AVATAR

Last nights: Belgrade.

 

The day finally came, Christmas Day and Benito woke up to find a new day (without pigeons! Imagine that.), but that was not the important thing for there were many presents to go around, especially those bestowed upon Benito.  He received a special present from his new adapted sisters, Jovana i Jovana, who got him a hat.  Then, a special package put together by Ivana in the form of special cookies.  These were eagerly bestowed and even more eagerly received, for not only that but also a mug with a decoration from Sakko-Bagna!  How special.  Then they feasted on special mother's cooking, so that they could dance the day away.  ahahaha.  And so they did, pulling the table and chairs away and putting on some Lady Gaga.  (Lady Gaga's new hit is an even bigger hit in Serbia!)  But even before that time of much celebration, Benito had gone to church, going through the park and seeing several police officers chatting up some Serbian girls sitting on a park bench.  He had gone past the University of Architecture in Belgrade and the University Library before coming to some student center and then the park.  there was a lady there in the middle of the park and Benito followed the stone steps to take a closer look.  She was older and reminded Benito rather of some Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt and a couple of park-goers were observing Benito as he performed the ritual.  He paused to look at his phone, then continued along on more stone steps until he came upon an Italian fellow named Cesare.  They talked for a time in Italian before going into the church to pay his respects to Jesus Christ.  That was good.  He kissed the icons in the proper way and contemplated what this Christmas really meant, knowing full well that nobody else was celebrating Christmas at the same time as Benito.  Oh, well. Benito especially contemplated the crucifex of Christ in wood near the high altar, or at least that's what he took it for, with gold doors intact.  A woman sat next to Benito as he sat there, no speaking, just solemn confederacy in their religious experience.  That was also good.  Benito made the first move, going to check out the icons and place his money in the slot as he had seen done.  When he was done, he went to light some candles for his family, as well as his Aunt Martha, who was going into rehab shortly that year.  He left just as another girl with dark hair that he had seen come in was also leaving.  Benito followed her for a ways before coming to a Timeout retail store and ducked inside to find the jeans he wanted.  Right size in hand, Benito continued along, picking up some coffee along the way, buying a different kind just to try, which turned out to be some kind of espresso.  Oh, well.  the lady behind Benito kind of looked at him as though she was disappointed that he had not initiated any type of conversation, but those were the breaks.  Benito had places to see and people to meet.  He was going to catch Avatar, afterall.  Before stepping on the bus, he checked out some sofas, thinking of what a way to get a great Christmas present for Ivana (shhhh... no fair telling!), but they just wanted "Cash money", so Benito was like "ok, see you later!"  Then he boarded the bus.

 

Arriving at the mall at the appointed time, they (Sasha, Ivana and Ivana) were awaiting Benito's arrival and that was cool for he had not had anything to eat to speak of except for maybe coffee.  Ivana offered him a chocolate covered banana and Benito put it in his pocket.  He might just need it on this special mission known as the Avatar.  Benito paid the appointed amount and was then given his 3D glasses.  Then they went to take their seats.  Sasha was awaiting another friend, but arrived just in time before the show started, or rather, quite a bit on time.  But that was all one for the movie was about to start and they had taken their fair share of pictures.  On second thought, maybe this wasn't such a good idea, Benito thought, as the Avatar bounded towards the audience in all its blue glory.  But that was just how it was.  Then these kind of elephants were charging and tiger-like beasts were attacking and it was really loud, but Benito soon got into it, especially with the half-nude natives running around.  For the parts where the natives were talking, Ivana served as a very good translator, as the subtitles were all in Serbian.  The story progressed as the Avatar dude learned the ways of the Nav'i (clever play on the name of the Navijo Indian) and the language was probably similar, Benito figured.  He did know Japanese, but not Serbian :(  Oh, well.  That would do.  In any case, he had studied a bit, but nothing close to understanding all as yet.  He enjoyed it, however, especially during the heavy action sequences, although they were a bit intense and at one point Benito thought Sasha was shaking violently next to him, but then Benito realized that it was actually he that was doing the shaking.  Oh, dear.  Well, it was quite an emotional experience really, fantasizing a quite different end to the manifest destiny ideal of the American settlers and government at that time (sort of like the WWII/ Holocaust fantasy of 'Inglorious Basterds').  The Marine turned Avatar dude was rather like 'Crazy Horse' at the end, performing marvelous feats and jumping high places in order to come around right, bringing down the big Army ship with his dragon destroyer.  It was quite something really.

 

Then they went back and danced the night away!  Haha.  But Benito was a little under the weather, so he made it an early night, and the next day was Christmas!  Haha.  Like I said before, and there was much rejoicing.  Yeeeeeeeah!  They danced and danced to Lady Gaga and other Serbian singers.  And there were other of Anika's relatives were there as well to celebrate and wish Benito a merry Christmas.  They drank a bit of Rakkia and sat in silence for awhile, meditating on each bygone Christmas.  It was very much of a celebration.  Then they had Serbian coffee and there were many 'Ziverli's' to go around.  Then they all said 'goodbye', except for Anika's sister who stayed around to dance the morning away with Benito.  Benito showed her how to swing, downloading some videos off of his Iphone. She was very eager to learn!  And they smoked together as well.  When the others came back, they all danced and especially Benito with Anika's sister.  They did a kind of line dance together; the rest is kind of a blur, except that it was a really good time with much celebration!

 

 

The next day was a day also filled with much excitement and anticipation, for they were going out that night.  And Benito had wandered around a bit, going to the Organic Garden.  There was some sort of party going on there, but Benito paid it little hid, for he needed to use the WC.  That accomplished, he walked slowly past the different herbs on display and a child and its sister walked by, observing Benito through the fence, probably taking him for some tourist, which he was.  But no matter, for Benito had found his destination and now was eagerly anticipating the next one, which would come very shortly he wagered, and included something special he knew, for no sooner was Benito in the Bohemian quarter, then he ran across Aglaya, who introduced him to her parents and invited him to tea.  That was all well and good, but Benito had other plans for himself as he was reading ‘Dracula’, so he made for the nearest restaurant where the Christmas tree was located and sat himself down at the table designated for him, asking for ‘chai’.  This was quite a splendid affair and two other loners were seated in the corner, but Benito did not consider himself to be alone, for all of Serbia was his oyster.  Then he made for the fences.  But not before a woman of Serbian origin attempted to initiate conversation, but Benito had no idea what she was saying, but no matter, for the waiters could speak English, and that was what really mattered.  Bidding adieu to the staff, he went out into the night, stopping briefly to buy some shorts.  That was all well and good for the shopping staff was certainly very friendly indeed.  And then he went on his merry way to catch the crowded bus back to Sacko-Bagno. 

 

Once there, he picked his way around the neighborhood, coming back to the apartment in good order.  Such was his experience, tempted to buy the new issue of Playboy, figuring once again as a good way to learn the language, but refrained.  That was all well and good, for he figured he might pick up some Serbian babes that night on the town, or the barge that is.  And so they did go eventually to the ‘water club’ on the Danube, stopping first briefly to pick up some Kleenex.  That was all well and good, but then they lost track of Mira and the other Ivana, so they ran to catch up, Ivana in her high heels, and a little dog following alongside Benito.  Potential new pet?  They will never know for sure.  But then they caught up to the rest of the party and continued along the water to the appointed club, right near the Beograd Casino Grand.  It was called the Orpheus and there were fountains to greet them as they made their way across the bridge to the club on the other side.  Benito was frisked before going into the club, and he thought that that was kind of funny, but necessary as who knows?  But in any case, that is how the Serbian cookie crumbled.  Then they were in and ordering their drinks, Benito trying to remember the last word in the Serbian expression: “Mogu li da ti platim piche?” But no matter, for he promptly fell asleep, even though he was drinking some sort of water for humming birds.  And sipped on some other alcoholic beverage before falling out.  He watched this nymphet dancing at the table next door, and thought of buying her a drink but realized that she was probably only sixteen, allowed into these certain clubs.  No matter, for there was another nymph dancing nearby as well.  You see. They were all water nymphs here on the water club called ‘Orpheus’.  And so they all danced to Serbian traditional music, including some of Benito’s favorite songs.  And it was quite nice, even if Darko Lazic did not grace them with his presence.  No matter, Benito was having a good time, even if he couldn’t remember the line that Ivana had given him to use in da club.  Well, next time… Now, Benito was too tired to keep his head up, and considered crashing on one of the sofa in the back, but Ivana suggested he go back, so go back he did, but not before taking a good look at the casino.  But Anika was waiting him back at the apartment and it was pretty late and raining, so back he went.  What an occasion!  Anika was waiting him back there and he crashed.

 

The next day was Ivana’s birthday and Benito went with her through the rain to get a few things at the Maxi.  But before that time, they stopped and Benito got a Panacinke to eat which is filled with something like cream cheese.  There they bought some stuff, including a trash can, which was kind of like a Christmas present, in addition to the earrings that Benito had gotten for the girls at Kalamegdon.  Then they cleaned up a bit, before going on their merry way.  The first guest to show up was a fellow teacher of Ivana’s and a very cheery sort.  So they talked it up, all about their shared love for Novak Djokovic, and he showed Benito a little video of the tennis star doing karaoke.  What a riot!  Then some other guests arrived, including one from nearby Romania, well the border.  In any event, that was all well and good, for soon Benito was dancing the night away, and that was his present to Ivana.  They snacked as well, and Benito helped Anika in these preparations, taking his own sweet time.  Anika and Benito especially had quite a time together!  They danced after Benito asked her and did some hip-hop moves as well.  Quite something.  And when they played Benito’s song, #1, things really got going, but nobody else seemed to want to dance, despite Benito’s urgings,  they even wondered if Ivana was not paying Benito to dance!  Well, he would soon have to pay… for he had broken the sofa, or something.  But whatev’s.  Now was the time to partay.  He had a nice talk with one of the guests, but did not catch her name, although she had been wearing some nice lingerie stockings that caught Benito’s eye.  He took her seat when she left and almost fell out again, but then they played his song and he got his groove on and there was much rejoicing.  What a night it was again in Sacho-Bagno!  Yippee!

 

 

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