Intercambio

Quarter to two on a Friday afternoon. Bar Triana 's owner nods at me and says something to his son. I can't hear it as I'm already on the way to the table in the corner. To wait. I do a lot of that on Friday afternoons. Intercambio: interchange. An hour of Spanish, an hour of English. Maria Ramirez's idea. I'm too lazy to have ideas like that. Besides, I'm not a great English teacher, just cheap. There are advantages, a Friday afternoon beer while I wait, for example.

The son comes over:

'Cervezita?'

'Si, un tubo, por favor.'

Maria has told me that -like all English - I am too polite. Maria is Alhaurina, needless to say. The young man takes a look at his watch, it's unusual for a local to wear one, unless they're Policia or particularly self-important.

My beer comes, Maria doesn't. Hasn't for the last four weeks. Last week I got a phone call about midnight, 'sorry couldn't make it.'

I sort out my bill with the owner. Might as well practise a little Español:

'Que diciste a tu hijo, cuando entre?'

'I bet him you would wait 25 minutes.'