look at me in surprise. "Those pictures on the wall at Chittie's?" I nodded. "No, I don't believe I did. Was there anything weird with those pics?"
"All the photos hanging there are from unofficial weddings. At Chittie's, anyone can get married, but it is usually gay or lesbian marriages that take place there.
She has been doing this since her husband Jorge died, because, as she says herself, everyone has the right to make a loving commitment. Her brother is a pretty progressive pastor and blesses the marriages. So maybe not for the state and the official church, but every bridal couple has received the blessing of God from the pastor."
After a moment's silence: "And who were the bride and groom in the photo you are on?"
"Oh, that was a coincidence. My then girlfriend and I had wandered in while a marriage was underway. I had no idea who got married. Probably it were those two guys in the middle. Everyone who came in during a marriage was welcome, which is why the majority of the people in most pictures are regular customers."
She nodded but became very quiet. No word was said till we were well on our way.
I looked at her for a moment, hmm how good she looked. She had stopped drumming. A slow song of St. Germain had made her look out of the car window. I focused on the road again.
"How long have you known her, Dito? You get along so well." I sort of startled when she spoke.
"You mean Chittie and me?" From the corner of my eye I saw she nodded.'
"I was still young when we, as a family, already came to the restaurant of Xochitl and her husband Jorge. My parents had a special relationship with them. Jorge often came to our house to do odd jobs. When we needed an electrician, carpenter or plumber, Jorge was called.
We actually ate at Chittie's every Sunday. She made a Chateaubriand and it was flambéed at the table. We had a fixed table and fixed places. My father opposite my mother, Chittie stood at our table with a mobile cart with a burner, a cutting board and spices. I was allowed to sit opposite Chittie so I could have a good look at everything.
We also had a regular ritual, that went the same way every week: when the meat was ready, Chittie cut off a slice of it. She gave it to Mama. My mother then cut it into a biteable chunk and poked that on her fork. The fork went back to Chittie with the piece of meat, she put it through the pan with gravy again and offered the fork to Father. Then my mother tapped the plate with her knife, shook her head at Chittie as to tell her she did it wrong, at which Chittie put the fork with the meat into Father's mouth."
"What a strange ritual."
"Oh, I always thought it was funny. Especially because I knew what came next. "
Juanita hung on my words as I continued.