Tales of the Tropical Gypsy

CHAPTER ONE

He sat looking out window of the small cafe' sipping strong coffee with trembling hands, the result of a three day binge involving his favorite, Don Julio Tequila. "Gotta quit this shit", he thought. He knew too well it was only a thought, his demeanor logically knew better.

Another day, another struggle, not with a bottle, but with the ordeals he'd endured for months. "Change, I need a change". He was tired. Tired from months of dealing with "uncontrollable cicumstances". Tired of not knowing what each day would bring. His world was a "Bohemian Rhapsody" with the lyrics of good times and pain. Middle-aged and unsure of himself he was definitely a good candidate for "emotional suicide", that crossover from sanity to insanity. Artists, they have that potential. As he rose from the small table he felt a stabbing pain in his chest. "NO! Not me!" and succumbed to inviting hands of darkness.

"Sir, sir? Are you alright?" she asked. He was dazed, confused and surprised to find that not only the pain was gone as quickly as it came, but the young woman holding his head from the tiled floor was as beautiful as an Angel. "Am I dead?" The young woman reluctantly laughed, they both laughed. As she helped him to his feet he thanked her and apologised for the incident. "Are you okay to walk?" she asked. "Yes, don't know what came over me, but I feel fine now." "My name is Jo, without the "e". May I know the name of my rescuer?" "Celeste, with an "e", she replied. They laughed again. For the first time in months, or had it been years, he felt something inside that he'd long ago given up and never wanted to feel again, ever. As he looked into her eyes he'd realised he had to leave.

"Thank you, Celeste. I owe you one". He started for the door. "Jo? Do you come here often?" she asked. "Somedays", he said. In his mind he didn't want to leave, but he knew he had to. "Why?" he thought. "Why am I so afraid?" "Gotta go, Celeste. Maybe we'll meet again." He walked out of the cafe' into the heat and humidity of the early morning. "My kinda weather", he thought to himself. "Good day for a run." And as he walked back to his apartment his mind would not let go of the vision of the beautiful angel he'd just met. as well, Celeste watched out the window as Jo walked away.

Little did Jo know his life was about to change forever. The adventure ahead of him was two blocks away, waiting in the studio of his apartment.