My Treasure

LOVE BUG

 

I'm bitten, I'm smitten. It happened so suddenly that I am fogged in, bewildered, feeling, doing new things. What happened is I met Stan, Stan Polakaris while waiting for the 12th Ave. bus. It came  screeching to a halt right in front of me, splattering dirty gutter water on my white skirt, just out of the cleaner's yesterday. My purse fell on the pavement and popped open. The little make-up I use slithered around. Fortunately my wallet was solid enough to stay put. Of course I was upset, started to gather my belongings while passengers ignored my plight and walked around me. That is, all except one cute young man. Well, cute isn't exactly the right word.–yet handsome seems to denote to me a much older man.

 

Composing myself, getting the bus driver's name and bus number, I found one empty seat right near the center exit door. The unnamed passenger beside me was an unknown. When I thanked him for his help, he introduced himself in a soft pleasant manner. 'Glad I could help,' he said. Taking his right hand out of his pocket, he offered it to me. 'I'm Stan'. 'Just plain Stan?' I asked. Then he gave me his last name and I made him spell it. 'P O L A K A R I S.' That required a whistle from me but I didn't have my lanyard with me. To do more than thank him, I told him my name. ' Stan, mine is easy, Sharon Rose.' 'Wait, he says, 'Polakaris should have been enough for my family but no, roaring with laughter he admits the rest. 'My first name is in memory of my Dad's brother who was killed in WW!! I became 'Stanislauski Polakaris.' I cut itto Stan as soon as I got in kindergarten. Can you imagine the nerve, the guts my parents had to do that to their first born? I swear I will never forgive them.' Again he laughed.

 

'Sharon, I have an uncle who has a tailoring/dry cleaning shop only a few blocks from here. May I go home with you so you can let me have your soiled skirt and I will bring it back to you tomorrow afternoon. My Uncle Pureus will do it for you right away as a favor to me, his favorite Polakaris.' 'Stan, thanks but that isn't necessary at all.' He reminds me of a little puppy when he speaks. His eyes are dark, deep blue surrounded by golden yellow circles. I have never seen such eyes. They shine, send a shower of sparks to mine. I know something is happening at least to me and give in. 'I'm only three blocks from the bus stop, Stan. Come meet my family.' We sit together, separated only by my purse on the seat. I don't even feel the purse. But sense his warmth and kindness, know he isn't going to rape me, murder me. Something lands on my shoulder, something I can feel but not see. Brushing it off doesn't work.

 

I must seem off my rocker to Stan and he asks what am I doing. 'I feel something on my shoulder that I can't brush off. Do you see anything?'
Stan carefully looks at both shoulders, sees nor feels anything. 'Maybe you scraped yourself when you got on the bus.' I clasp my hands tightly together rather than continue looking like an idiot brushing nothing off. Then a tingle begins to run up my arm. I think perhaps I am having a heart attack. 'Sharon, are you sure you're OK. Your face is getting pinkish.' As I turn to look at Stan and answer, something small bites my neck. My stop is in sight so I don't even mention what just happened. 'Let's go, Stan. Next stop.' Am I walking or flying to my house? I feel like I am floating on colorful bubbles.

 

My mom's in the kitchen. Before I can say a word, Mom looks at me and asks what happened to my skirt. Have to explain fast as she realizes I am not alone. 'So who is the nice young fella you have with you?' Mom, don't ask. Just call him Stan.' They shake and Stan gives her his entire name. 'Oy, gevalt, what kind of crazy name is that?' she asks.  'Greek, Mrs. Rose,' he replies. 'So what's with the filthy skirt, Sharon.' I tell her and she tsk tsks, asks if I got the bus number and driver and I can see how pleased she is when I give her the information.

 

No bones about my mother. 'So tell me, Sam. What do you do for a living?' He winks his gorgeous eyes at me and replies to my mother's impolite question. 'I sponge off my folks, Mrs. Sharon.' She gulps and says another, 'Oy, veh, gevalt.' Stan explains he is graduating law school in fall, expects honors and has already been approached by two well known law firms. Mom settles down, offers us both a cup of Oolong tea with home made schneken. 'Go take off your dirty skirt, Sharon. I'll take it to the cleaner for you tomorrow.' 'Mom, Stan is taking it to his uncle's place for me and says his Uncle Leo will clean it ad a favor.'

 

My mother already likes Stan, and I love him. I go upstairs to change my skirt, which calls for me to put on a fresh blouse too. The soiled skirt I fold carefully and put in a plastic bag. As I button my blouse, I notice a red spot on my neck, sit down at my dressing table where my large magnifying mirror is and study the red mark. It amazes me. I look again and again, feel a slight bump and recognize what it.

 

I swear it is a flattened Lady Bug, the bug of love. Tiny red and black dots are on the tiny wings.  I kiss my fingers, touch the mark and take my soiled blouse down to Stan.