.»
* * * * *
At home his thoughts still ran to Vera, and, feeling melancholy, Jeff changed a few channels, found a New Year comedy program, and started to watch.
Soon, cheered up, he was laughing with jokes that a young black stand-up comedian was telling.
However, when the comic started mocking whites, for the first time in his life Jeff felt uncomfortable with it. As this guy took on white women as a subject, thinking about Vera, Jeff changed the channel.
He watched for a while, but his joyful mood was wrecked and he went to bed.
Racked with the pain of love and jealousy he could not sleep for a long time.
«Maybe she doesn’t like me because I’m black,» he thought.
«No.» He recalled her playful glances at him. Jeff saw her eyes brighten every time they met. «I’m sure she likes to see me.» He smiled, but another thought spoiled his gladness again.
«My foolish flirting only flatters her female feelings,» an irritated Jeff said to himself. Yet his love for her could justify any of her actions.
«She’s just a moral woman,» he whispered, suffering with the despair of the situation. «She has to think about the reputation of her family. I’m sure, if she were free…»
Jeff tried to force himself not to think about Vera, but he was unsuccessful. He closed his eyes, and her strange snow-white face stood in his mental view. He yearned to hug her, to feel her slender refined body. For only one kiss of her thin purple lips, he was ready to die.
«Vera,» he repeated, taking pleasure from that sound and tormented at the same time. «Vera…»
* * * * *
…They slowly made their way together along the edge of the summer forest. On the left side a plain stretched to the skyline. Hot yet tender sunshine washed over the young couple.
Jeff walked holding a primitive cotton bag. A bottle of water, a few oranges, and a loaf of bread were inside. It was all their food and neither knew when they would be able to get anything else, but it was no matter for them.
Somehow Jeff was not surprised seeing Vera wearing a strange dress. This indigo robe with a deep décolleté, fleecy and lacy, looked very elegant and expensive, but absolutely out of date.
They reached a barn, and sat on the porch. Jeff looked at Vera with an elated smile; she was his mistress, and she loved him, and they both knew and enjoyed it.
He took out an orange, peeled it, and broke it into segments. He held one out to Vera, and, closing her eyes, the woman took it with her lips, holding and sucking his fingers as well, and, overloaded with desire, they uttered a simultaneous quiet moan.