The Ball. Erik Pethersen

      «No, we are both in agreement» I say.

      «Yes, unanimously» the notary says, «well beyond every generational gap.»

      «However not all the ladies coming here to the bar are like this. There are standard, well-mannered people.»

      «I have no doubts about it, Gigi: we were just having a chat, while sipping our wines and sitting next to loud and rude girls.»

      «For instance, nice and mannerly people almost always come here from your office.»

      «Really?» the notary asks.

      «Yes, it is a statistical data. You know, I mind other people’s business, this is part of my job too. I know Mauro well too, your doorman: he is quite nice too.»

      «Actually, I don’t hang out with many people from the building, I greet them in the lift, but they all look like standard people» the notary says, looking for approval off me. I acknowledge it.

      «I don’t know» the waiter says again, «it came into my mind because today at lunchtime, there were two girls from your building sitting where you are sitting now: they were women, maybe, more than girls. Anyway, one of them comes here often, she is quite tall, blonde hair, not fair or platinum blonde hair, a honey colour, let’s say. A bit wacky, but nice and mannerly. I have seen the other one very few times here but she is very cheerful and kind too.»

      «This gossiping about our building is very enjoyable» I say reaching for the glass.

      «Where do they work, Gigi?» the notary asks.

      «I don’t know exactly, it could be a holding company. Anyway, I am sure they work in the same building as yours: I saw them cross the road today, they were hugging and then they went into the building. I saw them because I was cleaning up the tables for smokers outside» he says pausing for a moment and then he goes on saying: «To tell the truth, I went out to clean them up when they went out of the bar».

      «Do you follow the female customers, Gigi?» the notary says sarcastically.

      «Sure I don’t» he says laughing, «just a coincidence.»

      «Are you sure, Gigi?»

      «Alright, maybe a little: they had such a strange way of talking among themselves, so placid and pleasant, and such a graceful bearing that got me very curious.»

      «I see, Gigi. So, you wanted to make sure that their manners would be pleasant and graceful outside the bar too, just to confirm the impression that you had inside the bar» the notary added, amused.

      I take a sip of my wine and I look at the glass in my hands.

      «Sure» the waiter says, «my job entails a careful monitoring of our clientele behaviour.»

      «I didn’t think that you were also asked to carry out further burdensome chores in work» the notary says.

      «Alright, if you want to know the truth: the other lady, the one together with the blonde lady» he says, pausing with a blank look at the glass window in front of him. «Actually, I wouldn’t say she is pretty, she comes from another planet: she is so elegant, she has such a gracefulness, I don’t even know how to describe her. She is well beyond this world.»

      I drink a good gulp of dry wine and I look at Gigi with his eyes lost in the darkness beyond the glass window.

      «Is there someone like that in our building and we have never noticed her?» the notary asks again.

      «Clearly we miss a few things going on, there in our office» I reply. «We should leave some deeds of sale and concentrate more in public relations with people from the other offices.»

      «Alright now, I leave you to it and I go back to work, enough with my nonsense. I just wanted to say that not all the people coming here are rude and unpleasant».

      «That’s for sure, Gigi: there are also so many nice people in the world.»

      The waiter goes off.

      «You see, Brando: we spend twelve hours in there and we don’t even know half the things Gigi knows.»

      «You are quite right, I said it: we should do less deeds of sale and have more wild parties in the office» I reply a bit pensive.

      «Let’s get back to it, my dear Brando: have you ever chased a woman in the streets?»

      «I haven’t. Do you know that it could be considered harassment?»

      «Yes, Gigi with his striped apron tailing two customers could be quite disturbing. Anyway, to sum it all up, if you look around, you can see that there are four or five tables like ours, but they are occupied by people who look like couples: don’t you think that it is, how can I put it, quite natural? Nevertheless, I am sure you have noticed over the years that when a new human being is born, that usually happens because two people have joined together.»

      «Really? I didn’t know that children were born this way, I was still convinced that the stork brings them along: this explanation seemed plausible to me.»

      «Sure, Brando, the story of our big feathered friend is not true, sorry to tell you.»

      «I don’t know, I am just not happy to be with a person on a steady basis, it makes me feel that I am giving up a part of me, that is my freedom: I do think that I am not happy to be paired with someone.»

      Bloody hell, the euphonic ball again: the two halves that stick together, kept together by a magnetic force.

      One half that does not exist for me.

      «I don’t know, Brando, your point of view does not convince me completely, it seemed to me that there is a piece missing to make sense of it: I am still doubtful. Can I ask you a stupid question?»

      «As you wish, but I doubt you can ask stupid question, surprise me.»

      «Do you like women?»

      «Definitely.»

      «In your rating of life, when you think about something nice, where would you place a person from the opposite sex?»

      «Should I quickly make up a list of my priorities, putting in people from the opposite sex? Like playing golf, cars, red wine, white wine, sparkling wine, whisky, women? Something like that?» I say puzzled.

      «Yes, correct. Even with less alcohol. When have you taken up golf?»

      «I have never played it.»

      «Exactly. Now, whereabouts is the female world?»

      «I can’t make up a list now: how can I compare activities, objects and people in one list only?»

      «It’s a simple hedonistic list, let’s say. Think about all the things that give you pleasure...»

      «It depends on the situations.»

      «You are nearly there. Are you telling me that you would rather have a good wine than an old Fiat Uno Diesel?»

      «Yes, sure.»

      «Do you prefer a Nebbiolo wine to a Vermentino wine?»

      «Without any doubt.»

      «Alright. Are you telling me that you would rather sip a good islay, on your own, at home than spending the evening with one of those five girls?»

      «I don’t know, maybe if you are with them on their own, they wouldn’t be as bad: the prettiest one, maybe after dinner, two hours at the most, if she was not talking. Are you talking about an islay, a good one? One with a strong peaty tang?»

      «A very strong peaty tang» the notary says.

      «I think I would surrender to the whisky with a peaty tang in the end: less hassle.»

      «It’s okay: I would go for it myself, with no hesitation whatsoever, but the half generation gap that separates us plays in your favour.»

      The notary takes