| Subject: Chapter 6 |
Author:
Juli
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Date Posted: Sunday, August 22, 10:40:02pm
In reply to:
Juli
's message, "Angelita" on Friday, May 21, 10:47:26pm
Chapter 6
Nikita watched as Michael buckled his seatbelt and imitated him, settling back into her first class seat. Michael had purchased her some clothing in La Paz while they waited for her passport to be arranged, and Nikita was still trying to get used to the feel of the clothing against her skin. Michael had told her that they would buy more clothes when they arrived in Lima, and the more Nikita thought about the trip, the more excited she became.
A stewardess came to ask for their drink orders as other passengers filed past. Michael ordered for both of them, selecting wine for himself and juice for Nikita. He had noticed how she had devoured the orange juice they had ordered at breakfast.
As the rest of the passengers made their way to their seats, Michael pulled out a map and laid it across their tray tables.
“This is Bolivia,” he said pointing. “Right around here is where your village is. Over here is Peru; we are going to Lima … here.” Michael placed a world map over the top of the South American one. “Here is Bolivia and Peru on this map. We are going to meet your father … here, in New York.” He slid his finger all the way up the two continents and tapped it on the Eastern seaboard.
Nikita picked up the map and started looking at the names of countries and states.
“Do you, … um, read?” Michael asked delicately, realizing that she probably did not.
Nikita nodded. “Somewhat, though I am very much out of practice,” she told him.
Michael was impressed with what Rita had accomplished with her daughter in the rainforest. He patted Nikita’s hand.
“We will work on it then,” he assured her.
Nikita curled her fingers around Michael’s hand and looked at him. “Thank you, Michael. You are a good friend to me.”
Michael smiled and extracted his hand from her grasp. He swallowed hard as he felt the first drops melt off the ice around his heart. He was not sure if that was a good thing or not. He was spared any further deliberation when the stewardess began to run through the safety instructions as the flight prepared for takeoff.
Nikita watched with rapt interest as the instructions were repeated in Spanish and English, and she pressed her nose to the window as the plane pushed back from the gate. She stared in wonder as the plane moved away from the terminal, taxiing to the end of the runway. Her stomach was fluttering with excitement as the plane slowly picked up speed as it hurtled down the runway, and she grabbed Michael’s hand again as the wheels left the tarmac.
Nikita tried not to gape as the taxi sped through the busy streets of Lima. It was only the third time she had ridden in a car, but the hustle and bustle of the city astounded her. It seemed that there was noise everywhere, and she had never seen so many people in one place before.
As the taxi pulled up to the hotel, Nikita tilted her head back to see the tall building with the mirrored glass windows. Michael had chosen the nicest hotel he could find in the Swissotel Lima. He stepped out of the taxi and extended a hand to help Nikita out.
At the front desk, he spoke to the clerk in English, though he assumed the man also knew French and Spanish.
“A suite under the name Samuelle?” he asked, placing both of their passports on the counter.
“Of course, Monsieur,” the clerk answered, noticing Michael’s French passport. He tapped several keys on his computer terminal and processed the necessary paperwork.
“How long will you be staying?” the clerk asked.
“Until the 30th,” Michael said, signing the forms and accepting the two key cards the man held out.
“Very good, Monsieur,” the clerk said. “Would you like a bellman to assist with your.. uh .. luggage,” he asked, glancing at Michael’s pack.
“No, that won’t be necessary,” Michael answered, taking Nikita’s arm and leading her toward the elevators.
When they reached the room, he handed her one of the keys and showed her how to use it. Then he waited while she unlocked the door and stepped in.
Nikita entered the opulent suite and turned around, taking it all in. There were plush carpets, a leather sofa and love seat, and heavy velvet curtains in the sitting room.
“The bedroom is in there,” Michael said, pointing to the left. After Nikita began moving in that direction, he made his way into the other room, where he dropped his pack. He quickly returned to the other room, eager to see her reactions to many things she had only imagined from her mother’s stories.
She was standing in the middle of the opulent room, turning in a slow circle. Michael leaned against the door frame, watching her. Nikita’s face was transfixed. He thought it was the same expression that a pilgrim would have upon visiting Mecca or the Vatican. A religious experience, he thought, staring at the half smile on her face.
Nikita slipped off the sandals that Michael had bought for her, and dug her toes into the deep plush carpet. She moved to the bed and ran her hands over the smooth coverlet, then sat down, testing the soft mattress.
She leaned back on the bed and raised her arms over her head, as if she were going to make a snow angel. Nikita could not have been happier. She turned her head and looked at Michael smiling at her from the doorway.
“I would ask my mother every night to tell me stories of her life. I don’t know why, but she was happy there in the jungle. Every night I would pretend to be in the city. It is what I’ve always dreamed of,” she told him.
Michael didn’t speak, he just continued to look into her eyes. Nikita held out her hand.
“Come, show me everything. Start at the door, and go around the room,” she said, allowing him to pull her to standing.
Michael chuckled, but did as she asked, beginning with the light switch and making his way through the TV, phone, curtains, chairs, bed, pillows, and complimentary robe. He left nothing out. He led her into the bathroom, showing her how to use the fixtures there – the shower, bath, sink, and toilet.
Nikita was fascinated with the chrome and marble masterpiece that was the bathroom.
“Tomorrow, we will go shopping. You can buy more clothes,” he told her, as she turned the knobs on the sink and shower.
Michael marveled at the primitive existence that she would have endured for her entire life. Each day he spent with her revealed something else that she had never experienced.
“Would you like some dinner?” he asked, heading for the sitting room.
“Yes, something grand and exciting,” Nikita said, picking up the TV remote and playing with it.
Michael shook his head and picked up the phone. He ordered room service and put down the phone. He realized that he had been hiding from the world in the rain forest for the past several years, and this introduction of Nikita to modern living was almost like a re-introduction for him. He was able to see the wonder and fascination in things he had given up. Her enthusiasm for it all was refreshing. He began to look forward to the next two weeks.
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