Life, and Other Absurdities.

We get rid of him by promising to meet him later on, at a quarter to four, which is around the time we finally emerge from our apartment. Unfortunately, there seems to be a market going on in our square, with a number of tents and stands selling food, jewelry, pictures, bags, and more. While Chastity runs off to make a phone call, Rose and I buy two cups of steaming green tea at a stand. We are preparing to walk with it but the owner insists that we make ourselves comfortable on the makeshift sofa, a pile of cushions and pillows, which he has prepared. After Chastity returns we wind our way through the stalls, trying on and bartering for dangly earrings and silk scarves. Spain's fashion sense is significantly more fun and quirky than that of France, and we end up with pink neon hoops, silver spirals, and candy cane striped circles which we can't wait to wear out.

We meet a belligerent Preston at the corner of La Rambla at quarter to 5 and I try to filter out his ranting by concentrating on the sights and sounds as we meander down the street. There are sidewalk artists drawing caricatures and oil paintings, clowns performing tricks for crowds, and even a man in an ostrich costume who jumps out of nowhere, making bird noises as we go by. Deep in argument, the other three continue, but I hesitate.

"Hey, hold on a sec."

"What's wrong?"

"That man," I insist, "He's so familiar!"

Then I realize. And as he turns toward me I realize why his face is so familiar...

"It's Manuel!!!!" I screech, bounding first toward him and then back toward Chastity, who is holding her camera.

"Quick! I need this!!" I snatch it out of her hands despite meek and confused protest, and charge back toward the crowd while trying to figure out the buttons. I slide the camera into "on", position it, and,

"Manuel!" I yell, still looking through the lens. I see him approaching at a rapid pace through the viewer. I hit the top button, the screen goes black, and I lower the camera in confusion to see the ostrich heading at full tilt toward me, letting out an earth-shattering scream.

"Aaahhhhhh!" I yell as I glimpse my impending doom, and turn on my heels to flee as fast as my feet can take me. As I near Rose, Preston and Chastity's quizzical and troubled faces, there is no doubt in my mind that each of them will be seriously questioning my sanity from this day forth.

I try to explain and catch my breath at the same time, doubled over, huffing and puffing, dangling Chastity's camera toward her and mumbling, "He's in... Fawlty Towers.... I know him...."

They exchange looks, then glance back at where the ostrich-man is parading back and forth, screeching and leaping out at the occasional tourist. I decide to give up trying to explain.