Alalay - F. Per Chance

<body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" background="julbk2.jpg"> <p><img src="alalay.jpg" height="284" width="449"></p> <div align="left"><table border="2" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td>Translator: <a href="mailto:mvillacres@esri.com">Marcelo Villacres</a></td> </tr> </table> </div><p>There were eight of them, tightly piled in one corner of the bar. They had pulled together two tables and eight chair, they were in the waiter's way and obstructing the access to the door that led to the only restroom in the place. Suddenly, through the front door a man in his forties walked in, the guys in the corner greeted him warmly and asked him to join them. He grabbed a chair on the way and sat down, making it more difficult for other customers to walk by. </p> <p>"How is it going buddy? Where have you been? We haven't seen you here in quite some time." Those were the questions they asked while they hugged him and shook his hand. He seemed happy and full of life, but when he sat down and started answering the questions his face become dark like city lights at two in the morning. He began mumbling a story and ended almost howling, a chain of events that he himself summarized with this phrase: </p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td valign="top">-</td> <td valign="top">The bitch has left, she left me alone, without a warning, without preparing me. She has fooled me, she has abandoned me with the three kids. That is why I had not been coming to be with you guys, I don't have much time, because now I am father and mother...</td> </tr> </table> <p>The audience of friends was very moved. Most of their faces began to look as gloomy as that of the disgraced friend, all but one who comfortably rested his elbow on the back of a chair and kept his head leaning back a bit; he sported a smile until he asked; </p> <p>- And what do you like best, being a mother or a father? </p> <p>From the depressing depth of the general sadness a general repressed laughter exploded. </p> <p>After the sarcasm they talked about various subjects, but despite of the new subjects everyone internally evaluated the harmony in their homes. Without a second thought they brought the conversation to an end, they said good night and everyone left like pigeons headed back for their nests. Only four friends remained, with the excuse of playing a game of <a href="http://hv/caracol/julpieen.html#Cachito" target="piepag">cachito</a> before leaving. Meanwhile the waiter put the tables in their place. </p> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td><a href="jult1en.html" target="_self"><img src="sigue.jpg" alt="to go turn 1" border="0" naturalsizeflag="3" align="TEXTTOP" width="138" height="40"></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="jult1en.html" target="cuentos">Next turn</a></td> </tr> </table> <p align="right"> </p> <address> Comments to<font size="-1">: <br> <b>Š</b><a href="mailto:hvega@mail.entelnet.bo">Huáscar Vega</font></a> </address> </body>