A Harem of Memories

A tale of what was and what was wanted

The man sat on the bench in the enclosed bus stop. It was cold, but it didn't phase him; he stall had an inch or two of liquid warmth in the bottle he kept inside his coat. His eyes were open, but he was far from the bus stop bench in his thoughts. He was remembering. Or maybe he was revising. Maybe he was just taking stock.

Her name was Renna. She was the woman who gave him the apple of knowledge, and he was happy to trade his innocence for a taste of that forbidden fruit. But she had asked for too much, and he hadn't enough left over for himself. There were tears and screams and accusations; then there was quiet and loneliness.

He pulled out the bottle and took a nip. He wiped his until mustache and beard and tucked the bottle away again. He looked up at the Feinstein building and smiled wistfully.

Mackenzie was a strange name for a Jewish girl.