A. MOLOTKOV'S
LITERARY PROJECTS

A Reflection of Shadow's Eyes
The Rainy Smile of Life

- You are a very beautiful woman, approximately five feet six, blonde.

- And you are about three or four inches taller than me, you have a moustache, and your hair is brown.

- I am very pleased to be having dinner with you, sitting at this table in a small restaurant, with these soft sounds of music coming from the speaker right above our table.

- So am I, so am I. Isn't it amazing that we should have met in such a casual way: I dropped my handkerchief, and you noticed it and picked it up.

- When I handed it to you, you smiled. Then I told you my name.

- And I told you mine.

- Yesterday it rained all day, you had an umbrella in your hand, it took you a minute or two before you remembered to open it. You looked wonderful with your hair slightly wet.

- So did you. Your suit was soaked, and yet you didn't hesitate to walk me home.

- And then we decided to have dinner today. You were a little late, and I was even worried that you would change your mind. But you didn't.

- When I came in, you smiled and got up from your seat. You have such nice manners. You gave me flowers. It's been a while since anyone has done that.

- I'm glad that they found a vase. Otherwise we wouldn't be able to put the bouquet on the table.

- They are roses. I LOVE roses.

- We ordered trembuccini a la brenion. I'm almost finished with my portion, and you are still in the middle of it. Do you like it?

- Yes. I'm glad I told you trembuccini is my favorite meal.

- I decided that a bottle of red wine would go well with it.

- It does, it does. The waiter has just brought the coffee.

- Would you like something for dessert?

- No, thank you, I have to watch my weight. There are three overweight people in this restaurant already.

- Yes, I remember you telling me that. Listen, I have to be honest with you: I'd like to make love to you.

- So would I. Let's go to your place after this. I'm already drinking my coffee, and you are almost done with yours. In fact, you have already asked for a check.

- Yes, and the waiter said he would be right back.

- He is here already. Would you like me to pay half?

- By no means! It's on me.

- Yes, I remember you saying that you are relatively well-off. I'm not surprised you gave the waiter such a big tip.

- You are getting up already, preparing to leave.

- Yes, and so are you.

- We are walking toward the exit now.

- And now we are outside. You waved for a cab that happened to be nearby.

- The cab approached, and I opened the door for you. Please . . .

- I got into the cab, and you did too. Now we are going to your place.

- Yes, we are. There is a lot of cars at this hour. The street light is red. We stopped.

- You put your arm around my shoulder, and then you bent over and kissed me.

- You visibly enjoyed the kiss. Meanwhile, we are almost there. That red building in the end of the block is where I live. It has three stories, and there are several people standing in front of it.

- One of them is a woman, she is holding a baby.

- Yes, this is my neighbor. Her name is Ann. We'll get out here, then I'll pay the driver, and I'll tip him as well, generously as usual. Then we'll go upstairs, I'll lock the door behind us, we'll take our clothes off.

- Then you'll start caressing my body all over, and I'll be moaning in pleasure.

- Your moaning will turn me on all the more.

- I'll come four times.

- Ann will be in her apartment by then, you'll scare her with your screams.

- By the time we've finished you will be exhausted. The sheets on the bed will be soaking with sweat.

- Then you'll get up to take a shower. I'll wait a while, and then I'll join you and make love to you again. The water will be running down our naked bodies.

- It will definitely be one of the sexiest things I've ever seen.

- Yes, it will. Then we'll get married and spend the rest of our lives together.

- We will die in a car crash, precisely twenty-five years from now. What a pitiful way to die . . . We'll be celebrating the anniversary at the very same restaurant. We'll have some red wine. You won't stop the car in time . . .

- I'm really sorry . . .

- Don't worry about it, it's not your fault. Thank God our children won't be with us.

- Yes, Bill will be at school in Boston, and Melanie will go away, working on one of her film projects in Europe.

- Do you think they'll be upset?

- I'm sure they will, for a little while . . . Do you still want to come upstairs?

- We don't have much choice, do we? You have already reached for your key, you are opening the door, now it is open, we are coming in . . . You have brown hair, you are several inches taller than me. You are so attractive.

- Your hair is blonde, you are three or four inches shorter than I, you are very attractive yourself. Isn't it amazing that we should have met in such a casual way? You dropped your handkerchief, I noticed it, picked it up. You were so beautiful with your hair all wet. Then I asked you if you'd have a dinner with me. You agreed. I brought you flowers. We had trembuccini a la brenion. The soft sounds of music were coming from the speaker right above our table . . .