First
Date
By
Delroy Nesta Williams
Caris had always liked
Sanya, even from way back during his days at the Goodwill Secondary School. But
she was never interested in him; she was too busy flirting with all the
teachers to take notice of his childhood crush. He would have done anything for
her back then and even now as they had maintained a close bond.
Caris always wanted to
be in a relationship with her but was very careful not to get too emotionally
attached even if deep down in his heart he had always loved Sanya and she was
all that he had ever wanted from a lover. Even after all his past girlfriends,
he always felt in his heart that she was the one for him but he had realized
early that he wasn’t her type and was somewhat content to stay in the shadows
and be the man that she needed, especially when she couldn’t have the man that
she wanted.
She had just gotten out
of a serious breakup and although Caris knew that the rebound situation wasn’t
the ideal way to get her to fall in love with him, he would still try his luck,
even if it screamed of desperation.
His friends had already
teased him that he was putting Sanya’s “pussy on a pedestal” and for that
reason, they felt he would never cross the friendship line with her. He was
stuck in the friend zone of camaraderie and that was as far as he would ever
get with her. Curtis and Bully tried on many occasions to knock some sense into
Caris but he couldn’t let go. Letting go of your lover is hard enough, letting
go off your first crush and love was proving to be damn near impossible for
Caris. He wanted Sanya and that was all that mattered to him.
He needed to make his
move, if not now then he would not get another chance like that in years. He
was certain this was the appropriate time. He was just stepping out of the
office to meet up with Curtis and Bully for their customary mid-week lime - a
stop at the After 4 Lounge for beers and guy talk. Curtis would boast of his
weekly female conquests while Bully would pick on Caris for his ineptitude with
the female sex. It wasn’t that Caris couldn’t get a woman; the guys were more
perturbed that he was obsessed with Sanya as The Woman. They didn’t
see what he saw; in fact, they were probably blind to it. Kereem was the only
sensible one in the crew, well that’s the way that Caris saw it. Kereem fed
Caris’ dream as much as he could, he was the ultra-motivator that Caris needed
when he thoughts of giving up on Sanya surfaced, which was often enough.
As he was about to
start up his ride, his cell phone rang. He looked at the screen, it was Sanya.
Caris breathed in hard, calming himself before he dragged his finger against
the screen.
“Hi, who is this?” he answered, in the calmest voice he
could muster, although he was nervously excited.
“Caris?” she questioned.
“Yes Caris!” he confirmed.
“You don’t have my number stored in your phone? I am not
calling you from an unknown number,”
“Yes I do, I am just playing around.”
“Oh, I was wondering why you didn’t know it was me,”
“I
know it’s you Sanya, I recognize that voice anywhere I hear it… So, what’s up?
“I
am cool, just about to leave work, what you up to?”
“Gonna
chill with my boys,”
“Oh
okay, them!”
“You
had something in mind?” Caris asked, almost too eagerly.
“No,
not really, we just haven’t hung out in a while, Caris!”
“I
know, we gotta make some time for that,” Caris said, anticipating a request as
the phone almost slipped from his now sweaty palm.
“I
guess we will hang out sometime soon,”
“Yes,
I guess,”
“I
wanted to go out this weekend, the Jah Cure concert but I am broke,”
“I
am going. I wouldn’t miss Jah Cure,”
“Enjoy
then,” she slowly uttered.
“Let
me buy you a ticket then,” Caris offered.
“You
would? Thank you Caris, I appreciate it! I know just what I want to wear,”
“No
problem,” Caris pronounced.
“Well
go and enjoy your lime,”
“Later,”
Caris said as he ended the conversation.
“Yes,
finally!” he cried out as he kissed the screen of the phone.
Caris was excited; he
could hardly control his emotions as he sped across Roseau. He hopped out of
his car and met Bully, Kereem and Curtis at the bar. They were already seated
looking at the television screen as a Champions League encounter between Manchester
United and Bayern Munich occupied their attention.
“Drinks on me!” Caris shouted across the floor.
“Seriously?” Bully inquired.
“Yes, I’ve got some great news. Carib beers for
everybody!”
“You got a promotion? You won the lottery? You got some
pussy? What is it?” Curtis demanded.
“Better than that?” Caris responded.
“Nothing can be better than pussy, unless it’s two
pussies!” Bully affirmed.
“It’s Sanya!” Caris said as he motioned over to a stool
next to Bully.
“I don’t want to hear it. Boy you know you’re never gonna
get her, stop waste your time!”
“Shut up, we’re going out this weekend!”
“Really? Kereem asked, “Good for you and her!”
“Finally, I hope you don’t chicken out. Be aggressive, go
after her!” Curtis advised.
“We all know he’s not going to do anything, he just going
to sit and smile at her,” said Bully, “I feel like Caris has a vagina between
his legs.”
“You’re not spoiling my mood, not today. We’re going to
Jah Cure concert!”
“Jah Cure?” Kereem asked, almost spilling his drink.
“You know she just using you to go to see Jah Cure,
right?” Bully shouted out, “I won’t be surprised if she ends up in his hotel
room after the show.”
“Nah, she’s not like that, she said we needed to hang
out! I think she figured out that I am the man for her, finally!”
“Boy, move on! Remember I tell you that. You’ve become
obsessed over an average woman and that can never be a good thing.”
“How long has it been since you’re chasing her?” Curtis
asked.
“Too long!” Bully responded before Caris could get a word
in.
“I will do what I have to do. You all will see, this is a
new, different and aggressive Caris,”
“Yea right. Boy, pass me my beer. Just disturbing the
game for Sanya talk!”
And before Caris could
say anything in his defense, they turned their attention back to the football
match. Three rounds of drinks later and an earful of football banter meant that
the conversation was in the back of the minds of everybody, everybody except
Caris. He snuck out of the bar, which by now was overcrowded with Manchester
United fans and had become hostile territory for him, especially as he
supported their rivals, Manchester City. He didn’t leave because of that
though, he needed to clear his thoughts, he was still thinking about Sanya.
The sun was just about
to set as he sat down in front of the steering wheel. He glanced into the
rearview mirror, winked at his image, until he forced a slight smile. The bar
conversation left him uneasy and he needed some reassurance that he was doing
the right thing with Sanya. He turned the key into the ignition and the radio
started up. The DJ was playing Jah Cure’s promotional music for the weekend
concert. The artist’s Unconditional Love single filled the car – that was all
the sign Caris needed as he leaned back and took in the words. He would make
his move on Sanya, it was time. He started singing too, screaming out the words
as he got lost in the moment. He pictured himself sipping drinks with Sanya at
Mero beach, watching the sunset, stretched out on a blanket as she lay against
his chest. She was smiling as he whispered in her ear, biting the tip of her
earlobe.
“Boy, what are you doing?” Bully cried out over the music
as he tapped the glass.
“Shut up! I am trying to think,”
“Sounds like you’re trying to sing!”
“And your point is?”
“Nothing dude, just messing around. We’re heading to
Icho, you’re coming?”
“Yea, I will meet all you there!”
“And please don’t quit your day job for a singing career,
you will die broke,” Bully laughed as he walked away from the car.
They spent the next two
hours at Icho eating, drinking and playfully chasing skirts. Caris appreciated
those moments and although the guys always picked on him, he knew that they all
had his best interest at heart.
The rest of the work
week was a blur as Caris tried to concentrate at the office but he couldn’t
shake thoughts of Sanya from his mind. He picked up the phone several times to
call her only to end the call before it had gone through to her.
“Why am I so nervous?” he questioned. “I am acting like
I’ve never spoken to Sanya before; like this is the first time I am going to
say two words to her. Get a grip Caris!”
“Are you okay?” Michael, a coworker asked as he entered
the workstation.
“Yes, why?” Caris replied
“Well, you’re talking to yourself and it sounded very
aggressive. You need to take a break?”
“No, I am fine… I will be fine!”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes I am sure… I will relax later!”
“Later?” Michael questioned.
“Yea, I am going to Krazy Coconuts for the Jah Cure
concert with a friend,”
“Sanya?”
“How did you know?” Caris asked, a little startled.
“You called out her name!”
“I did?”
“Yes, you did! You sure you don’t want to leave work a
little earlier today? It’s already Friday and almost everyone has left
already,”
“Maybe I should. It would give me some time to run to
Cocorico, pick up a bottle or red wine and a few other things!”
“Got big plans?”
“Yes, I do!” Caris affirmed. He also needed that
affirmation as well. He doubted himself until the conversation with Michael.
“Well do your thing!”
“Thanks man!”
Caris jumped from his
seat as he shut down his computer and cleared his desk. He was out of the
office. The vibe in Roseau was all about Jah Cure as Caris made his way around
town. Reggae was in the air and Caris breathed in deeply as he envisioned his
night with Sanya. He would drop by Sanya’s home with a rose and a bottle of
wine. Have a glass or two before leaving for the show. He wanted to stop off at
Old Stone Bar and Grill and treat Sanya to a nice meal. He had already arranged
with the proprietor for a special table in a corner and had asked that it be
adorned with ylang-ylang flowers. Caris had picked them himself at the Botanic
Gardens on his lunch break. They would also place small chocolates all over the
table in a heart shape along with two candles to compliment everything. Sanya
was only expecting Jah Cure but Caris would deliver a lot more.
Splashing on some
cologne after his bath, he breathed in deeply. It was a do or die moment for
him and Caris knew it. He had fogged up the mirror during his shower and as he
wiped the surface, he smiled and winked at himself. He felt good; he had stuck
to his plans. It was all paying off finally.
As he dressed, he
danced away to some Beres Hammond music in the background. He pulled out a
brown dress pants from his closet and a plaid dress shirt. His brown Clarks
complimented the pants well as they fell over it, just massaging his ankles. He
spun around and did a Michael Jackson impression. Caris was in a state of
heavenly bliss.
He slammed the door
behind him as he exited his riverside apartment. Touching his pockets for the
car keys, he remembered the tickets.
“Phew,
I almost forgot them,” he thought, shaking his head in disbelief as he returned
to the house to retrieve the tickets.
He pulled up a few
houses away from Sanya’s in Canefield as he needed a moment to recollect his
thoughts and go through his actions for the rest of the night. He had already planned
it all out in his mind but needed a reminder. He opened the glove compartment
and went through his notes. He needed to be meticulous and aggressive but still
with a charming tone.
Caris stepped out of
the vehicle and was greeted with a stiff breeze almost knocking his glasses
from the bridge of his nose. He stopped for a second put his hands over his
face and then proceeded to the house. A few young men were hanging out on the
corner smoking weed and drinking, the usual Friday night activity for a lot of
young men. As Caris busied past them, one of the young men stopped him in his
tracks.
“You doh checking your boys den?” he asked.
Caris who was still
hampered by the wind looked up at the figure who was now standing dead in front
of him. The dread-locked young man had a spliff in his mouth and wore more
tattoos than clothing. Caris squinted as the young man grinned at him, blowing
smoke into the air. Caris knew that smile.
“Daniel? Daniel Gregoire? Bro is that you?” exclaimed.
“Yea man, is me dat!” he confirmed.
“When did you get back to Dominica?”
“I was always here, I was in Stockfarm!”
“ohhhh… okay,” Caris staggered, “but it’s good to see you
man. I going on a little move there, but we go have to link up.”
“No problem, do your thing, we will link up,”
Caris shimmied out of
the crowd after tagging Daniel. He had changed so much, from the nerdy little
high school classmate to an ex-con. It had really been a long while. Caris
couldn’t dwell too much on that situation though as thoughts of Sanya came
rushing back to him. He opened the gate and stepped onto the walkway. The
overgrown lawn, which was now crowding the walkway, was wet from an earlier
shower. Caris bent down to touch the grass, moistening his palms and then
wiping them on his pants. He was still very nervous.
He proceeded towards
the door but stopped dead in his tracks as he got to the front step. He was
about to reach for the doorknob when he saw two figures through the window. He
wasn’t expecting anyone else to be there. He wanted to retract his steps and
then return later. He had arrived earlier than Sanya would have expected. As he
motioned to turn around, he glimpsed through the window, at the exact time that
a gentle gust of wind pushed against the curtain.
Caris saw an image that
left him open-mouthed. Sanya was in a deep embrace with another man. It wasn’t
a friendly kiss; more like the deep, passionate, soulful kiss that Caris had
thought would end his night. Instead it was about to ruin all his plans.
The shadowy figure of
the guy reached for the back of Sanya’s head, tilting it slight and tightening
the kiss as she let out a low, hissing moan. Caris dropped to his knees. He
turned away completely from the silhouetted appearance but recoiled onto the front
step. He put his hands over his face and breathed in deeply. It was over. Caris
stood up, put his right hand into his pocket, pulled out the Jah Cure tickets
and pushed them underneath the door. He wanted Sanya to find them there; he
wanted her to know he was at her doorstep.
As he walked away from
the scene, he turned and gave them one final look. The curtain flung up even
higher this time to confirm the earlier scene.
“But,
I know that haircut; I know those ears,” he thought, “that’s…” but his mouth
didn’t allow him to finish his statement. It was too dry.
He turned to his ride,
drove straight home, put off his cell phone and took a sip from the bottle of
wine that he had wanted to share with Sanya. He threw the rest against the wall
as he dived into his bed. He lay there with his face towards the ceiling as the
fan circled. Tears filled his eyes. He stayed in that very spot until sadness
forced him to fall asleep.
The
End.
