By deevaa Date: 31 January 2001
Isn't the sense of smell a strange and wonderful thing?
I just got into the lift and although it was empty the smell of Amirage lingered in the air.
Amirage the first perfume given to me by a man -- ahhhh its a long story, but I'm in the mood to re-tell it.
I never was one with much style and grace when it came to men, I didn't loose my virginity until I was 20 partly due to choice, I guess -- however, I'd have pretty much have lost it to any of my drunken fumbles, if only they'd offered to wear a condom.
Then during the summer of my first year at university I worked on a golf driving range and met Abdul. Abdul was Somalian and a Halal butcher at the meat works just down the road - he and his friend had never played golf, however this night they'd decided to give it ago.
Abdul made it pretty clear right from the start he wasn't interested in the golf, what he was interested in was me. He came to the driving range 3 nights in a row, before finally (and awkwardly) asking me out to a movie.
We went to a movie, then had coffee in a quiet cafe - it was my first 'real' date.
Afterwards we went out dancing, and eventually we ended up back at my place, and when things got heated he slid out of the bed, came back with a condom and asked me if he should put it on.
Yes. Hell yes. That night I gave my virginity to a Muslim holy man. (a Halal butcher hand slaughters animals in accordance to the teachings of Islam, only the most pious of all Muslims are meant to become Halal butchers -- a fact I didn't become aware of until later).
The next day (Christmas Eve) he was heading to the North Island to spend the Christmas holiday with a friend, and I'd offered to drive him to the ferry terminal and look after his car for the few days he was away. When he arrived, he had a prettily wrapped box. (I'd not expected a gift from him -- He was Muslim, and the night before was only our first date, you add up the chances!) Slipping it under my Christmas tree he told me I wasn't to open it til Christmas day.
To my surprise inside the box was a boxed gift set of Amirage perfume, I knew it had to have been expensive, but I never did like the smell of it, although I'd wear it for him. My best friend Sarah loved the fragrance, and so when Abdul and I broke up I gave her what was left of the set.
The smell of Amirage brings memories of long summer evenings with Abdul, and the passion we found within each other come flooding back.
It also reminds me I've not called Sarah today -- I must go and do that.