CAP VI- in the muddy road

Brake !!! Shit, Man !!! Something was running in front of my car. What ...
- Hey, Are you alright? getting out of my pickup truck. Car door slammed with a creak.
- Aaaaaiii !
The dark men in brown with a Fedora hat it's rising from the mud I just projected him into. Bet his ego it's pretty damaged. He's looking for something, not really concerned of all the mess on he's pants.
- I am terribly sorry ! You were running and with all this mud. Sorry!
I must be smiling, that does not help much.He has awful manners anyway, can't even see his face with that hat. Who wears a Classic hat in this woods? I don't know what to say or do. I have to go, i am returning to my green pickup truck. Near me, appears Kid with a decisive bark, stopping me.

- Hi, Kid! Is it yours? i am asking looking surprised at the Classic- hat men.
- Yes. Hear you areeee, dog! This days just disappears, I've been looking for him. I am sorry we got in your way, hope you are fine. I am fine. Really, Dog is fine too, you can go ... now.
He's a real gentlemen in the middle '50's, maybe 60 years old, still charming. He's eyes look tired, but they have a vivid- worm shine. I could bet he was pretty handsome when he was younger.
We both lean down to caress the dog, but he retires quickly. He's hat falls down, from all the movement. He just turns and laughs, picking up his Fedora hat, from the muddy road. The dog barks.

- Good, Kid! You have an awesome dog! I am smiling and he is looking at me with he's dark eyes.
- He is kind of a free spirit.
He want's to add something, but he just looks at me like questioning all my life.
- Yes ! think so, too. The other day he found me on a pick, we returned together, home.
- Ooooh. So he was with you! He's actually in a total need of a female presence. He is a puppy that my ex wife left me with. He doesn't have a name yet !
He looks at the sweet creature that stands between us in the muddy road.
- Kid?!
 I try to call the dog and his sweet eyes are looking at me, he barks like saying yes. and just swings his short tail. He is such a sweet, smart puppy!
- OK. Then Kid it is, you smashing little dog.
He's smiling happy and they seem to be fine, so I try to get out of this perfect frame of two, taking a small step back. I feel that look from Kid, asking me to stay along for a wile.
- Say, don't you enter for a cup of tea... maybe! I really like to fix this occurred meeting of ours in the middle of a muddy road.
Both men and dog looking at me, with that sweet puppy eyes. I take a step closer, looking at the light that is glowing in the house, calling us to warm up.
- It smells like it's going to snow! say out loud, without thinking.
- Shall we? he takes my arm and we go on the alley, Kid is running around us, happy.
- You know, Kid looks just like you, only he's more transparent !
He's steps kind of slowed down for a moment, he takes a look at me, and then smiles looking in front at his puppy. Kid looks at us, expecting at the front door.
I think I was a little blunt, my words just came out without even thinking, I am too tired.
I smile at the dark men with classy muddy hat in his hand and then I smile back at Kid,
Just thinking that the little puppy looked as happy on the outside like the dark men was on the inside, made me blush for a moment.
We stopped at the front door, and he looked in my eyes, opening the door.
- After you, milady! We enter.

He is putting my coat in the closet behind the front door and enters on the next door.
- Please make yourself comfortable, it's worm hear.
The open living it's bigger that you can see from the entrance. The fire place illuminates a lovely Belle Epoque setting with a couch, two arm chairs and a minimalist small table. After that it's a study zone with a desk and a full wall of books. I like the book stairs on the other side of the desk. In the back of the desk it's a lovely painted wall, like in the Chinese houses, with dark wood and floral motives.

He reappears changed in a blue sky shirt with black bow tie and black pants and with Kid at his feet.
- Sorry I left you alone.Tea is ready in a second, or shall we drink a glass of wine.
I think I could drink a glass of wine or even scotch, but it's not really recommended. Sitting up near the fire, with one hand on my forehead, I just look lost in the flames dance.
I sense his presence wright on my back. He is so close I can't move, I am turning my had and see his eyes smiling and his lips moving slowly. I am trying to understand the words, but I am too tired!
why did I entered this strangers house?! He's asking something and I am not responding.
- Green with lemon or apricot?
- Apricot, my favorite tea. How...
- Seams you are a charming little women with exquisite taste.
I get lost again looking at the fire. It's just silence... fire place sounds and flame dance are hypnotic.

- Why don't you sit on the couch, make yourself comfortable, you must be tired.
I listen and start walking but i loose one of my shoes and just let go of the other one. I just sit on the couch, with my feet under and take a cup of tea from the little table.
- Seems you are the Cinderella after all! He smiles collecting my shoes. Pretty small, 35? he reads the number inside my black- red oxford shoes.
I just nod my had with the cup of tea in my hands, feeling the apricot flavor with my eyes closed.
- Just relax, I will be hear in my chair.
For a minute or sow, it's just silence.

He looks at the little thing siting on his couch and drinks from a Chinese cup of tea, flourished with blue ornaments, just like the one in my hands.
- 34, actually. The shoes are a little big, that's why they slipped away, and because they have a mind of there own and for sure they are really tired.
I am Smiling. The tea is working his magic, I can speak and listen at the same time. Hope I didn't sad something stupid.

He's smiling, following with his eyes every gesture of mine.
- You are like a magic little seed, that only some can see will make some day a thriving jasmine tree.
I open my eyes, surprised at that unexpected comment. I must be red, I blushed.
- Thank you! Such a nice picture you've put in my mind.
Kid is alert and looks at both, expecting the next line, sits near masters legs, like a real trained dog, behaving properly.I smile looking at them, they make such a nice duo.

- What music you feel like listening now?
- Classic, maybe a piano like Brian Crain.
- Snow or the Dream of Flying? he's looking at me, taking he's tablet from the small table and after a moment slowly the music starts.
- Snow it is! Don't play poker, I like when your eyebrow is coming up, it's a quick answer.
I am smiling, he seems to know everything I like or need at this moment, when I don't even know to choose.
I close my eyes dancing in my mind, up in the air. Such an amazing feeling, i love piano.

- I wish I knew a piano player... Oh, did I said that out loud? I am drinking my tea, it's best that I go home.
- Hmmm, seems is Christmas for you, tonight. It's almost 00:00. I just hope that Cinderella is not disappearing.
- No, just transforming into sleeping beauty, smiling ... you have such a nice place hear. So worm and comfortable, trying to diva-gate.
Kid is wright next to me, near the couch, I put my hand into his fur, caressing his back ear and leaned my head on the arm of the sofa. It's soft, feels just like my bed.

***
hmmm ... I am trying to move an inch, or a toe, I hear a piano, I must be dreaming... wait, go back to the other dream with the dog. A ray of light is playing with my patience and a real smell of coffee invades my whole senses. Piano was stopped playing and feel something wet on fingers.

- Ooooh, come here you ! Kid cut by surprise runs quickly after the big chair.
The fire is cheerfully saying good morning and I have a coffee wright near, on the small glass table.
Am I still here? I get up and sit on the couch covered with the puffy brown blanket.
I take a quick guilty look under the blanket, I've sensed that I am not dressed, all I have is my underwear.
Kind of a sleepy had in the morning, but I don't remember what happened after...

I take the small blue flourished cup and drink from the hot coffee.
- Hmmm, good, I have chocolate too! I whisper.
Still don't remember what happened after we drank tea last night, wright from this type of china cup with blue flowers.
- Hey... start walking with my blanket on. Kid is coming with me.
I pass by my clothes hanger placed on a shelf of the big library. I can't hear the piano and I return on my place on the couch to drink my coffee. I'll wait, maybe the stranger from last night is returning.
Looking through the big glass windows I can see the fresh snow.

- You were right, milady. Last night started to snow. It's 7 November, and we have snow!
- Hey! yes... I kind of know when snow it's coming, smiling with eyes in my coffee.
- You must be a witch, good... I hope! How is coffee, more chocolate?
- Yes... no. No more chocolate. Coffee is really good, thank you for letting me stay the night! kind of surprised to woke up here. I dreamed that a piano was playing, silly me, wright?

I am too agitated, just mumbling stupid things. He looks at me and doesn't move, still analyzing me.
I try to fix my hear, and my cover falls down on my breasts. I retain it and start walking in the back of the room. Kid is coming after me.

- You know, you can stay calm, nothing wrong happened, last night!
And as much as I adore your cute butterfly boxers, I think it's time for us boys to retire.
Suddenly I realize that my but was uncovered, and turn quickly.
- Kid, come, it's not nice to look at milady dressing.
He's getting out of the leaving area and entering on the second door.
I am right next to my clothes, I get dressed and find a book on the shelf. Trying to remove it, I sense his colon with musk and a woody flavor.

- Did you read this ... looking at me, he removes a book from the shelf, wright near my hand.
- It might be a good encore for you. He is smiling, with that morning after look.
I look at the title and don't respond. He's to close, I feel his shoulder next to mine, he's expecting calm my response. I look into his eyes and a cold shiver on my back makes me tremble.
- What happened ... last night? I ask agitated.
- Still nothing happened, milady. You didn't even had the time to ask for my name!
He's turning his body and walks away leaving me there. He's trying to joke to calm me down.
I am looking troubled, still don't believe I walked into this house and just slept here, my cottage is 100 meters up... what the hell was I thinking? What is he thinking of me, now?

- I hope you are not upset... Sit down, please!
I sit on the couch and Kid sits at my feet, like a proper trained dog.
- Now, lets drink our coffee and try to relax! For instance, would you sleep with someone you don't know? I mean, do you know my name? he asks me calm, drinking his coffee.
- No! no, off course I...
I am blushing. I try to remember his name, nothings comes in my mind just Classic Hat men.
- You are joking, and I am not at all like that! I don't know your name and I don't remember what happened, but i will! I have a pretty good memory.
I drink the coffee quick, ready to go home, just to get out of there.

- I am sorry. I didn't know you will make such a fuss about this! Last night, you kind of transformed pretty quick in Sleeping Beauty ! when I played you something on the piano. That was all!
I am relived, so I don't remember because it's nothing to remember about.
- Hello, milady! I am Charles John Hatchet the third. I am really pleased to meet, you ...?
He takes my hands in his, for a moment I am lost in the black deep story of his eyes.
- Wait! what piano?!
- You know, milady. I am sure your name has no third because you are certainly unique.
He's back in his chair sitting calm waiting for an answer. Kid is listening close, banging his tail between my feet and couch.

- Oh ... I am May! Marilyn, I mean. But really, what piano?! I was just dreaming in the morning of a piano! Where is it!?
Kid goes in front and barks, looking at the flourished wall in the back of the living, just behind the desk.
- OK, are you ready? lets see the piano maybe you will sing something with me.
We both get up and he takes my arm, smiling.
- No, i couldn't, really... my voice is...
Shit! I still can't believe I am one of the few people who sees him, after the scandal. Charles J. Hatchet III...He vanished same as Adam. Lucky me I am just an editor... he cant possibly know how I look for real...

- Just promise you will hum a little, like last night. I am happy with that.
We are smiling. He takes my arm and we go to the piano. I was so wrong about him, he is cool and besides Kid is such an adorable dog.

Maybe a good friend is what we both need wright now, I wish no one will find out he's here...