“History and Geography.” was the unexpected response. At that time Chantal came in the room from the kitchen; she simply proceeded to remove the apron of her elegant attire.
“Lourdy. Lower the volume on the TV. You are deafening Federico”.
The girl turned off the TV, took a tablet that was on the table of the apparatus and went to her room.
“Sorry.” Said Chantal as she sat in the armchair opposite the boy. He could appreciate her sleek silhouette and beautiful legs. “When someone comes to visit us Lourdy takes him or her by assault.”
“ I did not feel it that way at all. She is very entertaining.”
“You are used to dealing with children, right?”
“Yes, I have several nephews, and there in the field we are always in regular contact with neighboring families. Not so in Haiti?”
“ It is a small country and towns and villages are overcrowded. There are no prairies or woods left. Particularly in Cap Haitien, where we come from.”
“ Tell me how are things there.”
Chantal began her narrative with sadness and obviously as she moved on her anxiety increased so that Federico decided to change the course of the conversation.
“I know there are Argentine peacekeepers in Haiti for many years.”
“Yes, but they are in Port au Prince and especially in Gonaives, a troubled place. They are very dear to the people because of the work they carry out. In Cap Haitien there Ecuadorian, Colombian and Chilean soldiers. They have to come from everywhere to prevent Haitians killing each other.” Her voice faltered again so Federico stood up and placed his hand over hers; physical contact calmed her down.
“You’re a good man, Federico.”
Determined to change the subject to less depressing things the boy started talking about his own work. At one point he asked.
“I know that you also have a job.”
“ Both Anabelle and I work in international chain hotels to meet contingent of French, Belgian, Canadian tourists as well as from French-speaking African countries. Language is our tool.”
“You both work together?”
“No.” Chantal mentioned the hotels in which each of the girls was working; they were two of the leading hotels in Buenos Aires. “We work long hours, Lourdy spends most of the day alone. I would like to change that.”
She thought for a moment and said.
“But I do not want you to think I’m a depressive person. I have to admit that since we arrived in this country things have improved a lot to us, beginning with Lourdy´s birth. Argentineans do nothing but complain because they do not know how things are elsewhere.”
The conversation then drifted to the subject of the girl´s education and Federico confirmed that it was an expensive school requiring a significant financial sacrifice.
At the time Anabelle entered the room, Chantal excused himself and returned to the kitchen.
“It’s my turn.”
‘Don`t you feel in the need to take turns to entertain me. I can be all my myself.” He expressed with an ironic tone.
“Is not that. What happens is that if there are many women in the kitchen they end fighting.” Chantal replied with a smile as she was retiring, the first smile the man saw in her lips.
The chat with Anabelle followed an absolutely different course than the previous. Instead of a reserved manner and a little gloomy mood of his sister she was a really outgoing and enthusiastic character. Anabelle spoke Castilian with very little accent and her memories of Haiti were apparently minimal and diffuse. Her interests turned definitely around music, artists and boys in general. Federico recalled a reference Cristelle had made about her as something like a hive of hormones. The boy shrugged and thought.
“Exactly what you would expect of a teenager at this time.”
Anabelle repeated a question that had apparently done before and Federico had not heard for being lost in his own thoughts.
“Oh yeah! My musical preferences.” Replied the young man. “Well, as I am from the provinces I like the national folklore, tango and rock. I do not like cumbia and tropical rhythms in general.”
“And electronic music?”
“I don´t know much about it.”
Predictably the boy had to repeat the explanations given to Chantal and prior to Cristelle about his childhood in a provincial town, his move to Buenos Aires and his current job.
“And what do you like most about your work in the hotel.” He asked in turn.
“The contact with people from very diverse backgrounds and interesting experiences … well, at least compared to others I know. In addition, the luxury and sophisticated atmosphere of the hotel. Everything looks, tastes and smells well there.”
Federico smiled sympathetically by the spontaneity and transparency shown by the girl. On a hunch he asked.
“And … what do you think of Cristelle?”
The girl attitude shifted from expansion to respect.
“She is very intelligent. She decides what we all do. Were it not for her advice we would be … lost.”
“And how did you manage to survive since you arrived to the country until you met her?”
“We were drifting in a society so different without knowing what to do.”
Federico was satisfied with the answer, which agreed, although from a different point of view, with what Cristelle herself had expressed and with his own personal observations. The boy thought that the behavior of all players was highly consistent and had no doubt that the resulting image was that of a family, with clearly defined roles. Of course, this included complaints and dissatisfactions. Federico came from a classic rural family, with a clear and strong sense of belonging, that as he migrated to the big city had somewhat faded, but he could recognize it when he saw it in others. In the case of the three women the family consisted of elements not bound by blood but by mutual support. For a moment the desire to belong to this small group of people crossed his mind.
Then finally Cristelle showed up calling to eat. She was dressed in a blouse and shorts with warm colors that enhanced her exuberant thighs and calves. She contrasted with the more demure dress of the Haitian sisters, but Federico reflected that her friend would be sexy with any outfit. He struggled to conceal a rebellious and untimely erection.
After he said goodbye to the family Cristelle accompanied again the boy in the elevator. When she opened the front door the boy happened to watch an empty taxi that was passing by. Without thinking a moment he motioned to stop it, opened the door of the house dragging behind a bewildered Cristelle who still had the building keys in her hand.
“But what are you doing? The girls are waiting for me to go up and will be alarmed if I do not.”
Federico merely give his cell phone telling.
“Here, call them and tell them we went for a walk and you will return in a while.”
The boy gave an address to the driver and after no more than ten blocks the taxi stopped in front of a very discreet hotel for hours. After a quick entry they entered the room allocated to them, and immediately they began to undress each other, with much haste and without unnecessary words. They lay on the bed completely naked and the man entered his lady. Both moved frantically until they came to a stormy climax. The lovers were exhausted and bathed in sweat but remained sexually united. Federico began to caress and kiss the blackened body of the woman to revive the desire in both, culminating in a new exquisite union, without the burn of the first but with more complete sensory stimuli.
“I could finally have you.” Federico exclaimed in a whisper.
“Fool. Who owns whom? “ Saying this she pulled the man off her, placed his head between her thighs and whispered.
“You know what you have to do.”
“But now we have…”
Cristelle simply pushed his head inside her. Federico realized he was being admitted to the family because he was just one more obeying the mandates of the African woman.
Chapter 4
> Federico
He rang the fifth floor bell. After a while Anabelle’s voice answered.
“I´ll be right down.” Replied the girl.
She came down wearing a strange dress in bright colors, certainly homely.
“Excuse me, but was cleaning my room.”
“What a cute robe. It looks like an African design.”
“It´s Cristelle´s present.”
After the kiss on the cheek their eyes momentarily met; the girl immediately lowered hers with a wave of blush. Federico realized that his presence had an impact on the young.
Arriving at the apartment Cristelle fleetingly crossed a narrow path surely between the bathroom and her bedroom; she was wearing her white panties and her torso was bare. Federico could not prevent the erection that the vision of the black flesh produced him. He sat in a chair to wait knowing that Cristelle always took some time getting dressed. After a while she appeared in a blouse and a wide skirt.
“Forgive me if I arrived too early.” Said the man.
“It’s not early. We were asleep.”
The conversation turned to more mundane issues until she suddenly slapped her forehead evidencing that she had remembered something.
“I was forgetting the most important thing! I went to visit a company next to my work in Parque Patricios. A Sudanese girl with whom I have always lunch told me that they are looking for a graphic designer. I talked to the head of human resources myself and told him about you. I have his phone number and he awaits your call.”
“What kind of company is it?”
“It’s a medium-sized software company and they are installed in the Technological Pole of Parque Patricios. It is fairly new and they are presently completing their staff, and as it´s a family business they prefer to do the old way, by personal references. The Sudanese girl tells me that they are good people and that the business is growing.”
“I appreciate your concern.” Then he thought for a moment and asked.” You never do anything without a reason, tell me what is your purpose now.”
Cristelle took him by the hand and led him to the triple armchair; she then sat on his legs. In doing so her skirt rolled to one side showing her legs. His hand immediately fell on her thighs.
“Well, well. Let´s see what you up to.” Said Federico .
“The first thing I want is you to work close to me. Seeing each other only during the weekends is not enough. But that is only the beginning.”
“What else are you planning?”
“I want you to move in with us.”
“What? But there are the girls.”
“I’ve talked to them. We need a man in this house. The apartment is spacious and my bed is king size, or queen size rather. Winter is already coming and this country is cold for an Equatorial African girl. I need someone to keep me warm at night.”
“But… do you need a man or a heater?”
“Both. Do not forget that I come from a hot country … in every sense.”
“So you have talked to the girls before talking to me?”
“Yes. I had to be sure they would not object my idea before offering you to move with us.”
“And what was their attitude to the question?”
“Enthusiastic. Overzealous for my taste, both by Anabelle as Chantal.”
“But I see you are not worried about competition.”
“I do not think there´ll be anything that I cannot control.”
“Including me?”
“Including you. Is moving with us a problem for you?”
“Depends on whether I change jobs or not.”
“What will the relatives with whom you live say?”
“ No doubt they will be relieved. They like me but I guess they´d prefer to be alone.”
“And what will your girlfriend, Viviana?”
“Vanesa.” Corrected him.” I guess she will be sad for a while but she will overcome it. She must surely suspect that I’m seeing another woman.”
“‘And are you going to talk to her?”
“It’s something I must do. You would not want me to just disappear from your life.”
“ I would merely castrate you or behead you or both. We Bamilekes are warriors.
“ That sounds like a conjugal threat. What do Bamileke women do for adultery?”
“You do not want to know. But tell me, will you ultimately talk with Vanessa?”
“Yes, I will tell her that I´ll meet her when she leaves her job. She works in a downtown bank branch..”
“I want to be present.”
“For what? Are you going to skin her alive or something? Or to protect me? No need. I do not think Vanesa will take it so seriously.”
“I just want to be there.”
The girl left the bank building and headed for the corner where they had arranged to meet. When he saw her Federico muttered weakly.
“Here she comes. Will you accompany me?”
“I think it will be easier for you to say what you have to say being alone with her. But make sure she sees me. Does she know I’m black?”
“No. In this case the color of your skin makes no difference.”
Federico approached the girl. Cristelle watched carefully. Blonde, slim, slender legs, well dressed and made up. The contrast with her could not be bigger. She saw that Federico turned and discreetly pointed at her. The girl took a tissue from her purse and wiped her tears; then just turned and left.
Federico headed for Cristelle with a somewhat puzzled face.
“Well. How did it go? Too many recriminations?”
“There was no time. She cut me off in the middle of my explanation and left. Are you satisfied what you have seen?”
“Very satisfied.”
“You know, I cannot understand why it pleases you to witness a stormy scene. Sheer sadism?
“I wanted to see the reaction of a blonde when a black girl robs her white boyfriend.”
Federico was hired in the computer company and notified his relatives he was moving. A Saturday morning the man gathered his meager belongings and traveled by car led by a friend to the apartment in the neighborhood of Congreso. He was greeted with a beautiful smile by Chantal and with excitement by Anabelle and Lourdy. Cristelle had made space for him in her closet but five hangers and a shelf were enough to store his clothes. The woman was obviously happy to have him in the house, locked with him in the bedroom and they only came out at nine in the evening to go out to dinner.
“ You must get your strength back. I’ll squeeze the most of you.” Stated Cristelle.
“Just in case I asked my relatives to keep my bed at home ready. You never know whether I will come back.”
“Coward.”
Chapter 5
Chantal
“Federico had moved to the girls ´ apartment a month before. His observations of the family he now lived with confirmed all his previous assumptions. All decisions, large and small, were subjected to Cristelle who took them trying to satisfy the desires and needs of all household members. Lourdy´s education had top priority and her mother was delighted to see that the man, endowed with a higher education, could help with her homework when women could not.
“It’s not just his education.” Answered Cristelle to a comment from Chantal in such sense. “He’s a very intelligent man. This will be good for us all, not just for Lourdy.”
Federico not only verified the role of leader Cristelle played. He also confirmed his assessment of Chantal´s somewhat depressive personality and Anabelle´s exuberant character. He also soon reached the conclusion Cristelle did not seem to pay close attention to this feeling.
One day the boy came back to the apartment from his new job and as he had forgotten his keys Chantal went down to open the front door, which for security reasons could not be opened remotely. The attitude of the young woman was distant and Federico could see in her eyes the evidence that she had been crying. He decided to respect the condition of the women but when Cristelle ret
urned home and they were alone in their room Federico asked her about it.
“Today Lourdy´s father came to talk to Chantal, for though no one has ever mentioned it to you, you can imagine that the girl has a father.” As the man assented she went on.
“The girl´s father is a married man who lives with his family in Tucuman. When Chantal came to Argentina she worked in the house of this man, who is a judge, and got pregnant with him. The wife found it out and to avoid scandal they decided to move Chantal to Buenos Aires, to put distance with the problem. So the judge rented this apartment, and continues to pay the rent and Lourdy´s French school which is very expensive. After the delivery Chantal got a good job and then she brought Anabelle from Haiti.”
In front of Cristelle`s silence the boy exclaimed.
“Well, how does the story continue?”
“The judge, i.e. the Lourdy´s father told Chantal today that because now she lives with several people, including a man and has a secure income, he will stop paying the rent for the apartment, though he will still take care of the school fee and all expenses of the girl.”
“It isn´t too bad. Perhaps I would have made the same decision.”
“But we cannot continue paying the rent for this apartment, it is far too expensive. This has distressed the girls, and in fact, also a bit to me.”
“But Cristelle! Having to move to a cheaper house is not the end of the world, and is something that happens to people very often.”
“You’ve got to keep in mind that we are immigrant women from backward countries with few resources to deal with situations of deep change.”
“I´ll take care of finding a house that the four of us can pay. I only ask you to accompany me to give your opinion on the houses.”
“Where shall we go?”
“To some real estate agencies logically, we will also read the newspaper sections and we’ll search the Internet. Don´t worry. We´ll find something suitable.”
Cristelle and Federico visited more than forty houses and apartments and finally opted for an old house in the district of Constitution, in a decaying area of old and poorly maintained houses. Many of the housings were usurped and occupied by characters with a highly unreliable look. At dusk prostitutes and transvestites of different nationalities roamed the area, and it was clear that in some places drugs were at sale.
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