man, a woman needs to know a little bit about everything, and a whole lot
about the subjects those men are interested in. I’ve taken classes on finance,
investing, even yachting …”
“But what’s the point to it? You can’t
meet billionaires in Astoria .”
“I don’t intend to try. I’ve been
saving my money, to get ready for a two week trip to the Cayman Islands! I have
enough to rent a posh house and really live it up while I’m there.”
“Sounds wonderful! I don’t have much
planned for my vacation. I’ll probably mope around the house, watching old
movies and eating too much.”
“Not if you’re in the islands, with
me!”
Tess stared at Kylie. “Why would you
want me there?”
“Well, I’ve been thinking that a
woman showing up alone would get suspicious looks. But a couple of friends on a
Girls Only vacation … now that will get their interest. You know how men are …”
“No, sadly, I don’t. I mean, I’ve had
boyfriends, but we always seemed more like pals than lovers. Maybe I don’t have
what it takes to attract cool guys.”
“Oh, but you do! Innocence is
refreshing to those jaded souls. And that auburn hair will make you a
stand-out, for sure!”
“Okay, so let’s say I am popular
while we’re there, though it’s a total fantasy, then won’t I cramp your style?”
“No, no, darling. You can take one,
I’ll take another. As long as he’s filthy rich, that’s all I care about.”
Tess stood, began to stack dishes and
run water in the break room sink. She glanced out the window at the bare trees
as they shivered in a cold winter wind. The buildings down the street were all
full of people just like them, working their bums off for next to nothing. Cars
passed like toys on a track, back and forth, endlessly. It was a dull, frigid
scene. It seemed unimaginable that she could escape it, to fly off into an
ocean paradise with bright blue skies and blissful beaches.
It was a fantasy. Kylie was beautiful
with her long pale blonde hair, cerulean eyes and athletic legs, but she was
fooling herself if she thought she could meet and fall in love with a guy in
two weeks. Life was never that easy. But then, she didn’t say she wanted love,
did she?
“Is something bothering you?”
“Yes, you haven’t mentioned the word
‘love’. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”
“I’m no fool, Tess. I know love is
just something people talk about in lyrics or books or films. That’s the
fantasy. You have to compromise your feelings to get what you want out of
life.”
“What if I’m not willing to
compromise?”
“Oh, you will be, once you get a
taste of the good life. So, tell me, are you going?”
“Can I call my mom?”
“Sure.”
Tess hit the number for Carol
Jenkins’ cell phone. She was retired after toiling in the New York garment industry for decades. Now
all she did was sit home and stare at old movies. Tess didn’t have a dad – in
her life, anyway - he had been a rich boy who deserted Carol for a European
prep school before she could tell him about Tess. Now Carol was an out and out
man-hater, unless they were dead film stars.
Tess knew her mother’s views, still,
she was shocked at Carol’s reaction.
“If you go with this woman, you will
never set foot in my house again!”
“Why? What harm could it do?”
“You don’t know these rich bastards,
and the lies they tell.”
“Mom, just because my dad is a rat
doesn’t mean every man is.”
“I haven’t met one yet who wasn’t! I
mean it, Tess. If you go off with this … this …”
“Careful, Mom …”
“Well, I won’t say what she is then.
But if you buy into this insane scheme, you’re no better than what she is!”
“You’re letting the past ruin what
bit of life you have left. When I get back, we’ll talk it all out.”
“No, we won’t! Find another roommate,
Tess! I mean it! I won’t have this stuff going on under my nose!”
Tess stood there, blinking tears at
her
about the subjects those men are interested in. I’ve taken classes on finance,
investing, even yachting …”
“But what’s the point to it? You can’t
meet billionaires in Astoria .”
“I don’t intend to try. I’ve been
saving my money, to get ready for a two week trip to the Cayman Islands! I have
enough to rent a posh house and really live it up while I’m there.”
“Sounds wonderful! I don’t have much
planned for my vacation. I’ll probably mope around the house, watching old
movies and eating too much.”
“Not if you’re in the islands, with
me!”
Tess stared at Kylie. “Why would you
want me there?”
“Well, I’ve been thinking that a
woman showing up alone would get suspicious looks. But a couple of friends on a
Girls Only vacation … now that will get their interest. You know how men are …”
“No, sadly, I don’t. I mean, I’ve had
boyfriends, but we always seemed more like pals than lovers. Maybe I don’t have
what it takes to attract cool guys.”
“Oh, but you do! Innocence is
refreshing to those jaded souls. And that auburn hair will make you a
stand-out, for sure!”
“Okay, so let’s say I am popular
while we’re there, though it’s a total fantasy, then won’t I cramp your style?”
“No, no, darling. You can take one,
I’ll take another. As long as he’s filthy rich, that’s all I care about.”
Tess stood, began to stack dishes and
run water in the break room sink. She glanced out the window at the bare trees
as they shivered in a cold winter wind. The buildings down the street were all
full of people just like them, working their bums off for next to nothing. Cars
passed like toys on a track, back and forth, endlessly. It was a dull, frigid
scene. It seemed unimaginable that she could escape it, to fly off into an
ocean paradise with bright blue skies and blissful beaches.
It was a fantasy. Kylie was beautiful
with her long pale blonde hair, cerulean eyes and athletic legs, but she was
fooling herself if she thought she could meet and fall in love with a guy in
two weeks. Life was never that easy. But then, she didn’t say she wanted love,
did she?
“Is something bothering you?”
“Yes, you haven’t mentioned the word
‘love’. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”
“I’m no fool, Tess. I know love is
just something people talk about in lyrics or books or films. That’s the
fantasy. You have to compromise your feelings to get what you want out of
life.”
“What if I’m not willing to
compromise?”
“Oh, you will be, once you get a
taste of the good life. So, tell me, are you going?”
“Can I call my mom?”
“Sure.”
Tess hit the number for Carol
Jenkins’ cell phone. She was retired after toiling in the New York garment industry for decades. Now
all she did was sit home and stare at old movies. Tess didn’t have a dad – in
her life, anyway - he had been a rich boy who deserted Carol for a European
prep school before she could tell him about Tess. Now Carol was an out and out
man-hater, unless they were dead film stars.
Tess knew her mother’s views, still,
she was shocked at Carol’s reaction.
“If you go with this woman, you will
never set foot in my house again!”
“Why? What harm could it do?”
“You don’t know these rich bastards,
and the lies they tell.”
“Mom, just because my dad is a rat
doesn’t mean every man is.”
“I haven’t met one yet who wasn’t! I
mean it, Tess. If you go off with this … this …”
“Careful, Mom …”
“Well, I won’t say what she is then.
But if you buy into this insane scheme, you’re no better than what she is!”
“You’re letting the past ruin what
bit of life you have left. When I get back, we’ll talk it all out.”
“No, we won’t! Find another roommate,
Tess! I mean it! I won’t have this stuff going on under my nose!”
Tess stood there, blinking tears at
her
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