My New Boyfriend

The Spanish school is housed in two lovely colonial homes with enormous central courtyards which have trees, benches, tables, pots filled with bright flowers and fountains. After taking a written test I was placed in a class with one other student and the teacher, Betty. Almost at once my classmate began to yak on and on in Spanish that was so poorly pronounced it literally hurt my ears. It wasn't just the pronunciation either, the poor woman had invented a language all her own filled with words that twisted and stuck together in complete and utter DISHARMONY. I stared, dumbfounded by the depth and breadth of her confusion. Betty blinked, but offered no assistance. She is apparently from the school of No Correction. Her teaching style seemed haphazard and vague. This is in sharp contrast to my teacher Soccoro from last year, who gently, but firmly insisted on correct pronunciation and definitely would have nipped the invented language bit in the bud. I wanted to help my classmate, but alas did not possess the equipment with which to save her. Finally at the end of two long hours I was released to go to my new teacher for the last hour. I will sum up the experience in two sentences. Betty sucks. Alfredo rocks the house! Within 20 minutes in the new classroom I decided I would switch to Betty for 1 hour and Alfredo for two hours. I've already paid for 3 hours per day of instruction for this week. I am at the stage of Spanish acquisition where I am stuck in present tense. There was no yesterday and is no tomorrow. But thanks to an hour with Alfredo my past is looking much brighter. Where Betty is a slice of white bread with the crust removed, Alfredo is a 10-grain whole wheat with rosemary & raisins. Next week Betty will be in my past. I am certain my sister will be eternally grateful that I have gotten this business of who is providing us with our Spanish education sorted out. After Spanish class I fell in love. I don't know any other way to put it. My new boyfriend is in his late 60's or perhaps early 70's and he is a singer and guitar player in the restaurant I went for lunch. I sat down, ordered my margarita on the rocks with plenty of salt and my fajitas de res con torillas harina, sat back and begain to fall. His voice was so rich, so deep, so melodic it filled the room with what I can only describe as LOVE. I smiled and clapped throughout my meal. Now it is sunset and I am on the rooftop terrace looking at a sky filled with gold light. Birds are chattering in the trees, I can hear someone sweeping in the street below, soon the bells will begin to ring out across the city as they do every hour. And I will be right here listening.