The room was in darkness; she couldn’t even see his shadow.
“Where are you, Ray?” she said.
“Over here, Christine.”
Christine moved towards his voice.
“Are you okay?”
“I think so… What are you doing?”
“Relax, it’s just my hand…”
“You’re wearing blue jeans…”
“Actually, they’re a bit faded.”
“There’s a hole here,” said Ray. “Is that a fashion statement?”
“It’s a long story… I tore them on a piece of metal in the adventure playground.”
“The adventure playground,” he said. “I always wanted to go there.”
His right hand came to rest in her back pocket.
“You’ve got some money,” he said.
“Only ten Euros.”
“I’ve never been paid for sex.”
Christine laughed.
“You’re not wearing a belt.”
“No.”
“Pity.”
“What would you do with a belt?”
This time it was Ray’s turn to laugh. Then he stopped abruptly.
“Dimples,” he said appreciatively, “one, on either side.”
“You are an expert.”
“I pride myself on being able to read the hot spots.”
“I’m not sure I have those.”
“And no piercing.”
“No,” said Christine, feeling his hands on her belly.
“Thank God for that.”
“What’s wrong with piercings?
“Nothing. I am just a little squeamish. That’s all.”
“I hope you don’t mind,” he said, slowly letting his hands run up her flanks.
“No,” she said. “I don’t mind.”
After all, it wasn’t such a bad thing being touched by a naughty blind man.
*
“I, for one, cannot imagine what it must be like to be blind.”
“What do you think she sees in him?”
“What does a woman ever see in a man.”
“Unless, of course, you are talking about me.”
“I wasn’t talking about you. I was just trying to understand the appeal for her.”
“It’s a dark room and he’s got wandering hands.”
“No,” said George. “It’s what he says. He has a way with words. And I think it’s his voice. Bruno also has a beautiful, most natural voice.”