The Ludmila Confessions

Well,  very early next morning there I was in the office of the secretary, making phone calls.

First I needed money, but I cannot call my friend the General in Miami after what I did there, so I will call the friend of my ex- husband, no… not Frank Hunter either, he was not very happy with the border situation, from Colombia to Venezuela. Well, I have only one possible choice,  it must be this one,  I have no other choice, I will call Howard! He is a true friend of my brother and me, since a long time ago.  ( I don’t remember exactly what I told him, I think I said I was robbed in the street, lost my wallet and purse, luckily I left my passport  in my hotel room.)

I hoped he would not ask the name of the Hotel, but knowing his discretion he did not, ( what a lie, the police have them, along  with all my credit cards and money). I just needed to borrow a couple of thousand Bolívares to get too my brothers Island.

Me In same place in Maracaibo awaiting my papers

(As I see it now I began to lose friends slowly but surely, because people were tired of this beautiful young lady being a drunk, constantly needing to be saved from one situation or he another.)

But how could I  tell him where I am it this moment,? But I did not need too,  I need say no more,

so I humbly ask for a loan.

 He ask, when? I replied  As soon as possibly! Can you get to my cousins office?  Well our Boulton office is also in Maracaibo and my cousin  Luis Javier will have a envelope for you.  Luckily, he did not go on asking me too many questions, and just said,  “see you when you are in Caracas. chauo, Chauo!”

My mama used to say good news travel far but the bad once travel even further!.

This is Monday,  well, how am I going too go too his offices on Wednesday? I am in jail…

……. Monday came and went.  Tuesday I awoke to a noise of lots of people, more accidents and officers everywhere, and as I got up from my hammock I noticed an envelope with no names and inside was my ticket to Caracas and my passport  and may small cash,Thank you my dear God.

This deserves same vodka or rum, I’ll see if I can send someone across the street to get me some with my gambling winnings and this cash to reciprocate there’s generosity, invite my police gambling friends..

But tomorrow I need to be in the offices at the embarcadero, the port offices of the Boultons is on Blvd. Marina,  down by the piers. How am I go to manage this one.? That evening I did not even look for a game of cards just put the bottle of Rum on their table,  and  I went too may hamaca with my Kitty lying thinking how  can I get out from here? when Pepita knocked gently, came on, she  said, “You can leave tomorrow morning early before everyone arrives at the offices, is that  O.K. with you?” , I mumbled something.  I think I was in shock or in fear?  What’s now?

I did have fun in that penthouse

About 5am I pick up my bundle of small possessions and my kitty, the door was unlocked and the guards were snoring endlessly. Silently I squeezed thru the doors, made the sign of a cross and very slowly start walking out of jail! I was out of this hell, but I needed money, so see about my ticket and get back to Canaima directly. I didn’t even want to think about stopping in Caracas the way I looked, so I thought, I will go as soon as possible to Anatoly Island and stay their for a while!.

That free air and the indian woman walking everywhere with the same dresses I bought for myself, only theirs were in different parents and colors, past the market place, had a cup of coffee very good that Andes coffee! everything look so new and different and bright, different aromas I smell and colors and he bluest sky I eversen , of course was hot most being on the late 90 already and is only early morning, don’t know but it did not disturb my happiness or erase the smile on my face,.

Now breathing the air from the sea, I knew I was going in  the right direction for the Boulton building.

After about an hour, I was by the piers full of cargo ships and oil pumps in the distance, in and out of the waters, that is what I smelled long ago– a mix with the salt and fresh air, it was not bad!.Actually I love at!.

There it was– the Boulton Building and by now it was about 8am almost, I still had my gold watch that Bernard gave me. I waited until the  doors  opened at 9 am. exactly, very English,  I walked into this nice building. Well, nothing to write home about, but they had a very pretty receptionist who said,  Welcome, can I help you? ( I did not expect less from the Boultons!) Beauty was a very important part of their lives and in the whole of the Venezuelan high society, some real aristocrats like the Boultons were descendants of the U.K.Lord Ships, So  I asked  for the office of Senor Luis Javier?  I  did not even  finish saying my name when she showed me into  his office, and closed the doors behind me. Sr. Luis Javier was  in the phone, showing me with his hand to come in and sit down.

He was slowly walking towards me while finishing the conversation, with his hand stretched out in salutation. We said hello and talked some little nothings, as I looked around this gigantic office, all mahogany walls, original paintings of pirates and Ocean views, fantastic wood  floors, giant beams on the ceiling, probably from some old ship. It  looked  everything was so rich and big, It reminded me of  one of the offices of General Marcos Pérez Jiménez very rich, only the Generals was knew money and this is old money, could help but  admire this incredible office,

just like in that office, the desk looked small in comparison to the gigantic room.  He offered me a cup of  tea or coffee, so I politely  accepted, and then he asked “Where are you staying?” I could not tell your, at the moment I am looking for a place for couple of days, ( I could tell he liked me, he had the  family taste,)   I said for the moment I left my place of residence and am looking for a lovely hotel; can you recommend one not very gregories!  (I forget to mention that my dear jailer said be sure to wait for my papers before leaving the city, so I still cannot go anywhere out of Maracaibo). It was like I was on parole until then.

Here is a envelope that my uncle Howard sent you, by our  courier, which I almost forgot (little did he  know I would not forget.)  “Thank you very much for that good coffee , Venezuelan ?  Yes, you know Luis I prefer the Venezuelan coffee from Colombian, which is very good, but in my opinion  “Caffe Imperial” was the one we bought,  when we lived here, we love it.

Then it was goodbye, adios gracias, I got up to leave, when he said  would you consider this?, you see I have to leave for Caracas in the morning and in my apartment I have everything anyone would need, with two bedrooms. You can stay there for few days until you are ready to leave.

“Oh no I couldn’t!”  “But please, my uncle would want you to stay–  please!” “Well, I accept but only until I find something suitable for me;

I be leaving Maracaibo shortly myself, I hope!”

So  I accepted his offer, he gave me the keys and the address and send me with one of his workers down to his place.

Things were looking better! of course, probably he thinks I am a girlfriend of his uncle, so he better be nice to me, this will probably  stop him from making a pass at me..

“We are here Senorita!” I have my things, just a bag of nothings and my kitty which strangely nobody said anything about, purring away happily. There we were on the third floor which is the last floor of the building the Penthouse! As soon as I closed the door, before even taking a shower or taking care of kitty, I looked for alcohol. Well well, he is very well stocked! There was all kinds of wines,whiskies, brandies, rum and other liquor! Whoopee! CHEERS.