Voulez-Vous?
“Voulez-vous avoir un rendez-vous avec moi?”
“I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”
“Rendez-vous,” he pointed to me, pointed to himself.
“Oh, no, no, merci,” I stammered, probably blushing. I hadn’t been asked out on many dates for a twenty-three old, so I hadn’t yet mastered the art of the effective rejection, even in English. Little did I know the persistency of French men…
The young man turned to our friend Hisham and crooned a measure of the lyrical language I had yet to pick up.
Hisham smiled at me. “My friend thinks you are very beautiful. He wants to take you on a date.”
“Oh, tell him thank you, but I am here for such a short time.”
“My friend would take you dancing.”
“That sounds nice, but really, I couldn’t.”
We went on like that for at least another ten minutes until I discovered that the only way to put an end to the cajoling was a firm “no” and turning to speak to my sister in English. She was distracted by Zachary, who pointed to the street artist sketching a little girl in the center of the Montmartre square. It was close to eleven o’clock at night, why wasn’t the little girl in bed, I wondered?
The young man spoke rapidly to Hisham, who then turned to me. “My friend wants to know, can he could take you for a ride on his moto?”
His motorcycle? Images of a bulky Harley Davidson came to mind.
“No, thank you.”
After another round of pleas and protestations, Hisham and the young man came to an agreement.
“You must go back to the hotel, yes?” Hisham asked. “He will take you back en moto, and I will take your sister back.”
I couldn’t recall the young man’s name, but I was supposed to go back to the hotel on the back of his Harley? I began to shake my head again, but instead something in me slipped loose, and I let it go.
“Okay,”I announced, then shot my sister a look that said if I’m not back by midnight, call the police.
The young man led me around the corner, where a rickety motorcycle scarcely larger than a moped and certainly older than both of us leaned against the wall. He handed me the only helmet, and kickstarted the bike after several attempts. Grappling successfully with the helmet, I swung my leg over and wrapped my arms tightly around him, saying a brief prayer.
The city lights shot past us as we darted through traffic. Alive with people, the streets hummed as we wove through them, adding our own melody to the din. I felt alive, too; for the first time in my life, I felt alive. Adrenaline surged through me as we rounded street corners a touch too fast, and when rain began tickling us and dampening the streets, I started laughing.
“D’accord?” the young man yelled back at me.
“Oui,” I yelled back.
I was definitely d’accord.
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40 Comments
Patty
Loved this! I was right there with you on the back of the Moped. ” Alive with people, the streets hummed as we wove through them, adding our own melody to the din.”….my favorite part.
Well done!
Natalie the Singingfool
Thank you so much! I had a lot of fun with that imagery…
Kate
Sounds like an adventure- a very romantic adventure. Thanks for sharing!
Natalie the Singingfool
Yes, it was incredibly romantic. If only I had been interested in the guy, lol.
that cynking feeling
Viva l’aventure!
zoe
very sweet and lovely story, well told.
Ericamos
Sometimes we just have to say, “Why not?” Very glad that you did so that we could read this fun story!
Natalie the Singingfool
I know…once in a while, I’ll have those moments, and they turn out to be the most memorable! I need to cut loose once in a while…
icescreammama
so impressed you just let go and went. how very adventurous of you. but i guess that’s what being 23 and in paris is all about. (i wanted to say paree with a pepe le pew accent, but i didn’t think you’d understand without assistance.) 🙂 lovely story.
Natalie the Singingfool
I had to force myself to be “young,” haha. And I totally would’ve gotten the reference – I’m fluent in Pepe Le Pew.
Peach
Something I’d totally, totally do. Great post! 🙂
Natalie the Singingfool
Kindred spirits. 🙂
Bee
What a great thing to have happen to you in France, of all places! Great memory!
Natalie the Singingfool
I know! That’s one of the few memories of my life that is truly cinematic, lol.
Joe
Sweet. We’re going to France this summer for two months and I don’t speak a word of French. I’ll be relying on Kellie to be my translator. I think I’m in trouble.
Natalie the Singingfool
Oh yes, I’ve heard French women are way more deadly. 😉 I’m jealous! You’ll have so much fun!
Celeste
This is fabulous. I love the imagery and cadence.
Natalie the Singingfool
Thank you!
Kirsten Oliphant
I’m glad you let go and did this! AND glad he wasn’t all kinds of crazy. This is a lovely memory, well-paced and recounted.
Natalie the Singingfool
I really got lucky there! He turned out to be not a serial killer/rapist, which is a good thing. Thank you!
Adrienne
Great story! I have a similar memory, but it isn’t nearly as sexy and french as yours. Thank God neither of us got killed hopping on bikes with strangers. 😉 I love that picture!
Natalie the Singingfool
Ah yes, the stupidity, uh, I mean, fearlessness of youth! 😉 It is one of my favorite memories.
Kathleen
Oh, girl! I once took a late-night motorcycle ride from a stranger on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago and have never forgotten the thrill. I can’t imagine what it must have been like to have that experience in Paris.
Loved, loved, loved this post! Great writing.
Natalie the Singingfool
Let me tell you, it was the ultimate romantic memory. 🙂 I am SO glad I did that, and glad we share a similar memory! Thank you so much!
mediumSuccess
That was a very romantic little adventure you had. That young man sure was very persistent. I would call you lucky for that. I always love your posts. 🙂
Natalie the Singingfool
Thank you so much! It was the first time in my life I had experienced such charming persistence, and let me tell you – never did again, lol!
Kristin
A great memory indeed! Well-told.
Natalie the Singingfool
Thank you!
Kianwi
What a great story! You told it so simply and so well. I want to imagine that you fell in love with him, even if its not true 🙂
Natalie the Singingfool
Yes, wouldn’t that have been perfect? Sigh. But there’s a reason the story ends there, lol.
Laura
That is a wonderfully told story of letting go. Something control-seekers like me need to read once in a while… so that we can let ourselves experience it as well. Love the picture to go along with it!
Natalie the Singingfool
Yes, I needed to tell it to myself again, as I tend to fall into control-mode in regular life.
Isn’t the picture great? She’s a wonderful photographer.
Mod Mom Beyond IndieDom
Wow – excellent story! So romantic and I could picture it all. Beautifully written Natalie!
Natalie the Singingfool
Thank you! One of my most unexpected romantic moments.
Vanessa
That is probably the only way to really experience Paris. Someday.
Natalie the Singingfool
I didn’t realize at the time how lucky I was. If only I could go back…someday. 😉
Michelle Longo
What an exciting adventure!!
Natalie the Singingfool
It was! I miss those days sometimes…
Chris Plumb
Was anyone else thinking “Taken?” I don’t trust the French; they don’t like us. And guys with mopeds…
Sorry, it was a beautiful story, but me no likey stranger Frenchies.
Natalie the Singingfool
Ha! I haven’t seen that one yet. And I felt pretty fearless, seeing as I had easy access to pepper spray the entire time. I just didn’t mention that in the story. 😉