Second extract...

Benjamin: “Hmm… So, what’s May?”

Denis: “What would she like to be?”

Me: “A woman, please.”

Denis: “A what? I’m joking, I’m joking. But come on; that one wants me to notice her, why else would she not be dressed? You could say I’m doing her a favour; she’s putting it out there (to be picked up, obviously) and I’m responding to her call.”

Me: “I think she might be looking for a little more respect.”

Denis: “I’m showing all the respect I think she wants; or rather, the kind of respect I think she wants. Look! It’s not my fault; it’s human nature. If men didn’t get turned on by women, we’d have some serious issues. And the more I see of a woman, the more I’ll get turned on – it’s law. AND, it’s also not my fault; God created me to love ALL women; I love them all and I see that as a good thing; you can never have too much love.”

Benjamin: “Yes May, he’s always like this.”

Me: “He wasn’t like this when I met him.”

Benjamin: “Your aunt was there?”

Denis: “You kidding me? I can’t act like this around Aunt. She might look like a gentle, blonde, blue-eyed, miniature person that you just want to cuddle and carry around everywhere with you in your pocket, but my word, that woman can bite.”

Benjamin: “Your aunt is a bit zesty.”

Me: “Oh I know; I’m not surprised by that. I can’t believe how much he fears her.”

Benjamin laughed: “Only good people are not afraid of your aunt.”

Denis: “And obviously, I’m not one of those and neither was General Rivo. Oh General Rivo? You haven’t heard about him? Yes; many like to remember him as he was before Aunt shouted her head off at him. I mean it. She used phrases like: ‘Are you insane?!’, ‘What were you thinking, were you thinking at all?!’, ‘In what dimension did you think that was going to work?!’, ‘What perspective made you think that was a good idea?!’, ‘You better go out there and you better...’ It was crazy I tell ya.”

Benjamin: “And yet he still hasn’t learned that women are more than meat.”

Denis: “Well, in my defence, Aunt would never dress like that. Look! Women wanted freedom, and they got it – I say, great! Really happy they did. But stop fringing trying to take away my freedom from doing what comes naturally to me; as I said earlier, to get little love bites. Look! It’s not every woman; May I swear it’s not. Look at that woman there.”

Me: “Which one?”

Denis: “See those two girls sitting at the table in the far left corner?”

Me: “The ones wearing scarves?”

Denis: “Yes, those ones. I would NEVER think like that about one of them. It’s obvious they want different kind of respect. That one wants to be looked at, and those two would probably be happier with a glance. I would never go up to one of those girls unless I knew them; and even if I did, I would go just to pay my respects. I don’t see why I’m the bad guy. This is how I’m reading different messages that different women put out there. May, am I reading it wrong?”

Me: “I...”

Denis: “Look! He’ll call me a chauvinist, but I really don’t think I am. The way I see it, all women should be allowed to wear what they want, but like everything else, it has consequences. What do you think?”

Me: “I think you might be right.”

Benjamin: “May!”

Me: “What I mean is; I don’t like the way you talk about that woman but she might love it; that might be just the sort of thing she’s looking for. I don’t know. I’ve never worn a skirt that short.”

Denis: “And why not?”

Me: “I wouldn’t feel comfortable in it.”

Denis: “And why is that? Never mind, whatever your reason, it can not have anything to do with me, because I would never stop you. If you want to wear a skirt like that or even no skirt at all, fine by me.”

Benjamin: “What if she was your sister?”

Denis: “Well, obviously if she was my sister I wouldn’t talk about her this way. Where do you think I come from; a Greek tragedy?”

Benjamin: “Let me put it this way…

First extract...

I chose this part by closing my eyes, strolling down the document and wherever I stopped I picked a part that would make sense when read on its own. Enjoy!

Me: “Why?”

Aunt: “Why! Because, I’m supposed to be taking care of you. I’m here to be the adult, the guardian. You’ve barely returned, and suddenly, this. May, I don’t even know what to say.”

I thought she could try ‘Congratulations’, but I said: “Why are you my guardian?”

Aunt: “Because your mother asked me. I’ve disappointed her in life, I can not disappoint her in death.”

Me: “When did you disappoint her?”

Aunt: “You know.” There was silence and I honestly tried to think; it wasn’t like me to forget anything, let alone something so big. “When you were born?”

Me: “Please don’t! We’ve been through that a million times. It wasn’t your fault…”

Aunt: “I know all the things you’ll say; I’ve heard them before. But the simple truth is: I shouldn’t have left her side. It was my fault… Anyway, that’s besides the point now…”

Me: “No, that is always the point. It will always be the point until you forgive yourself. Why won’t you just forgive yourself? It was outside your control.”

Aunt: “Leaving her at a time like that was very much in my control.”

Me: “You left her only to have a shower and rest; the snowfall was not your fault, you could not have seen that. And if it wasn’t for the snow you would have been back in that hospital with time to spear. You tried so hard to be by her side, you almost killed yourself; do you understand what that means?”

Aunt: “That shower wasn’t a necessity and the rest… My sister raised me. She was my mother and my father. She never asked for so much as a ‘thank you’, except that one time, once, when she was so nervous, she just asked that I sit by her so that if something happens to her, her newborn will have a blood relative…”

Me: “Nothing happened to her and she was there to hold me when I came out into the world; so that part is fine…”

Aunt: “Forget it!”

Me: “No! I will not forget it. I will forget it only when you forgive yourself. My mother was always so very proud of you. She was always grateful to have you. I know she died in peace because she knew I’ll always have you.”

My aunt began to cry: “And do you think I’m doing her justice?”

Me: “Absolutely!”

Aunt: “Hmm…”

Me: “Do you think she could do more than you’re doing? No! Exactly. I wish you didn’t worry, but worry is all you can do. That’s all she could ever do. And you are doing that very well, she’d be ever so proud.” I wanted to lighten the mood and it seemed to work.

Aunt (smiled): “I just don’t know!”

Me: “Neither do I. But aren’t you at least a little excited to see how this plays out?”