Coincidence - Alan May [35]
There was much bantering between the vendors, and a constant babble of languages in the crowd of locals and visitors from all over the world. Occasionally a burro sauntered through the crowd, its back laden with baskets of produce to replenish a stall. There were vendors selling an array of souvenirs, too: trinkets, hats, blankets, and jewelry. There were no prices on anything.
Nancy picked up a pair of earrings in the shape of curving fish and held them to her ears.
“Oh, look! I love these!” she said.
“Muy bonita, Señorita!” the vendor said.
“Very pretty!”
“How much?”
“Two hundred fifty pesos.”
“That’s way too much.”
The man quickly amended the price.
“For you, two hundred.”
Nancy put the earrings back on the table. She was crestfallen at having to leave the little fish behind, but the price was way out of line with what the earrings were worth, no matter how smitten she was with them. The four started to leave, but the vendor called after them.
“Okay.” He shrugged. “How much you want to pay?”
Want to pay? This was a new concept for Nancy. She looked at her friends in amazement, then offered one hundred pesos. The vendor shook his head sorrowfully and said, “I have to make a living here, Señorita. Give me one hundred fifty pesos and the pretty little fishes are yours.”
He held them up. The scales on the fish sparkled in the sunshine.
“Well … how about one twenty-five?”
She was sure they couldn’t be worth more than about ten dollars. That was about a hundred and twelve pesos—or was it? Nancy did some quick calculating in her head. Yes, more or less. Still, one twenty-five wasn’t so very much more than that, and the man had come down a lot … And they were so cute …
At that point the haggling stopped. Nancy was thankful to be able to afford the earrings after all, and even more thankful that she hadn’t agreed to the first price, which had been only a starting point in the negotiations. Now they knew.
The four of them found a McDonald’s and had a burger and fries. Her mother, Melissa reflected, with only the tiniest smidgen of guilt, would be appalled at their choice of restaurant when they could have had their pick of interesting local places, but they were hungry for a taste of home.
What was unlike home, and in the most wonderful way, they agreed, was the weather.
“I’m almost too hot,” Kathy said as she took a large swig of her soft drink. “I’m not complaining, though. It won’t be too long now before everyone at home will be digging out their heavy coats and boots and mittens.”
“Let’s take some pictures to show them what they’re missing,” Melissa said with an evil grin on her face.
Even though the ship was docked, everyone had to be back by 2000 hours for watch. Now, instead of keeping an eye out for danger at sea, they were to make sure no unwanted guests boarded the ship.
Melissa, unlike the other girls, was glad to have the curfew; she was eager to get back and find out all about Pierre’s day and share her adventures with him.
The following day held more adventures, beginning first thing in the morning. The Honorary Canadian Consul in Puerto Vallarta had arranged for a group of children from a local orphanage to have breakfast on the ship. This was the first time the Floaties had hosted any visitors, and most took proprietary pride in showing the workings of the Inspiration to the children. The children looked around at the sails, the masts, the ropes, the anchor, the tiny cabins, and the heads in awe.
Melissa watched as one little boy, who had regarded everything with wide-eyed solemnity, shyly put his hand in Pierre’s. She was touched at how gentle Pierre was with him, how he smiled, then knelt down to be at the child’s level as he explained what was happening at colors.
The Canadian and the Mexican flags were raised. A little later, Melissa caught