HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2011-12-21, Page 20lc
not with him! Okay?
he was English the
1 spotted him -
hort and over-
ith a flushed face.
ont of him he car -
of those large,
care stomachs NI the World's a Circus
like a mini bar William Thomas
der a too -tight
His glasses
a good clean and he had an
t look on his face like he was
r a bus. Actually, he was wait -
us.
a warm October morning in
fugal and I was taking a ten -
us ride from my hotel to pick
car at the airport.
let's go with that, was quite
talk but woefully short on
I le'd been here for "a day or
re on 'business, I suppose,'
m "a lot of places in Britain"
drove from Toronto to Buffalo
disappointed.
pulled up and he struggled to
first step so I help him with
ack which weighed at least 40
lose a few stone, I suppose;'
ignoring the bus driver and
to a seat in the middle of the
bus. The driver asks me for
e fare to the airport until I
d that Cedric there, was not
I left 1.80 euros on his tray,
seat so far from this guy I'm
Bus #24 headed for the train
come up with Kleenex. The Portuguese people on
the bus were not amused.
My fun ends when I realize that not only does
this guy not have a bus ticket, he also has no
money which is why he's now padding down the
aisle looking for me.
I quickly give him a.2 euro coin as he nat-
ters on about changing money at the airport
because his hotel tried to rip him off for an
extra percentile As he makes his way back
to the driver I go through a series of shoulder shrugs and
hand gestures that clearly state in any language: 1 am not
with him:
To make matters worse he came back and gave me the 20
cents change but I gave it back to him explaining it would be
simpler if he just gave me a two euro coin at the airport ...
and he then sat down in the seat beside me. The Portuguese
men look at me like yeah, we have brothers-in-law too.
Entering the Faro airport he looked confused and mum-
bled something about a bank. I pointed straight ahead to the
larger -than -life sign on the front of Banco de Portugal.
"Look, he said, "there's a post office! They'll know where
the bank is!"
As he emerged from the post office, he gave me a half
salute and entered the Banco de Portugal right next door. I
was wondering if I needed two euros this badly but I was
curious as to what this guy might do next.
And what he did was uncharacteristically uneventful for
Cedric from somewhere, here to do something or other. He
gaVe me the two euro coin he owed me.
He was still talking about currency rates and exchange per-
centages as I'm waving and walldng backwards and thinking
he'll never find his way out of the airport and even if he does,
he's not getting back on Bus #16.
So. I grab an International Herald Tribune and move on to
Avis where the manager assured me she could upgrade my
rental to a peppy little four -door diesel if I could wait half an
hour. 'No problem. I returned to the terminal and upon
entering the Office de Turismo to buy a book on walking trails
I heard a familiar voice say: "Mere you are. I've been looking
for you."
It's ... it's 'Cedric The Dreaded.' The woman at the counter
shoots me a look of gratitude like "thank God you're here. I
thought my teeth were going to fall out from boredom."
I'm flipping through the hildng book when Cedric says he's
got a bit of a problem. Really!!! I can only imagine he has
taken stock of his life and wants me to help him get under
Bus #16 just before it pulls away from the curb.
he driver asks for money, the
an yells back: "No, it's quite
I have a ticket. I bought it
thinking, 'oh yeah, the Eng -
r system always works In a for-
ntry when you can't actually
ourself. Apparently I was the
enjoying the pantomime at the
hich the driver demanded to
c's ticket as he rifled through
cket on his person only to
as Day poem
angels sing out this morn
. we tell you, a babe has been
and be glad, for this babe is a
heart and your home, join us
ing.
the world that all may know,
ist has arrived to this world
mother is proud of her son,
s him out to show everyone.
want to meet Him this Christ-
ect to come his way.
our church with open mind
art
mire to find Christ, if you do
krt.
Judy Van Beers
Signal Star • Wednesday, December 21, 2011 19
"I need that two euro coin back," he
says with a completely straight face to
which I begin to laugh like hell.
"I have found a better rate at the
International Currency Exchange but
first I need to return my money to the
bank ... all my money, including that
two euro coin I gave you:
It's not often that I'm speechless. I
looked around the office hoping to spot
the Just For Laughs camera so this
scene of insanity would make sense and
then end.
"I don't have any money," I lied.
"Everything is locked in my rental car."
'Well, I,ll go with ..."
'No! No, what we'll do Is ... you stay
here. Flight here. Don't move. I'll go to
the car and come right back"
"Well, if it's no trouble"
"No, no trouble. Stay right here."
Then I signed the forms at the Avis
office and drove that car so far, so fast I
needed a map of Spain to return it.
All week I checked the local papers
for the headlines: "Tourist Loses Arm
To Manhole Cover Trying To Fish Euro
Coin Out With Fridge Magnet"
Next time? "Sorry Senor. Nao fala
Ingles."
Sleigh bells are ringing,
And we're filled with good cheer,
When we think of the new friends
That we've made this year --
And we'd like to extend, to each one of you...
Our very bes wishes, and our gratitude, too!
Doctor's Nisbett, Padfield, Weaver, Taylor and
staff would like to thank our patients for their
continuing support and business this past year.
Wishing vau all a very Merry Christmas and a
"Tornado -Free" Happy New Year
Huron Optometric Centres
GODERICH CUNTON WINONNM
519-524-7251 519-482-3877 228422-2020
9