Tuesday, 1 June 2021

The Peacock 178

 "Well", I mention to Jesús.  "Why don't you tell us about how you met Father Griffin?"

The owner of the diner sets down four glasses of water.  "I knew Father Griffin at the church", Jesús begins.  "I was in a special  English class there.  One of the priests, a woman, invited us to dinner and to practice English  with her.  Father Griffin was also present, to help her."

"How did you find out about the English class?" Carl asks.

"I was in a language exchange group.  We met in the cafeteria.  Some speak Spanish and help Canadians who want to learn.  The Canadians help us with English.  There was a woman there that told me about the dinner.  She thought it would be a friendly place for learning English.  She also goes to the church."

"Stacy?" I ask.

"Yes,  She lived in El Salvador for some years, helping with community development, especially for victims of the drug war."

It seems clear that this is not going to be easy for Jesús.  It isn't just his English, which he is struggling with quite nobly.  He is naturally shy.  He is clearly not a talker, not even in his own native Spanish.

Who is this Stacy" Carl asks.

"Oh, a very interesting lady.  She is a doctor and her husband is... salvadoreño?"

"In English", Aaron says, "You want to say Salvadoran."

"Yes, thank you, Aaron.  her husband is Salvadoran.  She was there to practice her Spanish, which is already very good, but I think she also likes to know people from Latin America."

"So, how did it go?" says Carl.


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