I had arranged to meet my childhood friend Santiago at the coffee shop on the north corner of 29th Avenue. The place was crowded that afternoon, so I dared ask permission from a young man (I calculated that he was about my age) to sit at the table that he was occupying with a half-finished coffee. In the end, I thought, «he will get up and leave the table for me to wait for Santi».

He looked at me with a cheerful expression and with a gesture invited me to sit down. The waiter came quickly to the table, and I immediately asked for a large cappuccino.

“So many people, aren't there?”

“Yes, you are quite right. At this time of day, people chat with their friends, before going home.”

“Are you expecting someone?

“Yes, a childhood friend.”

“Well, I'm new to this beautiful city. So, I'm still getting settled in.”

“Pardon the boldness, where do you come from?

“From the north, from a peaceful, rural place. Where time seems to stand still, you're from here, aren't you?”

“Yes, I was born here. I've never left the borders of this bustling metropolis.”

“Bustling! You're telling me! Where I come from, the roar of the wind and the twittering of birds interrupt the deep silence. Curiously, I see a certain similarity. Everyone is absorbed without looking at you. You are the first person to speak to me since I arrived. Of course, except for the waiter.”

“What are people like where you're from?”

“To be honest. Similar. Everyone is at chores, tilling the land, and gathering the crops. When they get home, dinners, have a few brief chats, and off to bed. They have to get up early to follow the routine.

“Ah, I see! That's why you came here. Running away from the tedium.”

“Ha, ha, ha, ha. No! Just out of simple curiosity. You know, to see the world. You should, someday, accompany me to meet my world.”

The waiter arrived with my cappuccino, as the nice stranger, slowly got up.

“Are you leaving already?”

“Yes, so that you will be comfortable to receive your friend.”

“No. Please sit down. Come with me. I want to introduce you to Santiago, he comes from abroad, and he surely brings tales of a world that neither you nor I know. Waiter, bring my new friend another cappuccino. By the way, my name is Alfredo, and yours?"

“Ulises.”

Since then, Santiago, my new friend, and I started the project of traveling around the world. We even applied to join the mission to the planet Mars.

The end

An original short story by @janaveda in Spanish and translated to English with www.deepl.com (free version)

Image by Davie Bicker on Pixabay

Thanks for reading me. I hope this micro-fiction is to your liking. I would very much like to read your comments in this regard to enrich myself with your criticism.

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