Queen's River Stories: Holiday in Spain

“Who among us hasn’t had a whirlwind holiday romance? That perfect moment in the sunshine, without a care in the world where you meet someone and it just clicks? Sometimes you even find out that that special someone was a person you knew all along. Maybe you went on holiday with them as friends but came back lovers?”

“Or maybe they were even closer to home than that? This story is about Isabella and her son Ben who traveled to Spain to see the sights but didn’t realize that the sleepy village where they’d booked their accommodation had some very special local laws… my name is Jocasta Monarch and tonight I’ll tell you the story of their holiday in Spain.”

♬I got no place to be, but in the south there’s a woman waiting only for me

She’s got a bottle of tequila and a bottle of gin and if I bring a little music I could fit right in.♬

“I’m excited! Are you excited?” Isabella almost bounced as they boarded the airplane.

Ben couldn’t help but smile. Ever since the divorce, his mother had been in a funk. **** to break her out of it, he’d been the one to suggest a holiday, just the two of them.

And it had worked; she’d been so excited to plan the trip to Madrid, a city she’d always wanted to visit but his father had never wanted to. “I want to go to the Prado museum, the Jardin Botanico, ooh and the Temple of Debod!” He just nodded along, happy at seeing his mother come alive again. Between his part-time job and what was left of his mother’s finances after his father’s debts had wiped them clean, they were unable to find a hotel or apartment in the city itself.

But then his mother had found an ad for an apartment in a small town very near Madrid called ‘Edipo’ that promised to be very cheap for people who needed a holiday but had financial issues. After his mother had called the number and explained the situation, how they were a mother and son, left poor after the father had gambled everything away, the host offered them a price so low they had to triple check.

The man on the other end of the phone had laughed. “Don’t worry! I understand how it sounds. But the town has subsidies for exactly this situation. The town sponsors families exactly like your own who need a break.”

“No catch?” Isabella had asked.

“Only one, that you have to write a sort of travel blog about your stay in the town. A small post on the town’s website every day is enough. And then the town comps most of your stay here.”

“And we qualify? We’re not exactly a big family, just the two of us, and my son is already an adult…”

“He’s 19, right?”

“Right.”

“It’s not a problem, trust me. You are exactly the type of family we want featured on the blog.”

“Well… alright, I guess… thank you so much!”

And that had been that. Isabella and Ben had tried to find some more information online, but apparently the town was so small that there wasn’t really an online presence. Nobody knew about it. And the town website where their blog would be featured was ‘undergoing maintenance’ so they couldn’t find any information there either.

“What if they’re going to eat us?” Ben had joked.

Isabella laughed. “Well then I hope they like spareribs; that’s how skinny you are.” Ben had smiled. It had been the first joke his mother had really made in a long time.

And now they were on board a plane. They would land at the airport near Madrid and their host would pick them up to take them to the apartment. “Wake me up when we get there, will you sweetheart?” Isabella said, putting on her eye mask.

“Will do, mom,” Ben replied, grabbing his Funtendo. His mom started snoring the moment the plane was in the air. Ben smiled, typical. His mother could sleep anywhere, any time.

“Going on holiday?” A guy of about his age that had the seat next to him asked.

“Yeah, we’re staying a week.”

“Ah, neat. Staying in the city itself or…? Sorry if I’m being nosy, haha. My mother always says I’m too nosy for my own good. We live in a little town near Madrid called Edipo. I was on a student exchange trip in a city called Queen’s River. You know it? Our towns have a long history together, one of the founders of the city actually came from our town. She’s picking me up at the airport, is someone picking you up?”

Ben was taken aback a bit by his chatty neighbor. “Uh… don’t worry about it. We’re actually staying in Edipo ourselves, some sort of town subsidy? Our host is picking us up.”

The boy nodded. “Aaah, yeah I heard about that. So the heavy sleeper is your mom right?”

Ben snorted. “Yeah, sorry about the noise.”

The boy laughed. “I know how it is, man. My mother snores so loud it sounds like a train; one of the reasons her presence means I barely sleep a wink, but then I’m sure you can relate,” and he winked. “Really missed my mom during this trip, you know? But then, you would know.” he said, winking again, causing Ben to look puzzled.

“Uhm, I guess?”

Then it was the boys turn to look puzzled. “Wait, why were you selected for the trip?”

“They said they wanted me and mom to write some sort of travel blog, why do you ask?”

“Oooooh, that program!” The boy nodded as if it suddenly made sense. “I thought it was because… never mind.” He looked over to Isabella, a grin on his face. “You’re a lucky man” he said.

Ben’s confusion was only mounting. “Thanks, I guess? It was a good bit of luck that we came across the ad/”

The guy laughed. “I’m Manuel, by the way.”

“Ben,” the two shook hands.

“You’re going to have a great time in Edipo, Ben. I guarantee it. Your life will never be the same again.” Manuel looked at Isabella again and let out a slow whistle.

‘Weird guy,’ Ben thought as he turned his attention back to his game. ‘I hope the rest of the town isn’t like that’.

♬I’ll bring my guitar, she’ll leave her golden ring, we’ll take an airplane ride to a new beginning

We’ll get a limousine and tell lies about movie stars we never did see♬

Then at the airport, disaster number one. The airline had lost their luggage. The attendant was very appologetic, they received a voucher for clothing stores in Edipo where they would be able to replace their entire wardrobe. But the luggage was still lost.

“Well, look on the bright side,” Ben had said, trying to keep his spirits up. “You can go shopping!”

Isabella had laughed at that. Ben loved to hear her laugh. “‘Well aren’t you the eternal sunny-side-up kid?” She sighed. “Nothing that can be done I suppose. And I guess it’s nothing that can’t be replaced, just clothes.”

They made their way to the terminal exit, where Ben saw that his neighbour was being picked up by an older woman who he kissed very, very intimately. “Wasn’t that the kid who sat next to you? I guess his girlfriend missed him, look how she’s grabbing his ass!” Isabella giggled. “You should get a girlfriend like that.”

“What, a hot MILF? Don’t mind if I do.” Ben turned red as he realized what he had said without thinking.

His mother giggled again.

“You like older women ,huh? We’ve only been on this trip for one day but already I’m learning new things about you. Maybe I should set you up with one of my co-workers; she’s always calling herself a cougar. Who do you think the prettiest woman at my work is?”

“Definitely you, mom.”

Isabella sighed before smiling. “You’re such a sweetheart, you know that? I guess I raised you right. Cute too,” she gave him a small slap on the butt, causing Ben to jump. “Oooh, that’s us I think; that boy there is holding up a sign with our names!”

Ben shook his head. His mother was coming out of her shell all right, he thought as she darted forwards to meet their host. He looked in the direction of Manuel again who was now walking towards the exit with the woman, his hand firmly squeezing her ass. “I thought he said his mother was picking him up?” He wondered out loud.

“Hi guys, I’m Javier. Me and my mother own the apartment you’re renting. I’m here to drive you. Hop in on, I’ll get your suitcases and put them in the trunk. Where are they?”

“The airline lost them…” Ben said, sighing.

“No… oh that’s awful! Do they know where they are?” Javier exclaimed.

“Apparently not. When we said where we were staying they gave us a voucher for local stores in Edipo so we can buy new stuff there.”

“Well that’s something at least,” Javier shook his head. “What a shitty start. I hope the rest of your week is amazing to make up for it. I’ll definitely do my best to make your stay unforgettable! Come on, get in. Forget all your troubles. Edipo is the place where dreams come true!”

Ben and Isabella had to smile at his enthusiasm as they got in the car.

“First we go to the apartment so you can freshen up. I’ll have mom bring over some of our clothes for you to borrow for now so you can wear something that wasn’t traveled in after your shower and tomorrow I’ll show you to the best clothing shops in town.”

“Oh my, that’s very generous of you Javier. It’s not necessary, really.”

“I insist,” he said firmly. “You are our guests, so let us take care of you. In fact, come to dinner with us tonight. My mother makes the best Puchero in Spain.”

Ben and his mother looked at each other, it seemed their host would not take no for an answer.

“In that case, we accept Javier.”

“Excellent! I’ll call my mother and tell her we’re coming.”

“You live with your mother, Javier?”

“Oh yes, don’t know what I’d do without her, haha. She takes care of me, I take care of her. We’re very traditional in Edipo. I know people in other countries, they move out as soon as possible but with us? I don’t know a single man who doesn’t still live with his parents in Edipo. We’re very big on family values here. But then, you understand, don’t you Ben? You stayed with your mother as well.”

“Well, I couldn’t really leave her alone after dad left like that…” Ben said, not meeting his mother’s eyes. She grabbed his hand and squeezed it.

“I understand completely Ben, there is a bond between a mother and son, a love that is so strong, so pure… nothing can break it. In Edipo we believe that the bond between mother and son is the most special thing in the world.” He laughed. “Not all of the husbands can handle it, haha. My own father, he came from out of the town, he didn’t understand. So he left and now it’s just me and my mother.”

“Oh… I’m sorry to hear it, Javier.”

“Agh, that was over ten years ago. He left when my mother was pregnant with my… sister. I’m the man of the house. Like you, Ben.” Javier smiled. “Lot of responsibility being the… Alpha. But then, a lot of rewards too.”

“I… I suppose so,” Ben answered, not quite sure how to take it.

“You’re going to enjoy your week here, I know it. Change your life.”

‘Funny’ Ben thought. ‘Manuel said the same thing’.