Amazonia - The Athenaeum

and placing a check mark next to the famous poet's name was the funniest thing she could have
imagined.
"So, Annie, her name up there as the only woman representative of her time makes me believe
the gods do exist and they have one Hades of a sense of humor."
"In all the time I've been in here that's the best story I've ever heard. Have you had lunch?" Not
moving away from Bebo, Annie laid both her hands on the tall woman's chest and looked up at
her as she asked the question. Being so close to her made Annie feel warm, but it had nothing to
do with temperature. It was like her skin wanted to feel Bebo as if it had a last found what it
missed.
"That would mean you'd have to sit at a table with me," Bebo leaned in and got closer to the little
blonde to gauge her reaction. "We might even end up in close quarters."
"I'm sure you're more than capable of protecting yourself if I decide to get fresh with you," joked
Annie. "Do you have a preference? What I mean is, would you like to join me? I should start
with that."
"I'd love nothing better." Bebo paused. "I'd like to try a little place my driver told me about."
They walked out and hailed a cab to a small Japanese restaurant in Georgetown. "You do like
sushi, don't you?"
"Bait? I'm just wild about it," answered Annie, trying hard not to turn green.
"We'll have yours rolled in tempura and deep fried. Trust me, you'll love this."
It was the most intimate, nonsexual afternoon Annie had ever spent in her life. Bebo was
persuasive enough to get her to try a couple of the different items on the menu and she found she
really did like the bits of stuff wrapped in sticky rice and seaweed once she gave it a chance. She
had no qualms whenever she leaned in and allowed the tall reclining princess to feed her with the
black lacquered chopsticks. She relaxed on the cushions she was sitting on and wiggled her toes
glad to see there weren't any runs in her stockings.
Two hours later Annie still wasn't tired of looking at the princess when they sat during moments
of silence, or when listening to Bebo tell amusing stories of her childhood. During her life as an
Army brat, Annie had come to love the privilege of exploring new places when her father was
transferred, but felt she had missed out on having lots of friends because they did move so much.
Listening to Bebo talk about her home and her friends was nice and it gave her a different
perspective. She was also basking in the attention Bebo seemed to lavish without thought or
effort, as if it was something she was comfortable doing with Annie. In her experience it was she
who'd had to give the attention feeling that she owed it to Titus.
"You're really different from my father," said Annie. Her head was resting on her open palm as
she ignored etiquette and leaned her elbow on the table.