1. El abrazo - The Embrace
The instant you see your man, mark him. Snake across the dance floor and scratch your nails down his cheek. Don’t worry about the blood stains on his shirt or the bruise from his hand on your wrist.
2. Cazas - Chases
After the scene you have created, rush home. His blood will be up now, and he will find you.
3. Barrida - Sweep
Follow her. As she opens her door, push inside.
4. Caricias - Caresses
Rub your foot, calf, thigh, along his body.
5. Caminando - Walking
There isn’t time to socialise. Walking out is to get food, or to let the air dry the moisture of shower or sweat. Either of you become jealous when the other receives a look from someone else.
6. Gancho - Hook
Ask incessantly about his work colleagues. Then ask incessantly about his female work colleagues. Then ask incessantly about his female work colleagues. Then ask incessantly about his female work colleagues.
7. Enrosque – To coil, spin
Delay going home to her. Work late. Go to seedy bars. Drink too much. All the time.
8. Amagues - Threats
Threaten to leave him. Threaten to kill yourself. Threaten to speak to his slut. Threaten to threaten his slut.
9. Golpes - Hits
Threaten his slut. At his work. Be as foul mouthed as your imagination will stretch.
10. Boleos - Refers to the way a bolas wraps around an animal
Throw a fist and hurt his nose. Take a black eye. Phone the police. Find the hotel he has moved to. Go there. Beg forgiveness.
11. Mordida – Bite
Get her under your thumb. Hate yourself.
12. Volcadas - Extreme
When she cries too much, drag her across the floor.
13. Corte – Cut. Remove
Become remorseful. Each day after work, rush to her flat. Stop drinking. Re-tile her bathroom.
14. Desplazamiento – Displacement
Throw him out of your flat.
15. Una vez mas – One more time
Have a war of attrition by telephone. Don’t stop until you win.
16. Resolución
Get a restraining order.
17. Calesitas - Merry-go-round
Go to a tango dance.
Repeat.
Harding lives in Edinburgh with his family and has had stories previously published in Behind the Wainscot, Nasty Safari, The Future Fire, Sen und Werden, Best of Every Day Fiction 2008, Tales from the Smoking Room, PEN New Stories, and Binnacle Ultra-short Story Competition 2009.
The instant you see your man, mark him. Snake across the dance floor and scratch your nails down his cheek. Don’t worry about the blood stains on his shirt or the bruise from his hand on your wrist.
2. Cazas - Chases
After the scene you have created, rush home. His blood will be up now, and he will find you.
3. Barrida - Sweep
Follow her. As she opens her door, push inside.
4. Caricias - Caresses
Rub your foot, calf, thigh, along his body.
5. Caminando - Walking
There isn’t time to socialise. Walking out is to get food, or to let the air dry the moisture of shower or sweat. Either of you become jealous when the other receives a look from someone else.
6. Gancho - Hook
Ask incessantly about his work colleagues. Then ask incessantly about his female work colleagues. Then ask incessantly about his female work colleagues. Then ask incessantly about his female work colleagues.
7. Enrosque – To coil, spin
Delay going home to her. Work late. Go to seedy bars. Drink too much. All the time.
8. Amagues - Threats
Threaten to leave him. Threaten to kill yourself. Threaten to speak to his slut. Threaten to threaten his slut.
9. Golpes - Hits
Threaten his slut. At his work. Be as foul mouthed as your imagination will stretch.
10. Boleos - Refers to the way a bolas wraps around an animal
Throw a fist and hurt his nose. Take a black eye. Phone the police. Find the hotel he has moved to. Go there. Beg forgiveness.
11. Mordida – Bite
Get her under your thumb. Hate yourself.
12. Volcadas - Extreme
When she cries too much, drag her across the floor.
13. Corte – Cut. Remove
Become remorseful. Each day after work, rush to her flat. Stop drinking. Re-tile her bathroom.
14. Desplazamiento – Displacement
Throw him out of your flat.
15. Una vez mas – One more time
Have a war of attrition by telephone. Don’t stop until you win.
16. Resolución
Get a restraining order.
17. Calesitas - Merry-go-round
Go to a tango dance.
Repeat.
Harding lives in Edinburgh with his family and has had stories previously published in Behind the Wainscot, Nasty Safari, The Future Fire, Sen und Werden, Best of Every Day Fiction 2008, Tales from the Smoking Room, PEN New Stories, and Binnacle Ultra-short Story Competition 2009.
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