The driver comes into the lorry. He only sees me. The old man is hiding
behind the boxes.
‘What’s going on in here?’ he asks me.
‘Nothing.’
‘Who were you talking to?’
‘Me? Nobody. There’s no one else here. Can’t you see?’
‘Listen. We’re not in Barcelona yet. Be quiet. I don’t want any trouble.
Understand?’
‘I
understand,’ I reply.
The driver closes the door. He goes back to the driver’s seat. At that same
moment, the old man comes out from between the boxes. He looks at me
with a smile. ‘I’m
lucky
that he didn’t see me!’ he says.
‘Yes, you are,’ I say. ‘So, tell me. Why are
you travelling from Valencia
to Barcelona in a lorry?’
‘Do you really want to know?’
‘Yes, of course!’
‘Allow me to tell you a little story.’
‘Please! It’s a long ride.’
The old man tells me his story. ‘I have a son, but I have never met him.
His mother and I were together many years ago. We weren’t really a perfect
match. But I loved her. Then I went to the United States.
It was for a job
opportunity. The job didn’t go well. I couldn’t get back.’ He paused. Then
he continued, ‘She moved away. And I never saw her – or my son – again.
Recently, I found out where they are.’
‘In Barcelona?’
‘Exactly.’
‘How old is your son?’
‘He’s 24.’
‘That’s the same age as me!’
The old man laughs. ‘What a
coincidence
!’
‘Yes, it is.’
After a few minutes of silence, I get up to
stretch my legs
.
I ask the man,
‘What’s your son’s name?’
‘His name is Armando. He has a flat in Barcelona. It’s in an area near the
restaurant
The Crazy Paella. That’s why I’m in this lorry.’
The Crazy Paella. Also known as
La Paella Loca in Spanish.
The man in
the lorry is my friend Armando’s father. I can’t believe it!
Dostları ilə paylaş: