TRAVERSE

THE WRITER
“How many times do you want to walk around this pond?”
Esi asked.
“I want to sit somewhere and watch the fountain.”
“The fountain? What’s so interesting about the fountain?”
“I need to know what it has.”
“What it has?” Repeated Esi.
Ali nodded. “She loves it.”
“Let me buy two sandwiches. What would you like?”
“No difference.”
“Drink?”
“Beer.”
“Islamic beer.” Esi winked and left.
Two middle-aged women got up from a bench. One was on crutches
and wore a loose milky manteau matching her hair. The other was fatter
and helping her friend walk. Ali went and sat down on their bench and
stared at the streams of water that rose, fell, and rose again.
A young couple stood near the fountain. The girl lowered her head and
put both hands in her pockets. She appeared to be in deep thought. The
boy put a hand on her shoulder and talked rapidly. Ali sighed, placed his
elbow on the back of the bench, and stared at the couple.
Esi returned with a bag. He stood in front of Ali and looked down at
him. “You look like death.”
“Shut up.”
Esi gave Ali his sandwich and drink and sat. “What’s wrong?”
After a long pause, Ali pointed to a grey shirt on a short man. “I
bought a shirt just like that for my pigheaded boss.”
“Mazaheri?”
“Yes.”
TRAVERSE 83