4. Moving Out
The last day of high school is upon us. Emotions are riding high and tears are the currency of the day. People are signing each other’s shirts with non-erasable markers. Elizabeth is standing next to Lucas laughing at some joke. He is a completely new person. His hair is different, his jeans are tight, his glasses replaced by contacts and now he talks and walks with a playboy swagger. Elizabeth told me, called me, trapped me in corridors, begged and cried to please, please talk to her. I never told her.
I’m with Barry and his motley crew. I’m glad this is over, I won’t miss these clowns. My parents are moving back to Caracas. I will be back in the metropolis, in the big city. I will be going to Universidad Simón Bolivar, the best technical school in the country to become an Electronic Engineer and meet real women. I haven’t told anyone I’m leaving today.
“So Julio, you’re leaving us next week?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I hope you don’t make the whores cry over there.”
The joke has had a shelf life of exactly four months and three days now. It’s now vox populi that I’m not only a virgin, but that I scare away prostitutes.
“Look man, I just wanted to talk to her before we got to the sex.”
“Talk? Shit, Julio, I hear Candy left the business for good! What in heaven’s name did you tell that bitch?”
I can’t think of anything good or funny to say. I walk away toward the main building. It’s completely empty, with just the faraway screaming of the students in the court. I reach the stairs for the second floor and sit down on the steps. I think about leaving right now but I still need to get the final notes from the principal’s office. I stand up to walk over there when I see Miss Mariela walking towards me.
“Hi Julio!”
“How are you, Miss Mariela?”
“I have told you to stop calling me that. Just Mariela, please.”
“Sorry.”
Miss Mariela is dark skinned, tall, with long black hair and a teacher’s uniform a little too revealing. She teaches the kids on third grade and was very forward about her attraction to me more than once. I always had fantasies with her, but never really had the courage to make any of them a reality.
“You never called me for coffee. What happened?”
I stare at her chest for way too long. “I have been busy with finals and all.”
“I hear you’re leaving to to the big city.”
“Yes, next week.” Even to her I’m lying.
Miss Mariela takes my hand and lowers her voice. “Look, I really want to get together before you leave. We had great conversations on the class breaks. You’re so more mature than other boys; much more interesting. I feel like I can really talk to you.” She pauses for a moment, staring at me. “To be honest, I’m a little heartbroken about you leaving.”
I smile and fixate on her bright white teeth and her thick lips. She is about thirty-five, but her expressions are from a much younger woman.
“Maybe we can get together after class for a small farewell lunch at my apartment? I can make you some of my world-famous tamales?”
“Y – Yes, perfect!”
“Great! I’ll see you in the front around one-thirty then. I need to finish my little monster’s grades. My apartment is four blocks from here, so we can walk and talk on the way.”
“One-thirty,” I repeat like a zombie.
Miss Mariela releases my hand and walks away. I watch her whole figure become a silhouette against the noon sun coming in through the tall windows. I am lost in her perfume and the echoing sound of her voice.
Of course I’m not going to be able to go. I don’t have enough time to go to Miss Mariela’s and finish the packing of my room, which my mother has been reminding me about for the last three weeks. I don’t know if I would have the courage either.
I rush to a payphone and call home. I try to confirm with my mother what time I should really,
really be there. Mom says the movers are taking a little more time than expected.
“Oh, good, because me and Barry and the guys are going over to Fresas Mérida for a burger.”
“Julio, did you finish packing?”
I close my eyes, trying to get some good excuse together.
“No, Mom. I still have some clothes and the shoes.”
“Honey, you’ve had weeks to pack. We’re paying these movers by the hour and – hey! Be careful with that table!”
Her voice is muffled for a moment while she shouts orders to the men.
“Julio, I have to go. I’ll pick you up at one,” and hangs up.
I hang up the receiver. This is my last chance. I could go to College, finally feeling secure about myself. I’ll call my Mom again, and explain to her that this is matter of life and death. Or maybe I’ll just hide from her when she comes to pick me up and escape with Miss Mariela and live with Miss Mariela a happy, college-less, sex-ridden period of my life.
I really need to fuck that teacher.
