LUCKY IN CYPRUS: LUCKY IN LOVE

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But before there was war there was romance.

Lucky reminded Andreas of his promise to take him to Athena’s house and late one afternoon he found himself perched under an olive tree across from Athena’s place, waiting for her father to return home from work

Yorgo’s villa was similar to Lucky’s, except the land area was twice the size and the main house - also made out of hand-hewn yellow limestone blocks - was a bit smaller and a few years older. Several cottages were scattered around the villa, homes for Yorgo’s extended family of brother, sisters and grandparents.

Lucky was so nervous while he waited that he barely noticed the old goat trot out of the heat into the shade. After staring at him suspiciously, it sighed and thumped down beside him. The animal’s rich odor was just making itself known when the boy heard the familiar rumble of the motorbike.

Yorgo didn’t appear surprised when he saw Lucky waiting there. A dazzling smile split his big face. "Lucky, my young friend!" he cried. "Finally, you have come to see Athena!" The boy blushed. Yorgo shook his head, laughing. "My daughter has not left me in peace since the day she met you. Soon, I was going to come and fetch you myself."

Lucky studied his shoe laces. "Athena said she liked the movies… the cinema," he mumbled.

"Then you must offer to take her," Yorgo advised. He slapped Lucky on the back with a meaty hand. "Come, my young friend. I will take you to her myself."

Someone in the villa must have spotted Lucky waiting under the olive tree, because when Yorgo led him through the back door into a large kitchen the room was packed with people. Some sat around the long finely finished wooden table that took up the center of the room. Others were standing, or perched on handmade stools and chairs, that lined two walls. Women, fussing babies, old clucking grannies in black and several men in farm clothes were noisily present - welcoming Lucky as Yorgo escorted him into the kitchen.

Despite the crowd, the first person Lucky noticed was Athena - sitting in a corner on a tall, three-legged stool with a cane seat. Her brothers and sisters were gathered around the stool, teasing her without mercy. She was blushing furiously, but the moment their eyes met it was as if a lightning bolt had struck them simultaneously. Lucky couldn’t move.

Yorgo gently nudged him forward. At the same time, Athena’s grandmother - a striking woman with silver hair and rich black widow’s clothing - grabbed a small silver tray off the table and handed it to Athena. She said something in Greek to the girl, who blushed, but nodded and took the tray. The room grew silent - even the fussing babies were quiet - as Athena approached Lucky with the tray. In the center was a small white cup and saucer, filled with steaming hot Cypriot coffee. The rich fumes made Lucky feel a little dizzy, adding to his sense of unreality. Surrounding the little cup and saucer were small plates, decorated with hand-painted buds. Multi-colored honeyed treats filled each one.

In a husky voice, Athena asked, "You would like coffee, Lucky?"

"Yes, please," was his awkward reply.

There was a buzz as people repeated the exchanged words as if they were of great significance.

Lucky lifted the little cup with trembling fingers. Athena revolved the tray, offering sweets. "Thank you, Athena," Lucky said, reaching. A shock ran through him as their fingers touched.

Yorgo’s big voice boomed from behind the boy. "Lucky wants to ask you something of great importance, Athena,"

Athena’s eyes rose to meet the boy’s. They were huge and expectant. Lucky took a deep breath, steadying himself. "Well," he said, "you told me, you… uh… liked the… uh… uh… cinema."

"Oh, yes, I do!" Athena replied as if movies were the most important thing in the world.

Lucky nodded, encouraged. "So, I was sort of wondering, if uh… if uh…" Then it suddenly became difficult for him continue and his voice trailed off. He cleared his throat, pushing on. "I was thinking if maybe we could go to the cinema together sometime."

An appreciative murmur swept around the room as the words were swiftly translated and passed on.

Athena’s lips parted, teeth flashing. Little stars sparkled in her eyes. "Oh, I’d like to go with you very much!" she said, with as much passion as if he’d invited her to a palace ball.

"Good," Lucky said.

In his confusion, he couldn’t think of anything else to say. Her answer so thrilled him that he was unsure how to go on. There was a long, uncomfortable silence until finally, Athena sighed and asked, "When would you like us to go?"

"Oh," Lucky said, feeling like a fool. He tried to sound casual as he said, "How about… oh, I don’t know… would Saturday night be okay?" Despite his tone, the night he’d chosen had great significance to him.

Athena glanced at her father, who gave a slight nod. Another smile lit up her face and she said, "Saturday is fine."

Lucky had checked all the times in advance at the Nicosia Municipal Theatre. He said, "I could pick you up at uh… uh… I mean… would six o’clock be okay? The movie starts at 7. That should give us enough time to get there and buy tickets and… and… well… tickets."

There was a low hissing sound and Athena’s eyes turned abruptly to one side. Lucky followed her gaze and he saw Athena’s grandmother - forbidding in her black dress and regal head crowned with white. The woman whispered something in Greek that Lucky couldn’t understand. Even so, he assumed the worst. An adult was about to spoil all his plans. Wasn’t it always so?

His heart sinking like a ship in stormy seas, he blurted: "Tell her Saturday is my birthday."

Athena translated his request. The old woman smiled and said something to Athena. The girl said to Lucky, "She said congratulations. And asks how old you will be."

"Thirteen," Lucky said. Then, inspired he repeated his answer in Greek - he knew all the numbers by then. "Eemay dega-treeah hronon," he said.

The grandmother’s smile broadened. "Hronia pola, Lucky," she said, dipping her head slightly.

Lucky knew that phrase was a traditional Greek birthday toast, meaning - "Many years more."

"Efharistoh, Ya-Yah," he replied with enthusiasm. "Ya-yah" was the word for grandmother. Lucky had heard it used in polite conversation when addressing elderly women of respect. So he assumed that it was appropriate here.

The whole room exploded with laughter. The family was delighted he’d been going to so much trouble to learn their language. And calling the grandmother "ya-yah" had been the perfect thing to do.

Lucky said, "Does that mean you can go, then?"

Athena hesitated and Lucky started getting worried again. Then, she asked, "Can you take my Ya-Yah also?" Lucky frowned. This was an odd twist. Athena misinterpreted his frown and blushed. "We are more formal in Cyprus than in America," she said. Then, turning redder still, "A girl cannot be alone with a boy at night - unless she’… she’s…"

The light suddenly dawned for Lucky. "A chaperone?" he asked. "You must have a chaperone?" Athena nodded, embarrassed. Lucky grinned, then turned and bowed low before the old woman. "It would be my pleasure, Yah-Yah," he said as formally as he could.

Now it was the grandmother’s turn to blush and the whole room rang with laughter. Lucky had passed the test.

*****

Soon came the fateful night. He wore his best suit and used newly won skills to tire an Windsor knot. His mother and Brosina fussed over him, then in a blur he was at Athena’s house and she was a thing of beauty in blue velvet, with lace at the bodice and kid-leather gloves. The whole family fussed, pictures were taken and they were swept into Nikos’s waiting taxi, washed and polished for the occasion.

And then everything slowed down and the young couple sat there silently, each wondering what the other was thinking, as the taxi purred along the dark, silent highway toward the distant lights of Nicosia. Nikos switched on the radio and a popular romantic Greek ballad sounded softly:

Ena felakia eena lego, boli leego.

Theo felakia eena lego, del-ah-boh.

Tria felakia eena lego, boli leego.

Tho-se-mu tesira - ella tha-su-doah!

Lucky relaxed. He knew the song well. Thea, Brosina’s young assistant, sang it all the time. Loosely translated, the words meant: "One kiss is so little, so little. Two kisses are just as little. Three kisses are so little, so little. But give me four - then come closer and we shall see."

Near the song’s end, Athena’s gloved hand closed on Lucky’s and she whisper/sang: "Ena feelakia, eena leego, boli leego…"

Lucky suddenly found it hard to breathe. Then he gasped as Nikos shot the cab through the middle of dense, bicycle bell-ringing, car-honking traffic and Nicosia was all around them, full of the exotic sights, sounds and smells of the ancient city. The taxi swept up before the theater - joining a line of others cabs dropping people off. It was an elegant building - three stories high with white Greek-style columns and tasteful decorations.

Nikos leaped from cab and grandly handed out Athena’s Ya-Yah and then Athena, herself. At that moment Lucky’s hotel-bred instincts came to his rescue. As he climbed out he pulled himself together and quietly slipped Nikos a few shillings to entertain himself while he was waiting. He leaned close to whisper: "Please, Nikos, would it be too much trouble for you to help me with the tickets?" At the same time he slipped Nikos a few more shillings.

Nikos chuckled and whispered: "I will say that the great American gentleman, Mister Lucky, is about to honor them with his presence."

With that Nikos raced up to the box office and pounded on the side door until someone opened it. A hurried conversation ensued. A tip was passed. Lucky saw a young woman glance curiously over at him, nod, then turn to consult with Nikos. Lucky’s was fully alert now. All his faculties were returned to him - in spades. Growing bolder by the minute, he offered one arm first to the older woman and the other to Athena. And then, quite grandly, he led them toward the box office, his steps growing lighter, his posture straighter with every step he took.

At the box office a young, very pretty assistant manager, swept them past a marveling crowd. Ya-Yah’s eyes were burning with delight and Athena had a smile of supreme satisfaction and she shook out her dark hair, the perfume washing over Lucky, and squeezed his arm.

The assistant manager turned them over to the chief usher. Lucky slipped him several coins and the man straightened like a soldier called to formal attention by his beloved general. Athena and her grandmother murmured in surprise as the usher led them not to the ground floor seating, but straight to the wide, richly carpeted stairway that spiraled to the higher level where the box seats were.

Lucky had reserved the best booth in the house, which had cost him nearly two dollars, American. A small door led into the booth - which was in the exact center of the theater, offering a perfect view. The usher opened it, revealing several thickly-upholstered chairs with serving tables sitting next to each one. In front was a small sofa, just big enough for two. Athena’s grandmother whispered something to the usher and he nodded - seating the couple on the sofa and the grandmother in the back so they could have privacy, but still be under her watchful eye. A menu was presented. Lucky coolly ordered a small pitcher of white wine for Ya-Yah, two frosted colas for himself and Athena and three little trays of delicacies to munch on during the film.

This time he slipped the usher a few cigarettes to assure continued attentive service. The man beamed, bowed low, then hurried away to do Lucky’s bidding. Soon he returned with a tray of drink and food. He also brought two small vases with freshly cut flowers for Athena and her grandmother. Lucky paid the bill and made sure to tip him again. The usher thanked Lucky profusely then indicated a little buzzer set in the wall next to Lucky. It was to call for service should he require anything else.

Bold and confident as he’d been while arranging things, Lucky still couldn’t overcome his shyness with Athena.. The romantic atmosphere of the theater only added to his difficulties. It looked like a grand opera house, instead of a movie hall, with heavy red brocade curtains and gilded decorations. The booths on the balcony level hung above a large, unruly crowd. Hawkers of peanuts and drinks strolled up and down the aisles shouting their wares as if they were in a ballpark, instead of a theater. Lucky wracked his brains, trying to think of what to say. Then, once again, he felt Athena’s hand slip into his. This time she’d removed her glove and the sensation of her bare hand touching his was thrilling.

She leaned close and whispered, "It is your birthday, is it not?"

Lucky nodded. "Yes," he said. Then, the shyness lessened and he grinned. He waved his free hand, taking in the theater. "Thanks for coming to my party."

Athena laughed. "I have a gift for you," she said. Then, with a teasing smile that nearly stopped Lucky’s heart, she added, "But you must wait until after the film." And she gave his hand a squeeze.

Then lights dimmed, the audience noise diminished and there was a swell of music. Lucky and Athena turned just in time to see the curtains part and the white screen glow into magical life. The film Lucky had chosen was "The Man In The Eiffel Tower," starring Charles Laughton and Franchot Tone. The film had been dubbed into French, but the whole bottom of the screen was filled with subtitles. They were stacked in this order: Greek, Turkish, Italian, Spanish, German and at the very bottom, English. That made it easy for Lucky to find his own language and follow the dialogue.

As the film played on, Athena snuggled up to him and the closeness of her body and her perfume made him feel as if he’d been enveloped in a fantasy world as magical as the story playing before his eyes. He even dared to put an arm around her. She not only didn’t object, but snuggled closer still, holding his hand with both of hers. Her grandmother hissed a warning, but it was as if it came a far away dream that did not involve him. He had vague awareness of Athena pulling away for a brief moment and turning to confront her grandmother with a retort. Then she tucked herself back under his arm. And there was no further hissing.

Then, too soon, came the exciting conclusion: The canny thief and killer, Franchot Tone, cornered and fleeing up the Eiffel Tower. The equally canny policeman, Charles Laughton, in close pursuit. For the rest of his life, Lucky would never forget the penultimate scene when Tone arrived at the restaurant at the top, which overlooked all of Paris.

As the scene played out, he whispered to Athena, "I was in that restaurant a few months ago."

His comment was rewarded with a stealthy kiss on his cheek - one that her grandmother wouldn’t notice. Athena’s warm, perfumed breath filled him until he thought he would burst.

Then came the big moment: Tone, pulling out a huge sheaf of bills - his stolen loot - ordered champagne and caviar sandwiches. He insisted that the waiter direct the chef to make the caviar thick and the toasted bread thin and fresh. As for champagne, he said it must be the best the restaurant had to offer. While this last meal was being delivered he set fire to a ten thousand franc note to light a fine cigar. Then he calmly sipped his champagne, enjoying his sandwiches, as well as his cigar. And all the while Laughton tightened the noose. To Lucky it was a rebellious act of such elegance, such disdain for the hard fast rules of this old world, that it made him want to jump into the scene and share Tone’s tragic fate.

Then the film was over, the music playing, credits rolling on the screen. But the lights were still low. Athena pulled Lucky’s head down below the top of the seat. She whispered: "Thank you for the party." And kissed him full on the mouth. The kiss lasted for many long seconds and it was deep and rich and sweet. All the while, Ya-yah hissed and hissed and hissed. But neither one of them paid her any mind. Holding that kiss as long as possible. Then the lights came up and Athena gently pulled away. She sat up straight, decorous and maidenly, fussing with her hair and gathering her gloves and her purse. But she didn’t put them on. Instead, as they left the booth, she held Lucky’s hand very tight - her flesh burning into his.

Then they were in the taxi and all was silent, except for the music on the radio. After a time, Athena unsnapped her purse and took out a tiny packet.

"Oh, how foolish of me," she said. "I nearly forgot your birthday gift."

She handed Lucky the packet, which turned out to be wrapped in a lace handkerchief that smelled of Athena’s perfume. He unwrapped the lace and a small locket fell into his hand, glowing gold in the moonlight.

Athena reached over to press a button at the top. "There," she said, and the locket fell open.

Inside was a dark curl of hair, tied together with red silk thread. Lucky lifted the lock of hair out and the perfume became stronger. He sniffed the curl and it was as if Athena herself rose up to beguile him. Then he looked at the locket and although it was dark - with only the moonlight and the beams of passing cars for illumination - he could make out a tiny picture of Athena fixed into a little frame.

Lucky was overcome. His throat felt thick, his eyes burned. And he croaked: "I’ll keep this with me always, Athena. Always!"

There were more stolen kisses, then, too soon, Lucky found himself escorting Athena and Ya-Yah to the villa. They said their good nights and suddenly Lucky found himself staring at the closing door, feeling quite lonely.

Nikos put a fatherly hand on the boy’s shoulder. "You did well, Mister Lucky," he said. Then he chuckled. "It was much better than my first time." Another laugh. "That one is my wife, now. And she has given me the gift of three strong sons and two beautiful daughters."

Somewhere not far off an owl hooted. And the night was so magical that Lucky wondered if it might not be the goddess, Athena, herself. "It’s the Lady Athena," Nikos said, very low. "I think she likes you, my young friend. She’s promising many good things."

The owl hooted again, the sounding echoing through the warm night.

"What’s she saying now?" Lucky asked, feeling like he was floating through a dream.

"It’s a warning, I think," Nikos said. "She says be careful of the heart of the girl who was named for her."

Lucky broke out of his reverie. He snorted. "There’s no such thing as gods and goddesses," he said.

Nikos shrugged. "Maybe not in the United States of the Americas," he said. "But in Cyprus, Mister Lucky, the gods are everywhere."

NEXT: RUSSIAN JAMMERS AND A VISIT TO A CIA BASE

*****
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Venice Boardwalk Circa 1969

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