The letters Game
This was our Monday thing, meeting, and debriefing each other on our weekend. Here Kiev coffee shop.  “Lottie” I greet her sitting at her table. A tall stack of papers paper she is editing. Blue and red pens. She looks tired.
“Are you editing the Talmud?” I ask,
Lottie groggily answers “Dr. C’s autobiography.”
“Because sex on demand isn’t enough? Now you're his slave!”
“I want to do this!” Lottie insists.
“I hate this game?” I say
“What game? “Lottie asks.
“The letters game I am pretty sure you’re not into his nebbish, corpulent, little myopic geezer. He has multiple ex-wives, at least 20 years older, than you. He feeds you shite about how his dedication to his lofty ideas has cost him a normal life. You have of course romatized those ideals. You turn a blind eye to the inconstancies’. You’re actually doing most of the work here for him.” I say
“How do you know this?” Lottie demands
“How do you not; it's a bloody campus favourite” I answer.
“I am way behind “ Lottie says anxiously
What’s the payment for your labour? An hour of his attention maybe a footnote in this Autobiography, because I can assure when you talent reaches its peak he will take credit for “having “mentored “you, and the length seems more a appropriate for a PM, than an untenured Prof.” I say. I sit down to my coffee. I am about to Change the subject when I notice Lottie’s eyes go wide looking at something over my shoulder, so
I spin around its Doctor Charlatan.
“Charlotte, if this was beyond your capabilities why didn’t you tell me! You’re being foolish pretending! Doctor C says much too loudly. I stand up. I am in a black leather jacket and jeans. Dr charlatan is in a tweed jacket and corduroy’s, as if straight from central casting. “Say it again” I say not shouting, but in a low measured voice.
Doctor Charlatan actually repeats himself. I bring an open palm left across his face, which draws blood from his lip in the same low voice ”Say it again.” Doctor charlatan actually repeats himself again. I bring my right drawing blood again. “You never going to get tenure little man, you’re too bloody stupid”. I turn my back to him. He doesn’t have the nerve to try anything pick my cup up and it spills. “I am sorry “ I say, but can’t help laughing. Doctor Charlatan gathers the papers and scurries out like a cockroach when lights are turned on.
I look at Lottie the spell has been broken. “How could have been so stupid!” she says sounding fatigued
 I flip a twenty down, and say “I’ll be back in 5, I need a cigarette; get something to eat. “
“Don’t hurt him,” Lottie pleads hitting me with her baby blues. A nice English Lit major from Romania. She is tan, and healthy. A stark contrast to me and my friends in the Village. She was waitressing  at the club where I was a chucker. A brief romance turned into  a deep  friendship, with the way we both went  through lovers this was better. In our brief Romance  the Kiev was Sunday morning . It turned into friends on Monday morning talking about the weekend . I have this on my mind as I go out past Sergei at the counter. I step out into the crisp autumn morning I easily gain on doctor Charlatan I catch the door to the Volvo, and say ” Cunt this is what’s going to happen Lottie gets an “A”, and you fuck-off or, I will cut off your tiny prick.” I pull my switchblade to make my point.
“So your fucking her too” Charlatan asks. I grab his arm and twist. He screams. .
“Not to mention the Dean might have strong opinions on your extra curricular activities” I say releasing his arm.
He recoils trying to move into passengers seat. Screaming “OK !OK! “
I slam the door and walk back to Lottie.  She interrogates without a word.
“Doctor Charlatan is OK, She starts crying from relief, or regret I pull my chair next to her and hold her until passes. “No games here, I am worst or, me for better. I take care of my friends.