UNA CHUPA GRATIS; or, WE SEVEN QUEENS

after the master of ceremonies (whose group had added our number to its own as bobo was closing) had finished another song, there was a round of applause for the two women left to close café hercules, who had let the fifteen or so of us in for a round (of singing) just as they were starting to pull the shades down over the doors. (they pulled us some drafts and poured us some drinks, too.) but we only got one round before we had to go back out into the cold (because baby it’s been cold outside in the valley of the guadalquivir the last several days), and we counted seven of us sisters in the group before we headed to the alameda to go that one place – that one place that everyone loves because it’s past closing time on a sunday and the place is still open. then we’d lost two of us – along the short way? – but the girls were still fun, and i’m not sure how many made it to the party at the troop leader’s house because i wasn’t one of the ones who went with them after the other place finally closed and that one female friend of the leader’s (who hadn’t been singing in front of bobo or at café hercules) was making an attempt at a fandango she said she loved but couldn’t remember with the help of that guy with the glasses who’s always asking for money on one knee around the alameda.

it’s a shame that the two who had left the group before our penultimate stop had gone when they did because they really had set the tone of our story (even if they weren’t the ones setting the pace). plus, i probably won’t get another spanish lesson like the one i did when we were seven sisters on that street corner any time soon (the poor French girl), and i’ve no doubt that those two could have gotten something for all of us out of that last bartender for free. una chup(it)a? everyone laughs. at the ambiente. en el aire. everyone laughs.

ironically, if it hadn’t been for all the distraction of the holiday spirit (and the espresso machine being out at la travíesa last wednesday), i might have remembered to mention that the scenes of the christmas story in the display windows at the corte inglés are actually accompanied by a flamenco soundtrack. but there isn’t a leg of ham in sight. and one of the giant snowflakes on the eastern façade of the department store is missing some lights. but the spirit has been distracting enough for most people to forget the crisis for a while. (and on the television the gallego announces his new government.)

it’s distracting enough, and sometimes too much after ten-thirty, but sometimes too you just need to get out to get cozy, because sevillian apartment buildings aren’t really equipped to be accommodating in real winter cold, and you remember that it’s probably warmer in the streets – and even more among all the people in the bars. that’s the excuse of the season.

for better or for worse, at least we know that the nights won’t get any longer, and even if people might come back around to feeling the crisis once the spirit ebbs, you still have time to get one for free.

you read this and think, “this sucks.” everyone laughs. yeah. but it isn’t my fault. it was my sisters’.