-“You know what is one of my favorite all time things?” Ben offered.
-“What is?” Danny politely asked.
-“Gathering with a spoon the cream off the top of steaming hot milk. I like it best with a spoonful of sugar, and a dash of cinnamon sprinkled on top.
My fondest memories are from we were kids, and we visited my aunt’s farm. It was just an hour’s drive from the city. The sky seemed clearer, and the deep color hues sharply contrasted with the fluffy clouds.
When I was a young lad, I was intimidated by the sheer size and palpable strength of the horses, but I rode one when I was seven years old.” Ben said this with a faraway look, as if for the moment, he was instantly transported there again.
-“I love milk chocolate. On milk, cake, or even melted on my fingers. I’d lick them clean. I also like to play with marbles and dice. I am kinda lucky at chance.” Danny’s smile was rueful, and this smile made his features handsome, and seemingly boyish.
-“Of course those random, fond memories which are imprinted in the psyche, and can still induce pleasure only by recall, change and become more sophisticated as one grows up. As a teen, I’d say my favorite memories are of my first cigarette, and my first kiss on the lips. Mother’s kisses don’t count.” Danny said.
-“I am a gentleman, and will refrain from talking about the woman who made me a man. I will only say that she was a bit older than me.
Even before then, I was always fascinated with the female anatomy. By the winding curves and valleys, where the hand seems perfectly designed to rest there, and hold on to. Also the elongated slope of a well shaped calf, or the daintiness of a wrist, or a pair of petite feet.
I don’t find pendulous breasts as attractive as perfectly shaped, tear drop breasts. That is why I took up sketching, and that led me to develop my superior skill as a sculptor, and painter.” Ben said.
-“My artistic talents are solely relegated to playing the piano. My grandfather wanted to listen to me play frequently. As to my predilections in women, I am drawn to a pretty face, adorned with intelligence. It’s in the eyes, you can tell a lot by looking into a woman’s eyes. From their moodiness when it’s close to that time of the month - when it’s best to steer clear - to their playful nature, mischief making, or gauging intelligence reflected in their eyes. Those eyes usually sparkle, and are seldom dull.
But…who knows….who knows how life’s struggles may affect that sparkle in the eyes, or dull the radiant beauty with the passage of time….
After a length of time, where the men became pensive and introspective for a while, lost in the snared memories from the past, they resumed their chat.
-”You know, I really do believe that one can order the subconscious to alter one’s mood, and psych ourselves into feeling better. For instance, I like to go into a deep meditate trance, and actually go back to a specific time and place and relieve every minute detail. Down to the weather, to the date and time, and recall with exactitude what I wore that day. Who was gathered in that event, what they wore, said, and what we ate.
I will consciously relieve the scents and flavors. And I find that if I recall pineapples for instance, I feel my mouth watering instantly. Sometimes, if I put enough effort, it’s amazing how in my dreams I will actually still play that part. Just last night, I had the sweetest dream. It involved a girl I had a crush on. We were lying side by side, and I distinctly felt a sweet kiss on my lips. It was just a peck on the lips, but the emotion and excitement I felt was genuine – while I was asleep!
When I awoke this morning, I did not feel the chill of the morning. I felt blessed to have relieved that kiss, it was magical. I carried that feeling of longing and wonder, throughout the day.” Ben said.
-“Okay, let’s play that game. We still have twenty minutes before the lecture begins. I want to imagine that I am sunning on the shore of azure waters. The sun is unrelenting, and I am obfuscated by the oppressive heat. Rivulets of perspiration run down my torso, elegantly sliding over the oily expanse of my suntanned, muscled body. I lifted weights for several years you know. In the summer, I wore short sleeves to better showcase my bulging biceps.” Danny boasted.
Laughing lightly, Ben urged him to continue. -“Then what happened?”
-“Then to continue with my strict bodybuilding regimen, I asked two petite ladies to each sit on either arm, and I picked them up as if they were paper weights, as they squealed with delight.
I managed to grab hold of their shapely limbs for balance of course.” Danny said with a wink of an eye.
-“By petite, did you mean, two five-year-olds?” Ben asked with a mischievous smile.
-“No! They were two pretty girls about seventeen. You’re just jealous because you did not develop your biceps like me. Afterwards, I invited both to an ice cream soda at the local ice cream parlor. They were both pretty cute, and in awe of my sheer masculinity.” Danny boasted even more.
-“Thanks for the laugh, and for the fond memories of your summertime. By the way, who is the lecturer tonight?”
-“It’s the doctor. His lecture is on the symptoms of prostate cancer.” Danny informed.
-“Fun subject.”
To be continued…
Painting by Salvador Dali
