25.5.2009
5
5
A little past midnight, after the end of the play, they had gone to John's. He had temporarily moved into a three-room apartment in the Thingholt neighborhood.
At this point things started to move quickly. There was no question about John being captivated by Violet, and he had no doubts about her being the woman he wanted to have. They chatted and John followed her every movement as if she were a holy being he might not touch, but only look at. They listened to music, and she whirled freely about the room and was so happy and beautiful that John felt half-paralyzed.
They had been talking about the actors, costumes and music. John sat in a chair and Violet stood before him.
"Aren't you going to kiss me?" she said and looked at him. So he went to her, took her in his arms, and they kissed.
You can ask why Violet, and not John, took the initiative in their first caresses, that is, the first kiss, especially after how decisively John had acted in the beginning. Also, John hardly had gotten a reputation for being reserved with women. Just the opposite. But John did not let Violet's initiative disconcert him, and after they had chatted and listened to music, John returned the lady untarnished to her parents' house.