Bilingual Bargaining

Where I live, my flea market exploring

often involves a negotiating

discussion

in Spanish.


I love that.

In fact, one of my favorite flea markets is so close to the border,

all cell phone service is international.


Let me just say, this requires having all of my

wits about me,

as I mentally go back to my high school Spanish classes

at Saint Mary’s Hall

in San Antonio.


My Spanish teacher in high school was blind

and excellent and demanding.

His wife , who never left his side throughout the period,

watched our every teenage move.

She could see, and she was excellent.

All of this is an absolute blast for me.

And so one day at the flea market,

when I saw this bust teetering on the asphalt,

in a pile of items,

near a very stern looking shopper,

I did a quick translation in my head.

 

Me: 

“Con permiso. Si no lo quieres,

yo lo compro.”

Loosely translated:

Excuse me.

If you do not want this,

I will buy it.



And then the wait begins…

tick tock, tick tock.

 

My mental gymnastics (in English) while waiting:

oh my gosh-I have got to have that-calm down Laura,

walk away slightly, smile, don’t stalk-

don’t hover-

oh my gosh I have to have that-.


And so when I heard this voice say,

“Senora?”,

while handing me the bust,

 

I smiled and said

”gracias.”

Which is the same

in any

language.

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