When I was 19
Надо бы рассказать про красивый мексиканский остров Козумель, но тут я выехала с мальчиками в библиотеку, а по дороге встретила соседа-инвалида, который выехал на своем кресле-каталке. Ему жара и солнце по нраву, а я спеклась больше, чем на красивом острове. Ося пока читал книжку, а Сима надевал и снимал темные очки и не протестовал. Я же услышала рассказы про Мексику, про Tucson Artist Colony и другую колоную художников в Гуарнаваке, про грозу с градом в августе, про любовь. Вот одна история:
When I was 19 I fell in love with a dancer in a bar in Mexico-city.
Our asignation was planned for next evening.
I reserved a room in hotel.
I came to the bar at 8 as we agreed but she didn't show up.
Oh, she was gorgeous...
I stayed in the bar till midnight and they served me tequila till I was completely drunk.
At midnight I challenged the owner of the bar.
I yelled at him... what was her name? Dona? Norma!
- Where is Norma?
- Norma is in Acapulco with a rich man, she doesn't need you.
It appeared that she was a high-price prostitute.
I was so naive that I thought that she liked me.
She was so warm towards me when we danced at the bar the night before...
I was so angry and so drunk that I intimidated the bar owner to give me her home address.
I hired taxi and went our of Mexico-city following the tar road, then the dirt road. And then we stopped in front of gated community. What could I do? I asked the driver whether he can tell me a song I can sing for Norma in Spanish. He told me one and I came out of the car and started singing. Then I made him join me. We were singing at the gates at 1 am at night.
Of course, Norma didn't show up.
Then we drove back to Mexico-city. This ride - the cab fare - was the greatest expense in the whole trip to Mexico.
I don't know... I really was taken by her. May be she thought I was one of these American boys with money and she expected me to propose. But I didn't and played it straight...
Morals: if you are 19 years old, don't fell in love with a prostitute.
После чего мы имели продолжение беседы - о случаях любви в проститукам в русской классической литературе - роман Льва Толстого "Воскресенье", роман Ф. М. Достоевского "Преступление и наказание". И как все там изменились к лучшему. Тут подъехала на машине жена соседа напомнить, что у него назначены дела и за ним заедут вот-вот. И я продолжила свой путь в библиотеку.