continued from the previous entry:
One summer, my uncle Prince Bianne left for military service and his wife decided to live with us to relieve her solitude. She brought her daughter, Liese, a very quiet girl of 16 who liked to wear white ribbons in her hair. It soon became apparent that my aunt did not come to get away from loneliness since her media job sent her through all the parties of the season. She wanted us to keep an eye on her daughter.
Liese kept to herself. She liked to read the old, moldy books of my grandfather’s library in the moon room. When there was company, she would lock herself in the bathroom. And then, when no one was paying attention to her, she would disappear. I remember my mother going lunatic looking for her in the rambling neighborhood alleys. Liese always showed up in her chamber the next morning as if nothing had happened.
I only recall her speaking to me once. It happened like this. My mother invited some people for dinner one night and I played with one of the guest’s boy who was about my age. We were chasing each other in the small vineyard of the garden. I was faster than he was, and in a desperate attempt to get away, he tripped into a tea bush. Looking at me hatefully, he accused me of having no father.
All of a sudden, I picked up a trowel and started beating his head with the handle. Then I tried to scoop the blade into his eye socket. Fortunately, my mother grabbed me away. However, I had managed to cut him rather seriously and an ambulance was sent for.
My uncle beat me savagely before throwing me into the garden to spend the night. I tried to sleep on the table of the small pavilion overlooking the artificial pond. However, the mosquitoes were relentless and the pain kept me up. After what felt like an eternity, I realized someone was watching me from the shadows. It was Liese, who had slipped away earlier that day. Noticing that I was awake, she came over and sat next to me. Then she pressed her mouth to my ear and whispered, “Never love a girl more than she loves you.” Why do I still remember that?
I did not find out where she disappeared to those days until much later. But that's another story.
 germanicus2 · Wed Jan 02, 2008 @ 06:05am · 1 Comments |
