The adventures of Miss Despina

I took a taxi down into Prague, with the intention of visiting a small bar I’d seen near Petrin, where the cigarette smoke hung low, and where I could choose whether or not to drink alone. I spotted the bar, and quickly reapplied my lipstick before paying the driver and slipping out of the taxi. Outside the night air had begun to circulate again but the humidity of the day lingered. My small black dress clung tightly to my body in the heat, and I was aware of being watched as I crossed Ujezd.

I had been very careful that no-one could follow me into town. It was probably just men staring at me, I reassured myself, the way men do stare at women here. I entered the bar, ordered a white wine, and took a table in the corner. The feeling of being alone was blissful after such a busy day. I sat quietly enjoying the Czech wine, and the smooth feeling of my new silk stockings. The bar was quiet - a few Czech boys in one corner, some German tourists in another, and at the bar, another man drinking.

He looked like the kind of man who, like myself, had chosen to be alone. I could see that he was well-dressed, tall and wide across the shoulders, but his dark hair hid his eyes from me so I was unable to tell whether or not he had seen me. I was wondering why he was here alone in this small smokey bar, when he stood up and walked over to my table. I wearily resigned myself to having my peace disturbed by this stranger. 

"Slecno, prosim…?" (Mademoiselle, may I?) he said, indicating the place opposite me.

"Ano" (Yes) I sighed. Once he realises I don’t speak Czech, he’ll go, I thought.

"I hope I’m not intruding," he said, in English. "I just saw a woman on her own and thought to myself…"

As he sat down and continued his formalities in slightly accented English, I quickly scanned the face of my new acquiantance. Deep green eyes, a strong nose and chin, a dark moustache and beard, in a face that betrayed no emotion.

"My name is Sergei" he said. "And yours?"

"I’m not in the habit of telling people," I said, in my best Czech accent. "What would you like it to be?" I asked, not believing for a moment that he was really called Sergei. He was thoughtful.

"I like… Jolena"

"Then tonight I am Jolena. I like Jolena too." We drank a toast to Jolena, he got the bill, and then took me to another bar.

As we talked over whiskies, I discovered that he was only in Prague for two nights, on what he termed business, however the set of his eyes told me that his business here may have a darker side I would rather not know about. He discovered nothing about me except that I am working here for the summer, and that I have excellent taste in all things. I was excited by the mystery of this man, by his big hands and his dark eyes and his unplaceable accent.

It was late when we left the bar. Outside, he asked if he would see me again.

"I hope it will be," he said. "It seems a shame to meet such a beautiful woman and then never see her again."

On impulse, I put my hand on his shoulder and kissed him softly. He did not seem surprised. He ran his fingers across the groove of my back, and whispered:

"I want to make love to you, Jolena."

We quickly hailed a taxi, and could scarcely contain our desire until we reached his apartment.

*******

Hours later, I woke up in his arms. I looked at the familiar, sleepy smile of the man I’ve known for over a year.

"So Despina’s awake." He cuddled me. "Oh my sweet baby."

"I’m just me now I’m afraid. No more Jolena for a while." I groped around for a t-shirt. "Shall we have a cup of tea?"