Bona Fide Image IV

-"If it's meant to be, it will happen. Trust me darling, you are free to seek your true mate." Clare attempted to console Phillip.

-"I've decided to take a brake from it all mother. I am taking a year's hiatus from dating and school. I am leaving as soon as my semester is over." Phillip announced to Clare.

-"Where are you going Phillip?"

-"I am going to the Amazon jungle, and to various countries of South America."

-"So far? And isn't it dangerous Phillip?" Clare asked with alarm registered in her eyes.

-"As you've recently mentioned mother, 'If it is meant to be, it will happen.' Everyday when I awake, I trust in the good Lord that it will be a good day. So, don't fret. I feel that I really need this experience, and besides some of my friends will join me later on to visit the carnival in Rio, and Antarctica region. Relax mother; I am a man now, and I need to see the wonders of the world for myself."




After a month's travel, Phillip's appearance was almost unrecognizable from the well-groomed, and studious young man he personified. His hair was long, and he had stopped shaving. He only trimmed his beard when it became so overgrown as to become a nuisance.
His milky-white skin was now tanned to a deep golden hue, like burnished 18 karat gold when the beads of perspiration reflected a light sheen upon his form.
The golden gleam of his skin, deeply contrasted with his blue eyes, as if one had found two aquamarine jewels strewn carelessly on the surface of the hot desert sand, by mere chance.

The amazon jungle was alive and vibrant with lush flora, and exotic species, grotesque, yet, so very beautiful for their uniqueness and rarity. It was a splendorous, orchestrated production. The cascading waterfalls, exotic birds, and mischievous monkeys, created a tumulous chorus, as each sang above the other, in the effort to be supreme.

The heat was perpetually humid, as if one were sprayed by a fine midst continuously which caused the clothing to attached itself to the body as a second skin.

Phillip felt more alive and closer to his primal nature. The regulations and protocols he's always adhered to, were irrelevant in this naked and raw patch of land which had been spared from the crass, and tasteless commercialism.
It was as close to the beginning of time, as could ever be. Where the fittest were predators, yet everyone lived in relative harmony, and complete freedom - until the next day.

Life was certainly not to be taken for granted by the creatures who roamed about freely. Perhaps, they did not fully understand the depth of their plight, yet, did it truly matter, when they lived everyday to its fullest potential? They lived for the moment, no past, nor future mattered, just the simple delight of the sun's caress, and the thankful joy to fill the belly for the day.

The locals were friendly, and full of joie de vivre. Life was simple and uncomplicated. Survival and tending to the basic necessities became imperative. The rest, was not given the escalated import of the industrialized places.

Phillip enjoyed the straw hut where he was staying for a while. It was built above ground, and closeted by fine woven nets to keep the mosquitoes, and giant bullet ants out.

Linda, the owner's daughter always managed to disperse a sweet smile to everyone, even as she hurried with a noticeable limp to cook, and serve the buffet.

Linda was barely twenty, and her skin glistened with the burnish of a mahogany table. Her eyes were as deep and dark as the night, yet seemed so wise and kind. Her frequent smile was serene, yet, radiated a light from within. One did not notice her slight limp, when one focused on her beautiful and serene face.

She had learned English in school, as it was needed in the hospitality industry. She was also able to communicate in basic french, fluent Spanish, and the local dialects. Over the weeks, Phillip and Linda had become fast friends, as there was little to do at night, except to listen to the noise of crescendoing chorus of the crickets.

Phillip joined the other guests for breakfast, and dinner, at the resorts buffet. On one such night, Linda had promised to take Phillip to an exercusion that was not traveled by the tour guides. It was the garden of Eden she had called it.



To be continued...