The Dancing Torera

20

"I'll see you Saturday night." Esteban bragged. I stared at the ground but nodded. Saturday would be the day I told my Abuela about Esteban and I.

Nerves began to fill my core as I thought of the wretched day.

"Aye! No sad faces" he cursed, pulling me in for a kiss.

"I am so scared to tell her!" I groaned.

"Don't be mi amour. Whatever happens, happens and remember we have each other." he whispered against my lips. I smiled as he placed a warm hand on my cheek.

"Come inside. My Abuela always goes to her knitting club at the city center." He nodded and helped me carry my things inside, throwing the pile of bags into my bed.

We both fall to the mattress and kiss each other, holding each other in love as we fantasize about our future.

"So when do my training sessions begin?" I asked, reminding him of his promise. I still had my goal to be the first-ever torrera in Espana.

"Hmmm. Let's start after the banquet. Sunday mornings we get off so I'll train you then." he promises and looks down to peak at his watch, "Speaking of training, I have to go. My session is at 5." he sighed.

I looked to the the clock and see the time was already 4:50pm. He would never make it in time but he was el Jefe. They would wait. They always did.

"Okay...My abuela will be home soon anyway". I pouted. I didn't want him to leave.

"I'll see you Saturday okay?" he promised lifting my chin to his. He kisses me one last time before he stepped out of my room to leave.

——

"Abuela? Abuelita are you home?" I called as I climbed down the iron stairs. I had just awoken from a nap, well...more than a nap. It was half-past 10 and my stomach was ravenous! I guess I must have been really tired from my ...adventuresome day with Esteban.

I needed to creep downstairs to get a snack from the cooler before I died of hunger. Dried fruits and sliced bread were my only options. I sleepily turned to return to my room but jumped as I saw my Abuela sitting in the shadows of the couch.

"Abuelita! You scared me" I laughed nervously, "I didn't hear you come in. I must have fell asleep before you came. What are you doing down here so late?" I smiled innocently. She only sighed and threw a newspaper onto the floor. The thick paper slid across the marble tiling until it landed at my feet. My face was on the front page of the tabloid.

She threw yet another magazine and paper with our picture plastered all over. We were exiting the shop we had just come from this morning.

"You said you gave up newspapers.... because it was a sin to be so involved in worldly affairs." I chimed. She waited for an explanation but I couldn't say a thing. She stood behind the couch and flung my red flamenco gown to my chest.

"Abuela...I have not been truthful to you." I start. "I have not been going to church. I have been... training with Esteban.... and attending his shows."

"Esteban la Renta? Famed man whore?
Sinner?
El Jefe? Surely not him Anais!" she yelled.

"He is not a sinner or a man whore...I love him abuelita"

"Love!? Love?!!!" she stood, turning her head to stare at me in denial, "You don't know what love is! LUST! LUST is what you feel."

"No...he loves me too" I rejected her claims.

"You are like Judas! You live a double life!" she yelled.

"Abuelita...I was going to tell you. Esteban encouraged me to tell you on Saturday"