A different neighborhood
Octavia and Robert’s journey took them to the opposite side of the city, towards a peaceful residential complex at the foot of the mountains. It looked like a world on its own, and most possibly it was a small farming town that ended up becoming an aggregate of the city by proximity. Nevertheless, it maintained its differential identity, with its small stone houses surrounded by green gardens, some of them with their own vegetable patch. There was even a small church flanked by tall cypress trees. Kids were playing on the street as grandmothers kept an eye on them while knitting rapidly seated on the benches. Octavia was in awe.
-Did you know this existed?-she asked Robert.
-I didn’t.- he was really impressed too, it was hard to believe that all that was mere kilometers away from the skyscrapers.
-Now what?
They had taken the bus, as there hadn’t been any taxi that passed their way, and it had left them in the center of the neighborhood.
-I guess we will have to ask.- suggested Robert as he headed to a group of grandmothers that were sitting on a bench under a shadow.- Excuse me, could you please tell me where Oak street is?
-Hmm, Oak street, Oak street,…-started one of them.
-Isn’t the street where the bakery is, Josephine?-intervened the other.
-No, that’s Flour street.- added a third one.
-I think it is where the school is.- said the one called Josephine at last.
-Sure it is.- agreed the other two.
-You have to take this street and turn left on the first one, then keep straight and turn left again at the third, and you will be at Oak street.- pointed out Josephine.
-Thank you for the information. Have a nice day!
-You too, young boy!- the grandmothers waved goodbye, while eyeing Octavia suspiciously.
-They like you.- Octavia teased him.
Robert blushed as he dismissed her commentary. They started walking, following the directions they had been given. They passed through some houses that had set up small portable swimming pools to battle the summer heat, one of them had actually a full on water war going on, with kids running everywhere, Robert and Octavia considered themselves lucky not to have finished completely drenched just by passing in front of it. They found the street pretty easily, with the school being its main building. As everything in there, it was built with grey stone and it looked really old, it wasn’t too big, which surprised them taking into account the amount of kids in school age they had seen in such a little time. The house they were looking for happened to be just in front of the school. As all the houses, it was small, cozy and nice, and it had a well-kept garden full of flowers of different colors. They followed a stone path up to the door and rang the doorbell. As no one replied they rang again.
-Maybe he is not home, let’s ask the neighbors.
The neighbor was a sweet middle-aged woman who opened the door wearing a flowered apron.
-How can I help you?- she smiled.
-We are looking for Mister Walters, but he is not home.- said Octavia warmly.
-Tom? Oh, he must be at Christie’s, she is throwing a birthday party a couple of blocks from here.- Robert and Octavia exchanged looks, they knew which birthday party it was.- Are you old students of him? He always gets lots of visits from his students, they love him very much.
-No, we are not, we are friends of Marla, his daughter.- Robert lied.
-Marla! She was such a sweet child, she used to play with my Noah. Tom was devastated when Naomi took her away. He was never able to see her again, even if he knew that she lived in the same city, I don’t know why. He never married again, you know? And after so many years, I still sometimes find him seated on the front porch lost in his thoughts, staring at the front yard as if Marla were still running around. He will be happy to hear news from her. Do you need me to take you down to Christie’s?- she offered.
-Don’t worry madam, we think we passed through it before, there were lots of kids playing with water.- said Octavia.
-Oh, don’t call me madam! I’m Rose. If you can’t find him come back and I will take you.
-Thank you Rose.- replied both of them.
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