Read Online The Gift of Women by George McWhirter - Free Book Online

with a van to remove televisions, fridges, for those unpaid. Acting like a pawnbroker until the items are redeemed for cash.
    But the architect’s son-in-law knows languages and the ocean. He speaks French, English and rumoured to spout Japanese and Chinese. He brings an informed opinion unlike his nephew, Fausto, or his wife or anyone Don Mateo has spoken to on the matter.
    When Don Mateo spots him coming in for a cursory inspection of the diners and the service, Don Mateo darts forward and pulls at the tail of his guayabera .
    â€œI am told you know Cuautla and you know Acapulco and the ocean very well. May I ask you a question?”
    â€œA customer can always ask me a question.”
    â€œDoes our apantle that crosses the aqueduct and enters the river go to the sea?”
    â€œThe customer is always right and in this case you are actually, yes, I’m sure of it, right.”
    â€œNow will you please tell me what you hear?”
    Don Mateo removes his ear from the pocket of his grey guayabera , which matches the crustaceous pallor of the ear. He puts it to his good ear, nods, then holds it out for the manager to do the same, which he does, holding it just out of contact with his own
    â€œWhat do you hear?”
    Seeing Don Mateo’s eagerness and being familiar with Acapulco and what goes on there, having heard the French-Canadian, the Anglo-Canadian and out-and-out gringo, he can understand what is required of him with this question about the sea and what he hears there.
    â€œI hear waves and voices.”
    â€œWhat did I tell you?” Don Mateo shouts back at the lowered heads around his table. “Waves and voices!”
    The manager puts his head to the side, like a bird, puckering his lips and his brow, appearing to hear a lot more in Don Mateo’s ear.
    â€œThey are speaking a very funny French and a very funny English.”
    Don Mateo takes possession of his ear again and plops it back into his pocket like a watch that has told the right time of day. He has what he wants, confirmation.
    His ear proves it.

TENNIS
    They tell me, report nothing, Gene. That how they say Jean. Report nothing or they think you the one involved, and you become the suspect. You try help this guy, broken up in some accident, and they sue you for fix him up. Like, even if you are an MD surgeon – you keep out, or else you spend your holiday in the police station, making the statement. Somebody sue the boots off your feet, and you go no place.
    Something about a bad dose of Napoleonic Law Mexicans got. We have the good recipe for it in Québec, but here, the Napoleonic Law sort of got the shits. Like from the fruit, too much heat.
    That what I think about the run-over guy. Don’t look up close. And I think, why the car not make it over his head? An auto leave a big impression on a guy’s head. Like cat you see on the highway – flat. Like pizza with the hair topping. But this head is still one piece and the res’ – neck, ches’, knee, an’ his ankle – run over.
    Damn taxi-driver stop for nothing, I think. They jus’ run him over, one after the other. Too busy to make the stop in case they miss the next fare. This too much, I tell Rose-Marie. I pull him up, I put him against the door of that Club de Tenís .
    From Adam, I don’t know this one guy. But me, I feel sad for him, and the love charm he have on his gold bracelet. I know it.
    Since we been in Acapulco, we are buying pretty heavy. We work hard for the good deal in silver or gold off the beach vendor. Make the bid, wait one day or two, see it drop. Anyway, I watch the jewellery and I ask people what price and where they buying. I remember the good jewellery, and I know it on the guy. For sure, because you know, I see his partner put that there gold bracelet on the wrist of that run-over guy.
    This late night – 11 p.m. The Shore Patrol from the Hornos base, they come, and they are stepping into the