Patrice phoned Andre from the
station. A storm had passed through, and she’d been abandoned. The tour had
fallen apart, the guide guileless and resentful of tourists, which is not an
asset given the circumstance and the position, informed them he’d had enough.
He’d had enough of the gossip, the chatter, and the drama from a small flock of
club-women from Savannah. He called them "empty-headed finches.” Andre chuckled,
“tsk tsk…”
"Yes, He claimed, as a group, all
encompassing mind you, that we stank and
had the intelligence of toads."
“Finches and toads. That’s a bit
harsh. Sorry. My countrymen….some of them…can be quite rude…” Andre
sympathized.
“No more so than mine. I won’t say
I disagree about the finches, either.”
“So we have our buffoons. Humans
are fools, as a group, I fear.”
“Aren’t we though?” she laughed.
So? About your being stranded? Are
there no cabs? Surely in this weather…”
The canal has washed out a bridge.
The other is congested. I am stuck for awhile, but someone will show up.
Why don’t I…?
No. Don’t do that. It would be
insanity to get involved in such a mess, and the weather could get ugly again,
I fear. I’d worry for your safety. And Dooby is starting to show her age…”
Andre laughed. His Renault was
nickname Dooby, because he loved to play Sinatra, top down, and croon aloud,
“dooobie doo be doo…” Foolishly they’d drink wine and drive for hours over the
countryside, then find an inn to dine and finish the night.
“Good times with old Dooby. But you
are right, she’s having some issues of late. I could borrowed my neighbor Jean’s, car.”
“The Ferrari!” she laughed.
“He’s a good guy. He would let me…”
“Not in this weather and he’d be
right! I will sit and bide my time.”
“Are you warm? Where you are, is
there heat?”
“Yes, now there is. It was a bit bitter
in the night, but toasty at the moment. I’m almost dried out.”
“Poor dear.”
“No, actually I am good. A kind
lady gave me a shawl. Quite a beautiful shawl…well worn, but warm, and most
generous of her…”
Is this Lady heading into town?
Perhaps…”
“No she was outbound. Heading South
to see her family. Their father had passed away. Funeral.”
“Too bad.”
“No, she said it was a relief. He
had suffered.
“then all the well, to stop the
pain.”
“Her sentiments exactly.”
“Are you alone? Safe?”
“There’s the station master and a
few rail men. A handful of business men and some working women. A quiet bunch
huddled around the stove right now.”
“I enjoyed our visit.”
“As did I.”
