The Witch of Portobello

"Don't worry about him. Go on with what you were telling me."

"Hera discovered the trick and forced Zeus to marry her. Immediately after the ceremony, however, the great king of Olympus returned to his playboy lifestyle, seducing any woman, mortal or immortal, who happened by. Hera, however, remained faithful. Rather than blame her husband, she

blamed the women for their loose behavior."

"Isn't that what we all do?"

I didn't know what she meant, and so I carried on talking as if I hadn't heard what she'd said.

"Then she decided to give him a taste of his own medicine and find a god or a man to take to her bed. Look, couldn't we stop for a while and have a coffee?"

But Athena had just gone into a lingerie shop.

"Do you think this is pretty?" she asked, holding up a provocative flesh-colored bra and panty set.

"Yes, very. Will anyone see it if you wear it?"

"Of course, or do you think I'm a saint? But go on with what you were saying about Hera."

"Zeus was horrified by her behavior, but Hera was leading an independent life and didn't give two hoots about her marriage. Have you really got a boyfriend?"

"Yes."

"I've never seen him."

She went over to the checkout, paid for the lingerie, and put it in her bag.

"Viorel's hungry, and I'm sure he's not the slightest bit interested in Greek myths, so hurry up and finish Hera's story."

"It has a rather silly ending. Zeus, afraid of losing his beloved, pretended that he was getting married again. When Hera found out, she saw that things had gone too far. Lovers were one thing, but divorce was unthinkable."

"Nothing new there, then."

"She decided to go to the ceremony and kick up a fuss, and it was only then that she realized Zeus was marrying a statue."

"What did Hera do?"

"She roared with laughter. That broke the ice between them, and she became once more the queen of the skies."

"Great. So if that ever happens to you..."

"What?"

"If your man gets himself another woman, don't forget to laugh."

"I'm not a goddess. I'd be much more vengeful. Anyway, why is it I've never seen your boyfriend?"

"Because he's always busy."

"Where did you meet him?"

"At the bank where I used to work. He had an account there. And now, if you don't mind, my son's waiting for me. You're right, if I don't keep my eye on him, he could get lost among all these people. By the way, we're having a meeting at my place next week. You're invited, of course."

"Yes, and I know who organized it."

Athena kissed me lightly on both cheeks and left. At least she'd got the message.

That afternoon, at the theater, the director made a point of telling me that he was annoyed because, he said, I'd arranged for a group of actors to go and visit "that woman." I explained that it hadn't been my idea. Heron had become obsessed with the subject of navels and had asked me if some of the other actors would be prepared to continue the interrupted "lecture."