Goodnight, Cinderella

The smell of grilled lobster filled Derek's senses. He lifted his shaggy blond head off the white sand, waking from sleep, with a beer chaser. The sun, the beach, and even the people were all hot, none of which were too hot to burn him , in any case.

Ipanema beach reminded Derek, of a State Fair. So many people eating, drinking and enjoying each other in a haphazard way. He was impressed at the variety of different things available at the beach being walked around for sale from local people. Fake henna tattoos, of which, Derek declined the ever insistence of the small boy shaving his head and having a bar code labeled on the back of his head. There was chicken salad sandwiches, lobster, prawns and other sea foods all on a stick. Professional massages, haircuts and full bars were all available for merely a few Reais. The people in all their golden browned glory dripped not just in sweat but a steamy sexuality wearing the skimpiest of swimming gear to cover their toned bodies.

Derek wished he felt as comfortable with himself to be seen wearing less than board shorts. The friendliness of the culture was uncanny, even peaceful Derek, thought. His lean toned body was waking up. All week he and his buddy, and possible best man, Chaf, had intermingled amongst the culture partaking in anything and everything that they had to offer. They bought sandwiches for families and discussed areas they should visit. Hang-gliding for sure, although he was pretty sure he had a fear of heights. A visit (and a proposal) were also planned at Christ the Redeemer statue high upon the Corcovado mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro.

As Derek layed on the beach in the hot winter sun of August, he began talking to a couple of girls, Maya and Asia, next to him about where he was from and what he and Chaf should do while in Rio. He thought Maya beautiful with her skimpy white bikini belted with a tiny pocket holding her coordinating white ipod (of course, he thought) Her earbuds stringing up and along with the white cord, resting positively, on Maya's unnaturally beautifully gifted breast. Maya's hair was straight full and long, too long for her short tiny frame he thought. And could her eyes the color of coal be any blacker? Asia, above all else, could not be less of Asian descent, he thought. She was pure Californian all the way. Sandy colored hair, which Derek now realized, is what "they" meant by dishwater blonde. Asia's eyes were knowing green.

Decidely, Derek thought why should he even attempt to play like he has game? Asia can see just how he wants something, anything, to happen down here on his trip. But that perhaps could happen later if he pulls his act together and behaves, not revealing too much of his ernest unrelenting behavior.

Immediately, he returned to the conversation hoping they hadn't recognized he had been lost in their beauty...

They need to try the many different famous liquors and the food. In all his blond summered glory, kind blue eyes clear as the sea and freckling face he bought a round of beers for the four of them to quench the hot winter sun. The girls responded and told them they needed to go hang-gliding and the best places to go. Night clubs, restaurants, and flea markets were next on the list and they shared what they knew. They must try the famous Churrascaria houses where they serve long slabs of Brazilian steaks on swords.

As the bar server rounded the beach, the new friends introduced them to the Caipirinha, Brazilian version of a mojito. Lots of sugar, ice and Cachaca, a Brazilian alcohol. Both men drank down the sweet beverage almost testing their own stamina and competed for dominance. Maya warned Chaf that it was quite powerful and not to drink too much.

Derek wondered if Maya was intentionally ignoring him and only talking to Chaf. Perhaps, she prefers him? As they drank, and talked, Derek thought about how fortunate he had it to be there. He had to secretly admit to himself he really was a nerd. Not really the kind of guy girls normally go for or even get more than two dates with. But the one thing he did have Derek thought was persistence. If a date didn't go well, he moved on quickly and without emotion. But here he could be someone different now. His head swirled at the idea. No more black framed glasses dirty hair now? Maybe he could become someone else, if only while he was here on vacation. Well, maybe, except...

His new friends, Maya and Asia, began to say good-bye and that they needed to get something to eat. Derek again, kicked himself in the head for losing himself in his own train of thought...

As the girls picked up their backpacks, Chaf kicked Derek in the back to get up. Derek responded and got up to say good-bye. Maybe he could offer to meet them again, he thought. Asia, directly pointedly offered to take Derek and Chaf to dinner, a Churrascaria across the street. How could they resist?

As the foursome made their way off the beach, the girls asked if they wanted to change into more appropriate clothes. Derek and Chaf were staying at the hotel next to the steak house, so of course, they should. Derek didn't even worry about the fact that he really didn't have nice clothes. In fact, he didn't worry about anything. His life was going just as he wanted it to, and he felt a surge of happiness, almost euphoria come over him. So over to their hotel they hopped, happy as clams, from a day at the beach and enjoying Brazil.

As they made it into their suite, on a late Monday afternoon, Maya suggested Chaf order drinks and perhaps a bite from room service while they waited for the men to shower and change in the suite. The food arrived and Derek thought how the cuts of steak reminded him of wood grain. Maya and Asia began pouring another concoction from the bar, Derek increasingly emboldened, questioned, if it was another intoxicating brew of love. The girls were shocked and then giggled at this quietand polite young man Derek's own suggestion, they followed quickly, raising their glasses as a toast. The group toasted and again the men drank heartily down. Asia looked deep into Derek's steel blue eyes, "Good night, Cinderella..."

Thirty hours later, Derek awoke naked on his hotel bed to a man that reminded him of Santa Claus pumping his heart. His chest was hooked up to some sort of portable device that was spewing out a scroll of long green paper, recording his heart rhythm. It was now Tuesday night close to Midnight, and as he came to he tried to get up and was held down by Dr. Santa Claus and his assistants. He was told everything would be fine and that they both had been drugged and robbed of all their belongings. They had found him naked on the bathroom floor. Derek's heart beat had been so low the hotel Dr. could not tell if it was still beating...

Immediately, Derek began screaming as he came to, "Chaf! Chaf! Where's Chaf!"


As the men above him looked at each other, Dr. Santa Claus told him Chaf was going to be fine. He was in the living room and had come to sometime earlier, long enough to reach the phone and dial 0 before he falling back into unconscious.

" I have to pee." Derek said.

The room seemed to brighten among the men as the sense of drama for the moment was subsiding, if only for the moment. Dr. Santa Claus had a strong curly-haired Brazilian assistant help Derek to the bathroom. Derek could barely walk, let alone hold his head or shoulders. He was starving. and he felt cold, actually naked cold. The assistant held Derek easily with one arm and turned the bathroom light on. Derek began peeing before the assistant could get him to the toilet. The assistant smiled a bit, and told him in very broken English not to worry. When Derek finished they turned and the news came...

There, written across the mirror in electric red lipstick, the words, "Welcome to the World of AIDS."

Derek fell back, yelling, in utter disbelief. The doctor and another assistant came rushing in. As they got Derek up, an assistant used a towel to wipe the mirror of it's blood red invitation. Again, Derek looked into the mirror, as they began to walk him out of the bathroom.

" Oh my fucking God!" Derek yelled, as he realized his head had been shaved clean...