Page 41 - SpontaneousSuccessFINAL6

SPONTANEOUS SUCCESS
is lucky day, Senhor Tomaz."(In Portuguese, “h” is
pronounced like “y”).
“Thank you, Donna Casilda. Your English gets more
exquisite by the day.”
A short, chunky man in a porkpie hat plonked a case
of beer on a shelf and spoke to me. I didn't understand a
word.
“I want to send a postcard to England.”
The distinguished man translated, “Senhor Viera,” he
said, but Donna Casilda was there in a flash.
“My husband no English,” she said, flirting with the
man as he left. Then to me as she slipped behind the till,
“Postcard to England, eight escudos. Very nice.”
I stepped outside. The man was leaning into the
trunk of a gleaming dark blue vintage Oldsmobile. I
approached him, and he looked up, vinyl records
scattered around him. He emerged from the trunk, the
records now cradled in his hands.
“Yes?” he asked, his voice low and smooth.
“Hello, I'm Nick,” I said, extending my hand.
He took it.
“Thomas.”
"I asked him if he lived around here, and he nodded.
“Indeed, I do,” he replied, “but I have to go.” He closed
the trunk, and slid into the driver's seat. As he started
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