Everyone dreams of happiness, but the meaning of happiness varies from person to person. For some, happiness is measured by how much money they have. Others equate it with having a successful career, a happy marriage and enjoying their health and an inheritance. The impatient want it all at once.
Some people associate happiness with love and become sad when it disappears. They are afraid that their happiness will disappear too. Conversely, some people see happiness in divorce, believing it will save them from many problems. This option is especially popular among practical women. One such woman might plan to take her husband’s money, enjoy life to the fullest, and indulge in pleasure. Before moving on to her next wealthy partner, whom she might meet somewhere exotic.
The world of relationships is changing. Masculinity used to be honoured, but nowadays tolerance, feminism and gay rights are more prevalent. Happiness has become elusive, while selfishness has become widespread. One person loves, while the other allows themselves to be loved. Egoists take advantage of those who open their hearts and trust them. In English folklore, such a person is known as a ‘selfish person’.
I once had the idea to write a short story about love. I wanted to depict the intertwined passions of a couple — him and her. However, I soon found that mystical outsiders were interfering with my plot story. They insisted that I include them in the narrative. They capriciously argued that without their involvement, there would be no intrigue. I tried to contradict them, saying that other people’s advice — especially when it involves intrigue — can be dangerous for a relationship of two. This is why I prefer to write novellas with a limited number of characters rather than long stories. But they were stubborn. They told me to stop showing off and simply observe, listen and write.What came of it is for you, my readers, to judge.
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ROCKY
In his youth, Rocky enjoyed frivolous adventures. He rode his Harley bike with friends across America, spent time with girls in bars and gambled in casinos. However, the sudden death of his father changed everything. He left behind a ranch in the beautiful Colorado mountains. A childhood friend flew in from Seattle for the funeral. Afterwards, he offered Rocky a partnership in his business. Rocky took the plunge. He gave up his frivolous lifestyle, sold the ranch and moved north. He bought a lake house outside Seattle and invested in his friend’s construction company. Construction work is always in demand in a place where it rains all year round and the nights are cold.
Dreams can come true, but when you get your lucky bird, the hardest part is holding on to it. As money comes in, new friends and girlfriends appear. They help you pluck the bird quickly. Rock knew this, so at thirty, he decided that, once he had started to change his life, he wouldn’t give up halfway through. His adventures were over, and he married a young Filipino woman. The days and months flew by; his bank balance grew, and his house was filled with the songs of his beautiful wife and baby daughter.
A car beeped outside the window. “Hey, kid! Get ready! The plane’s waiting,” his friends shouted, throwing empty beer cans into his flowerbed. A few days earlier, they had decided to go fishing together in Alaska. Rocky was an avid fisherman and always kept his tackle ready. He quickly packed his rucksack, and a minute later the noisy jeep disappeared around the corner.
Their airplane buzzed in the rainy sky.
“Rocky, you’re not yourself today, are you?” Is it impotence or something else?” His mate grinned.
‘Sometimes you get the nuances right, Chmoke, but this time it’s different,‘ Rocky muttered, cursing the coffee that had spilled onto his trousers. The plane pitched.
‘Guys, the flight is cancelled. There’s a big storm ahead,‘ the pilot announced, turning the plane around.
They returned to the airfield. It was getting dark, and nobody wanted to go home. Opportunities to escape family life, even just for one night, are as rare as sunny days in Seattle.
‘“Fishing’s not cancelled,” grinned Chmoke, and they all laughed in anticipation of the adventure.
They got lucky with the girls at the bar, and soon the music was blaring in their rented motel room while the tipsy girls tried to dance on the table. Annoyed by all this, Rocky wanted to be alone, so he fled to his room under false pretences. Although it was drizzling, the evening was warm, so he sat down in a chair on the loggia and wrapped a blanket around himself.
His family life was becoming dull. After the birth of their daughter, his wife began to refuse him in bed, citing poor health. Rocky was understanding, even hiring a nanny and taking on more of the housework himself. He often stayed home with the child while his wife visited friends.
She would return home late, and sometimes Rocky would notice her distant gaze, which made him feel uneasy. He tried not to take the situation negatively, understanding that his wife felt lonely while he worked late at the office.
With such sad thoughts, he dozed off. Voices brought him back to reality, and at first he thought his friends had come to pick him up. But what he heard dispelled the last traces of sleep. Two girls were smoking and talking on the neighbouring balcony. The topic of their conversation was spicy.
‘I didn’t plan this kind of life,’ said one of them. ‘I was looking for a rich husband so I could live a carefree life. My husband isn’t poor, but I’m stuck in a domestic routine. I’m suffering because I have another child, but I’m afraid to tell my husband about it. I’m hiding it from him because if he finds out, he’ll definitely kick me out.’
She spoke with a slight accent, and Rocky thought he recognised her voice. He froze in his chair, trying not to give himself away.
‘You could kick him out of the house and take all his money! You’re so silly,‘ snorted the other girl.
‘I don’t know how to do that,’ replied the first girl.
‘Then listen to me, dear,‘ the other girl continued. ‘There are laws that allow us to do many things. Feminism helps women. You’re lucky to live in such a society. Do you know about them?’
‘Really?’ The first girl shook her head. ‘I thought I lived in a selfish society where everyone was busy making money. Help me understand.’
‘OK, I’ll help you get hold of your husband’s money so you can live a life of pleasure. You like pleasure, don’t you?’ giggled the other girl. ‘But I’m practical, and my condition is that you must share it. Do you agree?’
After receiving consent, she continued:
‘Are there any cases of sexual harassment, beatings or scandals in your family?’
‘There is nothing like that in our family,’ replied the first girl. ‘My husband is a polite and sensitive person,’ she continued.
‘Now you’ll have it,’ laughed the other girl. ‘My solicitor will help you get money from your husband. He’ll probably need your husband’s financial documents. He’ll also send his agents to assess your house, and they’ll come under false pretences.’
‘I agree. But how long will it take?’ The first girl hesitated.
‘Probably a few months. Keep refusing to have sex with your husband, provoke him into a fight and try to get him to hit you. The agents will install hidden cameras to get video evidence of the incident. The lawyer may want to sleep with you. Don’t refuse, he’s our partner,’ warned the other girl. ‘In court, you’ll need to cry like an abused wife,’ she continued, ‘Hold your daughter close to your chest and discreetly pinch her bottom to make her cry. Children’s tears are the most effective way to convince judges. Now let’s go to the bar across the street, drink to our success, and discuss the details.’
The rain intensified, and in the light of the streetlamp, Rocky could make out their blurred silhouettes. The one on the left looked remarkably like his wife.
***
SUZANNE.
At the construction company, Rocky was responsible for coordinating the scope of work with clients. One day, the stained glass on his office door was gently scratched by the claws of a pretty blonde woman with a smile on her face. She introduced herself as a designer and said that she had gained experience in computer graphics while working at Warner Bros. Studios. Her name was Suzanne. She had long, slender legs and a deep, seductive laugh.
She explained the nature of her visit. A wealthy businessman friend of her father’s had asked her to help design and furnish a space for his company. The company specialised in finding employment for seafarers from different countries with cargo shipping companies.
The owner had rented a space in a high-rise building in the city’s business district. The room was spacious with a wall of thick glass offering spectacular panoramic ocean views. Suzanne’s idea was to arrange workstations for the employees, a briefing table, a small coffee bar and a manager’s area in the open-plan room, so that everyone could enjoy the view. She believed that this combination of views and the aroma of coffee would foster an atmosphere reminiscent of a ship, inspiring aesthetic pleasure and trust within the team.
Rocky thought Suzanne’s idea was unique and was fascinated by the project. Together, they sketched out designs and drawings for the interior, which his construction company would then build. They soon became friends and began spending time together over lunch. Suzanne proved to be a witty and sociable conversationalist, and Rocky was invited to several of her parties.
Their conversations became more candid, and one day he asked her why there were no women in her circle of friends, only young men.
Suzanne put down her glass of juice.
‘Rock, forgive me for thinking you’re jealous of me,’ she said, smiling and looking him in the eye. He felt uncomfortable.
‘I told you I’m not married,’ she said, touching his hand confidentially. ‘You’re a grown man and you should understand that an unmarried young woman is always looking for a partner.’ At this stage, she doesn’t need female friends. They are unnecessary and represent dangerous competition. Married women can even be expected to spring dangerous surprises. They are jealous and envious…’
‘As for the young men, they’re all too selfish for me. I like them for their ambition,’ Suzy continued. ‘They’re too confident, but they don’t realise how naive they are. A young man without life experience doesn’t realise that he’s being played with or that he’s the one being chosen, not the other way around. One day, his inexperience and ambition will play cruel tricks on him. I enjoy manipulating boys like this. It’s entertaining to watch them obediently take the bait without realising there’s a hook is inside of it. This kind of fishing keeps me in shape — it’s a sport, you know.‘
She laughed and played with her voice like a virtuoso musician delighting the audience with the sound of her instrument.
I’ll let you in on a little secret,‘ she said, looking around conspiratorially. ‘We women have good peripheral vision and can look at you without turning our heads. But it’s risky to look a man you don’t know in the eye, because it can give him false hope and encourage him to do things that women fear. A woman who is more skilled in this art knows when she is being watched. She can guess what men are thinking at that moment. I’m like that. It’s exhausting, but I like it. You see, Rock, I’m being honest with you because I trust you,‘ she added flirtatiously.
‘I apologise for my tactlessness, Suzy. I shouldn’t have asked you that.‘ Rocky was clearly uncomfortable. Seeing the confusion on his face, she hurried to smooth things over. ‘Rock, I owe you an apology too. I’m just like you.’ They clinked glasses.
‘Now that we’re on the subject, I know you’re married,‘ she continued, looking him straight in the eye. ‘You said your wife is from a different culture, and I guess you probably only communicate through sex. I don’t think that’s enough for you. To achieve harmony of the souls, a couple need to share interests, folklore, jokes, and gastronomic preferences. You need a friend who understands you as well as you understand yourself, don’t you?’ Susanna licked her plump lips with her pink tongue. She must have touched on something intimate.
‘We even haven’t had sex in a long time,’ he whispered, looking away.
‘You see, I’m so shameless, I’m sorry again,‘ Suzy continued, as she laughed softly.
Rocky thought he had heard that laugh before. But he couldn’t remember where.
The speakers were blaring:
♪ I maybe still with self-deception
♪ And still deceived by mirage
♪ My heart is longs for loving action
♪ So play your game, I have enough courage…
***
IRISHMAN.
Rocky was stuck in the sporting goods section of the supermarket. The trip with friends to Montana, to catch trout in mountain streams was coming. This type of fishing requires special equipment.
‘Let me guess…’ came a voice from behind him. Rocky turned around.
‘You’re probably looking for mountain trout fishing gear, right?’ A tall, well-dressed man smiled to him.
‘Sean O’Connell, fellow angler,’ he introduced himself. ‘If I’m right, I recommend trying this,’ he said, pointing to a heavily curved steel feather with a double hook. ‘I was fishing in mountain streams last year and found that it works better than the others.’
“Your advice is very helpful, Sean. Thank you! I’m Rocky, and my friends and I are going trout fishing in Montana.” Rocky shook his hand.
‘Hmm, I’ve fished there before. I know a few good spots,’ Sean smiled.
They decided to talk in the supermarket café over a cup of coffee.
Sean turned out to be cheerful and talkative.
‘My grandfather was a fisherman in New York,’ he said. ‘They fished off the coast of Newfoundland and sold their catch to customers in New York. One of them was Italian and had a young daughter who seduced my grandfather. They ended up getting married. Like any Italian, my grandmother Cleo was terribly jealous and impulsive. She was pushing my grandfather out to sea to keep him away from his friends and skirts. One day, he disappeared in a heavy storm.
I grew up under the strict supervision of my jealous grandmother, which formed my mixed feelings towards women,‘ Sean smiled. ’That’s probably why I’ve spent my whole life trying to understand female psychology. I even got a law degree, specializing in divorce cases.
I think it was my experience and knowledge that kept me from getting married until I was forty,’ he sighed.
‘Perhaps I fell victim to my own experience. Every case I took on was a new journey into the world of women for me. I collected enough fascinating stories for a hundred novels — a treasure trove that a writer could only dream of. I saw what women were capable of, but I still couldn’t understand how they planned it.’
Sean laughed loudly, and a woman passing by gave them a disapproving look.
Rocky proposed that Sean accompany on a trip, and he agreed.
***
They were having fun in Montana, catching and cooking trout over a campfire while drinking and chatting about trivial things. In short, they were enjoying the freedom that came with abandoning society’s moral conventions. At their last day, they held a feast in the clearing. Everyone was quite tipsy, and the fire smoked the trout and tomatoes on skewers sizzled and splashed with juice as they browned. Rocky was strumming his guitar and they were singing cowboy songs when Chmoke suggested they hold a fraternity initiation ceremony for Sean. Everyone agreed loudly.
Sean sat down at the table with his hands tied behind his back. Chmoke uncorked a new bottle of whisky and filled a glass to the brim. Sean took the glass in his teeth and drank it all without spilling a drop under complany’s applodisments.
Once his hands had been untied, Sean hugged and kissed Chmoke on the cheek. Chmoke screamed and bent over in pain. It turned out that Sean had bitten him on the ear. This wasn’t part of the ritual, but the rookie was probably showing everyone that he shouldn’t be messed with. Everyone laughed at Sean’s prank. Afterwards, he poured whisky on the wound and put a plaster on it. They hugged, and the initiation ceremony ended with socialising and drinking. Sean was nicknamed ‘The Irishman’. Chmock said he was the ‘Wild Irishman’.
When Rocky returned home, he found house empty — his wife and daughter had disappeared. On the table was a notice stating that he had been named as a defendant in a divorce and property case. The hearing was a month away.
Rocky called the Irishman and asked him to come over.
The Irishman listened without interrupting, taking small sips of his whiskey:
” Perhaps your wife is a foolish woman’s naivety,” he said when Rocky had stopped talking. “But my professional instinct tells me that someone has been helping her, and that someone is a clever rascal. Yes, we live in an emancipated world, that’s true,” he went on, “In this world, people put on masks that often hide their predatory nature. Christian morality has become a tight shoe, no longer worn, but not yet discarded. All this masquerade is done to the hysterical squeals of feminists, and naïve men think they are doing a gallant act toward all ladies, equalizing them in rights with themselves. But not all women are ladies, and for such “not-ladies” emancipation is a whore’s fight for the right to be one with impunity, whether you agree with me or not.”
” But we’re having a baby!” Rocky clutched his head.
” Yes, but you just said that she stays out late and the baby is taken care of by a nanny or by you,” Sean raised his eyebrows, ” I’m repeating your words here, and as a lawyer who has studied this kind of story many times, I dare say your wife does not look like a good mom and a faithful wife, sorry buddy.“
Rocky was silent.
” You know, I’ll open up to you too,” the Irishman gave him a friendly hug,
“I dreamed of meeting a normal woman, a woman who would be comfortable to live with, who would recognize and accept the superiority of a man in a union of equals. After all, a man appreciates a woman who has given herself to him, and such a woman will always have flowers in the house. But I am a lawyer for special women’s cases,” he grinned, “In twenty years of practice, I have seen and heard so much that I no longer believe in my dream…”
The Irishman smiled kindly:“When you returning home from work, did you often stop at the flower shop to buy flowers for your wife?”.
“No, not much lately,” Rocky sighed.
” Well, you see, and here I can guess why. You want to see a well-dressed wife at home and a nice dinner on the table. But you don’t have that, do you? And you realize you’re not welcome and nobody wants your flowers…”
Rocky was silent. He had nothing to say.
The Irishman summed it up: “All right, let’s come to the point. Judging by her complaint, it’s possible she’s a matrimonial fraud after your money. Sorry to be so harsh, buddy, but we’re not kids and I’m not going to comfort you, I’m not a spiritual advisor. If you want me to help you solve this case, you should tell me every little detail of your relationship, excluding intimate details of course. My experience tells me to check with the Prefecture of Manila, where she lived before America. And I’ll have to do some other work that it’s too early to discuss with you,” the Irishman put out his cigarette.
Rocky said the Filipina was in America on a visitor’s visa. Their marriage was registered in Las Vegas, where she presented a driver’s license instead of a passport. Sean suggested that the visa in her passport might have expired and that she was already in the country illegally at the time of marriage. The American system doesn’t take kindly to such offenders and she could be deported for such deception.
Rocky confirmed the suspicions, saying that his beloved had proposed Las Vegas for marriage and to spend the wedding week there. In Las Vegas the procedure is simplified, you can get married without leaving your car.
” A lover’s common sense rests,” the Irishman concluded.
Two weeks later, the law firm received a response to its request. The Manila police reported that the person named in the application was married and had a child living with her parents.
“As you can see, my professional instincts did not fail me,” the Irishman said, ” You’re a victim of marriage fraud. I have enough evidence for the court to declare your marriage null and void, and all her claims to your money and property will only add to her guilt. If she’s still in the States, she could easily be send to jail and you would get custody of your daughter”.
The Irishman’s face turned serious: “Rocky, you don’t know everything, but I’m obliged to tell you the truth. Here is my boys’ work from the private detective agency”.
He placed his iPhone on desk and turned on the video function. On the screen, Rocky’s wife was having fun in bed with a young man.
” If I were you, I’d get a DNA test to establish biological paternity of your little girl,” the Irishman continued, ” Your wife started taking you around the bend as soon as you told her you were in love with her. Falling in love only blinds the male, not the female, or so the zoologists say.”
Rocky was silent. He was about to have a nervous breakdown.
***
The Irishman easily blew the case in court. The con woman must have known what to expect, she didn’t show up in court and nothing was known about her. Rocky’s heart was broken, he lost his daughter.
Bandages stop the bleeding and medication dulls the pain. But the pain of losing a loved one lives on forever. Alcohol can ease it, but there is no other medicine. Often the pain returns and becomes unbearable. At such times, a person cannot be alone. The Irishman offered Rocky to stay in his house for a while, until life offered a solution.
***
BAHAMAS.
Rocky’s relationship with Suzanne became more and more trusting. One day, friends invited him to spend some time in the Bahamas, and he asked Suzie to join him.
She happily agreed. There were three couples, all of whom loved the ocean, and when they arrived, they immediately chartered the yacht.
After a cold and wet Seattle, a week sailing in the warm ocean was like a fairy tale. On one of the islands, Suzie was captivated by the blue lagoon. In the euphoria of a love adventure, Rocky decided to make her a present and bought a hurricane-damaged building with land right on the shore of the lagoon. This gift added heat to their already hot nights.
The boating adventure was over, their friends flew home, and Rocky and Suzanna stayed on the island for another week or two of fun days and nights. They hired local contractors to restore the structure they had purchased. It consisted of three bungalows, and remembering the joint project that had started their friendship, they planned to turn the place into an exotic hotel.
Rocky returned from the trip rejuvenated and tanned. His eyes sparkled with new life and he and Suzie were engaged! All of his friends had gathered for a party to celebrate the occasion, some with their wives. There were a few guys on Suzie’s side and Rocky didn’t ask her any questions, remembering why she didn’t have any girlfriends.
The Irishman was humbled by this feast of two hearts. He took a moment to lead Rocky into the garden:
“…You’re a great couple, man, congratulations,” he patted his friend on the shoulder and offered him a cigar, “I value our relationship, so I’m not going to give you any advice, but I want to share my thoughts. I’ve seen your heartbreak before. I don’t want to see it again…“
“…Thank you Sean, you are my friend and you have the right to advise me, but I’m sorry, I’ll listen to you without due consideration, because we both know that lovers don’t listen to what their friends tell them…” – Rocky smiled and lit his cigar.
“…That’s good mate, you catch a hint as quick as a trout catches a shiner,” Sean grinned, “…I just wish you’d be careful with Suzie, she’s not a simpleton like your ex. You’re the same age, but I can see she’s more experienced than you, Rocky. She’s much more cold-blooded and if she does what she wants, God forbid, you’ll have no choice but to accept her terms. Such women always win, their game excludes that state of mind which men used to call love,” the Irishman blinked through the smoke of his cigar, “…the truth of this statement has been proved by the lives of all the great courtesans at whose feet lay kings, presidents, scientific husbands, and world idols. A man in love is always a fool, whom such a woman manages to convince that flirting with other men is only a game, but she only sleeps with him…“.
He patted his friend affectionately on the shoulder and they returned to their guests.
Months went by. Rocky was happy. He was at peace with his new life. He had Suzie and life was full of color again. She spent most of the year in the Bahamas, the hotel renovation was nearing completion and the finishing touches required her presence. They talked almost every day, but one day Suzie didn’t answer the phone. And then she stopped calling for a long time. Late one night she called: “…Rocky, you’re a good guy,” her voice sounded distant, “…I’ve been thinking a lot lately about us and the life that awaits me. You and I have different ways of looking at things. You like your job, the comforts of home, your dream of a child and all that. I’m not ready for that life, I’ll be cramped in your cage, I’m sorry. I’m a free bird and I don’t want to commit. Thank you for everything and especially for this piece of paradise you’ve given me. We shouldn’t see each other anymore, send my things by mail. I am sorry. Goodbye…“
***
Rocky was on vacation in Florida. He was drawn to the Bahamas, but even in his dreams he was afraid to admit why. After flying in, he took a sea taxi to a familiar island. There, his feet led him to a small hotel on the shore of a blue lagoon. It was getting dark. In a bungalow under a roof of palm leaves, a noisy party was having a good time. A spectacular blonde stood at the center of the table, and Rocky could hear her chesty laugh. Of course it was her! Next to her was a slim, tall man in a snow-white shirt. He was pouring champagne into the blonde’s glass and whispering in her ear. There was something very familiar about him… Rocky leaned against the trunk of a palm tree and smoked. The sun was setting in a scarlet haze, a colorful sunset, probably the first time the sailors of Columbus had seen it.
He remembered a story he had read about how the first hunters in the New World had formed a maritime brotherhood on the islands. Each hunter was required to share everything he had with his partner. Even the wife went to a close friend if the hunter didn’t return from a hunt…
Rocky smiled at his thoughts. He took a device out of his pocket and typed a message: (( Hi buddy! I remember you warned me once. You talked about how a man in love is a fool who is always convinced by a woman that she only sleeps with him. And I laughed and didn’t want to listen to you. Now I admit that you were right. I wish you happiness. You can count on me not to return from the hunt.))
He added a known phone number and pressed “Send”.
© Copyright: Walter Maria, 2021
Certificate of Publication No.221082401160
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