The Opiate, Fall Vol. 19
The Exact Moment of Charles Barber’s Englightenment Joe McAvoy
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he crooked shaped man stared up at Charles, his languorous eyes shining out from within a hooded djellaba. “Sir, your question is quite…,” he paused, searching for the right word, “…unusual. Yes, unusual.” He sat atop what appeared to have once been a respectable carpet about twenty running strides or so up the alley, his legs splayed out like roots from underneath, regarding Charles as one might a kangaroo if a kangaroo happened to hop up beside one inquiring of such a ridiculous thing. “I am sorry, sir, but your question flummoxes me,” he continued, his English impeccable. He shook his head again, as if to emphasize the absurdity of the situation he found himself in. “I can say with deep assurance that I have not seen a man wearing a blue banana.” “Aaagh!” Charles waved his arms over his head. “Blue bandana! Did you see a man wearing a blue band-
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ana drive by here on a scooter?” Time was of the essence and it was slipping away from him like his ex-wives. Fast, furious and with everything he owned. The business trip that had brought him overseas wasn’t going as planned. His longtime client, Marco, had demanded, to Charles’ surprise, additional terms and conditions to the contract between their two companies before he would renew for another year. Charles had to extend his stay for another week. He liked Barcelona. He really did. Still, when Marco suggested that he get away to Morocco for a short weekend, it felt right. Clear out his brain. Come back on Monday refreshed. Get the deal done. Isabella could make the arrangements, Marco said. She had a friend over there who could show him around. Sure, Charles thought. Why not? Anything to get close to Isabella again, even if just for a few minutes. He had bumped into her on previous visits to Marco’s office. She was…alluring. He ran his eyes—and his hands where
