Excerpt from Natural Elements

Natural Elements Standing in front of the fishmonger's stall she watched his knife remove the silvery scales almost in time with the music that blared from the shop next door. The music was familiar, taking her back to the hot cramped studio above a storefront on 110th and Amsterdam Ave. The drums drowning out the sound of the kids on the basketball court and the laughter from the winos as they passed around the communal bottle of Night Train.

"Beautiful morning isn't it?" Marlene spun around. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." Her eyes met his, pale blue, filled with humor. The air was thick with smog. She could feel the small beads of sweat on her face. "The heat is a killer," he said handing her a tissue. Marlene quickly wiped her face. She glanced at the fishmonger who had completed gutting the fish. She glanced at the vegetable-walla--rearranging his display--placing onions and carrots upfront and moving the bruised tomatoes and oranges to the back. She turned to the stranger and smiled--exposing the wide gap between her teeth. She watched as he pushed a strand of hair from his eyes. He was tall and thin--long haired like most of the white men she'd seen in India. Searching for nirvana with the guidance of a guru to help stamp out the complications of their lives."I could go for a beer," he said shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "But it's too early. An orange would work." Marlene smiled. "My name is Collin," he said removing his hand from his pocket and extending it out to her. "See that stall there?" He said pointing to the fruit and vegetable stall. "They have the best oranges." Marlene eyed him with skepticism. "Can I buy you one?"