Chapter-1:
The Old Business of Men
Part 4
Diego witnessed it all as he struggled to breathe. His dry mouth opened with hot air. But, no words, no sounds and no ideas flowed out. And, the boy moved and played, happy with the day.
In stealth swiftness the father of the child came into view. Diego’s heart caught its beat, thumping slower into a relieved rhythm. The father picked the child up by surprise and spun him around, lifting him and spinning him through the air like a light little bird. Giggles and laughter let loose from both father and son. And they carried on with their day.
Diego followed the father and the child with his twitching eyes, half listening to the birds and to the heat. Water fired out from the fountain spouts in a steady gush and crash landed. The fountain created a rumbling sound, like a river rapid at the bottom of a great canyon.
The afternoon sweated Diego in place. His damp white shirt clung to his chest while heat trickled down the side of his neck.
One tight breath at a time and the details of Diego’s surroundings released their heaviness. His rigid jaw loosened in waves, relaxing his mouth wide open. And he crashed backward onto his bench.
Intermingled in this symphony, an image of Father Philippe flashed into Diego’s mind, followed by the candles and the altar of the old church. Off in the distance, Diego stared with unease at the young boy in his father’s arms. The child continued to laugh and to giggle under his easy light of the sun.
“Dios Te Ama Asi,” said Diego. He glanced at his pocket watch, “you foolish child.”
Ten minutes of rest passed away at a tense and rapid pace. At 12:25 p.m, Diego ended his lunch break five minutes early. And he returned to his work, to be safe within the thick and heavy walls of Banco De La Republica.
Friday afternoon roasted away at a slow even pace. Diego expected Amado Aguilar to arrive on time for his 1:00 pm appointment. He didn’t. Two and a half hours after lunch, Diego still waited for his afternoon meeting to begin.
At present, Diego walked in straight lines. He paced in the main lobby of the bank searching for relief. His attention shifted from the honey marbled floor, the lacquered mahogany interior and to his clerks and to his customers. None of this helped. The tightness on his neck and chest remained, making it more difficult to ignore his dreams.
Diego reached the main glass doors to the bank and stepped outside into an oven. Tremendous heat slapped him in the face, forcing him to shield his eyes from the deep blue sea and infernal sun above Mexico City. He squinted and searched the main road.
Jacaranda, poinsettia and oak trees around the bank provided some shade from the power of the sun. While inward curved palm trees leading up to the bank, bowed and swayed, mocking Diego’s continued search. Young women walked and laughed with opened umbrellas. He frowned as they went about their shopping.
Still, Amado Aguilar appeared nowhere in sight.
Guiding questions for Comments: (What do you see?)
For those interested in leaving a comment, here is a list of questions to help guide your critique.
Within these two pages of the story, from my perspective, I think I have provided enough information to answer the following questions. But what do you see?
1. What is Diego’s reaction to the child and father?
2. Who is Diego waiting for?
3. What do you think is Diego’s main problem in the story so far?
4. What is Diego’s attitude or perspective about where he works?
Thank you
I appreciate your time in reading this blog post. Next Saturday I will upload the next part of Chapter One: The Old Business of Men, from my first novel: Guerrero of Passions.
Total Consciousness 