The Queen of Kookamonga (III)

- I thought I'd never see your lovely brown eyes again, Leni. You look beautiful as a rose – he said, stroking my left cheek with one finger-

My brown eyes were round; glaring; big as saucers; bigger than ever, I’d say. I had no idea what was going on. I didn’t know who that man was and why he was taking the liberty of stroking my cheek. I hadn’t seen him in my whole life and yet he spoke to me in such a casual and familiar way. And he was calling me… Leni?

- Excuse me, sir, but you must be mistaking me for someone else. My name is Nicolette, not Leni. –I said, as I placed the tray on the coffee table-.

He roared with laughter.

- I always loved your wonderful sense of humour sweetheart, but I could spank you just for that.

Spank me! That was some fun I wouldn’t share just with anyone! We had just met and he was already treating me as if we'd been lovers for years! And he was about to start taking liberties! Maybe Ruud was right after all when he said that some passengers in the ship would secretly want to shag me. I asked myself if this particular guy was one of them. Just in case, I pressed the ridiculously short skirt of my small outfit against my butt. As if it were going to help.

- You don’t know how hard it has been for me to find you, love. Let’s share this delicious breakfast. –he said, intending to hold me in his arms-

I stepped back quickly.

- I’m… sorry, sir. Excuse me if I insist, but I’m afraid that I don’t know you. I do appreciate your tempting offer, but I’m not allowed to share breakfast with the ship’s passengers. I work here and I’m on duty.

Hoping my excuses would calm him down I walked to the exit door, discreetly but quickly, intending to leave the room as soon as possible.

- Oooh you want to play a bit, sweetheart, don’t you? Ok, let’s play landlord and maid! –he laughed, running behind me-.
- I’m sorry, sir, but as I said before I don’t know you and I must be going now. I have some tasks to do and if I’m late I risk to lose my job. –I said, rushing behind the dining table-

Landlord and maid? Really, my kinky side was a hidden treasure that I had reserved only to a selected few over the years.

I felt as if he was playing rabbit stalking instead. The guy was fast and big and obviously, he caught me soon. He grabbed me in his arms from behind and started kissing my neck. I kicked my legs in the air and begged him to leave me alone, shouting in fear that I didn’t know who he was. He stopped harrassing me on the spot and left me standing on the floor, putting his hands up, clearly showing that he had no intention to molest me.

- Ok Leni. As you like it. Game over. –he said, quite disappointed-

The truth is I couldn’t even remember my real name at that moment. After a deathly silence, he fell on his knees, helpless. He sweetly kissed my hands and pulled me closer to him. I went bright red.

- My name is Nicolette, sir. Not Leni. And please, stop kissing my hands. –I insisted, as I withdrew them-
- Hey, sweetheart, don’t tease me. You’re Leni Qinan, my sweet and dear Leni, from Grytviken in the South Sandwich Islands.
- I’m Nicolette Bixby.
- Nicolette what? My arse! Who do you think you are, the Queen of Kookamonga? You’re Leni, my Leni. –he said, desperately-

The Queen of Kookamonga must have been a very famous celebrity, surely surrounded by glitz and glamour, which marked the North Sandwichian life. I vaguely remembered someone call me that before, but I couldn’t tell who and when.

- You don’t know what an ordeal I’ve been through to find you since you disappeared from South Sandwich. I could have saved you all the terrible things you’ve been through. Why didn’t you call me? Now look into my eyes and tell me once again that you don’t know who I am. –he said-
- I’m sorry, sir. I can look into your eyes as much as you wish, but I swear to God this is the first time I see you in my whole life. –I said, looking down, in tears-
- You really don’t remember me? How can this possibly happen? We were a lot more than friends and just a bit less than lovers.

I was terrified. I didn’t know whether I was the victim of a great deception or my past history was dissolving into my brain. I decided to believe the first option.

- I’m sorry, sir. I just came here to deliver your breakfast. Surely the male receptionists of the ship will be able to send you some nice female company, if that’s what you wish. –I whispered-

Like Hulk -except for the green face and the torn clothes- he suddenly became furious and lost it completely.

- What??? I want nobody but you, Leni! I’ve been months in a desperate search for you since you disappeared without a trace, after selling your flat off cheaply and pawning the diamond ring I gave you. I’m Ed, Ed Davies. I need to know that you haven’t forgotten me. –he said, freaking out-

Unfortunately, his name didn’t tell me anything. And what could i say about the rest. Did I have a flat and a diamond ring? I was very confused.

- I’m sorry, sir, but I can’t remember you. –I said, looking down-.
- Have you forgotten how we used to dream? How we loved each other?

I looked down in silence. I felt very sorry for him. I would have loved to tell him that I remembered him, but that couldn’t be possible.

- Has Hellgirl put a hex on you? –he asked-
- Who is Hellgirl? –I said-
- It’s ok, forget it. It’s clear to me that something has happened to your memory. Don’t take it wrong but… have you hit your head recently? Has someone cast a spell on you? Have you taken drugs? –he asked, in despair-
- No, this hasn’t happened to me and I haven’t done any of these things.
- Maybe you’ve had a tad of them and don’t remember now. –he laughed-

He made me laugh. He had a sense of humour. And guys with a sense of humour have so much spunk in life.

- Maybe. –I smiled- But tell me… who are you… Ed?

He smiled and looked down.

- I’m the man who loves you.



"I'm the man who loves you" ( Wilco, Live in Chicago, Lollapalooza 2006)