Short story by: KUJTIM AGALLIU

Translated by author.

ELECTORAL KISS

We were all in tune when we learned that among the many, many candidatures for deputy as most suitable was selected that of Mr. Bylyku. We knew him and respected for his baggage of knowledge that he had, for his dynamism and vision. In our opinion, such a man would give enough to the city and its citizens.

And I personally knew Mr. Bylyku ​​and I had created a special respect for him since he still was not thinking that would be nominated as a candidate for deputy. This husky guy, with an excellent vision and kindness had not spared his help in a case that we needed. Being a grateful man, that his kindness I never forgot. Here's the case that I to recoup him the nobility and dignity as befits an honest man like me. Furthermore, we have also exchanged telephone numbers, together, who known it may be due and may enter into our operation in any case. And it is not a wrong foresight.

Throughout the neighborhoods of the city and electoral areas were set up centers of propaganda and every afternoon these are buzzing by supporters of different parties. Skilled people able for such activities, ran from house to house, where they shared flyers calling residents of neighborhoods to vote that party or others.

At the end of the day under their doors of houses each citizen found a dozen letters of various formats and opinions too. But letters were letters and as such these were, these stood in peace side by side, even though each of these was hostile to the death of another, until the house keeper came to home and crumpled these to throw in a dustbin.

I didn’t care much at all this because, as I said, even as I learned for the candidacy of Mr. Bylyku, I had shared my mind that my vote and of whole my family belonged to him and only to him.

Precisely, one afternoon, when had started to boiled the boiler of the election campaign, the phone rings and clawed quiet of my room where I was lying to relax.

- Hello? Mr. Myqerem, you are? A sweet female voice spoke from the middle of town.

- Ok, you can speak!  What can I do for you?

- Please, if you free this afternoon can you move to the election center of our party? Mr. Bylyk left me messages like that to inform you.

I do not are waiting for that call and to say the truth, I  not live out my house at afternoon, but since that was for Mr. Bylyk, I can not refuse him. So I was ready to answer:

- Well, say Mr. Bylyk that I am coming.

- You are welcomed!  And the phone was closed.

The next afternoon I got up and went there. Mr. Bylyk had not yet arrived. Just I sat down the waiter with a tray in her hands stood before me like an ear.

- Do you have a drink? She asked me with kindness.

I got hesitated for a moment, not knowing what to request for that case. I cast about and looked over all present peoples that are drinking coffee and absorbing their glasses of brandy and knocking these of whiskey. Some women and girls are drinking in long and thin glasses juice of oranges.

- Bring me a glass of orange juice, please, I said.

- What's that orange juice, yoo-hoo? Take a whiskey, it is for men, said a man who seemed not to be trivial in that room. – Here pays the party, do not worry!

Still my request not comes, when Mr. Bylyk, tall, elegant and smiling as always, was here at the door. Participants were opened in their faces and moved to make room him at the top of the table, but he crossed the hall of the club, who fabled these days in appointment of the party (who knows what the rental was for it!) and with a quick sight he stopped his eyes on me. He was so happy when he saw me there. As it seemed now he was convinced that he had me on his part. He stretched his arms towards me, and, although between us was a pretty broad table, he managed these and came to grab me by the neck and kissed lovingly at both my faces. This so hot behavior touched me and suddenly I kissed him back. "He is so honey one, I said to myself, it is pity not to go after this kind man." He sat dawn opposite to me, grabbed my hands and began to shakes these with love as if I was the special guest of this afternoon.

But I felt myself a very important man when after a moment Mr. Bylyk came to get an opinion by me:

- Umm, do you like my electoral campaign? Seems it that I am some gentle in my speeches?

- It is the better thing to you to be so peaceable when you are speaking, I replied him. The peoples have not nerves to hear screams and obscenities. Maybe this will help you to win elections.

Oh my God, how many glad was he! For a little he was again to jumps on my neck and to hugs me, but as it seems a thought stopped him. He went back to the conversation:

- But ... however ....however, those dogs of the party in power are dispensing sacks with flour for all the people in all surrounding villages. Does not seems like a dirtiness this act?

I thought a little and said:

- In my opinion, as far as I know the people you should not believe that it sells himself for a sack of flour. It even flour gets, and its vote not gives, if its mind do not thinks so. So the rival party will have double loss: the money for flour and vote that will take us.

Mr. Bylyk seemed me that remained pleased by my reasoning. Soon he went and sat dawn in his seat, on top of the table. I continued to drink in silence the whiskey that had left on the desk the skilled waiter.

Then the conversations got to spin and the room was filled with bits of incomprehensible words for my ears. When I saw that I neither add nor diminish anything in that environment, and my function I had done in the best, I sit up to go.

Mr. Bylyk followed me to the door of coffee – room, putted his hands around my neck and we kissed each other on both faces as old friends. While  I was moving out he called me from my back:

- Myqerem, bring and your wife when you come here tomorrow afternoon! As much as people are there, it is better for our party.

Till at long-waiting case came I didn’t been absent no afternoon in the propagandistic center of the party of Mr. Bylyk. The day that election campaign ended I took with me and three or four neighbors and grandchildren to bring there. The street before the election center was filled full of people and blocked traffic for several hours. I was among the crowd and I did thought that in middle of that combustion Mr. Bylyk to seen me. His eyes shone from the optimism.  He gave me a sign from the door of the center and I just approached, he threw on my shoulders his long arms and kissed me again on two faces. One of the most loved and respected man as Mr. Bylyk, I did not believed that can be found in the world. I flew with pride and satisfaction seeing the effect of that meeting so familiar to others around me. Did not I was most respected and most appreciating to all that crowd of people? Let enjoys my vote and my family votes Mr. Bylyk. He deserved it and second man as he never be in our city.

And indeed, five more, five less, after the debates and banal quarrels in counting centers, my friend, Mr. Bylyk emerged victorious. Thousands of cars with banners and party flags and the nation flag, filled with skilled boys with their heads bounded with ribbons in the color of the party, drove around the city and horns of cars did not ever paused.

Thereafter I not met for several days Mr. Bylyk, but after the situation calmed down he did not forget that me and some friends of mine to invited to a magnificent cocktail in the hall of Hotel Tourism of city. We went before the ceremony began. On both sides of the hall were tables filled with plates and so much as these can crumbled by weight. At a right angle to these were tables of server service plates with a number of various savories. Above them stood intent, and ready for using, thousands of scraper teeth that played the role of the forks. When we are awaiting for arrival of newly elected deputy the eyes of the audience, men and women, inventoried the benefits that they had around.  All we have gave our contribution, and all were tired for this day for that deserved victory of Mr. Bylyk. Here, before all us, seemed the first step towards compensation for each of us who had contributed to the deputy. Of course, others come later, according to the merits of each one.

Just elected deputy entered. Applauses almost broke thick walls of the hall of hotel tourism. The enthusiasm, cheers and screams echoed for a long time. Deputy, Mr. Bylyk, welcomed attendees with his hands up and then headed to his place, in the middle of the long table, on the side of the hall windows. I waited impatiently when he is approaching towards us. He shook his to the right and the left with the friends and acquaintances, kissing with them exchange two or three words and here, he was found near to the group where I stood. He shined of satisfaction of victory. His smiling was not separated for a moment. We hurry on wish him his victory and were waiting to receive his kiss with which we were learned during the long election campaign. It is my moment to embrace him. I putted out my hands, and caught him by neck, and congratulated by moving my lips to his dumpy faces. But ... to my surprise, he stopped his face away as a nuisance. I hanged back and instinctively crossed my palm over my face. For a moment I thought perhaps by acceleration I had run out of my house unshaven. No, I had my faces smoothed and clean, just like for holiday, but... may be deputy was saturated with kisses, now that he has his mandated in the pocket.

Note: Maybe it is not very correct, but I am not an English speakers….