The novel ‘A Woman between Two Men’, with an Albanian-American Theme, is authored by Carrie Hooper and Skifter Këllici
“What kind of work do you do, Nik,” asked Mary.
Again, Kreshnik was caught off guard. He did not feel like answering her question. What would he tell her? That he was a drug trafficker? That a few nights ago, some unexpected things happened which made him anxious? That the police dogs that pursued him could have bitten him to pieces? That worse still, the police might have seen him as he tried to cover his tracks? They would have ordered him to stop. He would not have stopped, but would have tried to escape. The police would have opened fire and might have killed him. Or they might have caught him like a mouse, and instead of spending hot, sweet dreamy moments with Mary, he might have found himself in a cold cell in a police station.
Even now, if he had wanted to, the dreaded Ralph Kallagan could have accosted Nik. Mary might have told him about Nik’s act of kindness, and Ralph might have complimented him.
But the opposite might have happened, too. The police, who were pursuing him, after they had examined the evidence, might have arrived at the conclusion that the criminal was none other than Kreshnik Germeni. Thus, to meet this hard-nosed police chief would be like a goat confronting a butcher.
“I have a job that pays well,” said Kreshnik, after milling over these worrisome thoughts.
“Do you work at a trade?”
“More or less.”
“I’m glad you have a job. I’m sure it’s a good one,” said Mary, surprised that Nik did not mention the kind of work he did. Maybe it was hard to explain.
“A good job makes you good.”
“But not the work I do,” Kreshnik said to himself, who, in order to avoid further discussion of that topic, said, “That’s how that is, but to tell the truth, when I get drunk, I cause trouble as I did with Mr. Kallagan. What would he and Wilma say if they saw you dancing with me?”
“I don’t think they’d say anything. Don’t forget, everyone makes mistakes. But you have to quit drinking just like you quit smoking. You seem like a good person. I got that impression when we met at the hospital. Based on what you’ve told me, I want to help you find a good job. At the hospital, we need mechanics, electricians, carpenters, even radiologists! We will start a class soon. It’s a good job that pays well.”
Kreshnik listened, but was hesitant.
“Then who knows? You could go to college and study literature, culture, or art. What do you think, Nik?”
Suddenly, Nik’s legs gave out from under him, and without meaning to, he hugged Mary tightly to keep from falling. She felt his burning cheek against hers.
“I’m sorry, Mary,” said Kreshnik.
Mary just smiled.
Meanwhile, Petrit, who was watching Mary and Kreshnik, motioned to the band to play a rhythmic song. The young people danced with enthusiasm. Mary danced gracefully by herself. The people around her clapped to the music. Kreshnik tried to imitate Mary’s twists and turns. But he did not dance like her.
“Long live the happy couple!” someone shouted.
“They’re in love,” someone else said.
The young people applauded Mary’s dancing.
“Only love gives you wings and makes you dance like that,” a third person said.
When they heard these words, Kreshnik and Mary, embarrassed, exchanged sly glances. Then they looked at Petrit who looked at Nik somewhat mockingly.
The tempo of the dances increased even more. Mary’s movements were defined and graceful. Now, she and Kreshnik danced together.
“You are an excellent dancer, Mary,” said Kreshnik, almost breathless. “You’re a true artist.”
“You, too,” said Mary, “even if you don’t always stay in rhythm.” Her voice was faint with fatigue.
“So you know, it’s not because I drank too much.”
The music stopped, and the young people gave each other high fives. Mary and Kreshnik did so, too, as an expression of thanks. Then they returned to their table.
“What do you think of my suggestions, Nik?” asked Mary, fixing her bright blue eyes on him.
“What can I say? If it weren’t for that job,” Nik thought anxiously. He was happy his date with Mary was going so well.
“I really appreciate them, Mary, but I don’t want to think about them now. I would like to discuss them with you, however. Maybe tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? So you came here to get away for the weekend, too?”
Mary’s question surprised Nik, but he contained himself.
“No, I just came here,” he said. “But under the circumstances, I’ll be spending the night here.”
“And you just happened to be at the silver shop. Then you happened to follow the robber. You happened to catch him and risked your life for a necklace?”
Mary’s eyes bored into Kreshnik. His bearded face turned purple.
“As I said, I want to talk to you about those things. Could we meet tomorrow night at the same club we went to tonight around seven? I will wait for you at the entrance. I will tell you some important things about myself.”
“Don’t you have friends you can talk to?” asked Mary unassumingly.
Kreshnik shook his head.
“My friends now are not the friends of my childhood.”
He wrinkled his forehead.
“My friends now,” he repeated bitterly. “Some of them are married and have their own lives. Some drink and get into trouble. Some have died in the hospital of accidents or illnesses.”
“You must have at least one girlfriend,” said Mary, and awaited his answer with burning curiosity.
Kreshnik grew solemn, and his eyes sparkled.
“The one I had just wanted to fleece me,” he said with spite. “I don’t even want to think about it. Again, if we meet tomorrow, I will tell you what’s on my mind. I’m doing it because you want to help me.”
When he finished speaking, he wrung his large, rough hands as if he were squeezing the torment of bad memories between them. His face darkened.
Kreshnik’s sudden change in appearance frightened Mary.
“Why tomorrow and not now?” asked Mary with a woman’s curiosity.
Kreshnik bit his lower lip, not knowing how to answer her persistent question. He did not feel he could reveal his secret to her then. It would have tortured him to do so.
“Tomorrow will be better. `A new day, a new fate` says an old Albanian proverb. It’s a long story that began before we met at the hospital and has continued until now.”
Kreshnik spoke with a pleading voice and did not dare to look Mary in the eye.
“Excuse me, but I have to go now,” said Kreshnik, attempting a smile. “I don’t think anyone will attack you again in order to steal your bag. So, I will see you at the entrance to the club tomorrow night at 7:00.”
Kreshnik nodded to Mary, waved to Petrit, who, along with the other band members, continued to accompany the singer, and left quickly, without shaking Mary’s hand. He secretly wished he had done so. He had dreamed of spending the whole evening and subsequent evenings with her. He wished they would last forever. Nik was afraid Mary would call him, follow him in her car, ask him to stop, and insist they talk about those things he had avoided telling her before and had promised to tell her the following evening.
Mary followed Kreshnik with her cloudy eyes until he disappeared into a group of people who walked through downtown Del Mar Beach.
“What is it that torments Kreshnik so much?” Mary wondered. “Or is it something else? Maybe he loves me and is afraid to tell me. Was he really in front of the shop by chance when they stole my bag?” (Continues)
Click here for Part-1, Part-2, Part-3, Part-4, Part-5, Part-6, Part-7, Part-8,
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About the Authors
Carrie Hooper was born and raised in Elmira, New York. She has been blind since birth. She received a B.A. in vocal performance from Mansfield University, Mansfield, Pennsylvania. She went on to receive an M.A. in German and an M.A. in vocal performance from the State University of New York at Buffalo. After completing her studies, she spent a year at the Royal University College of Music in Stockholm, Sweden as a Fulbright scholar. Carrie currently lives in Elmira, New York. She taught German, Italian, and Romanian at Elmira College. She has a passion for foreign languages and in addition to the languages mentioned above, she is also proficient in Swedish, Spanish, and Albanian. Music also plays an important role in Carrie’s life. She teaches voice and piano lessons, gives vocal concerts, plays the piano and organ at a church, and sings in a community chorus. Carrie not only loves music and languages, but also enjoys poetry. She has published three books: “Piktura në fjalë” (“Word Paintings”), a bilingual collection of poetry (Albanian-English), “My Life in My Words”, and “Away from Home.” She has also translated texts from Albanian and Romanian to English.
Skifter Këllici was born in Tirana, Albania and received a diploma in history and literature from the University of Tirana. He worked as a journalist, scholar, and sportscaster on radio and television. He is the author of several novels and nonfiction books, including the children’s books, “Memories of the Old Neighborhood” and “In the Footsteps” as well as the historical novels, “Assassination in Paris”, “The Murderer with the White Hands”, and “September Disaster.” He wrote the screenplay for “In the Footsteps” which won a special prize at the International Children’s Film Festival in Giffoni, Italy in 1979. He has lived in Boston, Massachusetts since 1999.
[The book ‘Disastrous September is being reproduced in episodes with the consent of the author]
