Prestige. I went out around 5:30 to buy two Prestiges. I always head to the shop run by the nice lady who doesn't over charge me when I don't understand Haitian numbers or money. Rhonda and Susan know her.
After I turned the corner from the orphanage, some guy started walking with me and talking to me. Fine. I could use the practice in both my Creole and French. He was a bit pushy, though, when we arrived at the little stand. The vendor knows me and smiled. I ordered my two Prestige, and the guy kept saying " Plus vite"--hurry up. I kept telling her not to rush; I was fine. Turns out, she didn't have any Prestige! I was (pretended to be) devastated.
I headed home, and my new found escort walked with me. He said he knew another place "pa lwen"--not far-- where I could find some Prestige. Okay. I had time. Why not? We took a right just past the market and headed towards the kids' school. At the intersection past the school we took a right. That was a new direction for me. I asked "Ki kote Prestige ye?"-- where is the Prestige? His answer--"Pa lwen." Hmm. I followed, but slowly.
A nice lady asked whether I was lost. I said no, but that I was looking to buy some Prestige. She pointed down the road to our left, which is not the direction the strange guy was going to take me. We turned left, but now I was paying a bit more attention. Pretty much this guy was talking about himself, saying how he was a nice guy who could be trusted. Red flags, anyone?
We came to the next intersection, and he wanted to turn left. I looked down the "road" which didn't have much on it, much less anything that looked like a small shop. At that point, I said I was going back. He said I could trust him. I said I was heading back. On our way back I stopped at a place we had passed, and guess what? It had Prestige! I was all set to buy my two, but then I found out she didn't have change for my 500 goudes bill. Foiled. Too bad the guy didn't know that place sold Prestige--coulda saved me some steps!
He continued to annoy me on the way back because he kept pushing me to the side whenever a truck or motorcycle came by. At this point, I was waiting for him to ask for something. No way was he going to feign such concern for nothing. I became a bit worried when he insisted upon holding my right arm (the arm from which my bag hung). I quickly switched the bag to my left shoulder. He let go of my arm. Hmm?
He's smart because he then started telling me that he was a Christian man and he would never do anything not Christian like. He really must have thought I was doofus! I stopped at a small stand that was selling sandals (a second pair of my sandals are now duct taped together). He jumped right in, talking over me. He then noticed the watch on my wrist. The last 50 yards back to the orphanage he asked for " un petit cadeau," a little present. Namely, my watch. This guy was a piece of work. When we reached the orphanage gate, Brinel was sitting there working on his bike tire. As I stepped across the threshold, my new "friend" asked me for money. I told him no in what I thought was firm Creole, but he didn't stop until Brinel looked at him and said, "Li pa genyen."--she doesn't have any. I don't know how to convey the tone of voice, but it worked. Go Brinel!
Francois Moises wanted my phone number, wanted to meet to go for walks, wanted to visit me at Gertrude's. I like adventure, and I like practicing my Creole. But, I'm not stupid.
No need to worry, anyone. I am safely ensconced on the roof top, drinking my Prestige (turns out Gertrude had some in the freezer here!).
Ha ha ha! Next time, don't even WALK with a weird Haitian man. ;-)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your Prestige!!
S.
Hey mom,
ReplyDeleteIt’s Boo again. I got to go back to Hunter’s house for Spring Break. I’ve been so good this week. You would be very proud. When I go outside, I still chase the squirrels, but I stay in the yard. Mostly because someone always goes out with us, but I’m learning where to stop. Remember when you told me to ask Hunter where I could go, well we both decided to go into the woods for a short hike and it was really fun until the girls were looking for us and couldn’t find us right away. I don’t think Hunter told them where we were going, but we didn’t really get in trouble. Hunter and I still chase the squirrels and I got so close to catching one the other day. It’s lots of fun. They also have big deer here. Five of them come to the backyard almost every day and eat from under AND on top of the birdfeeder. Hunter and I barked at them and they all ran away, but Alyssa said it was ok for them to come eat, so I just watched them after that. One day Alyssa wanted to pick me up and I didn’t like it, but I didn’t snap at her, cuz you said to never snap at anyone, but I did bark at her. Aunt Shannon came in and asked what was going on, but I think she was upset that Alyssa was grabbing me, not that I barked at her!! Aunt Shannon even said, “good boy” to me. We are also having fun playing. Sometimes the girls chase me around and I have played with my Koala and one of Hunter’s tennis balls this week. I really like playing with Michaela. I can get her to play anytime I want. Alyssa is doing great feeding me, she even protects my food from Hunter when I don’t finish right away. Everyone here sleeps in so I wake up Uncle Mike every morning. I’ve been trying to wait until like 5:30, but sometimes it’s 4:30ish. He lets me get on the bed, but it’s too hot so I usually get back up and by then I’m ready to go outside. He’s been pretty good about letting me out and then I can go back to bed until the girls get up or Hunter comes up to play. I’m doing a good job using my kennel when they ask too. I found out that a lot of times if I go to my kennel when they ask I’ll get a treat. That’s really cool. I’ll be going back to g/g’s tomorrow for Easter lunch, but the girls are going to take me for a walk there before they leave. I guess I better go now. I still miss you, but I’m having fun in Wisconsin – we can still play in the snow here and it’s almost April!! Have fun playing with the kids in Haiti and be safe – no walks with strangers. I’ll wait for you to come get me in a few months.
Love, Boo