Retelling of Odysseus and The Sirens, Ester & Dave by Myrna Shoa ©
The locals called Ester a Siren. Some called her a witch
She could get any man she wanted.
She made sure they couldn’t resist her.
Ester particularly liked to seduce a married man.
They always told her how much they loved their wives and
wouldn’t betray them, as they were getting into bed with her.
Dave saw her. How could he miss her as she waited by
her front door for him (or any man) to pass?
She was dark and gorgeous in a streety sort of way,
yet her wide cats eyes showed vulnerability as well as sexuality.
‘You don’t like me Darling,’ she teased knowing that he did.
Dave a married man with 3 children often talked about Ester to
the other men in the pub. ‘I would never go with her, or
fall for her charms,’ he boasted.
Dave was a plumber and one day Ester called him to repair
a leak in a pipe under her sink.
She showed him the problem which he quickly fixed and then
she offered him a drink.
‘Would you like a tea or coffee or something with
a bit more punch in it?’ she flirted.
‘I’m having some red wine,’ she said. ‘Want some?’ ‘
Okay,’ he replied, ‘a quick glass and then I will be on my way’.
An hour and two bottles of wine later Dave couldn’t stop
blabbing on about his life, his wife of ten years and his children.
Ester meanwhile was earnestly sitting close to him looking at him
full of understanding and a growing feeling of lust.
‘Poor thing,’ she crooned now stroking his hair. ‘
’You work so hard and don’t seem to have much time for play.
I do understand.’ ‘I’m not saying that,’ he protested.
Ester was now massaging his legs. He lifted one of his legs onto her lap.
‘My wife is a marvellous person, takes care of me and the kids
but, she’s sometimes too tired at night to want some fun.
If you know what I mean,’ he added.
Then Ester stopped and pushed his leg away. ‘Mustn’t keep doing this.
Even though I am really enjoying it. Must think of your wife, Darling.’
‘Don’t stop now’, said Dave leaning over to Ester his mouth wide
open like a bird looking for food from its mother.
He pulled Ester to him and they kissed. Their lips squashed together.
‘Come,’ she said pulling him down onto the carpet.
‘Oh, you are so sexy,’ she murmured grabbing hold of his face and
lowering her mouth onto his again.
Dave looked at her but this time saw the emptiness in her eyes and felt her coldness.‘
‘You are like a snake,’ Dave said pulling away; his passion had suddenly gone.
‘Get off me.’
‘Darling, come to me, come,’ she crooned holding his head
trying to pull him close to her. Her cat-like eyes were wide open.
‘Come, come to me, my handsome one.
Come,’ she pouted. Her arms and hands were trailing all over him.
The wine made his head spin.
He pictured his wife, remembered her smell,
the laughter in her eyes, the love they shared.
The bonds of their love had grown over the years.
Now they kept him safe.
Dave pushed Ester away and got up. ‘You could never have what
I have, lady,’ he told her. You don’t care about me,
or anyone else, yourself included.’
Ester screamed at him, ‘You bastard. You can’t get away from me. No man ever has.’
‘Look at yourself in your mirror,’ he shouted at her. ‘You have nothing.’
Dave picked up his tool bag. Ester’s screams followed him to the front door.
Without looking back he opened it.
He left…….. and made his way back to his home, to his wife.
And, he embraced and kissed her.
(C) Myrna Shoa
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