Читать книгу BOGUS - Jill Ganger - Страница 11

Hassan took him to the airport in Tripoli, where his father had purchased a first class airplane ticket on Tunisair for him. He flew, using his Libyan passport, to Mexico City. He would arrive in Mexico City and be met by an associate of his father, who went by the name of Roberto. He too had entered Mexico on a Libyan passport, but a counterfeit passport had been made for him that turned him into a Mexican citizen named Roberto Gutierrez. In turn, Roberto had a passport made for nineteen year old Amad. He became a Mexican citizen named Miguel Elian. Roberto told Amad that school records at an elite private school in Mexico City had been created for him by a corrupt schoolmaster who had been paid by Amad’s father. Roberto had found an apartment for Amad in a location that would be safe and convenient to the private school. Amad would need to apply to colleges in the United States using these school records and a glowing recommendation from this schoolmaster, and stay at the apartment until he was informed of his acceptance to the school of his choice.

His apartment was small but had a nice bedroom with a small but functional kitchen and was in what seemed like a nice area of the city. He was alone in Mexico City. The only person he knew was Roberto, but he was close to his father’s age. Now here he was, basically alone and in a strange city with a new language and a new name. He would be here for a while - until his forms were submitted and he was approved for a university in America. He knew his father would give him any amount of money that he asked for to enjoy this adventure in Mexico City. He needed to practice speaking and understanding Spanish anyway, so he might as well have a good time in the process.

Roberto had just left him in the apartment to fend for himself. His only tasks for the next few months were to present himself at the school to ensure that his forged records were attainable by the universities in the United States. He and his father would select the school that he would attend. The rest of his time was for him to play. After all that time in the caves, with his father, and in school, he needed some time for fun. To him, at nineteen years old, that meant women and drinking.

He decided to go out for a walk to explore the neighborhood. He closed up the apartment and went down the two flights of stairs and out to the street. He briefly looked in all directions and saw that he was indeed in an area that he might enjoy. People walking in the street were young and relatively well dressed. About a block down on his right was a cafe with outdoor seating and across the street from the cafe was what appeared to be a restaurant. There were many restored older buildings that had been turned into apartments such as the one in which he would be living. Down two blocks on his left he noticed flashing building lights, even in the daylight, and his first use of Spanish was to recognize them as identifying a nightclub.

He was tired from his journey, but in spite of that he walked to his right and down to the cafe. He sat down at an outside table and ordered a cup of black coffee. He sipped it slowly while watching the people walk by, and started to plan how he would spend his time here. To Amad, now Miguel, nothing happened by chance, because he liked to plan everything to the smallest detail. He felt that was the best way to avoid mistakes. His keen observations were one way he was able to achieve this. He took mental notes and remembered everything! As he took the last sips from the coffee mug, he decided he would go back to the apartment, take a hot shower, and go to sleep. Then tomorrow he would visit the school to begin the next step in his journey.

He must have been exhausted, because he didn't awaken until the cacophony of noise from the city street and the sunlight came in through the window. He stretched and smiled - he felt great and he was hungry. He opened the refrigerator and saw that it had not been stocked for him. Damn that Roberto! He was so incompetent! He would have to go back to that cafe for breakfast and then find the closest grocery store so that he could purchase the essentials for his new life in Mexico City.

He walked down to the cafe and ordered a large breakfast of pancakes and eggs and of course strong black coffee. He looked around at people at the other tables and found an attractive young woman sitting alone with coffee and toast. Confidently, he walked up to her table and introduced himself. "I'm new in the neighborhood," he said. "Can you tell me the location of the closest market? After all I don't want to take all my meals at this cafe!" He laughed, and she laughed with him, as he knew she would. She invited him to sit at her table and introduced herself.

"I am Belinda Hernandez," she said.

"Glad to meet you Belinda; I am Miguel." She told him that she was fortunate to live and work in this neighborhood. "Apartments are expensive, as you must know, but it is so worth it! Everything is within a few blocks. A Superama is just a block away. I have to walk past it. I will show you when we finish here, if you would like!“

"That would be great," he said. Then consciously he decided to divert the conversation from himself. He asked her where she worked and about her education. Finally he asked about the nightlife in this area of the city. He apparently had been right about the club a block up from his apartment in the opposite direction from the cafe. Belinda told him that it was a great place for him to meet people around his age. She smiled as she said that, and he winked at her in return.

By this time they had finished their breakfast and coffee. She protested, but allowed him to pay the bill. They got up and they walked to the Superama around the next corner. She slipped a small card into his hand as they parted at the entrance to the market. "Give me a call if you'd like. Perhaps I can help you become more acquainted with this part of the city."

"Thank you," he responded.

He looked after her and smiled as she walked away. She was a very nice looking girl, with long jet black hair that swayed with her as she moved. He definitely noticed her body and the way she swaggered as she walked. Things had gone so well. He knew that he could have his way with her if and when he wanted, and he now had an insight into this area of the city.

His thoughts changed their track, as he walked through the doors of the grocery. What a large place this was - far bigger than any grocery at home! There was a whole line of empty carts by the door, and he took one so that he could began to shop. Since he had plenty of time, he decided to go aisle after aisle. It was bright and cheerful in the Superama and things were laid out in a very organized manner. Suddenly he recalled as a boy shopping with his mother at the outdoor markets where different vendors sat next to one another while harping their wares. He remembered the colorful spices in large barrels and the fruit and vegetables under the awnings to keep them fresh. He realized that he had never shopped for himself before. At home it was his mother who had that responsibility, and at the camp food was prepared by the staff and served to the students as they moved in a long line. When they were on a camping trip or on a specific mission, they had to learn to cook for themselves. But the meals were just the basics - usually some kind of preserved meat and beans. Now for the first time he could buy and prepare whatever he wanted to eat! As he traveled through each aisle, he picked items off the shelves and placed them in his cart. He bought fresh eggs, and milk. He bought fruit and vegetables - some fresh and some in cans. He bought beef and chicken, so he could eat like a native of Mexico. He was surprised at so many shelves of bread. There were so many choices, and they were all ready to eat. His mother would have to buy flour and bake the bread each day for his father. As he completed the last aisle he noted that his cart was over half full. He saw the people lining up in the front of the store to pay for their purchases. He stopped to observe them taking the items out of the cart and placing them on a moving belt that deposited them in front of the cashier. Finally when he understood the process he stood in line. By the time he had gotten to the front of the line, he understood how the cash register calculated the money that was due. The cashier told him the amount and he paid in cash. The items were placed in plastic bags and the bags were placed back in the cart. He wheeled the cart through the huge doors that automatically opened for him. This was all such an amazing experience for him! He had taken his time in the market and when he finally came out the sun was higher in the sky and it looked like a beautiful day. He took a deep breath and started to cough! The air was disgusting; he wasn't used to pollutants in the air. Ugh! He walked back to the apartment carrying the heavy bags of groceries. He had to stop several times and put the bags on the sidewalk in order to catch his breath. When he reached his apartment building, he had to walk up the stairs with all the groceries in order to get to his apartment. When everything was put away, he made a short list of essentials that he still needed to purchase. Finally he took a leisurely shower before hooking up his laptop computer to the internet. He checked for email from home, and then did some research on the small private school where he was supposed to have been educated. Both his father and Roberto had given him the name of the current headmaster, who had only been in the employ of the school since the beginning of the semester. The school counselor and the administrator in charge of the school records had been paid handsomely for entering the attendance and school grades and activities of a student named Miguel Elian into the school database.

Now Miguel needed to verify that everything had been completed as designed. He also needed to get his applications started for the universities in America. He planned on calling for an appointment with the headmaster, but first he reviewed the email from his father that contained the school records that were created for him. He must feel comfortable discussing his classes and activities with the headmaster. He checked the address of the school and its proximity to his apartment. It really wasn't too far. He could take a taxi, but he would prefer to walk. He printed out a Google Map to carry with him. That done, he decided that he might as well get started today, as he picked up the telephone to call the school. He was surprised that he was able to schedule an appointment with the headmaster for the following day. That was good; he really didn't want to waste time - he wanted to move onward with his plans for his future. Time here in Mexico City would be fun he thought, but very temporary until he could begin his new life in the United States.

He wanted to be fresh for his appointment at the school tomorrow, so he decided not to party this evening. He would relax for the rest of the day, cook a nice dinner, and get a good night of sleep. He was still tired from his long journey, so he fell into a deep sleep that lasted until the sun brightened the room through the shades as it rose in the sky. He sat up in bed feeling refreshed and ready for the day, turned on the coffee maker, and jumped into the shower.

He sat at the small table sipping his coffee and looking at the opened laptop. He was refreshing his memory on the details of his years at the school. He wanted to remember names of teachers, students, and classes. He wanted to be able to visualize the campus, classrooms, and offices. He still had 2 1/2 hours until his appointment, so he leisurely ate a slice of toast that he had smothered with butter and jam. Once he felt sufficiently prepared he pushed the chair away from the table and wiped the table clean from any crumbs that might have fallen. Then he washed the small plate, coffee cup, and knife and fastidiously placed them back in the cabinet. He picked up his keys and his laptop on his way out the door, locking the door behind him.

It shouldn’t take him more than about thirty minutes to get to the school, but he carefully had allowed forty five minutes in case any unforeseen situation might occur. It was a beautiful day and he enjoyed watching people on the streets as he negotiated his planned route to the school.

He arrived at the address of the school. A black wrought iron fence surrounded the grounds. He wondered if that fence was to keep people out or to keep students in! He called the administration office on the touch pad at the gate. He gave his name, and the voice coming through the speaker asked him to wait a moment. Confidently he stood staring at the touch pad. Shortly he heard a buzz and the gate creaked as it slowly opened. He walked through and mentally seeing his notes, he knew the exact path to the headmaster’s office. He had arrived at a comfortable twenty five minutes early, so he walked slowly and noticed the environs. He watched the students walking and sometimes running between their classes. He noticed the trees, the buildings, and the worn through window shades on most of the windows. He did not like the feelings that he was beginning to sense just by being in this alternate universe. He shuttered slightly as he opened the door of the administration building, and again as he entered the headmaster’s office. He didn’t want to be there! A chunky, past middle-aged woman sat at a desk with a polished surface, with nothing but a telephone and a small note pad and pencil sitting on the desk in front of her. She smiled and said, “You must be Miguel Elian.”

He nodded and responded, “Yes - I am a bit early.”

“The headmaster will be with you shortly,” she said. She gestured for him to have a seat. The chairs looked extremely uncomfortable, as if they had been placed there as a punishment in itself, for troubled students. He noticed the framed certificate and letters on the walls. He saw the thread-worn carpet. He was thinking of how he would have hated it here, when the inner office door opened. A jovial looking man with pink cheeks and a balding head emerged with a smile on his face. “Come in - come in,” he said enthusiastically. Miguel got up and walked into the office closing the door behind him. He smiled, thinking of how easy this would be.

"I see from your records that you graduated two years ago," the headmaster said. "I also see that you were an outstanding student!"

"That is precisely why I am here! I went to work after I left this school, but now I have belatedly decided to go to the University. I would like to go to the United States to study! I was hoping that a counselor might assist me with the applications!"

"Have you thought about where you would like to go? What interests you as far as a field of study?" Damn - why doesn't he just send me to the counselor, Miguel thought. He took a deep breath before he answered.

"I have an interest in the field of chemistry. I think I would like to work in a research lab. There are many good programs in American universities for that. I was hoping that the counselor here would help me make my choices, and then assist me with the applications."

"Of course we can help! Helping a student to succeed is our main task! Let's see if Mr Valdez can see you now while you are already here. You can give him your thoughts and then he perhaps can give you brochures on the universities that he would suggest. Then you can set up an appointment for a later date to make your final decisions. How does that sound?" Miguel thanked him profusely as the headmaster picked up the telephone.

The hastily arranged immediate appointment was scheduled, and Miguel took off across campus after thanking the headmaster and promising to visit again when he came back to the school campus to see Mr. Valdez again. He opened the door to the office of the counselor precisely seven minutes after leaving the headmaster. Mr. Valdez greeted him with courtesy, certainly not knowing that Miguel knew exactly how much money he had received for this deception. "Thank you for seeing me on such a short notice! I would like your assistance in applying to Universities in the United States. I have decided that I am interested in a school that is known for excellence in the field of chemical engineering, assuming my grades and school records will allow that."

"Certainly Miguel, I will be more than glad to be of assistance to such an excellent student. Shall we start?" Miguel smiled and nodded yes. Mr. Valdez already was holding a folder with a label that showed it contained Miguel's forged records. He pretended to skim through the papers in the file. "Excellent - excellent" - he mumbled for Miguel's benefit. "I always suggest that students apply to more than one school. Each year the criteria for acceptance may change for each school especially for the more prestigious programs. I would suggest that you apply to the University of Michigan and the University of Pennsylvania. They are both superior schools and they are very happy to have foreign students that excel. They both have excellent programs in your chosen field. Let me give you a school catalogue for each of them."

"Thank you Mr. Valdez, I would love to have the catalogues, but I have done research and I agree with your choices of universities for me. Can we begin the applications today?"

"You sound like a young man who knows what he wants! Of course we can, Miguel!" He got up from his desk and turned to the bookshelf behind him where he pulled out two catalogues and handed them to Miguel. Then he walked a few steps to his file cabinet in order to get the applications for the schools. Sitting back down and looking again at Miguel's records he pretended that he didn't remember where they came from. "I see you have already taken the college entrance exams, and that you have done extremely well. That is wonderful for you! It should make the application process that much easier. I have the forms here that I need to complete and send to the schools, and I will be happy to get the results of your exams sent to the schools as well. Here are the forms that you need to fill out. After you complete them and write your essays, perhaps you would like to meet with me again. I can go over your work before you mail the applications."

"Thank you," Miguel responded. "Thank you for your offer! I will dedicate my time to completing the paperwork and contact you when it is done. I am excited about moving on with this next stage of my life!" Miguel pushed his chair back as he stood to leave. Mr. Valdez also stood and both of them moved toward the door. They shook hands, and Miguel left closing the door behind him.

He felt good about the developments of the day. He glanced around at the students roaming the campus as he walked toward the gate. He thought about his own education. These pampered kids would never have made it through his school in Libya, his father's demands, and certainly not the education he received deep in the caves of Afghanistan.

Feeling very good about how the meetings had gone, he closed the gate behind him and walked happily onto the street. He decided to take a leisurely walk back to his apartment so he could begin to get familiar with this area of the city. He carried the University catalogues and the applications in the leather case that his father had given him. With his strict self discipline he knew that he would be completing the applications within the next few days, but a few hours off to clear his head and get some exercise would be good for him.

As he walked back towards his apartment he noticed a well manicured park on his left. The grass was green, and colorful flowers and small bushes bordered the sidewalks in the park. He decided to detour and take a short walk in the park. After all it was such a beautiful day! He observed as the children were laughing and playing in a sandy area with their parents closely watching. Some of them were climbing up a ladder and sliding down screaming in glee most of the way down until they landed in the sand. Some children sat on benches at tables eating snacks while their parents sat beside them. There were benches along the walkway. Most of them were unoccupied, but some were occupied by tattered and dirty people laid out across the bench taking a nap. Other benches had more than one person sitting in conversation with one another. Some benches had a solitary person reading a newspaper or just staring into the space in front of him. Suddenly he noticed an empty bench and impulsively decided to stop, sit, and experience the park as if he had been there many times. He watched the children and he watched the business people walking through the park on their way to somewhere else. Even though he found this enjoyable, he knew that he had indulged himself enough and it was time to continue on his way.

When he got back to the apartment he fixed himself a small lunch before opening his leather case. He examined the applications. They were long and detailed with several essays to write - as he had expected. He had already begun to write these essays on the airplane guessing what the subject of them would be. He could tweak them as necessary, but at least a lot of the work already had been done. When he completed the applications, both schools would allow him to upload them and make an online payment for the application fee, but he would wait until after he spoke again to Mr. Valdez.

Time enough for that tomorrow, he thought as he put the applications back in the folder. It was getting late in the afternoon and he wanted to enjoy himself this evening. It would be a good time to check out the nightclub down the street! For now he straightened up the place, putting the rest of his clothes in the closet, the new dishes in the kitchen cabinet, and the dry food in the pantry cabinet. When his work was done, he took a shower, and decided to have a nice dinner in a small restaurant that he had seen earlier on his walk back to the apartment.

After dinner he leisurely walked home to check for any email from his father, but nothing had arrived yet. Instead he wrote his father about the airplane trip, meeting Roberto, the apartment, and lastly about the meetings at the school. He closed the laptop and set it on the small desk in the corner of the living room. He changed his clothes into more casual attire, checked his appearance in the small bathroom mirror, and finally walked out the door locking it behind him.

Maybe Belinda will be there, he thought as he walked. He kind of hoped she would be, but not enough to have called her first to arrange a meeting there. It was just that he had already put in the work to begin a relationship of sorts with her, and if she wasn't there he would have to start over with someone else. Briefly he thought about that and dismissed it. He had plenty of time! He looked down the street and he could see people congregating outside of the club. As he approached them he decided to intermingle just enough to pass through the crowd and quickly enter the club. He hoped to find a seat at the bar. It was crowded as he expected, but it was easy enough to find a single seat. He ordered a scotch and water and sipped it as he looked around the bar. There appeared to be many single women, and most of them were in small groups. They were giggling and laughing already feeling the alcohol. He wasn’t interested in them. Finally he saw someone that appealed to him. He smiled as he watched her sitting at the far corner of the bar, looking furtively around for someone that he expected didn't really exist. Their eyes met, and she quickly looked away.

There was an empty seat next to her. Maybe it was reserved for her missing date, or maybe it was truly empty. He picked up his drink determined to find out which it was. He knew that she was watching him. He slid the stool back and asked her if the seat was taken. She smiled and gestured for him to sit. He nodded his head and his eyes said thank you. He took a few small sips from the drink before he began the conversation that he knew she was waiting for! He noticed that her drink was nearing empty. "May I buy you a drink?" He noticed that she meekly lowered her head as she nodded yes. He ordered two drinks - one for himself as well. Soon their conversation was comfortable. He knew that he was good at getting what he wanted from women, and after about fifteen minutes he suggested that they could hear each other better if they left the club. Perhaps they could go to his apartment which was just one block away! She vigorously nodded no, but as the music and cacophony gradually increased over the next half hour, she finally agreed! As she stood up from the bar stool, he realized that he had made an excellent choice! She had a very nice body! She was young, that was clear from her features, her demeanor, and the conversation. She was exactly what he needed right now!

They walked slowly toward his apartment as he held her hand. He kissed her gently on her cheek as he opened the door to the apartment building. After all he didn't want her to change her mind! They walked up the steps, he stopped on the landing to pull her toward him, and he held her chin as he kissed her on the lips. He felt her body respond to his touch which would make everything easier for him, and much less stressful! They walked up the second flight of stairs to his apartment door where he initiated another kiss - this time a long and passionate one. He unlocked the door and gently pulled her inside closing the door behind them. With her back against the door they kissed again, this time he wrapped his arms around her waist. They drifted slowly to her ass as the kiss continued. Slowly he moved her toward the couch never removing his lips from hers. He squatted on the floor next to her after placing her gently down on the couch. At first he placed his hands between her breasts, and waited to feel her response as he moved his fingers to her left nipple. She arched her back ever so slightly, and he was sure that he heard a faint moan. He moved his hand so that he could unbutton her shirt - first one button - then the next - until her shirt was completely unfastened and lay flapping against the sofa on each side of her body. He raised his head from her lips to admire her breasts. They were firm with large dark areoles and nipples that were hard and pointing directly at him. He cupped her breasts with both hands as he rose off the floor and moved between her legs on the couch. She grabbed at his shirt on her way to finding his belt and finally his zipper. His hands moved across her stomach holding them there for a few seconds before lifting her skirt, then reaching inside her panties to test her wetness. This experience was made so much easier and more pleasurable by the fact that her hand was already on his hardness! It didn't seem like a long time had passed, yet he was inside her releasing himself from all the tensions that had accumulated within him.

When it was over, he rolled off of her trying to think of a way to quickly have her leave his apartment. He really didn't want to make it a negative experience, because he might need her again. After all he really didn't have a clue yet how long he would remain in this city. Fortunately for him, she didn't seem to resist his efforts to end the evening, because she had to go to work in the morning. She gave him her cell number, and they kissed as he escorted her down the stairs and out into the street. He went back upstairs and back into his apartment. He took a deep breath - he felt fortified!

He didn't allow himself the luxury of sleeping late in the morning. He needed to maintain the self discipline that he prided himself on! He turned over in bed and saw the daylight through the window shade. He stretched a bit before sitting up on the edge of the bed. He checked around the apartment wanting to be sure to remove any signs that a woman had been in his apartment the night before. Today he must work on the applications to both schools. He wanted to have them completed as soon as he could without compromising his work. He worked the entire day and into the evening finishing up and completing any necessary rewrites the following morning.

Mr. Valdez would be very surprised at his rapid completion of the paperwork. He did want to take advantage of the offer to review of his application if for no other reason than to ensure that Mr. Valdez would do his part in sending the required information to the Universities.

Mr. Valdez met with him, and the applications were reviewed. Once approved, he submitted them immediately so that he would receive an early acceptance to the schools. He checked back a week later to verify that Mr. Valdez had done his work, and then he emailed his father to inform him that Mr. Valdez’ work was complete.

He was accepted into the University of Pennsylvania, and entered the United States on a temporary student visa with a Mexican passport.