Between you and me

"Who is Sandra?"
" Type of person you wouldn't want to meet."
"Why?"
"Put it other way, she is a heart-breaker"
" Broke who's heart?"
Fiath looked at Joey

" Want to play monopoly?"

" Faith!!! Want to play hide-n-seek with me?"
" wait, did you drink anything after the lunch?"
" Should I?"
"Yes, at least a cup of water, and brush your teeth after each meal, ok?

"Don't brush so hard!!"
" Gently!"
"Rinse the toothvrush afterward, ok?"

"Now let's play hide-n-seek."
"I guess I feel quite full."
"Let's draw together?"
"Wait, what happened to grandma?"
"Let's call her."

" Ohh, grandma... where did you go?"
" Faith, I went to see my sis, she fell ill this morning."
" What happened?"
" SHe coudln't breath well."
"ahh..."
"U okay there, need me to comeover?"
"It's okay."
" Actually, it would be a big help, it seems to me that doc and sis hasn't understand each other."
"Oh, how is Joey? "
"He is okay now."
" Aren't there any interpreter?"
" Well, how should I put it?"
" Tell me"
" They ask about medical history."
" Isn't it about the future?" asked Joey.
"Shut up!"
"Oh, not again."
" That doc asked about their newest product!"
" What??"
" And the first of "Hello"
"He didn't?"
" Such."

" I feel I need my "millions flowers oil".
" What for?
" To lift up my mind, I'm about to meet the other world."
" Read this, "Hello"."
" I really need to eat that Spring roll.
" DOn't talk about that roll again, it's greasy."
" Don't cry sis!"
" But they are serving Mexican rice, with fruits of sea."
" Why Mexican now, what are you talking about?"
" I need shiryviche"
" ?'"
" Don't use that spicy thing."
" WHY?"

"Here, your millions flowers oil."
" Oh, goodie."
"Remember the moment you met him?"
" Yes, he smiled, What a nice welcoming smile he had"
" Yeah, and then you used the million flowers oil."
" Yes, he was so brave! He praised your oil!"
" Remember I told you that you rub it on your temple and wraist?"
" Oh, boy! That was so embarrassing"
" He said his grandma used it too, although he seemed to hold back his breath"
"Then he told his grandma's story"
" Yes... how his grannies met."
" She saved him with millions flower oil!"
" That part I don't remember..."

Here she came, Faith, with black nails and shorts.
"What are you talking about grand?"
" oh....oh...nothing... really..."
" Tell me!"
" Nothing.... I'm fine... doing good."
" I heard millions flowers oil."
" No, it wasn't what you thought."
" Did you take IT?"

"How are you grand?"

Home not too alone II

"step by step... ohh baby...."

Faith's cell phone rang.

"WHat a weird phone tune, Faith."

Faith turned around and left the table.
She looked at the number, ahh, it was Jackie.

"Hi Faith, what's up."
"How are you Jackie?"
" Well, nothing special, quite alone these days, broke up with my girl."
"With Cookie?"
"No, Stephanie."
"Not Cookie anymore?? She was your favorite!!"
"WHat!!"
"Why?"
Jackie coughed.
" Feel like going to Egypt this month, got the tickets. Do you feel like meeting when I get back?
"Ok. We'll see."
" Don't know if can get the retirement paid, hahaha."
" There is a vacancy in my department."
"Really?" Faith grasped.
" What are you wearing today?"
" What???"
" Ahem... I mean, in this hot wheather, with your pretty... , how much does the bra........celet you wear cost?"
" Not much."
"Exactly?"
" Don't ask me that, it's professional secret."
" Why are you calling?"
" Want to hear your voice and..."
" Jackie, you know what, I'm busy now. "
" May be we'll talk again."
" Bye."
" Bye"

Joey looked at Faith smiling.
"How busy are you, Faith?"
"What are you laughing at?"
" YOu are not talking to Andy, right?"
" What could I say, may be someone... worst?"
" O... my teacher is teaching me that, bad, good, better, worse..."
" I don't know when we should go into adjectives, really."
" For your age, it's good enough."
" What about for you, Faith?"

Faith looked at Joey, couldn't say a word in a moment.

"Do you want to play Monopoly?"
"Should I call Sandra?"
"Who is Sandra?"

easy cooking

Joey was lying on his bed.

It was 14pm.

When Faith arrived, Joey was still sleeping.

"Where did grandma go?"

No one in the house. Faith was very hungry, but saw nothing much for cooking in frige.

She saw some spaghetti and tomato sauce. Ok, some of the easiest elements for main meal.

1. Half pot of water - boil it.
2. add the spaghetti.
3. a small spoon of oil and some salt, so the spaghetti won't stick together.
4. cover the pot for 10 min, till they are "Al dente", or "to its point", which is, not too hard nor soft.
5. drain the spaghetti in a strainer or carefully put away the hot water, using the lid.

Tomato Sauce
Oh!! There was a onion and pepper, that would be a nice sauce.
1. chop the onion and green pepper, garlic
2. cook them in the frying pan.
3. then add some black pepper and salt, some oregon for seasoning.

Joey woke up. He looked a little bit pale.

"It smells goodDD!! Shouted with joy Joey.

"Goshhh, where were you?"
"Were you sleeping?"
"Yes, I guess I was."

"Come and eat with me."
"I'm so Hungry!!"
JOey ate the spagghetti making much noise. "Shhhhuuup"
" Slow down, boy, did you eat anything today?"
"Nothing."

"What??"
"Grandma had to visit her sister today for dunno what."
"What?"
"There are always some corn flakes at home, they seem never pass its use-by-date."
" ..."


"But did you eat anything."
"No, nothing today.
" And you are alive??"
"It's just today, calm down."

hungry for a little something

Faith hanged up the phone.

"What? SHould I apply any OFficial job??"
Faith felt so excited. Compite with thousands people to get a job??
"May be some small business, get a loan or study some career far far away, like Yemen or Ethiopia?? Not exotic enough?"

Could nt help but call Andy again.

"Hello?"
" ..."
" Andy?"
" Happy ?!"
"..?!"
"Yes... Fai... why call?"
" I misssss you."
" Hold on a second, I think I'm leaving now."

Then hanged up. But, did he remember what she lent him?"


************************

Faith woke up from her dream.

Something went totally wrong. She dressed up. Unpack her bagpack and stuff in the things she considered good..

Oh, my, that was close.

She walked as fast as she could to metro.

In the compartment, a girl was about to rush in after the bell ran off.

"BBbbiiiiiiiiipPPPP"

She stepped back. Lifted her hands and sighed.

The subway operator stopped. Then opened the door again.

It was not that usual... stop and open the door for someone??

Who was that??

There she was.

Faith was almost glad that she was in a corner of the compartment.

Some said that "It's a small world".

Fait thought that world was stopped. It was the saddest thing she could imagined.

Sandra.

Again.

She was like a ghost, haunted her.

She just wore a shirt "Keep your faith", with her sexiest pose, and nice sun-tan and most natural make-up.
Everyone looked at her.

Faith felt she was nothing.
Sandra looked at nobody, but she was the center of the compartment.

IN that moment, Faith thought of how she changed her life.

Faith thought she wanted to punch somebody.

Sandra saw an empty seat in the compartment, she sat down. The man next to her, looked decent, the boy in front of her, looked at her shirt, the girl next to that guy, looked at her shirt too, but not the print on her chest.

Wait!

May be it would happen with someone else.

What the difference did it make?

Or dive into the ocean of time.

Or leap to mountians of memory where she wouldn't feel anything but herself.

"home NOT TOO alone"

Faith called grandma's house.

Joey picked up the phone "What do you want?"

"it should be "hello" "Who is calling?"Joe." Faith said.

"I'm tired of everything."

"Shouldn't I be same as you? you better not screwing up anything nor anyone nor anyway."

"What kind of talk is that?"

" Donno. Princess Facy."
" Wait, are you watching THat movie??"

"Nothing to do anyyyyyyyyyyyway."

"And "Basic Skills" too?? Gee, it's for over 11. Who old are you?"

"Then find someone to play with me??"

讲“基”如何

“基”的问题，有一些人小时会向父母提问。

"在想一个人，是不是就是同性恋呢？"小波问。

“为什么在想一个人呢？想他或是她的优点吗？想的时候开心吗？”妈妈答。
“觉得对方长的好，喜欢美丽的东西是爱吗？”
“谁不喜欢美丽的事物呢？”

“友情是也有美丽，开心的感觉吗？”

“有人说同性恋是很正常的，是真的吗？”

"在那看到的？”

“ 。。。”

“你觉得你是不是想过头呢？”

“你比较爱留意男生多于女生吧？”

“以前年轻时，也会想有同性的朋友，会特别留意身体的变化和身边的东西？”

“是吧？”

香港女人

最近看了关于香港的报道， 绝得用词比几年前不一样了，好像有一种不同的色彩。

香港女人的妈妈和婆婆呢？女人的历史在近一百年，有什么改变呢？
香港女人的命运又会是如何呢？
孩子们如何面对新环境心得教育？

铁达立号

铁达立号

不是不喜欢这套电影哦。

可是我还是不明白为什有一些女生会喜欢这一套电影。
票房证明了什么呢？

我不太明白为什么是一套"爱情”电影，觉得比较像是电脑特技电影，带一点牛仔气氛。
很多女生都代进去这个脚色里面。

肥温有生命危险，她没说
“你去死吧！”
香港女生可能说
“你去埋单吧!"
西班牙女生可能说
" 谁有钱谁付吧，真的愿意吗？”

Leonardo没付账，可是他的深情嫩脸孔却在泠泠的水里慢慢的沉下去了。

Leonardo今天还在生，不知道是不是他付账，可是不是每一个人都有机会和他见面和成为他女友。

他马上跳水，为肥温博了一个好票房！担任救生员，是需要经过严格的训练，不是要社会把吐过痰的他推进水了，就忘记一些重要的事情。

游泳前，最好先在下水前记得用花洒清洁，之后在下水。

微波炉 二

听过一个笑话-

身材最不好的家具是那一个？
是微波炉。

其实微波炉很多人希望有，不是每人都可以有。某程度上算是上等家庭用品。
有一些人认为微波力不够，其实也有它的杀伤力。

在没煤气的家，用微波炉可以解救一些基本的吃问题。

童心一点的朋友们，担任不了也不应该用微波炉。

microondas 微波炉

现代家庭里，很多人会有很多的家庭用品，有一些其实不是必备的， 如微波炉。

如家里有微波炉却不确定如何用- 就最好先不用了，如冰柜一样，运输前后也有注意事项!
不过微波炉的使用方法有更多的细节要留意。不当的使用会有发生意外的可能性。

微波炉不是小孩轻易用的家庭用品，最好在有成人在身边才用。

不过，如果成人也应要先看说明书。或是上网看有关资料。

最重要的是不能放金属的容器于微波炉里，或是密封的包装吃品如鸡蛋，要先打开才可以加热。

罐头食品打开后要另放在能加热用的盆子， 要先问家人和要看说明书。

不太确定如何用微波炉，不要用液体加热，因为可能热的不久，水会沸，可是没泡泡看不出来。

woke up

Faith woke up from her dresm.

Opened her eyes. Remained in bed for a long while.

Felt like if it were ages.

Hours and weeks of effort for what?



So much selfishness in some men.
She knew it by that moment, or better, she confirmed to herself.
That he had something with her. That "something" he decided to give someonw else but not her.

Wante d her needs be respec ted too.
She was not tool for men, and she wished the other way arounf for them.
So many excuses, who did listen to her?
Did she need to listen to others?

There were so many things she could do,
SO much mess to fix up.

Then she got up from her bed, thought about the story granma was about to tell her, and Joey.

Was it 2 weeks since then?

Mom didn't call her.

Those 2 weeks were long.

She sat face to face to him.

"Look at them, they are everywhere!"
" So?"

"And what about that poweroutfit?"
"DO you think they are convinced?
" What, do you prefer them wear some LIkie shoes?"
" To o is low."

"B.U.M. "

" Yesterday is not like today"
"DO you mean today is not like yesterday"

"What you are looking for, may be is not herer."
" Better go then."

" You are a different person, right?"
" Stop these kinds of indirect asking, idiot"
" I'd prefer you ask it other way."

"Why some men want to get to the highest place."
"All the time?"
"To find something"
"Themselve?"
" Why?"
"WO men too."
"Why?"
"TO proff"

" Where is the pr cing list?
"¿HOLA?"
"ask her"

"hOLA"
"Nada"

question

She remembered his words.

"How was your last relationship?"
"Do you feel like talking about it?"
"Anything you think you want me to know?

That was soothing.

"Not really, I don't want to even think about it."
"But thanks for asking."

"Where did you learn to talk like this?"
"Me, from X planet"
"Oh!! Why are we talking about planets for?
"The source of life, the father of....."
" Why not mother??"
"wHAT'S the difference??"
" It's not the same."
"And??"

"It's all about how to enjoy the procedure. Life. Make Life."
" F+ V = L +W"
" B.U.M. ?"
"Stand for?
"You don't know what B.U.M. is?" Se vere look.
"No, that's why I ask you." frowned, looked into his eyes.
"It's impossible that you don´t know."
"Tell me abou t it."
"Suppossed you know about it already"

" U, do you have DOQTR?"
" What's the difference?"

"Taste this Grainy jucie"

“火上加油”

“老师，老师，“火上加油”是什么意思？”

“加水又加油，小心被油弹到哦。”

“什么学校的老师啊？”

“厨艺学校！”

“什么呀？”

“还以为是急救班？”

unos pasos de algún lugar

Ella tuvo un sueño muy raro esa noche.
Llamó "raro" a cualquier cosa que no pudo escribir con palabras precisas, llamó "raro" a aquello que la gente parecía raro, no para ella. O a revés.
Así fue, un sueño "raro". No supo acertar sus sentimientos, emociones.
O intentó trivilizar lo sucedido con una palabra menos "fuerte".

Diría que era triste y aterrador.

Vio que estaba bajo de la tela de estrellas, muchas estrellas, grandes y pequeñas, fluyendo juntas formando un río de estrellas. Una vía.
Estaba sola en el jardín, tranquila. Comió una pera del jardín. Fresca y dulce.
Sólo oyó la música de las hojas rozándose y el canto harmónico de los insectos.
Disfrutó de las brisas de noche al lado de un pozo.
Pensó en él. ¿Estará pensando en mí? ¿Será un amor correspondido?
Recogió el agua en un cubo para tomar un baño. Para estar impecable.
Estaba oscuro, no veía bien el agua. Dudó.

Reinaba un aire de tranquilidad.
El tiempo parecía eterna.

Se despertó sola.

Era una mañana como cualquier otra. O no.
Oyó un grito.
Salió de su casón y adentró esa senda.
Le condujo hasta una playa cuyo paisaje rompió con el antes vivía Ella.
Había buques o cosas que no sabían qué nombres asignarlos. Enormes, bloquearon la línea horizonte de la mar.
Vio personas inertes en la playa, en postura extraña. No parecían tener vida.

¿Qué hacían allí?
¿Cómo que ni siquiera se dio cuenta a poca distancia de su casa?

Bajó a la playa.
Pareció ver hundir sus propias pies en caras púrpuras de bevés muertos.
Su aliento entrecortaba.
Una ca ra de un niño bajaba con la presión de su pie.
¿Esaban muertos o no?
¿Porqué bajo sus pies?
INtentó disminuir esa presión que ejercía su pie, pero por cada paso que daba, las ca ras hundían.
No quería estar allí. ¿Porqué ocurrió aquello?

Creía que estaba perdiendo conciencia.
No pudo más.

cutter

Picture of Mark in a fram.

That man.

The fram was excellently made with cutter and cardboard and used cloth.

So useful, the cutter.

Than looked at her hands and wrists. A metal bracelete on her left. Opened her palms and fingers. Delicate and complete.

Healthy, flexible and skillful hands he had compared to her.

With that cutter he made a fram, a recycled cardboard house. With small plastic figures made from magazine papers.

"Masterpiece!"

Her sight dimmed when she saw Mark's photo again.

peach and cherry

Sandra sat on her bed.

"Why everything went bad today?"
She opened her drawer, fumbling for something.

SHe didn't know what she was looking for.

Then she grapped two small perfume samples.

One with cherry smile, another, peach.

On both small bottles there are some petals as motif. Peach flowers and cherry flowers.

Those petals looked so real on those little containers. Its visual softness would rival her skin.

She gently held these two in her palms. Then whispered-

"What are you looking for, cherry flower? Are you happy?"

Sandra stretched her body, tip toe the bed headbroad, her baby-like skin velvet. Then rolled over on the bed. Her hair waved.

"Do you have any answer, my darling cherry flower? Don't just look at me, say something!"

Cherry flower, quiet with its liveliness and simplicity. Staring back at her.

"Oh... silence? I've never seen you, cherry, why are you everywhere? You captured my man, didn't you?"
" How dare you?"

Then sprayed some cherry perfume on her neck. Put it asied.

She sighed. Danced on the floor a while. Then look at the other botlle.

"Peach flowers, and peaches! Say something!"

So inviting the peach, fully round. So mature that the blush floated on its skin. Wanted to take a bite.

Sandra trying to recall the flavour of the fruits on her grandma's yard. Why were they abundant but plain in taste? Or were they bitter or sour?

"Was it you, peach? You think you know all? your quality wouldn't justify everything, don't you think?"

Sandra nodded her head, than shaked again.

Then sprayed some peach perfume on her full and young chest.

She felt heat. Splashed some water from her cartoon cup.

Her hair slightly damped. Water dripped from her hairpoint. Drop by drop, wet the bedsheet and the florr.

"Goommm buloooonnn!"

What was that?

Before she could recognize what it was, the books and the toys dropped on her table and florr.

"Oh, my!"

"What a mess!"

SO many books, movies and others items -
"Ten ways to win men's heart"
"Keys to a perfect body"
"How to become a millionaire"
"Keys to a perfect body II"
"Complete guide of "Prince of Dulcea"
"Too young to die"
"100 hair-styles"
"Self-beauty massage"
"Secrets of love-making"
"L exercises"
"Macro econo"
"WOmen's superiority - multi-orgasm"
"Happyland"
"Saladsland"

101 stuffed animals. M&F, some old "prize-claiming for 50 cents" letters.
Samll gifts.
all were protesting.

She bent down and began to pick up the stuffs. She froze.

There was picture of Mark.

Wo-men

Sandra read "COsmo-Poly" when Andy talked to "someone".

"Faith", was that her name?

That girl who worked at Mamen's place. Sweet voice and smart talk.
The one who didn't bother to listen to her. Not even when she said how fun the "capital" was.
It was written in "cosmo".

She had no clue how he would have went out with a girl like Faith. She seemed so boring.

"How to seduce a man", she had no idea, haha. Guys just kneeled.
She began to count, how many suitors did she have last week.

This month, probably 3.
Who said that one never had too many suitors??

Concerts, dances shows, trips, flowers, chocolate and candies, pretty dress, music box, uncontable birthday gifts.

Sandra was tired with all she had.

With Andy was different. Though he was not the first guy who left his girlfriend for her. It was natural, guys love beauty, rule number 4.

Andy needed her. Not only for that.

What she said could make him happy. While others smiled just looking at her, or smiled more when she was quiet, with some sensual tricks number 67.

With sensual trick 67, guys would willing do many things. Her classmate Lucas let she copy the homework she forgot to do.

If she had known trick 67, probably Mark wouldn't left her.
If mom knew trick 67, probably father wouldn't left mom.

Someone knocked the door. Ahh, Andy was outside.

He looked exhausted.

Sandra hugged him.
He exhaled heavily.
Then she pressed her body against his, but he pushed her away, went to restroom.

"Are you okay?"
20 minutes passed. Andy didn't come out.

"Have I hurt anyone?"
" Is it fault of being beautiful?"

Sandra turned on the TV.
" wars affairs still going on...."
It looked so violent. The images. Soldiers, fires, people crying with their belongings, look so lost, running to different directions.

"Not till looking at it, wouldn't really know... but look, probably wouldn't be the same as living through it..."
Sandra felt helpless. Was there ways to change the situation.

"Andy, are you okay?"
Sandra opened the bathroom door, saw Andy's head in his hands. He was crying.

Sandra felt her feet were fixed on the florr. Then reached out a towel,
"Here, if you feel like, take a bath with me."

"Are you sure it's the better thing to do?"
" I take bath very often, it feel good. The bubbles. Don't know if it would be same for you?"
"Would I feel better?"
"I don't know."

Then Sandra turned off the light. She doubted for a long moment if stay or get out.
She got out.
"Sandra."
"Yes."
"Please turn on the light, I can't see."

Of course, Andy wouldn't see anything.

She could. She took bath with lights off sometimes. Alone or accompanied.

Hi s world

Andy went home.
Sleepy.
Went to take a nap right away.
It was 5pm.

" Told you that it was paid, Jeffy, Why don't you trust me?"
" But where?
" Told is told, no more say."
" Are you sure of what are you saying?"
" Dandy is waiting for that chech."
" Who doesn't know that?"

Andy really wanted to sleep. His head squeezing him.
His stomach felt strange.

"Andy, you got back already?" threw an empty can to him the man who last spoke.
"What the..!" Andy didn't want to talk to anyone.
" TIme to be here, get a pack of chill beer, Zappy and I need to talk."
" There are liters of beer in the frige, Don."
" I say go, you go."

Rolled his eyes, Andy stepped out of the flat he just got in.
He went to the store nearest his house.
The store owner, a lady of her 40 or 30, he couldn't tell, was watching TV and eating sunflower seeds.
" A pack of beer"
She said nothing, only pointed at the frige. Then got back to the TV.
"Why don't you take it for me."He cursed.
She looked at him. "Slide the frige door, and take the beers."
He gave him the meanest look he could give her. Took the beers.
Paid them.

"WHy wasting this stupid money for drinks? Patty probably need something more basic."
"Why need beers to talk, why not some bread?"

Andy felt his body stirring. The image of Faith flashed in his head.
His muscles tenser and tenser.
No SMS nor any playing aroung would release this tension.
His throat was dry from another nights out.

He was not thinking anyone in particular.
He wished he was not heading back to that building he called home.
Then kicked a can he saw on the floor.
He wished there were plentyfull of cans for him, so he could strike them one by one.
May be thousands of them.

"WHy so late?' Said Don, probably didn't move an inch from his seat. Just there. Waiting for Andy. Who said nothing after handling him the bag.
Don and Zappy cracked the can, then begin some loud talk.

Andy didn't want to hear anything, he locked himself in his room. Fell sleep.
Before he could dream. His stomach was roaring. He rushed to bathroom, threw up.
It must because of the food he ate. Or Sandra, who was so restless.
Or Faith, who sent him messages.

"Where is Patty?" asked Andy.
" Wait, are you feeling ok? Why vomiting and asking for Patty?
" Has she came home today?
" No, she is at library today, I think.
" Okay than, she ate?"
" Like I would know. She is NOT talking to anyone."

Patty didn't want to talk to Andy. Evasive.
He supposed to take care of her, with Don and Zappy.

" Dididododuuudluuululalalulua"
" Aannndyyy!!"
" Oh, sweetie, what's the matter, why calling so early? It's only evening."
" Really? I just woke up and feel like hearing your voice!"
" I haven't slept a bit, glad that you did."
" What about another round with "Prince of Dulcea" tonight?"
" But you were playing it whole night already, aren't you tired?"
" No, not with you. "
" ???with how many you have played this game, Christ?" thought Andy.
-"You always win anyway. Is that why you want me to play with you?"
He could see Sandra's exitement, the remote in her hands. Ready to share this game with anyone. She was very good at the racing game.
Andy beated her in combos, "fight games".

The acid in Andy's stomach stroke again.
Faith would never talked to him with such enthusiam.
In a way, Faith and Patty were alike.
Not in other.
Faith didn't have problems like Patty.
Her family seemed normal to Andy.

" Sweetheart, I don't feel well tonight"
" Just come here, I'll prepare some whatever to you."
It sounded good to Andy.
"Whatever" and "come". All he needed to hear.

Patty never showed any affection to him.
Never said "come", but "go".
Was it because he couldn't help her homeworks?
He was not good at it.

He dressed up again, brushed his teeth, took a shower. Headed to Sandra's place.

Sandra opened the door.
"You are so late!"
With a big smile on her face, hugged him. Then ran back to her game world.
Stopped for awhile.
With a skirt on, she placed her legs on the table. Painted her nails.
Chin a little up, eyes looking down on the nails. Just like what a beauty product poster would be like.
Guys wouldn't question if that was a pose for him, or for her.

Books, dishes, leftover, cloths, everywhere. On floor, on TV.

" Late? For what?" He walked close to her, felt her perfumed skin with his unshaved face. Incredibly soft...neck, shoulders...

"Dingugugulingingingdingo"

It was Faith!!

He walked out of that house. Hesitating if he should pick up the phone.

water

Faith was in the mall.
She wanted to LOOK or FEEL different, let her old self die, and feel reborn.

"Cologne water", " Perfume", "Eau de Toilette".
Different models, top beauty posed for differernt brand. American smile, French skin, Spaniard sun.

"Should I spend all the money for perfume? Then probably got nothing for stationery"

Cologne water, does that mean water from Colonia, Germany? Or does it mean it's for export to colonies??

Perfume, fume, in latin means smoke, said Lily. Good to know it, Lily. An aura of good smile.

Eau de Toilette, French word for "water for tidy up", was it?

Faith thought about her name.
what does "Faith" mean? She thought about it when she sliding through the dreamy lights in the mall.

There he came, less she expected. He saw Andy, hand in hand with Sandra.

SHe almost pass out. Was it even possible??

Faith??

She was trying to stand up on her own feet. It was her time.
"I tried enough already, why should I see him here?"
"WHy??"
"it's my space, my time, isn't it?"

When Faith was thinking about all that. Andy saw her.
He was surprised too. He wanted to hide.
Not Sandra.
She held his hands, like saying "love overcomes all" , "I'm not wrong"

Sandra was one of the finnest girl you could ever see.
Fine skin, long and round thighs, Big blue eyes, long eye-lashes. Curvy hair, curvy body. Perfume of orange blossom.
Porcelain doll.
Look like a bride without wedding dress.

Faith felt naked.
Belittled.
She felt ugly.
Everything was wrong.
Her decisions, her body, her love.
Even being there, that afternoon to cheer herself up, was wrong.
How??

She wished she was not alone.
-Where is Fanny?
-And Lily?

-Is Andy buying her perfume?
-Why standing next to that American perfume counter?
-Or was it French??
-Does it matter??

Faith couldn't help thinking.

"Are you buying somehing? nice discounts here" said Andy.
"Cologne water, may be? said Faith, dizzy, and couldn't believe he didn't even ask how she was, or just run away. Why did she have to face him like that. Her tears were "sold out".
" There, next counter has the "faxy smile" perfume, go get it, sure they would give you discount." ----ah, Faith dreamed to have said something like that.

The fact was, before she realized what she was facing, they passed by.

Faith remembered that ANdy owned her 400 euros.

One problem after another. The real problem was?

teacher

"Think of your future. Love yourself. Love your time."
What ad was it?
An anti-drug campaign?

NO!..... it was a cosmetic ad!?

Faith felt disappointed. Should she??
Confusion.

So tired...

"Didmdmdimddodoadanonono!!!"

" Hi Faith! So long!"

" It's me, Harvey."
"Yeah, adult school teacher Harvey, how have you been? Everything good?"
"Yes, my wife has just given birth to a girl."
"Congratulation!! How is your wife and kid?"
" Better than ever, you know what, we have a small party in school next Thursday night, 8pm. If you have time?
"Sure, Harvey, We'll see you then!"
"Ah, and Helen asked about you. Johnny would be there too. "
"Great!"
"See you there!"
"See ya!"

Faith wanted to forget everything soon. Nothing better than a call from people who care.

Faith slept 2 days straight, then worried for tidy herself up other 2 day. She wanted to look energetic and cheerful for Harvey, Helen and Johnny.

Harvey and Helen are wonderful teachers and friends. Johnny, was a classmate who warned her paths NOT to take.

Johnny was the eldest in the class. He was kind, not too smart, he had difficulty following the course. Sometime he had empty looks. He said he used to drink and used drugs, and warned us not to follow his path.
He said he was very smart and a happy person, but something happened in his life, instead of takng the right path, he did the wrong things.
The alcohol and drugs damaged his health, he said. SO he couldn't do many things like he used to. He sighed sometimes "It's about prevent, not rehabilite, really."
"Harder to find a girlfriend after this sheet, hopefully better if do something more "social".
He was helping in a course for people to rehabilite themselve.

Some handcraft, nothing too complicated made the pupils who took that course would find satisfaction in them.
Johnny said that once someone prepared a "Rubrik therapy" for them, and they felt worse and felt "losing big amount of self-esteem".

Later the supervisor gave the same opinion for that Rehabilitation program, why doing something that complicated like Rubrik, it wouldn't estimulte their brain activity, the purpose was to do something fun, nice and simple to make them capable but not the contrary. He said he would suggest play "UNO" and card games instead of Chess, "definitely".

Helen helped Faith to develop her writing skills, encourage her to find her gift and cultivate her love for life. Harvey was the one who would make compliments on small things she did.

Faith wanted to look ra diant on Thursday.

"How is your life and your boyfriend?"
"How is your family?"

SHe almost felt relieved that most of them wouldn't ask her these questions.

Now what colour of lipstick?

life drifted in the current

Faith was in the bus.
She saw nobody but the reflection in the glass.

Her eyes still swollen. Her heart ached.
The trees on the road were waving to her, mocking at her melancony.

Probably was windy outside, the weather was beyond fine.
She saw a young man running, he didn't use MP3, just wore plain shirt, shorts.
She didn't know why, but she felt the warmth of her body.
Life. Motion. Discipline.
His face was firm.
He looked toward the bus.

A glance.
Did he saw her?
What kind of expression on his face?

Would he think of her like she would think of him the rest of that day?
Did it matter anyway?
Her heart ached again.

Guys would just dumped girls like her friend Fanny told her.
Why waste time with men?
Fanny changed boyfriend whenever she felt like it.
By the way, they were going to talk last night. But Fanny had her phone off, same thing last week.

Unlike Fanny, Lily didn't feel like have a boyfriend at all.
She went out with a guy, going to movie and dance.
One day he stopped calling her, Lily nor Fanny didn't say why.
She didn't like Andy, though never sw him.
"Keep distance, keep distance."
Then went back to her book world.

Andy and Faith met each other on chat room. They have known each other for 2 months already.
Faith was very alone.
Meeting him filled her time gap with chatting, laughters, SMS.
Filled the time, but not the heart.
She felt uneasy when she was with or not with him.
In a way, she would feel better with the girls, talked to them about school, life.
Fanny needed to go out most of her time with "her friend", while Lily would ask her "why meet?".

Since the girls were busy, when she was alone, she would be with Andy, who would listen to her and spend time chatting and Sms.

Andy wanted more than just chat and SMS.

Faith didn't really like it, she sort of dislike it. But Fanny said it would be so exciting and all.
Faith still didn't know why.

Before she fully understood it, he entered.

Then the other day, they went to friend's party. Andy's full attention to her faded.
He devoured with his eyes Fanny's friend's face and figure at first, scan her from head to feet.
Fanny didn't notice Andy's reaction at all. Not even when Faith told her.

" I really don't like your friend Sandra."
" But she is so pretty!! Everyone likes her and she knows the good places to go!"
"Have you seen how Andy looked at her?"
"well, everyone looks at her anyway."

Then the other day, they went to Fanny's party again. Andy began to talk to Sandra, they giggled and she touched his chest. Not just touch.
Then Andy looked into Sandra's eyes, and stared at her lips, back to her eyes, and mouth opened.
They were together a month by then.
Faith would think it was a seduction game. That night they exchanged number.

"It's nothing!"
" It's trust among friends!"
"He got her number, what an ass!"
"Yes, and she got his, Fanny!"
" May be you should talk to him, OR, think of going out with another one, don't you think?" That was Lily.

Two weeks ago, Andy, instead of calling every night, he didn't call on Friday and Saturday night.

Last week, Andy began to shorten the phone conversation. He seemed indifferent to the skirts she wore. He used to praise her. She wouldn't fully like it, but she was glad she wanted it. She needed it.

Last Friday. Andy turned off his mobile.
On Saturday morning, he turned off his mobile when she called.
In the afternoon, said he was tired, and told her that he went to a rock concert with Sandra, alone.

"Do you know your calls are annoying?"
" What?"
"I'm tired of your overreacting."
"You shouldn't have went to concert with her alone, why didn't tell me before?"
" Do you know what freedom means? How long have you lived here in the city?"
Faith clenched her fists.
" DO you know what respect is? I'm your girl friend!"
" Yes, and I'm a man who can go out with anyone."
" Did you slept with her?"
" It's not what you think."
" YES or NO?"She shouted.
" Faith, calm down!"
Faith lost her voice, felt the tears running down from her cheeks.
An enormous shadow of emptiness was filling her, invading her. She felt fear. She could smell it.

"Did you?"
" I went to her house after concert..."
" What??"
Felt the pressure, Andy began to defend himself.
"You see, we had some beers in concert, I was drunk."
Faith didn't want to hear anymore.
She pressed the button.
All she needed to hang up.

She breathed in.
Wait. May be he just went to her house, nothing else happened.
She called him again.

"Andy?" her voice sweet, ready to save the situation whatever it would cost.
"Faith! Are you okay?"
" I shouldn't been that rude to you, you know, I missed you So much last night. I wanted to..."
" What?" Andy gulped, he smelled the alcohol from his breath. Ready to go.
" You know..."
" What about now? Your place?"
" I'm with my grandma and cousin now?"
" Then what were you going to say?"
" I wanted to say I Love You!"
"....anyone could say that"
"What??" Faith frowned.
" Why do you want to argue with me? know what? We are over."
" What??????" Faith felt losing breath.
" That's it"

" SO you did sleep with her!"
" I said I was drunk, and had no mony for taxi, she told me to go to her place."
" Did you sleep in the same bed with her?"
" Where else?"
"Like sofa, florr??"
" What do you think I would have done? You tell me"
Faith fell silent.

"What did she do to you then?"
" She was drunk too."
"Okay, let's just go direct, did you or did not."
"?"
" Stop playing dumb, DID YOU?"
" .."
"DID YOU??"
"yeah.. but?"
"WHat "yeah", what "but"?"
she panted.

Silence in the room.

Next door she could hear an old man saying
" Danny was unemployed for 4 moths already, what can we do now?
" May be the landlord would lower the rent..."

" Does she has good body?"
" Faith, that's enough."
" DOES she???"
" DID you have a good time???"
" Do you still love me?"

" Faith, that's enough."

"Are you going to go out with her?"

"May be."
"May be???"

"THAT'S IT! Faith!! You are hurting yourself!"
"ANd you are the one telling me so??"
"I'm disappointed with you, Andy "

******

Faith looked out the window, some street cleaners are sweeping the Square.
Elderly people feeding flock of pigeons.
Someone walked in hurry, may be to catch up train or on the way to work.
A dog dragged his owner toward a tree.

Faith thought of the early runner, than looked at her reflection from the bus glass.

Looked out, she saw some teenagers or middle age people still drinking, some lying on the branches.

She took a deep breath.

May be it would be time to get a job, but what and where?

On the bus stop in front of her was an advertisement-
" Think about your future. Love yourself. Love your time."

ring a bell

The weather was good.

Joey could feel the breeze on his face.
"Why not sleep again? I don't see why not?"
"Why spend so much time awake?"
" So much quarrel, so much argument, it's so boring!"

Joey felt the pillow, petted it softly, then digged his face in it.

"Stupid life! Stupid grandma! Stupid Faith!!"
The air was gentle.
Joey felt asleep.

Rrrrring! Rrrring!
Someone it's calling!!!

" Hello!? who is this?" asked Joey.
"It's Jack B.... (inaudible) from Telephony, we have A WONDERFUL discount for you this month if...."
" What??"
" !! (cough) Is your mother here?"
" No, she is not."
" What about your father?
"He neither."
" Grandparents?"
"Nope."
" Now let me ask you."
"OK"
"Why are you calling to my house?"
"I'm working you see..."
" Working calling?
"Yes, I make many calls a day, and you are like, fifty calls. "
" It's very early in the morning, what time did you get up this morning?"
" Around 5 O'Clock."
" Woooooww"
" I'm glad that you sound like interested in our offer, if you get registered before next Saturday, you would have chance to get our PRize!"
" Prizes? Told that many are scam."
" !! "Jack coughs.
" Are you eating your breakfast?"
" No, I coughed."
" aha."
" You know what? I think I would call you again another day, bye."

Joey hanged up the phone. The phone conversation was almost getting interesting!
Then appeared someone in the front gate.

Joey saw there was a shadow moving behind the door.

"Ding-dong!"

Who would it be??
Joey opened the newspaper who and asked
"Who is this??" Joey felt a little bit nervous.

"It's me, from post office."
" Go away, post office don't open on Sunday."
"I'm from APS, it's a very special package. "
" Really?"
" Sure is"
" Wait."

Joey called Mom,

" Wwwwhat's the matter, son?"
" Someone is knocking on the door and I don't know what to do."
" Go talk to grandma, isn't she there?"
" Grandma took the bus. SHe told me she was going to your place."
" Darrn!!"
" What is that person asking?"
" He says he is APS."
" Eh? What else?
- " Package"
- "Ok, then ask him who is the sender."

JOey yelled
" Who sent the package?"
" It's written.....from Uncle Smiley"
"Okay, go ahead and open the door. must be that crumpsy HOnk Hans" said Mom.
" Okay, must be that crumsy Honhands."said Joey and opened the door.
The delivery man laughed when he heard what Joey said.
" you don't need to them the guy- delivery man every word I say, got it?
" WHY?"
" Because you don't."

Joey felt confused, then took the package anyway.