“Sex is a great way to introduce oneself, don’t you think?”

The man looking down at Debo had a lightly hooked nose and velvet eyes that extended sideways under heavy lids, like some kind of avid but under-heated reptile. Except that the lids were part-lowered in audacious amusement. He was tall but slight, with legs that seemed too long for his body, she noticed, like stilts. He wore a pink polo shirt and moved his hands fluidly as he lit a cigarette as if he were conducting a spell.

Debo raised an eyebrow. “Is it? How do you know?” She took a cigarette from his packet.

“Well, actually, I don’t, I’m just conducting a survey,” the man offered back in perfect but strongly accented Afghan English. “Of attractive women’s opinions.”

She crossed her arms. “What about men’s opinions?”

“I don’t think I need to ask the men, they would all give me the same answer.” The man smiled, mischievously.

“And what do the women say?”

“I don’t know yet.” He feigned helplessness as he glanced around the party. “You're the first one I’ve asked. Can I get you a drink?”

“Yes. I mean to the drink,” added Debo. “Vodka. Debo.” She held out her hand theatrically at arm’s length. Something about this man made her feel theatrical.

He took it, rather softly, she thought. “Tarek.”

“Hello, Tarek. A pleasure to meet you.”

Debo, all twenty-two years of her, grinned.

Want to comment on this Short Stories? Sign up to Edit Red and you will be able to comment on Short Stories and get access to: Upload your own stories and poems, get readers and their feedback, promote your work...