Son, there are some things in this life, she was saying, that get easier when you share them, dont you forget that.
Turning around, she went into the kitchen to bring me the second course, that cod that I think only she knows how to make so delicious.
CHAPTER 6.
I was walking quickly. The rain fell heavily and because it was very windy, an umbrella would have been useless. I hadnt even taken it, so my whole face was getting soaked.
When I turned a corner, someone crossed my path, I was as scatter-brained as ever, but certainly justified under the circumstances, because I was in a hurry, not just because I was getting drenched but because I was late too, which Ive never liked. I kept walking, when I heard:
Don Manuel.
I stopped in my tracks and turned around, then I noticed who had called me, it was the person who had crossed my path a moment ago.
How long has it been since weve seen each other? she asked.
I hadnt recognized her before, but I did now, it was the librarian, but I couldnt remember at that moment what she was called, but masking my confusion, I said:
How are you? And whats with this Don Manuel? Has time made you forget that were friends and all the hours that we spent together?
Its like looking for a needle in a haystack, she said. Did you continue researching the subject? she asked me.
Yes, I said and added, what do you think about meeting for a coffee this evening and reminiscing about old times? Im in a bit of a hurry just now, theyre waiting for me.
I think that would be good, Im also in a hurry, besides theres not really time to be standing around here on the street with this rain. Turning around, she said, six at our place.
She left me almost mid-sentence, before I had the chance to respond. I watched as she disappeared around the corner, and thought, At our place, where would that be? I had no idea where she meant at that moment, after all the years that had passed since I last saw her, how would I remember that little detail?
Returning to reality, I saw how the rain was pouring down and I was soaking wet. Although the raincoat I was wearing was long, the bottom of my pants were already saturated. I started walking, a little concerned because I was going to be late with the minutes Id lost with the encounter, so I picked up the pace, well as much as the stones on the ground would allow me to, because when theyre wet, its better to be careful if you dont want to end up falling.
Where could that place she had just told me be? I asked myself. I kept thinking about it as I walked, when suddenly I found the solution to the problem; I know where she works. Ill go there when shes about to leave and Ill say that Ive come to look for her, that way Ill look like a gentleman and she wont know Ive forgotten the place for our appointment.
The years arent kind, I never would have forgotten such a thing in my younger days, and regretful to realize that my memory was not what it was, I continued on my way.
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I looked at the clock, and at that point I remembered the appointment I had at six as she had told me. I left the book I had in my hands, and decided to get ready so I would arrive a little before she finished her work, that way if there was anything new I could check it out before going to get that coffee.
On the way I was thinking, I dont think theres any literature I dont know about, because Ive been paying careful attention to everything that has come out, but surely something has passed me by and shell tell me about it right away.
With that in mind, I arrived at the library door. I still had lots of energy and when I quickened my pace there was no one who could get ahead of me.
When I went through the library door, I stood there, surprised to see a young lady in her place. Could she be ill? Maybe she caught a cold this morning with all that rain.
I was about to turn around when I thought, If I dont have her phone number, I cant call her either, and with the idea of asking the girl who I assumed must be her substitute, I went over to the counter.
Good afternoon! I said when I got there.
Finally, thank goodness the day has gotten better, because this morning was terrible. I dont know where so much rain could have come from, it seemed like it was never going to stop. What can I do for you? said the young lady in a friendly voice, standing there looking at me with a smile.
I came to see your colleague, but I see shes not here, I answered her.
Her smile disappearing, she looked at me strangely.
Colleague?
Yes, I said a little confused.
Pillar? she said immediately, as if she had just remembered.
Yes, Pilar, I answered, giving a little snort, happy to finally remember that name.
Staring at me, the young lady told me:
Well, surely you know she hasnt been around for a long time?
Well, its been a while yes, Ive been busy, you know how things are. You get caught up in things and you dont have time for anything, and before you know it, the days have passed, I answered, lowering my head in embarrassment. Why are you asking me that? I asked her a little taken aback. Why would she care if I came to see Pilar often or not?
Well, because Pilar retired years ago. I dont know how long ago, because Ive only been working here for a few months. When she left, they hired someone else, but I took the librarians exams and they gave me this position, because the person who was here replacing her, was only temporary, she said very seriously.
I was listening to her as if a distant voice was informing me, because I was lost in my own thoughts.
How could she have retired? It couldnt be true surely, this person must be mistaken. Something suddenly hit me. Of course! She was older than I was, but not by that much, I had been all over the place lately!
Alright, I said to the girl, I wont bother you any further. Oh, and could you tell me where she lives?
But before she had time to answer, I heard someone talking behind me.
Don Manuel, I see youre as punctual as ever, and as Id imagined, youve come through here first to see if there was anything new.
I didnt even have time to react. I saw her approaching the girl, walking as quickly as ever, going around the counter and after giving her two kisses, she asked her with a smile:
How are you? Are you bored? Be patient, rainy days you know, people are warmer at home.
Look, before we leave, I want you to see something, she said to me.
She had come to my side, then walked decisively down one of the corridors and I followed, but not without saying goodbye to the lady at the counter who must have taken me for a bit of a fool.
What do you want to show me Pilar? I asked as I followed her.
I see you havent forgotten my name, despite how long its been since we last saw one another, she said turning her face and smiling.
I had the impulse to tell her that the young lady had just reminded me, but I restrained myself. No, shes not going to believe that I have memory lapses already, and I said:
So Pilar, whats going on in your life? They just told me that youve retired.
So Pilar, whats going on in your life? They just told me that youve retired.
Well, the truth is that I didnt like it anymore, even though I was trying to how can I put it? Re-engage, but it was impossible. They wanted new people, especially people who knew how to use the new technologies that were coming out, because as you can see, everything has really changed since the computers arrived, its not the same anymore. People prefer to find the answers easily, rather than spend hours going over tomes to find what they need.
Well, I said, its always good to move forward, but now I dont know whats happening, it seems were all in such an almighty hurry, even if we dont have much to do, were almost running, what times we live in!
Yes, she said, to then waste time watching television.
Well, I dont watch it much, but I do like to watch the news.
Of course, and thatll have made you stop reading the newspaper every day as you always used to.
No, I still have that habit and I dont think anyone can take that away from me. Ive been doing it for so many years, but yes, it is true that its more comfortable to sit and watch something and have someone telling you, rather than to be reading. On top of that, my eyes are not what they used to be.
Of course, you wont give up the habit because its fallen out of fashion, but young people, what do you think? Watching television without making any effort to find out about things and theyll gradually stop working harder and harder and theyll stop reading altogether, she was saying to me a little sadly.
Dont exaggerate, there have always been distractions and reading has endured, I added to cheer her up.
Yes, but hear me well, isnt it true that people in your younger days read more than they do today? You have to admit that we liked reading more than the younger folk of today.
Well, youre right about that, I was saying, when I saw her stop.
All the information you want, you have it here.
We had reached where she wanted, she stopped there and showed me a device.
What? I asked right away. What are you talking about?
Yep, everything is stored on here and all you have to do is select a date and the information comes out for you, straight away.
What are you telling me? That the newspapers are all archived in there? Because that would be great for me, a what-do-you-call-it like this, because I have material from all these years of research, which I cant fit anywhere at home. When one of my nephews comes to pay me a visit, not that its often, but when they pass by where I live, they ring the bell downstairs and if I answer them, they say:
Hello uncle Manu! and they come in to see me for a while. Thats because their parents always tell them that since Im a loner, I must get bored a lot, and because they hear it so much, they come to keep me company for a while. Well, he asks me why I dont throw away all those old papers.
And what do they think of all your work? Pilar asked me.
Well, the truth is that no one in my family has ever understood, although as they know, Im very stubborn and I was never gonna let it go, and theyve never asked me to give up.
I keyed in a date where she told me, and immediately the newspaper I wanted appeared on the screen, of course I just searched for something I already knew, to see if it worked.
How much time and money this invention would have saved me before, I said looking at her.
Yes, she said and miles, I know youve had to make many trips to collect all that information.
Well, what have you dedicated yourself to since you dont have to go to work every day? How have you been spending your time? I was asking her curiously.
Blushing like a schoolgirl who had been caught hiding something, she said:
Ive dedicated myself to writing.
Writing? I asked surprised. Writing what?
Well, memories, experiences, in short, part of my life between these four walls, my views on many things, she was telling me and had lowered her voice, it was clear that she didnt want anyone to find out.
Tell me! Tell me! Im sure its very interesting, I interrupted her with curiosity.
Look, she said, looking at the clock, lets go, or were going to be too late for coffee, and well get there at dinner time, but I promise Ill tell you.
We shut down that device and headed down the corridor to the exit, where we said goodbye to the lady. Pilar gave her another two kisses as she had when she arrived and said:
Keep holding down the fort for me!
As a farewell, I said to her:
Ill be back some day when I have more time to take a look at that little gadget you have, bye!
Looking at me with an expression on her face that told me she had no idea what I was referring to, she said:
Well, Ill be here, come back whenever you want.
I left behind Pilar, and started walking quickly, because I didnt want her to leave me behind, but it was hard for me to stay by her side.
I noticed that time had not sapped away that energy that she always had, and that although now she would not have to walk so much through the corridors of the library, her legs were as agile as ever. Suddenly she stopped there in the middle of the street, and she started thinking.
Look, seeing as were together, we dont need to go to our coffee shop, Im thinking of something Id like to show you, she was telling me with a smile.
Without asking any questions, because I thought, She always has first-hand information, I said:
Whatever you want. Lets go to wherever youre talking about.
We went to the Rúa da Raiña and in surprise I said:
So where are we going?
At that point, we passed by the door of a coffee shop, and she said:
Look, this looks like a good place to get a coffee, what do you think?
I liked the place too, although in reality it didnt matter to me, so we entered and asked for one right there at the counter, which really surprised me.
I had assumed she would take advantage of the fact that we would be sitting quietly to show me what she had just told me about, but I was wrong, she didnt want to sit down at all. When I proposed it, she said:
No, this way is faster.
When it was served to us, she started drinking it immediately. I saw that the coffee was steaming and I asked her:
Are you in such a hurry that you cant wait for it to cool down a little?
Wait, youll see, she said, smiling, and she did not say another word.
She drank all the coffee that was left in the cup in a single sip. I dont know how she could tolerate it and not burn her throat, because there was no one who could have drank mine at least like that, it was just too hot.
Indicating with her hand that I should hurry, she headed for the exit, so my full coffee was left untouched in the cup. I did not want to burn myself, besides, curiosity had already gripped me. What could Pilar want to show me that would suddenly make her hurry so much?
I followed her out of the coffee shop, and of course because she knew where she was going, her steps were firm, yet I didnt understand anything and I looked all around me, and before I knew it, we had arrived at the University library. She immediately greeted the two people at the door, it was obvious that they were old acquaintances.