LAST CUBA LIBRE

LEO

I surf the Net looking for porno films and I visit a site called enema.com where busty girls are busy giving each other enemas. What worries me is that it excites me. Last night I was too tired to beat off, but today I am feeling randy and I down load some porno films lingering over a film in the Midget category, where a pretty blonde is taking it up the arse from a dwarf, and another film in the Fetish category, taken from the film Transparent Dreams 3, where a bird is masturbating wearing an integral plastic suit with only holes for her eyes, nose and her pussy. In the end I manage to procure myself a decent orgasm with a film in the Bondage category in which there is a woman bound and gagged wriggling about the floor of an empty room. She's a brunette and she's got big boobs. She's wearing grey tights and high heeled shoes with an ankle strap. She's tied hands and feet and her dress rises up her thighs as she moves. She really seems to be desperate and the film is an amateur video, and this makes it even more realistic.

I clean the floor with a tissue, go into the bathroom and flush the toilet, then I call Jessica.

"What did you do yesterday evening? I ask her.

"Nothing special," she says. "A quiet evening at a friend's house."

"Did you have fun?"

"Of course."

"What did you do?"

"We just chatted,"

"What about?"

"Oh, lots of things."

There is a pause. Then I ask, "Shall we meet this evening?"

"If you want."

"I wouldn't have asked otherwise."

"There's Closer on at the cinema, if you're interested."

"Who's in it?"

"Jude Law and Julia Roberts."

"Why not."

"What are you doing?" asks Jessica.

"I'm studying," I say. "Roman law."

"Pigs should fly!"

I hang up, dress and leave the house. December is near and there is a chill wind and I enter the chemist's and I buy condoms – stimulating, bright pink – a bottle of Mentadent mouthwash and a tube of Vaseline. I leave the shop and hear the bells of the basilica of San Prospero, patron saint of the city. I decide to pop into my old church. The priest is new. I light a candle. When I leave it's dark.

I meet Claudio in front of the Café Europa for an aperitif.

"Where have you been?" he asks me.

"In church."

"Brilliant," he says, then after a pause. "Do you believe in God, Leo?"

"I don't know," I say. "I've never thought about it.

Claudio orders two glasses of Greco di Tufo. I insist on paying my share, but he says, "I'm offended."

"Have you seen the newspaper today?" he asks.

I shake my head. Claudio takes the newspaper from the shelf near the bar. He unfolds it and says, "Read this."

He points to an article on the front page.

Here are the results of the drug raid carried out by the police of Reggio Emilia and Modena last night in the club Labyrinth, managed by Dimitri Ivanovich: 24 arrests, 32 indictments, 342 persons reported to the Police Headquarters for use of drugs. The following drugs were also seized: 234 grams of cocaine, 635 grams of hashish and no less than 853 grams of ecstasy in the form of pills, not to mention the hallucinatory drugs. Five more youths were arrested for possession and dealing in drugs in the immediate neighbourhood of the club.

Due to the panic caused by the 'raid' organised by the police, there were a number of incidents, worsened by the inadequate safety measures and overcrowding in the club. A young man of 26 years, who has not yet been identified, was trampled by the crowd who panicked when the police entered the club unexpectedly. The youth was taken to Santa Maria Nuova hospital in Reggio Emilia by ambulance...

"They'll close it down this time." I comment.

"Yeah."

"Pity about that guy. Did you read it?"

"Sure, I read it."

"Rotten break."

"Yeah."

"Any plans for New Year?" I ask him folding the newspaper.

"Cortina, I think. "Although I wouldn't mind a change, now and then. To go somewhere hot, for example."

"Why don't you?"

"Well, I know I'll end up in Cortina again."

"What are you moaning about...?"

Claudio sips at his wine.

"Your father has a house there, right?" I ask him.

"Sure."

"Is he coming too?"

"God, I hope not," he says. "And what are you doing? Are you going anywhere?"

"I don't know, old man." I answer. "I'll decide at the last minute as usual."