Chapter 10
1208 Words
It would be one of her customers, one of the two she was missing, who were regulars
once a week and who paid without complaint and who left the place light,
renewed, ready to continue fighting.
She walked to the door unhurriedly and opened it. Her jaw dropped when she saw the
doctor.
-Doctor! -she exclaimed.
Alfredo, summery, fresh, more attractive without the thick-rimmed glasses,
with his jeans, thin white sweater and knitted jacket tied around his waist, he looked like
jacket tied at the waist, he looked younger. Very different from the affable, but serious
in a white coat, who greeted her at the clinic.
-Hello, Alice. I was passing by,- she lied, -I was passing by and I said to myself, 'I'll go check on Alice.
I'll go check on Alice.
-You come in,- she invited him. I'm in the middle of my work, but I'm still missing two clients.
customers. I guess they'll be here soon. I don't think you're here for a
service.
That's what Alfredo was going for, but he found himself saying, as if the service itself was
was implausible:
-Of course not.
-I thought not. Men like you are almost always satisfied with some sport, which they usually
some sport, which they usually practice in sports centers or private clubs.
-It's... it's true.
And he crossed the threshold.
The room showed the work that had been done there. There was a wicker basket
wicker basket full of towels, creams on the shelves, the jars still open. The
The electrical appliances on, the sauna humming....
Al saw himself there disoriented, as if it were not him, and wondering once again
obsessively, if at last he was going to lose his status and authority to become a vulgar pleasure seeker.
ordinary pleasure seeker. On the other hand, the fear of ridicule overwhelmed him and he feared that if he
He feared that if he launched the trial balloon he would suffer it.
-If you'd like to go inside, doctor,- she invited, -I have to continue my task.
I have to continue my work. I have two clients left, unless someone else happens to come in.
A walk-in. And if that happens, and it's still early, I usually receive him and do the service.
service. Look,- she showed him a door, -that's the way to the living room. It's next to the
kitchen. There's a television and a stereo...
Al felt like he was in a strange world.
But he went ahead and pushed that door. She followed him.
He found himself in a regular-sized living room. Plants, paintings, carpeting, comfortable sofas
comfortable sofas attached by the bookshelves, bar, television, two armchairs, poufs...
The doorbell rang again. She excused herself.
-Excuse me. Entertain yourself, doctor. You'll find some interesting books.
Al bit his lips. He nodded. What was he doing there?
He was fearfully looking for a way to get out of there. The situation wasn't rosy. He could never
Alice could never come up with a plan or an adventure. He knew himself. It was no wonder that Juan
had gone there with the worst intention in the world and had fled, without exposing or even trying to
even attempt his purpose. The same thing that was happening to him.
He ran his fingers through his hair. Distracted, he overheard Alice's conversation with the client.
Alice with the client. From the accent in his voice, this one was not young. But that didn't matter
mattered.
The client was asking for ultraviolet rays. You could tell that Alice was moving around the salon
and that the man positioned himself where she indicated.
Everything was normal. Nothing strange, but with the utmost naturalness. I could tell. And he
was noticing that there was no cat in the bag. He was as he was and appeared to be.
What was he doing, then, behaving like a suspicious child? And he was
twenty-seven years old, and he was a doctor. And he was never a sadist or a r****t or a deceiver of innocent women.
deceiver of innocent women.
* * *
Absent-minded, bewildered, feeling petty, he paused to look at the spines of the books
of the books placed as if at random on the shelf. Classic books
worn, as if they had been read many times. Current books, published a few years ago.
a few years ago.
He was surprised. The young woman read and knew what was read. There were books on
sociology, psychology, even medicine. And there were also volumes that
indicated the profession of the owner.
He decided to run away. He could not bear to become, he, a doctor, an honest professional, what he was not.
professional, into what he was not. He was an honest woman hunter. Was Alice? Because the
because the fact that he had once had a partner and was expecting a child from him did not indicate that his
that her profession was a cover for giving s****l pleasure to clients.
She ran her fingers through her hair, her eyes searching for a door. There was only
one, which led to the beauty parlor.
She could make an excuse and leave in a hurry.
In these hesitations she heard the client say goodbye and the door slam as it closed.
door as it closed.
It was the moment he took advantage of to hurry to the living room. Alice was picking up
towels and threw them into a wicker basket. He removed the ultraviolet lamp and placed it on a table against the wall.
Sensing it, he turned around.
Did Alice know his doctor's intentions? Well, yes. Halfway.
He'd been treating people of various conditions for so long... Even without having
studied psychology, which he did as a hobby and not for knowledge, he understood that Alfredo Menchaca was going there.
Alfredo Menchaca was going there to look for -something-. I did not consider him capable of that,
but...
-I have to go, Alice,- he said, as if choking. I'm late.
Alice didn't flinch. He had the same fixed smile he always had, the same mystery in his eyes, the same curvature
in his eyes, the indifferent curve of his mouth.
-I've looked at the tests she left me in Mily's possession,- he added, stunned at the still female gaze.
Everything is fine, everything is normal. In any case, don't stop taking the vitamins.
Anyway, don't stop taking the vitamins. Don't forget them. And if you can, work
a little less.
She was leaving.
She had untied the cardigan and folded it into a tight ball under her armpit.
armpit.
-Come see me in a month and a half.
-Yes, doctor.
-Good... good night.
He left at last.
Alice leaned against the door and stared straight ahead. She ran the back of her hand over her face
her hand over her face, which was gradually becoming covered with sweat.
She'd rather he didn't dare approach her. Of all the things she had in her life, she
of all the things she had in her life, she thought that doctor was the best. And to vulgarize herself with a stupid
proposal would have fallen too low in his estimation, in his estimation, in his estimation.
- Writer
