So 300 words on the subject of Men & Women doesn’t go very far when you think of everything that’s been written on the subject of Venus & Mars. Quite fortuitously, this iconic track came on the radio as I was contemplating my story using this particular prompt…so with thanks to The Kinks for the inspiration.
I elbowed my way through the mass of people. I was utterly unused to city life, having left home only a week before. The music, dim electric candle-light and dense smoky atmosphere were disorienting. I stood alone in a dark recess.
A tall, dusky beauty sashayed up to me. She leaned her head on my shoulder and whispered in my ear. Her chocolatey voice was low, but I heard her ask me to dance. We swayed up close to each other, and she squeezed me tightly, almost crushing my spine.
The combination of her sexy, feminine movements and husky voice was intriguing and intoxicating. She was strong and determined, passionate and intense. We moved off the dance floor, found an empty booth and slid in. The waiter raised his eyes at me quizzically as we ordered a bottle of champagne which we finished without exchanging any more words. Pulling me closer to her so that I was almost on her lap she whispered, “Won’t you come home with me, little boy.”
I looked deep into her eyes and felt myself falling for this magnificent creature. If her intention wasn’t already clear, she murmured, “I can see that you’ve never kissed a woman before, so tonight I’m going to make you a man.”
Taking me by the hand, she led us through the undulating crowd. I felt woozy and uncertain. I stumbled, falling to my knees, but she picked me back up in her strong arms.
Outside, in the cold light of the dawn, I looked harder at the women with whom I was surely falling in love. I could discern a faint but unmistakeable dark shadow of stubble under what I could see now was heavy make-up.
“What did you say your name was?” My voice cracked.
“Lola”, she replied.
Hey Derryn, this is a cool homage to The Kinks’ “Lola”, the first piece of their music I ever got to know. I absolutely love the lyrics, they cracked me up in June 1977, and still do. I like what you did with the lyrics here, and our hero’s reaction in that moment of realization is nicely understated. Only surpassed, in my estimation by their “Celluloid Heroes,” and (come the year-end), “Father Christmas.” All the best and regards, Seyi
Thanks, Seyi – it was fun to write to the lyrics of a song!