Free Outing of the Heart by Lisa Ann Harper

papier mache balloon. The price was not right, but she fell in love with its animated passengers in the wicker basket, jolly and colorful. Her one extravagance. She’d better not make a habit of it, she’d be broke within the month.
The first thing Tenille wanted on her return was to get the balloon airborne. She had the hook, but now she came to think of it, perhaps her landlady wouldn’t approve. Better check. Knocking lightly on the living room door, it was quickly answered by Furio.
‘Hello, come in,’ he smiled at her, opening the door wider. ‘Lucky for you I was here. Everyone is in the kitchen and they’re making that much of a racket, you’d never have gotten any attention.’
‘No, I don’t want to interrupt anything,’ she protested. ‘I just need to ask your mother something,’ she explained.
Furio stood there, watching Tenille speak. He thought her so pretty - that topaz skin. He liked her luxurious hair and flashing eyes. He watched the full bloom of her mouth as she talked. Such kissable lips … and to think … she had come to live downstairs. “This could get interesting,” ran through his head.
‘Listen, no trouble. I’ll get her for you.’ He gave her another smile, as he turned back into the room. She found it creepy. Was it almost a leer? Glad to see Mrs. Sandrelli, all thoughts of her encounter with him faded.
‘I’m sorry to bother you when you have company …’ she began, but the older woman interrupted.
‘Is all right. I was coming to see you myself. You want I show you the laundry set up?’ She was wiping her hands on that ever present apron, her son still hung about. ‘Furio, you go inside now.’ She turned back to Tenille. ‘Come, we go down together,’ leading the way, she opened the door opposite Tenille’s.
‘Oh, yes … thank you, but I wanted … wanted to see you about another matter,’ she pursued hesitantly.
‘Bene , we talk after.’ Mrs. Sandrelli made everything clear. She seemed most concerned about the quantity of detergent; that and not leaving clothes sitting in the dryer. Tenille guessed these must have been serious bones of contention.
‘I’ll take care.’
They went across to the apartment where she proudly showed off her new purchase. Mrs. Sandrelli duly admired it, but Tenille suspected she was just being polite. ‘The question is, would you mind if I put it up in the bathroom?’
A look of concern crossed the woman’s face. “Oh dear, holes in the ceiling.” She didn’t want to deny her new tenant on her first day, but … ‘Let me check with my husband, okay?’ She went upstairs, Tenille waited, fearing the worst.
She returned with Furio in tow. ‘Enrico, he say is okay, so long you let Furio do the job. He will find the beam and drill the hole for the hook.’ She was nodding her head, willing agreement. ‘I leave you now. You show Furio everything.’
Left alone with the young man, Tenille experienced once again, a moment of discomfort. He seemed to do nothing but stand too close. She found it menacing. Backing away towards the bathroom she said: ‘I’d like it in this corner, please.’
By now they were both in the small room, Tenille close enough to smell his slightly musty, male odor, making her nostrils flare. She wanted to get out, but was trapped. She moved towards the window, indicating the spot. Furio went out to get a chair, freeing her to leave and let him get on with it. It didn’t take long and he was saying: ‘Come and see.’ She approached the room, but didn’t go in.
Standing in the doorway she observed that indeed it looked as good as she had hoped. Furio returned the chair to the kitchen.
‘Any chance of a beer,’ he enquired brazenly, looking her full in the eye. She wasn’t happy about this, but he had just done her