Some more teaser to whet you appetite...
Jessica in South America - Winter
1977:
The flight down to Argentina was
full and seating in the basic coach section was cramped. Her body ached all
over from lack of sleep and her only respite had been the times she’d gotten up
to stretch and go to the bathroom. Arriving at 9:00 AM she’d planned on getting
a full day to find a place to stay. Her initial dealings with the local cab
drivers landed her in the middle of Caballito. “Can you tell me where I can
find a cheap apartment for rent?” ”Que?” ”Please, is there anyone that speaks
English? A little help, please! Anyone?” No one responded to her frantic pleas
as she continued to gaze around in sheer panic. Her understanding of Argentina
was somewhat inaccurate to say the least. Her understanding was that it was
easy to find someone who spoke English. What she had not understood was that
this pertained mostly to affluent and corporate locations, not the lower income
barrios of Caballito. The taxi driver had long left and she stood at the small
kiosk drawing long and hard upon a Marlboro Red cigarette. Her thoughts rambled
on justifying her own existence in this cold isolation. Her attire hadn’t help
either, she’d traveled with a short skirt and heels. The brutal winter wind
flowed freely up under her skirt and her fluffy jacket did little to protect
her from the chill settling in her bones.
Her mindless banter, from the
eyes of the store owner, finally attracted the attention of the local police.
“Que es lo que pasa con esta
chica?” asked the officer of the store owner. Translation: “What’s going on with this woman?”
“Que se yo? Ella llego y empieso
hacer un ruido infernal. Supuestamente, me imagino, que era algo sobre ayuda.”
Replied the store owner to the officer. Translation:
“How do I know? She arrived and began to make that infernal noise. Supposedly,
I imagine, that it’s something to do about help.”
“No te precupas, yo la llevo al
oficina con migo.” Translation: “Don’t
worry, I’ll take her to the office with me.”
“Muchas gracias por la ayuda
che.” Translation: “Many thanks for the
help buddy.”
“De nada.” Translation: “It’s nothing.”
The officer spoke very broken
English and managed to ease her anxiety. “Seniorita, plez com con me.” Jessica
is distracted yet enthused by her uniformed savior. “Finally, someone that
speaks English.” ”Si, I can spek som. Pero no verry good.” The officer is
smiling as he continues to walk away from the kiosk. Motioning for Jessica to
follow; she turns to face the kiosk owner and blows smoke his way, as she
struts off to follow the officer. She is visibly disgusted at his inability to
help her by not understanding English.
The afternoon sun is starting to
warm Jessica’s wind chilled legs as she peers around while following officer
Giaonini. His leisurely stride is starting to irritate Jessica and her
impatience is beginning to show on her face. “Deja me ver, como se dice??? (Let me see, how do say?) Oh
si,! So, what iss yur name Ms.?” Officer Giaonini is struggling to remember
words from his college training in English as he notices her growing
impatience. His attempts are meritorious for the years past since his studies.
Jessica answers abruptly and with a visible sign of anxiety, “Jessica, and
yours.” “Mi name is Giaonini, Fernando Giaonini. It is a plezure to make
acquaintance.” His incessant smile and
melodious rhythmic speech rubs on Jessica’s state. She impatiently remarks,
“When are we getting to where you’re taking me?”
Officer Giaonini stops and peers
back quizzically, “Too fast, say again. Plez.” Jessica is on the verge of
ranting again as she had back at the kiosk. She rubs her forehead with her
fingers while her thumb presses against her temple. A headache is starting to
spawn in her frontal lobes. “W h e n”, she gestures with her hands to her watch
with her right hand forefinger. “are we”, now she points at him and herself in
a circular motion with her fore finger. “Getting to”, now she runs her fingers
in a walking motion. “Where”, a shoulder shrug with hands held shoulder height
with palms upward. “You’re taking me”, again with her forefinger, she points to
officer Giaonini and then grabs herself with a pulling motion. “AH! Yo
entiendo. I understand.” Officer Giaonini turns and points to a building across
the street about half way down the block. The sign reads POLICIA. “There”.
Jessica is relieved at the sight of the building and begins to walk. Fernando
also starts to walk trying to keep up with Jessica’s pace. Her chill and
impatience have taken over as she increases her stride to the station.
They arrive to the double doors
of the police station and officer Giaonini, gentlemanly, opens the door for
Jessica. “That’s right sucker, you open
that door for me.”,
Jessica thinks with a wry smile. Her mind rehashes her plan to get settled,
find a good bar to hook up with, and build her sucker list. She watches
Giaonini as he proceeds to lead her into the main office complex. His physical
characteristics remind her of the Greek aquiline statues she’d seen in a
magazine once. His square jaw, straight narrow nose, and slicked back hair
topped off an impeccably ideal male model. Her thoughts of vengeance against
her past compelled her to plan to initiate with Officer Fernando Giaonini. “What better beginning than with a seemingly
perfect male specimen. I can take him for everything he has”, or so she
thought. Walking across a courtyard, they enter an open office area full of
desks where officers are working on paper work and interviewing individuals.
The office is alive with activity, the warmth oozes into Jessica’s chilled bones
as she follows Giaonini.
Officer Giaonini shows sincere
interest in Jessica as he interviews her in the police station. The other
officers slowly proceed to pass by with their own boisterous interests in mind.
“Che Giaonini, no debes estar en la estrada? Deje me hacer las intrevistas con
la chica. No te parece?” Translation:
“Hey buddy, Giaonini, shouldn’t you be on the street? Let me question the
woman. Don’t you think?”
“No, ella ni habla Castillano.” Translation: “No, she doesn’t even speak
Castillian.”
“Como?” Translation: “What?”
“Ella viene de los Estados unidos
y solo habla Engles.” Translation: “She’s
from the United States and only speaks English.”
One of the officers sarcastically
interjects, “Pues che, yo hablo el idioma internacional de amor.” Translation: “But buddy, I speak the
international language of love.”
“Anda boludo, ella no tiene interes de vos”,
Fernando responds with languid chuckles. Translation:
“Go on as_h_le, she’s not interested in you.”
Each fellow officer
hears of this newcomer and makes their way one by one to introduce themselves
and offer their services. Jessica is curious and questions Fernando, “Excuse
me, but ......
Copyright
© Gerard Valdez 2012
All
rights reserved
Without
limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this manuscript
may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form, or by any mechanical means ( electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without prior written permission of the
copyright owner
"The Creed Of Greed" by seviL doG is available for free to Amazon Kindle owners.
