Grand mum died suddenly at an enormous age of one hundred and one years. Yes, I sat in the side seat because I wanted to observe the landscape and the road very well. It took us about two solid hours to get to the tarred road, which is the main road. From the tarred road to Chew Community, it took us one and half hours to arrive.
I can assure you Daddy’s speed limit was 45 km/h. Therefore, it was a safe drive and journey. Daddy wore his brown house attire made up of local textile material. The blue pair trousers he wore had been a gift by a friend of his. He had a red cap on his head unlike many men who always appear in cow bow dresses. He also wore a pair of black shoes instead of boots as I was wearing.
He is fifty years old. He has an oval face, and pointed nose. He has blue eyes. He is hairy and fat. He is handsome. His likes flat top as his best haircut, and does not like going to the barber’s shop if I do not remind him. I am as tall as Daddy is. I have an oval face, blue eyes and black curly hair. Everybody likes me because I am as handsome as Daddy is. I laughed. When we arrived at Chew Community, I said to Daddy, “Daddy, Don Gomez told us the last time we met that he would not be in town today that delivery can take place during the week instead.
So, why don’t we start with Donna Juana?” singing. Daddy replied, “That is exactly what we are going to do, son. Thanks for the reminder. I am sure he told us he will be going on a business trip to Monday Town.” pressing on the horn three times because a child crossed the road recklessly. The time was a few minutes past eleven. Daddy turned left at Wonder Junction, overtook a car carefully, and having driven for about two hundred meters away from that junction, he stopped before Donna Juana’s shop.
Donna Juana is a hairdresser, so she had ordered Daddy to do four paintings for advertisement. As soon as she saw Daddy’s car through the window of her workshop, she came out of the shop and said, “Welcome, Don Philipp. You have brought my work for delivery, haven’t you?” standing before the shop, gay, smiling and confident. Daddy and I got out of the car and met and the boot.
The woman could not wait to the paintings we brought. Daddy answered, “Yes, I have, Donna Juana. I can assure you the paintings are so beautiful that you will love them. Trust me Donna Juana. Why don’t you come over and check for yourself, Donna Juana?” I smiled.She replied, “Oh, I see. Give me just a minute, Don Philip, then. Give me way. I am coming right away.” I did not talk.
Daddy opened the boot and I pulled the painting that was the first laying on top of the rest. I collected it and passed it onto her. She was amazed. She exclaimed. “What a beautiful work, Don Philip!” She ran back with the painting in her hand to the workshop, calling her husband desperately saying, “Iron Man, Iron Man come and have a look at the paintings we ordered Don Philipp! Come and see it for yourself!”
In fact, in that painting, Boy had drawn a woman wearing a blue wedding gown on. She was smiling. She had long and beautiful jewel around her neck. She had a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a Chinese type of fan in the other. She had a magnificent hair-do on the head. However, it was unfortunate that her husband was not in the shop at that time. He had gone to see someone off, so she came back accompanied by one apprentice who was also admired the painting.
She was happy. She said, “Please let me have the rest of the paintings immediately. I cannot wait to see them. Please hurry up before my enemies bewitch me.” Daddy and I laughed, seeing them admiring the painting. They were happy to see the paintings. A minute later, the rest of her apprentices, 5 in number, came out of the shop, struggling to be the first to see the rest of the paintings. As some of them were not satisfied seeing the first painting only, they came down to us and had a clear look each at the three remaining paintings.
One smiled and said, “This is beautiful, isn’t it? I love it.” kissing the painting she had in her hand tenderly. Daddy became happy and proud about the hairdresser’s praises. He was proud. He said to me, “Do you see how Boy has made me proud, Ricardo? You see, ever since I brought you Boy your pet, there has never been a day he has not made me happy. You know, the other thing I like about him is his ability to produce quality works for delivery.
You know I do not really possess the skill to do it myself. I have always tried to emulate him, but I always failed. Moreover, I am not sure nobody would ever try to undermine his smartness. Do you see the pride he has brought to us as far as today’s delivery is concerned?” I smiled saying, “Yes, I do, Daddy. I am sure nobody will ever believe he is the one behind our success.
In addition, if somebody does, our fame will surely turn into disrepute, and our pride into laughter, and I do not think we will ever like to stay in this vicinity any longer. We will be shameful completely.” We entered. Daddy pressed hard on the accelerator and said, “You are completely right, son. However, I can assure you this will never happen. Trust me. I think what we have to do now is be very careful when delivering. Absolutely nobody should hear of this. I hope it is a promise, Ricardo?” I nodded a quick reply. “Yes, it is, Dad.
I promise to keep it secret, Daddy.” Daddy and I shook our head each. Donna Juana and her apprentices all entered the shop and never came back. When we were leaving the shop, I shouted proudly through the window saying, “The second order will be delivered next week probably! Please do not forget to buy some carrots and put them down jealously somewhere for my pet! He will love to eat carrots bought by you!” laughing until our car disappeared completely into the right corner of the road.
Daddy drove for about two hundred meters away from that shop and stopped on the left, before Don Sergio’s shop. After delivery of his four advert paintings on which Boy exhibited an excellent skill of painting work, Don Sergio exclaimed, “What a beautiful work!” standing lost in the admiration of the sorting of the colors of the work. Then he smiled, “This is exactly what I have been looking for since months. I am proud of your work, Don Philipp. I think I have something important to tell you.
Look Don Philipp, I will send you my nephew. He is a big boy now. He came here four years ago. His father is the most popular angler in this village. He will come and learn this beautiful art from you. Look, he is there doing nothing, but chasing young girls only. I am tired of him. I do not know what to say. I hope you will give him the chance, won’t you?” Daddy closed the boot and replied, “Yes, I will, only if you can bring him to my house.
Don Sergio, many people after saying that never fulfill their promises. Are you like them, my good friend? How can I believe you will fulfill this promise, Don Sergio? Alternatively, should I consider everything a joke? Is that a joke?” Don Sergio laughed softly. “I am not kidding, Don Philipp. I am telling you the truth. You have to believe me. Look, how can a big man like me tell lies, or be unable to fulfill his promises? I am sure you I will send him to you by the end of this month.
It is true my nephew does nothing, but chasing young girls in town here end there, day and night. He is too lazy.” Daddy replied, “Well, you may have a nephew, Don Sergio. Until then, let me think of it thoroughly. Then you will hear from me as early as possible.” sounding so happy. He smiled. Don Sergio nodded a reply saying, “Thank you in advance for that kind generosity of yours, Don Philipp. I promise I will send my nephew to you. You can ask my wife when she comes around.”
Don Sergio’s wife was standing behind him, but he did not realize her sudden presence. The woman was very beautiful. She laughed as she heard her husband talk about his nephew. She said, “Thank you, Don Philipp for your excellent work delivered. However, do not listen to my husband. He has no nephew whom he will send and learn any trade from you. That is a joke. I wish to see you some other time, Don Philipp.” Don Sergio is a tailor.
We entered his workshop and Daddy drove away for about nasty three hundred meters, and having turned right at Baby Junction, he stopped before Donna Anna Maria’s dress making shop. I saw a certain woman standing at the window that opened to the road laughing as I talked to Donna Anna Maria. I believe that was her mother because I could hear something like, “My daughter, bring those paintings to me immediately! I will love to admire them too. Please waste no time!
You know I have to return home before midday! It is important!” When I heard the woman talk from the direction of the window, I smiled. I said no words to the man who rode past behind me. Then I looked at a man who was riding on his horse past before us, laughing. We delivered he five paintings to her on which Boy, my pet, had drawn three wedding gowns and a skirt, and a house woman’s attire, each in a remarkable sorting of colors. She could not stop admiring the paintings. She kissed them like her dear ones whom she had not seen for months. I was very proud of Boy’s ability.
Then we left her shop for Don Suarez’s shop at about one hundred meters away. Both Daddy and I were singing roughly in the car. Don Suarez was not there as he told us last week. Any way we delivered his work to his brother who was also learning bookbinding in his workshop. When we were leaving his brother’s shop for Flora Restaurant, I was yawning loudly in the car. The man shouted to Daddy, “Why don’t you leave your handsome son with me, Don Philipp? I will send him to formal school if you like! I am sure you like my idea, won’t you?” Daddy laughed, but did not give him any answer straightforward.
The man was surprised. Some women rode their horses past beside our car. I like the way they rode past by our car. Daddy tapped gently on my shoulder and whispered, “I will never allow that. I will train you myself, son.” Well, that was a tough day! I got rid of my jacket, fanned myself with it since I had nothing better to use. I was becoming more and more tired, sweating like a pregnant fish, trying to close my eyes, but I could not due to the hit in the car.
I kept in my hand busy, fanning myself until we arrived at Flora Restaurant after fifteen minutes of drive down town. It was past two pm now. People were on the road, going about their businesses calmly each. Few cars plied the road as we arrived at the restaurant. However, equestrians and men in their carts dominated the circulation at Chew Community because most people are poor, and they prefer the traditional way of transportation. I was sweating as we got to the restaurant.
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