Steve Katz - Kissssss - A Miscellany

It was a high. What kind of high? A contact high between himself and Yerml. It's a holding-hands-on-the-bus high. Like a high-school-crush high. A getting-home-before-the-kids high, jumping-into-bed high, sucking-and-licking high. A no-one-so-beautiful-no-one-so-sexy-as-you high, a no-one-so-hot-and-willing-as-you high. And it was a food high, for Sitund a cooking high. A run-to-the-store-for-the-raspberry-vinegar high. A French Purple Garlic high, none-other-will-do high. If he had it to do over again, he would work in that profession, making tasty stuff in his own kitchen; rather than what he did — working in product development for the manufacturers of plastic fasteners and films. Everything that was happening to him now, all this renewal of passion for Yerml, revisiting the elevations of their lust, feeling their subtle hearts open to each other again, holding each other every possible minute, sighing into each other, all this made him want to cook the greatest meal of all time. He wanted his whole family to be there, though Dojie these days was somewhat hopeless, seemed never to eat anything any more, had an attitude you couldn't split with a stagnir maul. But Eukan was a different story. He and Yerml had such a passion for their son, feelings rich and deep. Their only son. He was so almost perfect. They owed him the best that life had to offer, and would give everything to help him grow in spirit, and fulfill his emotional and material potentials. Even if they would have to form something new of him, something great. Unlike his sister, he would not be a problem. Eukan would be happy to participate in a big way in this celebration. Eukan would be part of the feast.

Sitund had obtained months ago a special fat yonoletenus goose, and he had been nurturing and feeding it, a living goose. The prospect of a mouthful of the sweet, nutty texture of Yonoletenus breast made his mouth water. This was a rare treat at the table, because there were so few of these birds available at any time. They were difficult to raise, since they needed to graze on wooly milfrion grass. Each setting goose hatched only three or four goslings, and the gander or the goose herself quickly ate them as they pecked out of the shell. This was difficult to prevent because the goose would not sit on the eggs if there were the slightest hint of human meddling. You had to hope that the parents' hunger had abated by the second gosling or so, and then you could rush in and rescue one that was left. For this reason they were expensive, but it was worth it. Nothing could beat the fragrance and savoriness of yonoletenus meat, when it was cooked slowly in a glaze of cactus pear. That meant roasting it when lacopani berries were deep pink and ripe. Sitund fed these berries to the big gentle bird for three weeks before slaughter, ’til he could feel the bird full of juice. After hanging the carcass for thirty-six hours to let the meat change, he blew under the skin with a straw to separate skin from flesh, so the fat would drain and the skin crisp on roasting. He liked to stuff it with treepflak and roast it on a bed of its own feathers, which gave it a light pungency. For a sauce he prepared a purée of arazazipp beans that have been floated for several days in lacopani brandy. He would steam some vegetables, and make a nice dessert of frozen lamar-spleam. It was for Yerml Perset that he did this, because cooking for someone was always a sign of love, but also for Dojie, and especially for Eukan, their son.

“What a beautiful town we live in,” he thought, as he gazed out his office window. “And the Shoe Riser, such a mysterious and beautiful monument to everyone. And what a great family I have. My heart is so full.”

“Don't think you've looked at these yet,” said his secretary, Lohly Uhrent, as she stepped into the office and placed some papers on his desk. She paused to smile at him. He didn't seem to notice. Over the last few weeks, his smile wasn't what it had once been for her. This was frustrating. They had lingered, until a month or so ago, on the cusp of an affair. She hadn't pushed it because this was strange for her, counter to her convictions. She had left her last job to escape the sexual advances of her boss. She would have battled it then, but she didn't like the job anyway, so she just quit. Though she had once vowed never to have an affair with a boss, nor with a married man, she found Sitund to be nice, gentle, self-effacing, a man with some power. She couldn't fool herself, she was attracted to him; so she decided to forego her convictions just this once. He was attracted to her as well, and that was why she let herself be so forward. “I think you should look this over,” she said, leaning over his desk to expose her cleavage.

“Okay,” he said, back still to her. He took some binoculars from a drawer and peered through them out the window, then waved at something out there in the distance.

She had found it to be fun. The anticipation of this flirtation got her out of the apartment and down to work happily on these mornings. Usually he enjoyed it as well. What could be preoccupying him now that was more important? She started to toy with him, just as a little test. “I've brought some talc, scented with hyacinth,” she said, and then decided to become bolder, just to see if he was listening. “I'd be glad to powder your baubles.”

“Good,” his back still to her.

“And I brought a little petal-sneaker for your peezel.”

“Okay. Okay,” he waved his arm, back still towards her. “Leave them on the table.”

She lifted her skirt, provocatively. “Shall I get undressed now?”

“Sure, yes, then just leave it on the desk, and I'll grab it when I go out.”

“And if I come around there to kiss the little tickle-tail?”

“Don't worry about it.”

He hadn't turned to look at her once. She could say anything, and he wouldn't get it. He raised the binoculars again, to look where? At that stupid Heap? Lohly dropped her hems. This was exasperating. She knew from talking to the woman she'd replaced that he'd had affairs with other women in the department, but unlike your average corporate sexual predator, who tried to take advantage of his clout, he was known to be shy, reluctant, though once the gates were opened, he was passionate and kind. That's how he was recommended. That was why she found him desirable. Lust in the office relaxed her more than a coffee break. So what was different about herself now, to make him ignore her? Something she was wearing? Her braces were invisible. She had recently broken up a long-term relationship that had stifled her, and although her mind frequently told her not to do this, her body would not let her quit. This still seemed like a decent alternative to just nothing — a light involvement with an attractive male, who was in no position to make demands on her. Except he was her boss, and that could turn into complications; but, so what? He wasn't the type to take advantage. He knew she could prosecute and win, if she had that inclination. It was a light dalliance. She was on her way out of this kind of work anyway. She studied fashion design at night. Lohly needed to nourish her artistic inclinations, to get out of this secretarial drudgery. She didn't want to be a boss, but she didn't want to be bossed any more, either. A little dalliance now was very attractive. Lust lite, with a married executive. There were worse things.

“You know, I think I finally understand it,” he said, turning towards her at last.

“What do you understand, sir?” The sir she pronounced with an irony close to bitterness.

“My emotionality recently, so strong. Like why I'm so moved when I look at the Heap there. It's because it looks like a hat. Doesn't that sound stupid? It's made totally of shoes, but it looks like a hat. It suggests everything human by that. Between the hat and the shoes is the human being. Every human being lives between hat and shoe. That's what makes it so moving.”