I've been getting lots of nice messages about the series. Thanks guys. I appreciate your feedback. Here is the next part for you. Let me know what you think. ben_sc@hotmail.com.
Berto's Roses
By Ben
Part XII
The buzzing woke me up and I looked at the clock. It indicated that the time was 5:30. "What the hell?" I muttered. It took me several disoriented moments to realize that what was making all the God- awful noise was not the clock, but the phone. Strange, I didn't remember leaving a wake up call request. Then I finally got coherent enough to remember that this was the Navy Lodge and they didn't do that anyway.
My second attempt to find the phone was successful and I mumbled, "hullo...?" A vaguely familiar voice with an accent said, "Ben?" "Uh-huh. Who's this?" I asked sleepily. "I am Jose Ramerez. It suddenly came to me that Bob had given me a message from somebody by that name the night before.
"Oh, yeah. I got a message from you from my friend. What can I do for you, Mr. Ramerez?"
"I must apologize for the early call but my associate, Senor Chavez, was very interested that I contact you before you left San Diego."
"Senor Chavez? Enrique Chavez? Ricky?" I asked. This must have been the same Jose who was Ricky's lover." Did he really refer to Ricky as his "associate"?
"Si, the very one. He is most desirous of you joining us San Augustin as it is on the way to your destination in Santa Rosalia. Your friend, Senor Connely, indicated that he would be away for several days and Enrique thought you might enjoy some hospitality and perhaps some sight-seeing while you wait for him to return."
I thought about this and said, "Jose, how do you feel about this? I don't want to cause any problems between you and Ricky."
"Oh, no, Ben. Please accept my apology for my behavior. Sometimes I forget about Enrique's needs and become jealous. I know his feelings for me and I am glad you helped to make him happy."
I was completely blown away. Not only did Jose know that I had made love with his lover, but he was practically thanking me for doing so. "Uh, yeah, me too. Listen, Jose, I appreciate the invitation. I think I am going to go on down to Santa Rosalia. I need to make arrangements for shipping some of my personal items and also need to find a permanent place to live. Also, it's been a very long journey for me and I would like to rest up a bit. Please tell Ricky that I will be in touch with him soon, though and that I look forward to seeing you both very soon."
Is there nothing I can do to persuade you, Ben? Enrique will be disappointed."
"I'm afraid not, Jose. Tell him I will make it worth the wait when I see him next." I said with a smile in my voice. Jose caught this and laughed. He told me to call soon and we hung up. I took a long hot shower and dressed. I put my things in my already overloaded car, hit local restaurant for their breakfast bar and was soon at the border.
I had gotten a physical the week before and the doctor gave me all the shots he thought I might need for the area that I was traveling to. He gave me information concerning which ones would need to be repeated and when. My passport was shiny and new and all was in order.
It seems it is easier to go from the United States to Mexico than it is the other way around. The Mexican border officials were polite and friendly. With minimal delay, I was heading south toward Santa Rosalia. I had less problems than I imagined I would reading the road signs. I passed the route going to San Augustin and my dick got a little fuller remembering my morning with Ricky, and thinking about a repeat performance.
Bob had written me with detailed instructions and a simplified map to his place. He had told me it was a large house facing the Gulf of California. He gave really good directions and I had no trouble finding it at all. It was big, and it had an adobe wall around which was about seven feet tall. A gate was open and I drove my car into the courtyard in the front (back?) of the house.
From what I could see from here, the house was two stories with what appeared to be additional room sticking up above the flat roof. A covered porch surrounded the three sides of the house that were visible to me. There were old ceiling fans stirring the air slowly in intervals of ten feet or so all along the porch.
The windows were tall-almost floor to ceiling and were open. There were no screens and one could easily step into any of the rooms along the back of the house. Gentle breeze was blowing in off the water and the smell of the salt water was wonderful. Because there was no door on this side of the house, I walked around the side of the porch. There I saw a open double door and I heard music playing softly from what I assumed to be a radio playing a local station.
"Hello?" I said as I knocked softly. There was no response. I knocked louder. "Hola..." Then I saw a Mexican woman who appeared to be about four and a half feet tall, and very nearly that wide. I had never seen anybody that was more spherical. She waddled toward the door. "Can I help you, Senor?"
"Um, yeah. I am a friend of Bob Connely, my name is Ben..."
"Ayeee! Senor Ben, Senor Ben! Si, Si, Senor Roberto told me you would be coming today. Please, please, come in. You must be hungry and thirsty after so long a trip. Let me get you something to eat and drink. Come, sit, rest yourself Senor. "
She was smiling from ear to ear and jiggling all over. Her stout little legs were working a mile a minute as she waddled about, setting plates, bowls, and silverware on a small table by an open window in what was a vary large room, furnished as a living room. The far wall was split down the middle by an enormous fireplace, easily tall, wide and deep enough to roast a whole hog.
On either side of the fireplace were large windows which overlooked a very long gardens leading down to the beach. I looked out as I sat at the table (I was not about to tell this grinning ball of a woman that I didn't want anything to eat or drink) and I was mesmerized with color.
Every where I looked I saw roses, seemingly millions of roses in rich vibrant, almost neon colors. Others were pale pinks and yellow. The most beautiful were of the purest white. I have always loved white roses. The sea breeze blue in across the rose garden and the smell was incredible.
I could see that the adobe walls ran the length of the property down to the beach and made a great backdrop for this rainbow of roses. Planted at even intervals along the walls were palm trees gracefully swaying with the breeze. The water of the Gulf was a deep blue as it reflected the cloudless sky and the light surf moved against the white sand beach. I had never seen a lovelier place.
The round woman returned with a tray almost as big around as she was, laden with food. There were several varieties of topical fruits, a stack of warm tortillas, three different kinds of cheese, a small earthenware pot of what appeared to be refried beans, another filled with salsa and a small cast iron frying pan which contained grilled chicken and beef with onions and chilis.
From the pocket of her apron, she produced a large chilled bottle of water, which she opened and poured into a tall glass for me. My eyes must have been bugging out at the quantity of food. She asked me if something was wrong. "Oh, no! There is just so much food. Will you please join me...Manuella, isn't it?" Her smile split her face again.
"Si, Senior Ben, I am Manuella, I work for Senor Roberto since he came to live here many years ago when Berto was just a little nino." And I take good care of him too, Senor. I cook for him, and keep his casa clean. I shop for him at the market and Berto tends to Senor Roberto's truck and to the garden."
I laughed at her enthusiasm and the suddenly serious look on her round face. "I'm sure he wants for nothing, Manuella. Who is Berto?" Her smile returned. Even bigger and brighter. "Berto is my son, Senor. He goes to school and will go to the University next year." Having said this she threw her haed back and put a chubby hand on either side of here mouth and fairly bellowed, "Bertoooooo! Bertooooo!"
I heard soft footsteps rapidly coming through the open house. I looked in the direction from which they came and saw a young man, a boy really, carrying a huge bunch of white roses in his dirt covered hands. He was barefoot and wore no shirt. He had on white cotton trousers that hung on his hips. He had a mop of curly black hair and the biggest, darkest black eyes I had ever seen. His small ears stuck out from his head slightly, but this made his angelic face seem even more beautiful.
"Si, Mama?" He was looking inquisitively at mother. Then he saw me, lowered the flowers, and stared in my direction. This was my first and most enduring look at Berto. He stood head and shoulders taller than his mother. Although his hands were dirty, he appeared to be clean in every other way. His golden brown skin almost glowed with health and vitality.
"Senor Ben, this is my son, Berto. Berto say hello to Senor Ben. He is a good friend to Senor Roberto." "Buenos Dias, Senor Ben." He said in a clear, non-intimidated voice. H looked straight into my eyes and smiled. I could se his mother's wide grin on his face. His smile was filled with beautiful even white teeth and he had deep set dimples in his cheeks.
"Hello, Berto. I'm happy to meet you. Your mother and I were about to have something to eat. Would you like to join us?" He looked at his mother to see if it was okay with her. "Go and put the roses in some water and wash your hands, Berto." He turned to go and she called some instructions to him in Spanish. "Si, Mama."
Manuella brought a third chair to the table and somehow managed to squeeze her bulk into it as she waited for her son to return. When he did a short time later, his hair was brushed and he had put on a coral colored shirt that was starched and pressed to perfection. He carried additional plates and a long necked bottle of Corona. He placed the beer in front of his mother and the plated on the table. He then stood looking expectantly at me.
"Please sit down and eat with us, Berto." He moved to the empty chair and between his mother and myself and said "Gracias, Senor." Manuella took charge of the plates and filled them to overflowing with food for everybody. She set a heaping plate in front of me and said, "Enjoy, Senor." She then served Berto and, lastly herself. They waited, looking expectantly at me and I finally realized that they were waiting for me to begin eating before they would begin.
I picked up a warm tortilla and filled it with beans, cheese onions and some chicken. I rolled it up and took a large bite. It was delicious! "Oh, this is wonderful, Manuella." Only then did she and Berto begin eating. I was an amazing sight. They both ate ravenously, though with grace.
I was soon full and sat back to sip my water. Manuella and Berto continued and soon all of the food was consumed. I could well see how Manuella maintained her figure, and I knew it was late adolescence and physical activity that helped Berto maintain his wiry physique. When the food was gone. Berto got up without being told and retrieved the tray. He and his mother loaded the contents of the table onto it and Berto took it from the room.
"That was a fine meal, Manuella, and Berto is a fine boy." Manuella beamed and smiled her widest. "Gracious, Senor Ben. He is my joy and pride. I will miss him much when he goes to university, but Senor Roberto tells me he is very smart and will be a successful man someday. "
"I am certain of it." I assured her. Manuella got down from her chair. While seated her fat little feet did not reach the floor. She ushered me down a wide central hallway to a large comfortable room which held a queen-sized bed with what appeared to be handmade head and foot boards. There was a long mirrored dresser to match and a side table.
The comforter on the bed was of embroidered ivory cotton muslin as were the curtains billowing at the two floor to ceiling windows. A bight gold and brown rug adorned the bare wood floor, which gleamed and reflected the sunshine streaming through the windows. There was an ancient wooden rocker in the space between the side table and one of the open window. Next to the lamp on the table and on the dresser were vases of colorful rose-from the garden I presumed.
"You may sleep here, if you like, Senor Ben." I assured her it was perfectly fine. "I need to bring my things in from the car, Manuella." Again she bellowed, "Bertooo!" and he instantly appeared. "Help Senor Ben bring his belongings in from his car." She moved to one of the two heavy wooden doors on the wall opposite the windows. She opened it and stepped inside what looked like a dressing room. There was a long, curtain-covered closet down one side and a sink with a counter on the other at far end was shorter wall, behind which she showed me a toilet and a big clawfoot tub.
I walked back out front and unlocked my car. Berto immediately started carrying in my worldly possessions. I made several trips myself and soon we had everything stored in my room. I thanked Berto and he nodded at me and smiled. His mother dismissed him and told me, in no uncertain terms, that it was time for siesta and I was to lie down and take a nap.
It seemed that I had no choice and I was pretty tired from all the traveling, anyway. I cleaned myself up and changed into a light T-shirt and some running shorts. I lay on the bed and breathed in the smell of the clean sheets, the sea breeze and all of those roses. This did indeed feel like home.
Let me apologized for the lack of sex in this chapter. It's coming, I promise. This part of the story just takes a lot of set-up. Besides, I have finally revealed Berto to you. MUCH more to come my faithful readers. Don't leave me and don't for get to write. ben_sc@hotmail Others stories I have posted on Nifty can be found under the Authors link. Look for Lyle Benton.