ELEUTHERIA KAUSTOS - FREEDOM BURNS - teaser

Some more teaser to whet you appetite...

CHAPTER FOUR

Caballito

………

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

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