Good Hope Hotel - On the Road
Part Two - Chapter three
Charles
stayed close to the fence until late afternoon watching the races carefully. He
then went to eat in one of the huts that offered the local cuisine. He liked
Skillet Cornbread more than any other dish. The woman in the small kitchen in
the back of the shed was singing while she was preparing it. Charles looked at
her enchanted. Each movement followed the rhythm of the song, in a kind of
dance. As soon as it was ready, she delivered it in a plastic dish.
“Young
man!” she said smiling. “Try this masterpiece, you won’t find the same anywhere
else in the South.”
Charles
nodded and took the roll of pasta with lots of vegetables overflowing the plate.
He sat at a table by the shack. At the same time a boy arrived. He asked
permission to sit at the same table. Charles smiled and gave him space. He place
the dish containing the same dish.
“Do you like it too?” asked
the man while he took a piece of it.
“Yes, it’s the first time I
taste it, but it’s good.”
The man
stretched out his hand presenting himself. “My name is Luke.”
Charles
shook his hand smiling before he bowed his head and went back to eat. After
finishing and throwing the dish in the trash can, he returned to watch the
frantic movements of the men involved in the races. Luke had also finished and
was looking at him with questionable look.
“You
are not from this area. Did you come here to take part in any competitions?”
“Oh
no,” answered Charles. “if I get on one of those horses, I have no escape.”
Luke
laughs. “I would be there all day among the horses. They are very intelligent
animals.”
Charles nodded.
“One of
my horses will be racing in a few moments. I bet no one can mount it. Only I can
do it.” He pointed to one of the horses locked in the enclosure guarded by an
attendant. “Come, I’ll show you.”
They
approached the fence, and upon Luke’s call, the horse approached. Luke caressed
him on the mane while Charles smiled funny.
The
attendant arrived, it was his turn. They took him away in the starting compound.
“Our
rodeo is a bit different from the common. It’s part of our tradition.”
The
cow-boy went up on the horse and the fence was opened between the screams of the
audience. The competitor’s efforts to remain in the saddle was in vain and after
six seconds he found himself on the ground while the horse, happy to be rid of
that weight, came back at the corner of the fence.
“I knew
it.” Luke confirmed knocking on Charles’s shoulder. “No one but me can mount
this horse.”
The
races lasted all afternoon, between screams and laughter. Someone knocked
violently and had to be carried off on a stretcher. But nothing serious
happened. Eventually proclaimed the winner and gave him a handmade saddle and a
cash prize.
“But don’t you go to take
your horse?” Charles asked in amazement.
“No, no
longer belongs to me.” He lowered his head with sadness. “But I could not go
away without seeing him compete again.”
“Have you sold?”
“No, I’m leaving and I don’t
come back here anymore.”
“You’re moving?” he asked
while they were sipping a beer.
Luke
looked at him smiling. “No, I’m running away.” He noticed that his sentence
could give rise to various interpretations. “No, not running away in the sense
of escape from justice. I’m leaving my home.”
Charles smiled and nodded.
It took
three more beers before Luke explained the reason for his escape. It was dusk by
now. The stage was already set up for the concert.
Poems
You Can Hear Me
Fairy Tales
Wood of Tales
Good Hope Hotel
Part One
Part Two
On
the Road
Part Three
Part Four
Other Works