From Nerve Cowboy #7, Spring 1999

 

 

DECEMBER 15

 

Belinda Subraman

 

 

 

Johnnie comes out of his room at 2:30 A.M.

 

with orange food stains and rice

stuck around his mouth,

mutters something in Spanish

and kisses my hand.

I graciously accept, smiling,

silently marking my hand for a wash

in the near future.

Then I remind him

that my Spanish is little,

that I'm so sorry.

He pulls out his little English for me

and says, "I am one man,

you are one lady,"

then falls back into Spanish.

I do not know if it's his way

of proposing a rendezvous

or he's just getting his labels straight.

My Hispanic tech is on break.

I tell him someone will translate

for us in a few minutes.

But he loses interest.

That would make 2 men and 1 lady.

That's not what he had in mind.