Page 7 of Tell Me What You Want, Or Leave Me

“Hello.”

Surprised to hear a voice at my side, I jerk and almost drown. A pair of unknown hands quickly pull me up and let go as soon as I stand. I wipe my face and blink and realize it’s the man who’s been staring at me for nearly an hour.

“What do you want?”

“For starters, for you not to drown,” he says with a teasing smile. “I’m sorry if I scared you. I just want to talk, pretty lady.”

I can’t help but smile. His Mexican accent is very sweet, but, recovering, I step away from him.

“Listen, thank you for the drink, but I’m married, and I’m not really into talking with you or anyone, OK?”

He nods. “Recently married?”

I’m just about ready to tell him to take a walk. What does he care?

“I just told you I’m married, so would you please leave me alone? Before you insist, let me tell you that I can easily go from a pretty lady into something of a beast. So, just walk away and don’t make me mad.”

The man nods and steps back. As he creates some distance between us, I hear him say, “Wow, what a babe!”

I keep an eye on him and watch as he gets out of the water and goes directly to the bar. He picks up a red towel, dries his face, and leaves. I’m pleased and swim back to the shore. I sit on the sand and play around, dropping handfuls on my legs.

That’s when a little girl comes to sit by my side.

“Shall we play?” she says, offering me a bucket.

“What’s your name?” I ask, nodding and filling the bucket with sand.

“Angelly,” she says with a beautiful smile. “And you?”

“Judith.”

“I’m six years old,” she says, still smiling. “And you?”

Well, that’s the kind of question my dear niece Luz would ask. I smile and ruffle her hair and pick up the bucket once more.

“Shall we build a castle?”

I play as the sun dries my skin. I’m getting very, very dark; as my father would say, like a gypsy.

An hour later, the girl leaves with her parents, and I return to my hammock. Two seconds later, a much younger man sits by me on the sand.

“Hello,” he says in English, “my name is George. Are you by yourself?”

I can’t help it and start to laugh. There’s so much flirting going on!

“Hi, I’m Judith, and, no, I’m not by myself.”

“Are you Spanish?”

“Yes.” But I know this game and get ahead of him. “I’m sure you like paella and sangria, right?”

“Oh yeah?”

I recognize his accent. “German, right?”

He stares at me.

“How did you know?”

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