The Temple of My Familiar

Suwelo

One evening before he sells the house and moves home, Suwelo invites Hal and Lissie over for dinner. He tells them about Fanny and Carlotta. Suwelo and Fanny knew things between them wouldn’t work when Fanny returned from Africa the first time. Her love for Suwelo was unmistakable, but she hated the institution of marriage. Suwelo agreed to the divorce, and they spent some happy times after moving to San Francisco together. When the divorce was finalized and Fanny moved out, Suwelo grew depressed. As a result, he began watching pornography and live sex acts.

Suwelo feels a growing attraction to Carlotta, who works in the same university. She knows about him and Fanny. Fanny used to teach in the same university as them, before moving into administration and ultimately opening a massage parlor down the street, which Carlotta frequents. When Fanny returns to Africa upon Ola’s passing, Suwelo and Carlotta begin an affair. However, she never speaks to Suwelo about her problems and claims she has no parents, and her children no father. Suwelo later tells Fanny that Carlotta had no substance.

Suwelo describes the time he and Fanny spent together in a yurt, on a ridge top overlooking fields and vineyards.