[European Style] Praying Mantis

After my manuscript was published, the response was surprisingly good.On major social networking sites, there are endless discussions about this case, especially among young girls—as Mr. Dacre said, the way I describe it makes the whole article look quite homosexual. For a time, Domi Nick was literally a star in San Francisco.But he declined all interviews for himself, and only sent me a private message: "I saw your report. You wrote it very well. If you want, I would like to invite you to my birthday Party. It's July 7."

To his second invitation, I replied ecstatically, "Of course."

However, given his hobbies, I was having trouble picking out a birthday gift for him.I used to give Dwyane some Yankee merch for his birthday, and he's a very easy guy to deal with at that point.But, Dominique, he's different—I can't explain why, but something inside of me tells me: He's different.

Girls are usually better at this sort of thing.So I specifically asked my sister Anne: "A friend of mine is having a birthday, what should I give?"

Anne called me directly.She started in a high-pitched and weird voice like a booing: "Congratulations, Robbie! You finally came out of the previous failed relationship. Tell me, what's the name of the new girlfriend? Do you have a picture?"

"Stop joking, just ordinary friends." In order to show my innocence, I added, "He's a boy."

There was a strange cry of disappointment from the other end of the phone.Her tone suddenly became much lower: "Boy? That's not easy. He likes whatever you like. Do I know him? "

"No, this is my new friend. We have different hobbies, you know." I explained hastily. "He likes insects. His dad is a professor in the biology department."

"I will never make friends with a person who likes bugs anyway." Anne said solemnly, "Since he likes it, you can give him bugs as pets."

"He likes praying mantises best," I added. "Maybe I should give him my one."

"What? You keep bugs too? Robbie, you're banned from my room starting today." Annie screamed and hung up the phone.

I stared dumbfounded at the phone screen when Anne sent another message: "Robbie, I have to tell you seriously, as cool as you think it is, I absolutely hate bugs. Everyone who loves bugs is evil .I don't think that friend of yours is a nice guy."

The last sentence, which is full of paranoid and self-willedness unique to girls, finally made me laugh.I toss my phone aside and take a closer look at the home I've built for this.I have placed many rattan fern roots in this small and exquisite house, making it as close as possible to nature itself.I'm sure Ben would love what I've done for him.

Well, Dominique would like it too, wouldn't he?

Hypnotized by this idea, I finally knocked on the door of Curley's house again on the evening of July 7 with a carefully wrapped present.

"Hi, happy birthday, Nick." It had been two weeks since we last saw each other, so I was a little nervous when I saw that pretty face again.I involuntarily tightened the drawstring on the gift box, and for this dinner, I changed into the most expensive suit I would wear to a newspaper event, which made me look out of place in the quiet and warm surroundings.

"Robby, you look so gorgeous." A look of surprise flashed across Dominic's face, "Come on in, we've been waiting for you for a long time."

us?Hearing this word, my heart suddenly became tense as if being clenched.Although it had been expected that I was not the only one invited to his birthday party - who invites only one person?But for this, I have an unexpected resistance, as if I should be the only one.

I put on soft slippers at the entrance, and the soft touch from the soles of my feet finally made me relax slowly.I followed Dominic a few steps into the room, and a mass of silver-white heads, exactly like Mrs. Maisel's, came into my sight.An old man with gray temples and a suit and leather shoes was carefully stirring the freshly ground drink beside the coffee machine.Hearing the sound of footsteps, he raised his head to meet my eyes, and then showed a friendly smile very similar to Dominic: "Hello, Robbie. I'm Nick's grandpa James."

I believe that everyone will be as excited as the American girls in the 50s when they met Elvis Presley when they face "acquaintances" who have been famous for a long time but have little chance.I am no exception.When I actually faced this tall, sharp-eyed elderly gentleman, my mood was indescribable: excitement, nervousness, and inexplicable sense of oppression intertwined, all poured into the reagent called emotion .

"I know you." I reached out and shook his hand, "Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you." He shook hands as hard as his grandson's.At the same time, he caught a glimpse of the gift box in my hand and said in surprise, "Nick, look, the gift that Robbie brought seems very delicate, doesn't it?"

"Can I take it apart now, Robbie?" Dominic looked at me wistfully.

"Of course." I handed the gift box to him and watched him carefully unwrap it.I don't know why, but I always feel that the grandpa and grandson in front of me are like a series of products on an industrial assembly line.In other words, James looks like Dominic 50 years from now.

But the fact is that apart from the human connection, they have no blood relationship.In the end I can only put it all down to environmental impact.When you get along with someone day and night for a long time, one day you will be surprised to find that you become more and more similar-this is the reason for the phenomenon of "couple face".

"It's a praying mantis!" Dominic's rare exclamation brought me back to my thoughts. This was the first time I heard him speak at such a high decibel volume.He looked very excited and had a big smile on his face.

"His name is Ben." I was ashamed to say the fact that my voice was even softer than a mosquito. "I saw Dora on Facebook...I think she needs a husband."

"Yes, we can consider organizing their wedding." Dominic looked at Ben carefully, then quickly walked into his bedroom, took out Dora's small villa, and put her fiancé in.

The two giant mantises confronted each other in a vigilant posture for a few seconds in the cramped space, and then Dora stretched out her pincers and touched Ben, just like a street warbler with heavy makeup on the street stretching out her slender, soft, pale hands to a passing gentleman. arm, and most people can't resist the temptation.

"It seems that they get along well." Dominique looked at the two entangled praying mantises and laughed. "Maybe we will be able to open a praying mantis exhibition soon."

See, the nature of animals is so savage, there is no principle at all.As the supreme leader among primates, human beings are the same.Dominique's short-sleeved T-shirt and knee-high shorts reveal his pale and thin body under his every move, with a kind of morbid beauty popular in the Tudor period.Unlike many white men, Dominic's body has almost no overly thick and masculine body hair, which looks smooth and charming.

I felt a little dry in my throat, so I asked, "Can I have a cup of coffee?"

"Of course." James smiled and handed over an exquisitely crafted German Meissen porcelain cup, "The guests are here, I think we can take out the pizza."

"And cakes," Dominique added. "Come and taste the deliciousness baked by Grandpa James himself. He has the best cooking skills in our family."

He was right.The cakes that James bakes look like products from a professional bakery.Honestly, it was the least attended birthday party I've ever been to, but the proper procedure wasn't cut short: Dominique lit a candle, made a wish in the light that only he knew, and blew it out …Until the moment before he invited me to visit his bedroom, my eyes were tightly locked on the unique brilliance reflected on his white face under the dim light.

Dominique's bedroom was on the second floor, the first room by the stairs.In terms of decoration style and furnishing type, there is no huge difference between this room and the private cabins of most American teenagers: single bed, wardrobe, desk, bookcase... Be sure to say something unique, probably only On the table are neat little plastic huts for small animals.

This is simply the most diverse insect world I have ever seen.There are several lively and active tenants living in each small villa: fluffy spiders with teeth and claws, beautiful butterflies whose freedom is restricted, colorful beetles that are about to move, neatly arranged chubby pupae... and some I can't name the little animal anyway. You know, I read "Insects" four times when I was a child.

But they obviously don't have the privilege of mantises.Here is like a huge apartment, full of poor and poor people at the bottom; while Dora and Ben are like the noble and luxurious upper elite, living in their own large and luxurious villas.

"These are all my collections." Dominique rummaged through and found a notebook, which was full of neatly coded insect specimens.It looks like he's as invested in this hobby as Dwayne's pursuit of beautiful women.

If Annie were here, she would go mad.I think.

While looking at his collection, I inadvertently glanced towards the corner of the room, because there was a beam of white light so dazzling that I couldn't open my eyes under the light.However, when I figured out the true face of that thing, I was undoubtedly stunned as if frozen—it was a pack of pure white powder crystals with a delicate texture, reflecting a horrible paleness under the light, Just like what it stands for.

It was a bag of heroin.

As if he noticed my gaze, Dominic also glanced there, and explained nonchalantly: "It's just out of curiosity."

I struggled internally to convince myself of this explanation, but my mind couldn't help but connect with the Christian Grande who died tragically in the laboratory.I opened my eyes wide and took a closer look at the face three inches away: the soft outline, the small nose and mouth, and the long and curled eyelashes like Barbie dolls on the big gray eyes, casting a fan-shaped shadow under the light .He is like a living oil painting masterpiece.

I was so absorbed in watching that I didn't notice that the distance between us was gradually shrinking.Finally, I felt my eyeballs being touched by something soft and dense, and a sweet, creamy taste filled my mouth.

Dominic kissed me.

I couldn't believe I was still awake.

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① New York Yankees (NewYorkYankees): In the Major League Baseball, one of the baseball teams belonging to the American League.