November 2, 2008

Last night she wanted to try out a Chinese restaurant she'd heard a lot about from acquaintances. With a borrowed car from work we headed out to the restaurant near the city limits at the Marina Hemingway. She and the kids waited while I went in to order the food (they don't take phone orders). There were a couple of pool tables near the door in a basically open room. To the left was a small bar and then tables along the wall opposite the door. A group of four ate at one table, while a man stood at the bar. The only visible staff were a couple of ladies sitting on the other side of the bar. I requested a menu and ordered white rice, fried rice, sweet and sour chicken and mixed vegetables. They told me there was no chicken, so I ordered sweet and sour beef instead. A few minutes later they said they had none of the mixed vegetables and suggested the Chinese Seasonal Vegetables dish instead. I agreed and they asked me to sit at a table and wait. The bar patron had watched the exchange attentively and followed me to the table, asking if he could sit. I consented. There was a bit of small talk - where am I from, that sort of stuff. He was listening to rock music on his phone. He pulled an earphone out of his ear and let me listen - Bon Jovi. Not bad. He offered me a beer - Bucanero is the local favorite malt liquor. I told him I didn't drink. Coke then! He had them bring me a cola - the national brand. I forget the name, but it's not bad - better than Pepsi, anyway. She came in with Paz to use the restroom and left again. My new friend then challenged me to a game of pool. He wasn't that good. I was worse and he beat me soundly. Then he told me I owed him a dollar. I told him my religion prohibited this as well. He let me buy his beer instead. Finally, the food was ready. The hostess opened each box to show me. Turns out the Chinese Seasonal Vegetable was cabbage. I settled my bill and left. We'd been there about an hour. Static and Paz were asleep in the car and she was changing Smiley's diaper. We drove home in the rain. It was a dark and stormy night.