GREETINGS FROM PRAHA Story 1 | Pt. 2

Day 14 - YIRKA

I have landed in a wonderland hundreds of years old and perfectly intact. Its days bright and golden, sleepy and grey. Winter’s depth, added to the winters before, sets a weariness behind people’s eyes. There are deeper levels to this fairytale and it’s easy to lose time and space here. Easy to believe I’m in a place where reality is not concrete. But in an age where adventure is readily possible, doubt will need to be overcome. At 19, I was fearless. At 25, I’ve wised up. I will need this land of absinthe and babushkas to suspend my disbelief.

The city sparkling of potential magics.
I swaddle myself in scarves, long johns, and army-issue boots.

We have covered a lot of ground and our booty is good this day. We spread the contents of our thrift store bags on a table in the back. Amy calls out that my acclimation to Czech culture is right on schedule.

Agreed!

I am already carrying toilet paper in my purse. And when my braids started coming undone three days ago; I found black electrical tape to be a suitable solution that I have yet to re-address.
We laugh our loud laughs filling the bubble we usually inhabit.

And then, just like that…

He said something the specifics of which are unclear.
HE IS BEAUTIFUL and in one fluid motion is just there at my table.
Tall, bright completion, gigantic smile. Thick dark hair and … lips!
Quite literally, the best-looking man I had ever seen in person!

Words are slipping past me but all I can focus on is how hot this guy is.
It is a heat made to melt the coolest of sisters.
He is an anomaly – what girls here call a Heskey Czechsky.
This is a guy people turn their heads to see.
His name is Yirka.

Amy left or maybe she was never there.

He has a flyer in his hand.
He’s DJing at a club tonight.
No, he’s going to see a DJ at a club tonight.

“…really cool – if you would like to come”, he continued.

“Can my friend come too or does this just get me in?

“She can come I guess. But I’m asking if you want to go with me”

Holy shit this is date!
We would meet at the Globe this evening then go to this rave-disco-whatever.
Never, have-I-ever, had a date on Valentine’s day.
I am not the person that hot guys cross rooms to ask out.
I am the person that brags about not getting picked on for being fat.

Was this the Emerald City?
The specifics were unclear.