Page 25 of One Foggy Christmas
“Necesitan levantarse.” A homeless man taps my shoe with his toe, breaking the moment. “No pueden estar aquí.”
We sit up, staring back at the man and his hectic hand motions.
“¿Por qué no podemos estar aquí?” I ask.
Sadie whips her head to me, astonishment coloring her eyes. “You speak Spanish?”
“A little.”
“What’s he saying?”
“Tienen que salir de aquí.” He waves us away. “Están bloqueando a todos.”
He wants us to move, says we’re blocking everyone, but that’s not what I tell Sadie.
“Uh, he said I’m very good-looking.”
Her brows drop. “No, he didn’t.”
The man motions for us to get up. “Apárense del camino.”
“He thinks you should forget all other men and just be with me.”
Sadie laughs.
The homeless man kicks his leg out, showing he’s kicking us out of here. “Los estoy echando de aquí.”
“He says I should kick yourex-boyfriend in the groin and then the head.”
She laughs even harder.
“No, no.” Frustration crosses over the man’s face.
“Not in the head?” I ask in English.
“No entiendo lo que estás diciendo. No, Inglés. Solo Español.”
“Oh, sorry. The head,thenthe groin,” I clarify to Sadie. “The order of where I kick yourex-boyfriend really matters to him.”
“I understand enough Spanish and body language to know he’s not saying that.” Sadie rolls her eyes, pushing my shoulder before she stands.
“Está bien?” I stand too, shaking my new compadre’s hand.
But the homeless guy is still stuck on moving us along from our spot under The Bean. “La gente puede caminar hasta aquí ahora.”
“Sí verdad.” I agree with him that people can walk through more easily now. “Yes, she’s very pretty. I know.”
“Now, I know you’re lying.” Sadie laughs as she tugs on my arm, pulling me away. “Come on. Let’s go.”
I wave over my shoulder. “Gracias, amigo!”
“Haha. You’re very funny.” She lets go of my arm but keeps walking.
“You think so?”
“Sometimes.” She bites back her smile. “Where did you learn to speak Spanish like that anyway?”
“I lived in Belize for two years after high school.”
