One evening in Arles

One evening in Arles (France)

That evening in Arles I saw two men speaking English . American men . They were lovers , I think .
I was a young mother in Arles , married to a Frenchman , with two small children . I was walking alone , taking the air after my childrens' birthday party . I sat down at a café table . I smiled at the American men , and said that I spoke English , and that for all I had never been to America , I had read so many wonderful writers , and through my reading knew about Long Island , that Martha's Vineyard place , all the places in Dreamcatcher , Updike and abattoirs , not to mention Walden , Connecticut . And those Little House on The Prairie Books ...Up until that night , I thought that Americans and Europeans were cousins .

Just wanted to say , as a young British woman in France , that I was a bit lonely for the words we have in common

Those gay , American men were very cold to me . I think they wanted to feel that they were in France , where Van Gogh painted . They did not want to have a young British mother out on a stroll after a birthday party talk to them . It was the coldest slap I have ever received . I felt distance and coldness from two American men one warm and perfumed night in Provence .

That night , I got drunk , and something terrible happened to me .

[Aliantha]

What happened to you buddug?

What do you think may have happened , Aliantha ?

There are all sorts of possibilities .

[Aliantha]

There are. That's why I'd rather not guess. Assumption has caused me to appear foolish on more than one occasion previously.

You are never foolish . You are brave and smart , and the Pom here is proud of you .

I will not give any more details . I am a Pom after all . Stiff Upper Lip .

[Aliantha]

No need to be proud. I'm not a pommy subject anymore. I'm an Aussie. As such, am independant of the need for praise.

[Aliantha]

Well if it's something you do want to talk about then maybe this is a good place to do so. Regardless of the past, I'm sure people here would be compassionate in their responses.

jeez , bloody ungrateful too

[Aliantha]

Yep...very.

Maybe that slap in the face in Arles was because the Americans don't see Poms like anything to do with them . Maybe those gay Americans were Mexican and Japanese ..It was dark . I saw faces , and I thought there was warmth ... I heard the language I speak .

"Who is this boring little fucking housewife saying she speaks English ? " Perhaps they said that to themselves ?

In any case , ever since then , I know that being American has nothing whatsoever to do with the British link .

Don't be like them , Aliantha . Be our friends forever , you Aussies .

[Aliantha]

Maybe you shouldn't judge a whole country on the actions of just two people?

[zippyt]

Buddug,
Every country has a few assholes , see even you are here !!!!