This is a true story.
Names have been changed.
Have you ever known a storm?
Seriously, a person that was a tornado embodied.
I have. I couldn't help but love her.
She was a force of nature.
A raging storm, a kiss of madness, a gentle breeze. You never knew which you would get. Her insanity was absolutely intoxicating.
I first saw her one Friday night at 11:30 p.m when she walked into Gypsy. SHe ,had this ability to draw every eye to her.
In Albucrazy I had met only two other woman near six feet tall. Married and divorced one of them. In New Mexico, I, me, Myself, somehow managed to find and gain the , company of not just one six foot tall battle goddess but three of them. All Three in Albucrazy. I am not sure if I was blessed, cursed, or afflicted.
I do know, they were definitely worth it. As you may have noticed by now, I have this weakness for crazy amazon women.
At any rate,
It was Saturday night, 11:30 pm, we had already been prepping to close the liquor store at 11:45.
We closed 15minutes before midnight due to New Mexico’s liquor license and sales laws. This was to protect the clerks from a $500.00 fine and felony arrest , as well as the liquor store from fines for any sales after midnight. That fifteen minute window was well known by all of the regulars. Many retail establishments followed a similar policy.
She rushed through the doors at 11:30, paused, and asked “ Can I still buy vodka?” I looked up at the clock, “ Ya got fifteen, what are you looking for.” She flashed a bright smile, “A pint of importers.”
Anthony was at the register, and asked for her ID.
What she could find was only her DOD issued ID which for some reason was not legally accepted under New Mexico law. Do not ask me why. The New Mexico liquor laws made little to no real sense to me. Anthony unhappily refused the sale. She turned to me, I had already closed out my register, or to be honest, I would have done it if only to find out her name.
How many Slim, fit, six foot tall ex Marine, tatted babes were there out there. I was already intrigued. The Black miniskirt, and calf high spike heeled boots were influential I admit. She was nearly eye to eye with me. She was also very easy on the eyes.
I couldn't countermand Anthony and told her I was sorry. She did not argue or cause a scene she merely pulled a sharp about face and left. After a moment I told Anthony I wanted quick smoke and stepped out.
She was sitting by the payphone. With a black duffle bag. I lit a cigarette standing by the door. She looked at me , then approached me to very politely ask if she could bum a smoke. Of course I said yes.
It was the first week of February, and cold. We chatted until Anthony gave his Five minutes warning. I tossed her my half empty pack and headed in for the lock up.
I had already gotten my Bottle of Old Weller and Michael Collins single malt. For my Three days off.
I usually worked Four twelves a week. Then had Sunday thru Tuesday off. The three slowest days at Gypsy. Saturday was my Friday.
I had planned to kill a bottle of Irish whiskey with a buddy, and jam on Sunday. Those plans changed.
I grabbed a pint of Vodka, and a couple packs of smokes, Anthony rang it up with a smile.
We finished closing out and locked up. She was still sitting by the payphone. Anthony wished me luck with a laugh and headed to his car. I walked down the sidewalk towards ANFA, she stood up and approached me. I smiled and held out the brown paper bag. “ I thought you could use this.” She took it, I turned aside headed for my truck.
As I mentioned it was February, now just after midnight and cold. Add in, she was alone, on Central. I pulled my truck over next to the pay phone and asked her if she needed a ride.
She studied me, my truck, took a shot of vodka and said yes. She tossed her duffle into the bed and climbed in. I had already cranked the heat up. We sat there a moment. “ I am not a hooker just so you know.” She declared while staring straight ahead. Taking sips of the vodka. “ Cool, neither am I, though I am weird.” I replied plugging a Savatage CD into the player.
She digested that for a moment, looking at the dog tags hanging from the rear view mirror before answering, “ Army weird I can handle. “ “ Hooah!” We both exclaimed.
She told me where she was headed, we chit chatted, and I dropped her off. She asked for my number before I could ask for hers.
I was on my way home just a few minutes after , having stopped by my buddies place to pick up my Amplifier. A Peavey 5150. ( Those beasts are heavy which is relevant) When She texted me. Then called.
She asked what I was doing,
“ Talking to you, headed home.”
“ Wanna hang out?” She asked.
It took me a moment to figure out how to say yes without sounding pathetically desperate. “ Absolutely, where and when?”
“Now, I don't care, we could just drive around.” She replied.
I flipped a U-turn, “ On my way.”
She was waiting for me when I pulled into the complex parking lot. I parked, jumped out and moved my amp into the bed of the truck. She got in, we were off.
She said she didn't care where so I figured a drive in the mountains would be cool. We made one stop, so I could stash my amp at my place. While I was unlocking my door, caught her out of the corner of my eye. She straight dead lifted the 5150 out of the back of my truck. Didn't grunt, didn't strain.
Walked up to me with it. I stepped aside and she stepped in and set it down next to my guitar stands. I think that was the moment I lost my mind. She picked up my ovation acoustic and held it out to me smiling. I played a few pieces for a minute and her phone went off.
It was her friend, that had been watching over her Three year old. Little guy was awake and wanted his mommy. We headed back. On reflection it was a good thing I took my Guitar.
A distraught three year old greeted us. He calmed down rapidly and climbed his momma like tree. Then, his little eyes focused on my guitar.
After the hellos, how are yas we sat on the Sofa. He wanted to hear the guitar.
I played until I couldn't move my fingers any more. And, the little guy was out cold. She tucked him in, and it was dawn. I went home.
About noon, She called. I found myself back over with her .
There was Mexican food, Vodka, and moonshine. So much for my planned jam session. At some point my phone died. I didn't notice until I remembered to call, some 6 hours late and let the guys know I was not gonna make it.
Sunday afternoon turned into Monday morning which turned into Tuesday, which led to Tuesday evening. At one point we had an intoxicated debate about Rangers vs Marines. Which led to a drunken pushup contest.
To be honest, she was a decade and a half younger than me, and would have likely won. At around fifty pushups I realized this and upped the ante. I managed ten airborne claps before she missed. She face planted. Face first onto the tile floor.
Of course I kissed the booboo to make it better. This led to retiring to the sofa, and more, intimate conversation. I was thoroughly enthusiastic with the direction of the conversation until a knock at the door.
The knock grew louder, more insistent. She got up and looked thru the peephole. Then did a complete spin in place before looking again. There was yelling in Spanish.
She walked back to me, swarmed back into my lap and set about distracting me. The knocking became more intense. I asked, “ hey darlin, is this a problem? I won't mind resolving it.” The voice was clearly male and agitated.
She grew nervous. Decidedly so.
I will give her credit. She had not lied to me. I also had not asked if she had a boyfriend.
She told me that he was her Boyfriend. Not ex, current. She actually asked me to climb out the window in the back of the apartment. “ Seriously?!!!”
My response was to stand up. She tumbled from my lap onto the coffee table. I stepped over her, snatching up my jacket as I unlocked and opened the door.
He was somewhat surprised. I am Six foot five, two hundred pounds. He was about five foot five, one fifty soaking wet. He looked past me, to see her, wearing only her bra and panties sprawled on the coffee table. This all occurred in seconds. I looked dead in his eyes as I forced my way past him. “Next.” Was all I said.
He looked from me to her and was confused. She appeared behind him dragging him into the apartment. She was looking at me, “Don't, don't hurt him, “
I pretended to ignore her, got in my truck and left. I looked in the rear view mirror driving away. He was in the parking lot waving his arms and yelling. As for me, I was highly pissed off. At who, I couldn't have said in the moment. I went home.
Two weeks passed. I tried not thinking about her. It wasn't working out so well. I couldn't get her out of my head.
Her fire, her storm, her touch, her taste. Waking up with her in my arms. Then, the little one, smiling at me, climbing me. Calling me his friend. Still, I refused to call her. I refused to reply to her texts. For some reason, I didn't block her.
Valentines day, I was at work. I had volunteered to work, giving a coworker the night off. Didn't have to close, got off at 10:00p.m, and had the next two days off.
She walked in as I was ringing out. I had already clocked out, was buying a pack of smokes when She walked in. She was a wreck.
Lip swollen, bleeding, Black eye, completely disheveled.
She froze seeing me. We stared at each other. Both Anthony and Luther , knew of our recent past. Both uttered the same thing, “Oh Fuck.”
I asked what happened. Took her into the bathroom and did a quick first aid assessment. I was dabbing her face with the gauze from a first aid kit, she filled me in.
I will spare the details. I asked how I could help. The dick head that had done this to her had sent her to the store, for smokes and booze. He also had her kid. I did not respond rationally.
“No, I will take you guys wherever you want, you are not staying there.”
“ He’s got V, ( the three year old) and everything I Own I have to”
“ I said no. No you don't, I got this. Let's go now.” I led her out to my truck. We left. At the entrance to the apt complex, she begged me to let her out and said she would sneak V out to me. It took some convincing, but against my better judgement I watched her walk across the parking lot.
I sat in my truck by the entrance, where I could see the ground floor apt. The door stood open, He was waiting. She walked in, there was yelling then She was in the Doorway with V in her arms.
The Dick head was trying to force her back into the apartment. I stopped thinking. She was huddled against the red brick wall beside the door sheltering V in her arms. Dick head was raining blows on her. People were watching and doing nothing.
I stopped my truck right beside where she huddled. Was out, around, and slamming him against the wall before I thought about it. He tried to draw a gun from his waist band, I had already drawn my knife.
He forgot about the pistol. I guess my twelve inch fighting knife had his undivided attention. Held firmly against his throat, pressing hard enough to draw blood, I was looking down directly into his eyes.
I reached down left handed and retrieved his gun. He pissed himself.
I , in Command tones, instructed her to put V in my truck, and wait with him there. She paused, “ please, don't kill him. Don't make this bad for you.” Then got into the passenger seat of my truck.
“Como Se llamma vatto.” I demanded.
He looked everywhere except at me.
“Betto.” He answered,
“You speak English, ?”
“Si, uh, Yes.”
“Good, stay put don't move, understand?”
“Yes. “
I took one step back out of his reach, sheathing my knife, checking the pistol, making sure safety was off and a round chambered.
He watched me wide eyed.
We had an audience.
I pointed the pistol straight at his stomach.
‘ Fuck with me, I will gut shoot you and knee cap you understand? You will die slow.” He nodded.
I explained his task at hand.
An older Mexican woman volunteered to help. J told her where her things were in the apartment. I explained that any one fucked around, betto would find out first.
He told the lady to hurry and not fuck around. There were four trips in and out of the apartment. J’s belongings were dumped into the bed of my truck.
After that, Betto whined about me “taking his girlfriend.”
I laughed in his face, “ No bitch, I ain't taking her. You are giving her to me. She is Mine now. “
He didn't say anything.
I kept the Beretta and backed up to my truck. Got in and drove away. No one followed. I pulled into a Walgreens, bandages, first aid stuff for her. Before I went in to the store I asked her, “ Where do you want to go? “ “ With you.” She said, V chirped up “ Go with Donn!” I got out and headed in the Walgreens. Picked up first aid stuff. Apple juice, a candy bar, a half pint of vodka, and, coz they were right by the registers, a rose.
Got back out, handed V his juice and candy. “ You know You don't have to. I will take you two anywhere you want to go.”
I handed her the bag. Before she looked into it, she repeated, “ I want to go with you. We want to go with you.”
I wasn't really sure what to do. I went home to my studio apartment. Tucked V and his mommy into my bed.
I grabbed a pillow and laid it on my couch. , I stepped out the door, to smoke a cigarette, and think. It was midnight. I went back in, stretched out on the sofa, she said nothing, as did I. I didn't sleep well. I could feel her looking at me all night.
And so, I stumbled into a relationship.
Probably not the brightest move on my part. Still, given the same circumstances, and knowing how it would end. I would make the same choice again. It was a wild ride. And the two of them were worth the costs.
Love is always a good thing.
Yes. I know and love a storm. It's my 4'10, 29 year old daughter. Her nickname is "honey badger". The storm in your story sound a lot like her...only much shorter. lol