Date: Thu, 9 Oct 1997 08:55:05 MDT From: Robyn Meta Herrington Subject: SUB: CONTEST: Full of life Critique welcome, but email them to ME! rmherrin@acs.ucalgary.ca ------------------------------------------------------------- "Full of Life" "You've really got to meet Allison, Jimmy," Armon suggested as he sipped his tea and nibbled delicately on a cheese stick. "She s just the type of girl you're looking for -- intelligent, beautiful, down-to-earth..." "Come on, Armon," I groaned. "Why are you always trying to marry me off. Don't you think three blind dates in the past month are enough already?" He gulped down the rest of the cheese stick, then wiped his mouth and mumbled, "I m worried about you buddy. You always seem to be unhappy with the women you meet and you're always complaining about your terrible luck. Can't a friend just try to help you out and not get accused of being a matchmaker." "Well, what would you call it?" I said. "Hell, not a month goes by that you aren't trying to fix me up. And I'm not the only one, either. Seems like every one of your single friends is getting the same treatment from you." I laughed. "We're still trying to figure out how Jamie puts up with you and what seems like half the women in Miami." Armon shrugged. "Jamie and I have an understanding," he said. "No physical contact." It sounded like bullshit, but there's always been something different about their relationship. And, somehow, it's seemed to last 10 years so far. "That simple, huh? Gimme a break, already." "No, honest," he protested. "Jamie doesn't mind as long as they only remain friends. Why else do you think I'm always trying fix you losers up with them? The way I see it, I'm just screening them for you." He chuckled, then gave me a wry grin and put his hands up, palms out as if to offer a fig leaf. "But I'm not sampling the wares for you." "Yeah... yeah... a man with an answer to everything," I complained. "OK, tell me a little bit about this Allison." Armon grinned. "She's about 5'9 ," he said as he leaned back and clasped his hands together. "Long dark brown hair and eyes the same deep color. She's a total knockout." I nodded. Something about brunettes, I thought. I've always been a sucker for them and the mysterious aura they project. "Keep going," I said. "What does she do?" "She owns a bookstore." "Interesting. New or used books?" "Old rare books, I think, but I've never been in there so I'm not sure what kind." "So how do you know her?" Armon tilted his head back and forth a few times. "I met her at a coffee shop about two years ago, but I don't know her that well." "Not that well?" I pressed. "Well, how often do you talk to her?" "Not that often," Armon said. "She's really a sweet girl, though." I snorted. "If she's so sweet and as beautiful as you say, how 'come nobody's snatched her up yet? Are you sure she's not some psychopath or something?" "No, no, Jimmy. I'm not sure why she hasn't married yet. I do know she's real busy most of the year, traveling about to acquire rare books for her store. She's normally in town at least twice a year, though, in the fall and spring." "So let me get this straight, Armon," I interrupted, "you want to fix me up with a girl that's not around much and that you don't know too much about?" He chuckled. "Come on now, Jimmy. I bet if she met the right guy she'd want to settle down. From what I can figure out, no relationship has ever lasted too long." I nodded and smiled. "What do you know about the guys she's dated? Have you ever fixed her up with anyone else before?" "No. I've talked to her about it, though, and she's cool with this one." "You've told her about me?" I said, stunned. "A little." He had that mischievous glint in his eyes again. "Anyway, all the guys she's dated just seem to keep disappearing from her life after they go out with her a few times." "So you're trying to tell me she's well-traveled, too, then Armon. Is that it?" He laughed again. "Not in so many words, but, if you did go out with her I'd be willing to bet you'd get lucky. Heck, if you don't, you can always come back and kick my ass." "Well, that's a fair deal," I chuckled. "So when do I get to meet her?" Armon put his hand on my arm and gave it a squeeze. He had a very tight grip, but he stopped just short of actually hurting me. "My house. Saturday night," he said. "Jamie and I are having a Halloween costume party. You're invited. She's invited. I'll introduce you to her. She says she's looking forward to meeting you, too." "Great," I said. "See you then." "One more thing," Armon said. "She may seem the reserved, quiet-type, buddy, but she likes her guys strong and energetic. When I told her you were an active guy, always on the go, her eyes lit up." I rolled up my sleeve and flexed a muscle. "I don't think I'll have too many problems then." * * * * * It was half past ten when Allison suggested we leave the costume party and head over to her place for a Halloween nightcap. The proposition came from nowhere, but who was I to question opportunity? Armon certainly wasn't kidding when he described Allison as a knockout. She was even more beautiful than he made her out to be, and I was instantly smitten. She had come to the party dressed in a skin-tight flat black cat suit with a long, flowing velvet tail. She carried a masquerade ball mask that was attached to one of those long, thin handles that did little except replace a headband. Her hair was pulled back into a tight bun and her face was lightly powdered with rosy make-up that gave her a seductive look. She was truly a sight to behold and I thought it was love at first sight. Maybe I'd have to forgo Armon's ass-whupping. As for me, I was dressed like a Bluebeard. I even wore an old eyepatch that I'd fastened to my head with a bandanna and a stuffed animal parrot. I had thought about coming as a Ghostbuster but I decided lugging a leaf blower around on my back didn't seem like too much fun. Allison and I had spent the earlier evening engaged in intelligent conversation about a myriad of topics. Armon's tip about Allison having a good head on her shoulders couldn't have been more accurate -- she was smart as a whip. And, as it turned out, her bookstore catered to all sorts of rare wand out-of-print texts. Her primary interests were mysticism and religion. Armon was right about Allison's frequent trips. She said she spent much of her time looking for rare texts and left the daily operations of her business to a friend. She always made it a point, though, to be home during October and November, just as the seasons were changing. I thought that was interesting. To say Allison was charming was akin to calling Mozart a good musician, so when she suggested leaving to be alone I couldn't help but agree. I also understood that Armon wasn't kidding when he said there was good chance I'd get laid. When we arrived at her house, I noticed immediately that she took special care to hide its facade behind a mass of bushy shrubs and trees. "I enjoy the privacy," she explained as we entered. Inside, the rooms were mostly dimly lit but extremely well-furnished. There was no doubt she had good taste. Several majestic oak chairs surrounded a well-polished red mahogany table. A massive grandfather clock stood against the far wall. As she led me into the study, I was taken aback by its expansiveness. It appeared to be much larger inside than it looked from outside. Bookshelves lined nearly every wall, and those that weren't covered with books had grand old paintings of folks from Renaissance times. There was also another grandfather clock, identical to the one in the other room. Allison squeezed my hand then excused herself. "Look around if you'd like," she said. "I'll put on some tea and be right back." I nodded my approval and then she quickly disappeared from the room. The study, too, was dimly lit, but I noticed several tall lamps and candelabra around the room. I clicked on a lamp and began looking around. It reminded me of the type of room I'd seen on television as a little boy. The type of room an old gypsy or fortune teller would take you to read your future. It was a bit unnerving, but I chalked it up to the buzz of the evening. I approached a bookshelf that was filled with a myriad of old texts and began to read their titles off the spines. There were books on nearly every sort of religion in the world, both mainstream and fringe. They certainly fit her interests. But one particular book -- titled "The Power of Life Force" -- caught my attention and just as I reached for it Allison strolled back into the room. "The tea's on," she said seductively. "Do you mind if I change out of this?" I shook my head. "Please. Go ahead." She noticed me standing by the bookshelf and smiled. "There are some strange ones there," she said, then giggled. "You could get lost in those books if you let yourself." I looked back at the books and smiled. "I'm sure you could. How do you read all these?" She shrugged. "I've got a lot more time on my hands than I let on." Then she grinned and added, "I'll be right back." I watched her leave then pulled the intriguing book from its resting place. A man named Alfred Tshimanga penned it. I'd never heard of him and there was no description on the cover. I opened it to a random page and began to read. The passage I read discussed the transfer of life energy from one being to another. It described how, in cases where one of the beings lived off the life energy of others, a successful transfer could only be made if both parties were willing participants. A successful transfer, done annually, would provide the transferee with continued immortality. I shut the book and chuckled. It was strange stuff, indeed. A bit too strange for my tastes. The closest experience I had with the mumbo-jumbo was when I wrote a report on Haitian voodoo back in college. I put the book back on the shelf and moved over to a different bookcase. There I pulled a book on nature and opened it. It spoke of tapping into the Earth's energy field to use as a natural healing force. This was a bit more my style. I've often believed something like this must exist because every living thing that grows from the ground seems to have regenerative power. Just as I started getting into the book, Allison cleared her throat to announce her presence. Surprised, I looked up to find her scantily dressed in a see-through, thigh-high black satin dress that hugged her curves in all the right places. She held a small tray in her hands with a tea pot and two cups on it. She had a twinkle in her eye and she was smiling. I wondered how long it would be before our wedding. "Have a seat on the couch," she offered. I set the book back on the shelf and sat down. Allison poured two cups of tea, then chuckled lightly. "So, what do you think of my collection?" she asked. "Fascinating," I replied between sips. "Some of it's a little out of my league, but it's interesting nevertheless." She took a sip and nodded. "I find mysticism a very deep subject," she admitted. "If you have faith, the walls just seem to fall and you begin to understand things others find indecipherable." "Such as?" I pressed. "Attraction among beings, for instance. What is it that attracts the male of one species to the female, or vice versa?" I swallowed hard. "I don't know," I said. "I guess it depends on the situation." She laughed. "Really, Jimmy?" she said, a bit of sarcasm in her voice. "Take for instance two animals. In most species, the male, or the female, simply go through a ritual for mating. They emit a scent or make a sound or do something specific that attracts the other sex to them." "That's true," I said. "But what about humans? We don't do anything like that." Allison giggled. "Well, not exactly, but humans seem to attract each other differently. Take us for instance." The words took me by surprise. "What about us?" Allison smiled and ran her hand down the front of her dress, stopping when she reached her bare legs. She smiled. "Don't you find me attractive?" I nodded. "Of course I do." She nodded back, a grin on her face. "Now if you were an animal, you'd simply take me and mate with me, right?" she said. "What do you think about that?" "I guess so," I stuttered. "So what's stopping you," Allison said. "If you want to take me, you're more than welcome to." It was an invitation I felt obliged to accept. I set my tea cup down and leaned closer to kiss her lips. She met me halfway, and as we kissed I felt a slight tingle, as though energy had passed between us. It was the most powerful kiss I'd ever felt in my life. We kissed for several moment until I noticed I felt weaker somehow, then pulled back and stared at her. "What's the matter?" she asked. "Didn't you like that?" "It felt wonderful," I said. "Almost electric." Allison giggled. "You know what they say about electricity between lovers," she said. "It's the surest way to tell if you're compatible. You know, the mythical rockets exploding when you kiss." I laughed. "Yeah, I remember that from the movies." She leaned closer. "So, would you like to set off some real fireworks?" I nodded and kissed her again. Again, it tingled. She reached for my shirt and helped me take it off. I did the same with her dress. Soon, it was a mad tangle of clothes, arms, legs and lips, and the electric tingle intensified to an almost orgasmic level. I ran my right hand down between her legs and helped her remove her panties. She shuddered as our flesh met. When I touched her, I felt a slight shock. It was stronger than the tingle from the kiss, but it still wasn't an uncomfortable feeling. In fact, it stirred powerful feelings inside me. "That feels wonderful," Allison mumbled, then she swung her legs onto my lap and pulled my face to hers. We kissed passionately again. She moaned in pleasure as I moved downward, kissing her neck. As I looked up to appreciate her response I noticed she had almost a soft, pale glow to her in the dim light. I lifted her legs off me and nuzzled between them. She kept her hands on the back of my head, pressing me tightly against her flesh. She moaned softly as I kissed her breasts and then moved my tongue lower. Suddenly, I began to feel much weaker than I had only moments before. The electricity seemed almost draining, and it caused me to stop and pull away. Allison ceased moaning and gazed up at me. I thought I saw fear in her eyes. "Why are you stopping?" she asked. I looked at my hands. "I feel funny." She crinkled her eyebrows. "Don't you want me?" she asked. "Absolutely," I said. "I just felt weak all of sudden." She smiled. "Don't worry about that," she said. "Just give yourself to me completely, and don't stop. You won't regret it." I sat up. "What do you mean give myself to you completely?" The phrase sounded vaguely familiar. "We must become one," she said, then lovingly stroked my hand. "We have to join our energies together." That's when it hit me. Energy. Life energy. The book I'd seen on the shelf. Allison was trying to drain my life energy from me and transfer it to her. It was quite a stretch, but the shock I felt, the draining feeling, Allison's fascination with mysticism. It all seemed too bizarre not to be true. Quickly, I reached for my clothing. "You can't do this," Allison protested. "We can't stop now. We're almost there. If you stop now it'll be too late." "Too late?" As I scrambled for my clothing I peered up at the clock. It was ten minutes until midnight. Allison stood from the couch and made a move toward me. She had that slight glow to her, though it appeared to be waning. "Come back over here," she pleaded. "Don't you want to make love to me?" "What's going on?" I demanded. "Why do I feel weaker every time I kiss you or we touch." "That's nothing," she said. "It's just a sign that we're connecting." "You're trying to drain my life energy," I protested. Allison shook her head. "No. I just want to share it with you. I only need enough to survive." Survive? This was way too weird for me. I hurriedly pulled my clothes on and fended off Allison's physical advances. Oddly, when she touched me this time there was no tingle at all. The book, I thought. It said I had to give my energy willingly. I shoved Allison out of the way and ran from the study toward the front door. She shrieked and followed, still naked, still beautiful. The pale glow which had bathed her body had subsided, and in its place was a hazy dark ominous aura, which covered her from head to toe. "Please," she begged. "It won't hurt. You'll feel nothing but pleasure. You'll be a part of me forever. Just don't let me die like this." I turned the knob on the door and stepped outside. "Sorry," I said. "I don't want to be a part of anyone but myself." Her grandfather clock suddenly announced midnight's arrival, and Allison screamed again. It was a gut-wrenching howl. Without hesitation I yanked the door closed behind me and ran as fast as I could down the street. Allison's howl filled the night air. I was still breathing heavy and drenched with sweat when I arrived back at Armon s house. I found him alone in his kitchen, sucking down a beer. "Hey, hey," he said. "So where's Allison? Didn't you two hit it off, OK?" I grinned and slugged him in the mouth. "You son-of-a-bitch!" I yelled. "Don't you ever fix me up on a blind date again. This one almost killed me." Armon put his hand to his jaw and cried, "What's the matter? Didn't you get lucky? Just like I told you?" I turned and walked out of the room. "Yeah, I did," I yelled over my shoulder. "Lucky to be alive." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -- ---------------------------------*=*=*=*=*=*-------------------------------- Robyn Herrington,Editor rmherrin@acs.ucalgary.ca InfoServe www.ucalgary.ca/~rmherrin New Currents in Teaching and Technology Communications Media MacKimmie Library University of Calgary Ph: 220-3716 (temporary) == Inter tormentia latitia == ---------------------------------*=*=*=*=*=*--------------------------------