Girl from Mars by Tamara Bach Read Free Book Online Page A

me here. I move along to the music a bit.
    Laura looks at me, takes the glass from my hand, sticks it somewhere and pulls me onto the dance floor. Somehow she manages to find a spot for me. At first I stand there like a bit of an idiot. Start dancing, for God’s sake! But I’m not drunk enough yet. Laura smiles and dances for me. People are looking at us a bit funny, but it’s nice how she’s dancing there, with her arms in the air, swaying her hips back and forth, twirling around, snapping her fingers and smiling at me.
    And suddenly I’m dancing, too, dancing for Laura and smiling at her, too — she holds me with her smile. Even if we do look a bit stupid. But the others don’t know that Laura has just granted my wish. I’m dancing with Laura. I feel like I’ve never danced with anyone else before.
    It’s fun. We dance to one song, two songs, three, four — I don’t know how many. Then we have a drink — Laura, too — and we dance some more and when our glasses are empty we go to the bar and get another. We stand there for awhile, laughing and maybe talking, even though it’sway too loud to talk. We wink at each other, look at the other people and whisper into each other’s ears.
    â€œWho do you want to kiss?” Laura asks.
    â€œI don’t know.”
    â€œLook around.”
    There are a lot of people around. One guy looks over at us. Smiles.
    â€œHim,” I say.
    Laura goes over to him. I’m embarrassed. What is she saying? But somehow it’s thrilling to see her just walk over and whisper something in his ear. He looks over at me and smiles again. I try to read their lips, but I can’t see their mouths.
    And then he comes over. Laura stays where she is and just watches as he comes over and says hello. He sounds nice, even though I can’t really hear him properly, but he puts his hand on my cheek, looks at me and smiles. And then he kisses me.
    Just like that. He kisses me for a really long time, or maybe just for a second, and then at some point he steps back, takes his hand away and suddenly he’s gone and Laura is standing beside me again.
    â€œWhat did you say to him?” I ask.
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œWhy did he kiss me?”
    â€œBecause you wished for it, Miriam.” She takes a drink and pulls me back over to the dance floor. “I told you that today your wish would be granted.”
    And then she starts to dance again.
    ***
    The last song isn’t a slow one. “Girl from Mars.” Laura knows the words. But I’ve had it. I’m leaning back against the wall. The wall is damp, and I can feel the plaster crumbling under my fingernails.
    My pulse slows down. “...she never told me her name...I remember...a girl from Mars...”
    The dance floor is empty. The song ends, the lights go on. I squeeze my eyes shut.
    It’s time to go.
    Now I can see how dirty everything is here. How ugly it looks in the light. The high white walls, concrete floors and half-empty, dirty glasses, cigarette butts. Women hanging on to men’s arms.
    Time to go.
    Laura and I go outside without saying anything. Laura’s jacket is open. She has her hands deep in her pockets and she looks up the street. I’m glad she’s not talking. She stands still and takes out her tobacco pouch. She sits on a bench and rolls a cigarette.
    I look up at the sky. It’s dark blue, riddled with stars. I hear the smoke rattle in Laura’s throat.
    At some point we meet up with the others. The radio is on as we drive back home. Late at night the music is quiet and right. Nobody talks.
    Suddenly Laura leans her head on my shoulder. I take her hand and hold it tight.

10
    Sundays.
    â€œNo, Ines isn’t in. She left a few minutes ago to go to your place.”
    â€œOh, well, I just wanted to ask her if she could bring along this one book. Well, thank you.”
    So Ines is with Flo —
    Sundays