Chapter 2

Chapter 2

As he was returning from his visit to The Cloisters and on the long bus trip Martín meditated on the first week passed since his arrival in New York. The young man had remained true to his avowed intention to know the remarkable places he had not visited in his previous stay in the city with his parents. The next day he had planned to visit the Ground Zero and the remarkable buildings that had been built around the emblematic place.

But it was not tourist thoughts that haunted his mind in the last two days. Once his youthful desire to know had had a beginning of satisfaction, the commitment he had acquired with his relative and that justified, at least formally, the hospitality that Dennis offered by admitting him into his home, came to the fore. This commitment, although never expressed explicitly, consisted in helping the host in his work and studies. However, at that time Martín had to admit to himself that he had no idea what these tasks consisted of. While he was watching the succession of urban landscapes through the bus window, the young man took the decision to directly address the issue with his distant cousin because he already knew that Dennis would never ask him for help in exchange for lodging.

At that moment the vehicle made one of its stops and a black girl with very graceful features and a body of spectacular curves ascended; the boy's eyes could not detach from her behinds until his sight suddenly crossed with that of an old lady, also black, which looked at him with an air that Martín interpreted as reproach. His thoughts changed quickly and he remembered that hat night he was invited to dine with Dennis and Deborah in the woman's apartment, and that the meeting would be attended by Selma, whom he did not know yet but about whom his relative had communicated through winks and smiles that shared the beauty of her sister. This meeting had generated expectation in the boy, who had been for a while without female company.

“Are you ready? We must leave now to arrive at seven. Dennis' voice came from his bedroom.

“I´m almost ready.” The boy hastened to finish his task; Dennis had lent him an electric iron and he had taken his best shirt out of the suitcase where it had been until his arrival and was ironing it on the bed. He picked it up and judged the general appearance of the garment, which seemed satisfactory to him so that he proceeded to put it on immediately.

“Here I'm.” said Martín entering the room while putting on his jacket.

"Let's go then." Dennis opened the apartment door and they both left quickly.

The building where Deborah lived was elegant and everything in it breathed an air of high status, increased when they entered the luxurious lobby once the woman remotely opened the door to them.

Debbie looked resplendent as always, a fact that intrigued Martín, who despite being an attractive young man barely managed to look presentable. Upon entering the apartment, the boy could see that it was furnished and decorated in a very sober fashion, despite having all the amenities. The stripped aspect was achieved by avoiding the accumulation of unnecessary objects that every house ends up putting together. The painting of the interior and the curtains managed to maintain a luminosity that was in keeping with the minimalist impact it caused.

At that moment a girl emerged from what was evidently the door of one of the interior rooms. Also blond and light-eyed, she had a rather thin frame and features that clearly denoted the kinship with Deborah. As it used to happen to him with everything concerning the latter Martín was affected by the young woman and momentarily he felt that he could barely articulate words. As had happened previously, Debbie came to his aid.

“Martín, this beauty is my sister Selma. According to my father she´ the family´s diamond, what incidentally, makes me feel jealous." The tone was however jocular.

Once again the boy did not know how to proceed, which was saved this time by the same Selma who extended her hand.

“Debbie tells me that in your country people kiss on the cheek at the very moment you know each other.” She said in an inquisitive tone. "Do you consider that a hygienic custom?"

“Well ... well, I ... I do not know, it's the habit."

Once again Debbie saved her guest from her bewilderment. This time she burst into a loud laugh.

“Well Martín, you should know that my sister is that frontal and that she usually proceeds in this way to make all the boys feel insecure... particularly those she likes."

This time it was Selma's turn to blush while exclaiming.

“Oh Debbie! I wonder if you are my sister or my enemy. With what right do you interpret my actions in your own way?" However, she could not prevent her tone from sounding falsely offended.

Debbie served the dessert after a menu consisting of dishes cooked by her along with others bought in some delivery but that formed a homogeneous group. The talk had been referred to circumstantial issues such as the menu itself or the vicinity of the woman's apartment. At the time of the coffee, Selma, who had contributed relatively little to the dialogue, moved her chair back as if to gain some perspective from it, focused her eyes on Martín and asked.

“You are tonight novelty.” The tone was determined and somewhat inquisitive but cordial. However it lit some alarms in the boy who until then was in a comfort zone with the inconsequential talk.

“Tell us something about you.” The girl continued.

“ Something like what? What would you like to know?"

“ Actually still being relatives I do not know much about you either.” added unexpectedly Dennis. “ I support Selma's request. Tell us something about Buenos Aires, about your family, your studies, and your friends."

It was Martín's turn to move his chair away from the table and reflect on what he was going to say.

“Well, I hope my poor English does not betray me."

"Your English is better than many New Yorkers´." Debbie's tone was exhilarating as she showed that she, too, was curious about her guest.

“ The one who came to Argentina was my great-grandfather Paolo Colombo ..." The boy found himself talking with a calm unexpected a minute before. “ ... who ended up marrying the daughter of a Basque immigrant ..."

The exposition lasted over ten minutes without interruption from the other diners.

“... and I suppose that on my return to my country I will start working with my brother Román in his small company.”

“ So this trip is a kind of transition time before being initiated into the world of adults." Concluded Debbie.

“ A century ago the upper middle class youngsters longed for a trip to the jungles of Africa before entering a family business." The home owner continued reflexively.” Today you have chosen the jungle of New York to quench your thirst for adventure. Tell me, what has guided your choice? Why New York?"

“ Well ... I suppose having a relative, although distant as Dennis, had some influence on the choice."

Selma's voice and tone surprised everyone.

“Along the chosen site you have made a decision that requires at least some courage. I envy you! It's more than I've done, although I'm your same age."

“That statement is amazing to me though I see you almost daily.” Debbie exclaimed sincerely. "So you too feel thirst for adventure?"

“What about it? Do you think I should not?"“ Selma was a little angry. “ Why, because of my sex?"

“No, no, no.” The sister cut in. “ Do not get me wrong. I love that you have your own projects and even hidden ones. It's just that I had no idea of them."

“Bah! Devoirs of young bourgeois who have their economic problems solved from the cradle. If you had to earn a living you would have other hidden desires." Dennis's tone was realistic, with no grudges.

“Oh! Shut up, proletarian.” Debbie exclaimed as she was sitting next to her boyfriend, giving him a push after which both burst into laughter . Then he turned to his sister and said tenderly.

“I want you to tell me more about those unsatisfied cravings. As your older sister I have not the right but the duty to know them."

“I cannot be more precise, I do not know how to define this ... craving as you call it. I have always played the role of a rich girl."

"There are worse roles than that." Dennis noted with his usual irony.

“... and I would like to experience something different."

“And would you be willing to take some risks?" Asked suddenly her sister.

“Yeah, sure."

Suddenly Debbie and Dennis exchanged glances, which did not escape the scrutiny of Martín who was following the scene without uttering a word. A moment of dense silence followed the dialogue. Deborah made an almost imperceptible nod with her head to her boyfriend, who was also intercepted by the Argentinean. Suddenly Dennis stood up with the gesture of a man who has made a decision. His face had abandoned the funny gesture that usually had and appeared serious.

“Well, Martín had anticipated before that he wants to work with me in my ... in our work.” He said looking at Debbie, who again nodded. “And now you Selma say you want to shake off your drowsiness and accept risks."

He made a silence that lasted a few moments and then continued.

“We will give course to those concerns.” New look at Deborah.” For this we will meet Saturday morning in my apartment. By then Debbie and I will have a proposal prepared. Is at 10 in the morning okay for everybody?"