ghteditupbeforeserving.Thaton,everydaydessertbecameasingurandfabulouscoinhisskillfulhands.Salinawasfasatedandasusualgavethechefanakeddiamondforhiseffivingrisetocriesofenvyandadmirationofthepeoplearoundthem.Aerattheneighbtablewasanoldgentlemannearinghisseventies,withgold-rimmedgssesandeyessharpwithintelligendefficy.Heeyedthenakeddiamondfshinggreenandbluelightsinthehandsofthechefaobearealtreasure.WhenSalinaandEmmanuelwalkedoutoftherestaurantuheadmiringlooksofallthepatrons,theoldgentlemanquicklysettledhisatandwalkedoutafterthemwithhisbeautifulyoungpanion.EmmanuelwalkedaroubckcarparkedinfrontoftherestaurantadmiringlyandsaidtoSalina.

    “ThiscarisathousandtimesbetterthanthedipidatedoldtruckmyoldfriendRichardhas.Itshouldhavebeenthrownawaylongago,buthesaidit’shisoldfriendandhelovestheoldthingandwillnotdiscardit.Isn’thecrazy?”JustthentheoldgentlemaoftherestaurantandwasgratifiedthatEmmanuellikedhiscar.HestoppedbesideEmmanuelsaying,

    “Thiscarhas600horsepowerandrequiresonly2-3sedstogofrom0to100.It’sreallyamazing.Atmyage,drivingittakesmebacktotheheadydaysofmyyouthwhenIwastakingpartinan800meterradwonthechampionship.Thisotonlyhas600horsepower,italsoharemelywelndiswortheverypennyoftheexorbitantpriceIpaidforit.ItshiftssosmoothlythatitremindsmeofpyingbasketballwhenIwasyoung.Iwouldjumpup,turnatthewaistandshootatthebasketbiningawholeseriesofmovementsintooneseamlessflow.Thiscar’scapabilitytoshiftisjustlikemynimblenesswhenIwasyoung.Ilovetodriveitbecauseitbringsbackthegoldenageofmylife.”

    “Thiscarisreallyincredible.Howmuchdidyoupayforit?”askedEmmanuel

    “Talkingaboutpriceistoovulgar”repliedtheoldgentleman.“Whatbringsyouhappinessisworthanyprice.AsamatteroffactIamthinkingofgingcars.IfyouarethinkingofgettingoneIletyouhavethisone.Priceisofnosequence….eandseemeifyouareied.”Sayingso,hetookoutacard,haoEmmanuehecardoorforhisbeautifulyoungpanion.Theyoungwomanhadlongblondehairjustreaghershouldersandworeagingminibckdress,showingoffhershapelylonglegs.Aftershewasseated,hewenttothedriver’sside,opehedoorandsaidtoEmmanuel,“I’msorrythissportscarseatsonlytwo,soI’tgiveyouguysaride.Seeyou.”Heclosedthedoor,startedtheehecarshotoutlikeanunbridledhorseandsoondisappearedfromsightontheroad.EmmanuellookedatthecardinhishandandsawthattheoldmanwasthetopdesignerandappraiserofapromijewelrystorecalledSteveR.Wolfe.HelookedatSalinaandasked,

    “Whataboutit?Areyouiedinthedeal?Shallwespendsomemoneyandbuyit?”

    “Leavethatfortomorrow.Fortonightweshouldthinkaboutwheretogoohaveagoodtime”saidSalina.

    9

    “Ihavealreadypnnedwhattodo”repliedEmmanuel.“Youworryyourlittleheadaboutsuchthings.Wewillfirstgotoadiscotodanddrinkiodigestthergedihenwewillgotooheosandtryourluck.Howaboutit?”

    “Youknowhowtogamble?”askedSalinaissurprise.

    “Ofcourse.IusedtofrequentinnumerablegamblinghallsandosbigandsmallwithRichardandJamaz.MystaturewastoosmalltogambleoablesbutIwatchedthetwodownontheirluckguyslosetheirshirts.Theyreallywerepitifunddoomedtobepoor.Ifitwereme,Iwouldhavewonthewholegamblinghallov

ghteditupbeforeserving.Thaton,everydaydessertbecameasingurandfabulouscoinhisskillfulhands.Salinawasfasatedandasusualgavethechefanakeddiamondforhiseffivingrisetocriesofenvyandadmirationofthepeoplearoundthem.Aerattheneighbtablewasanoldgentlemannearinghisseventies,withgold-rimmedgssesandeyessharpwithintelligendefficy.Heeyedthenakeddiamondfshinggreenandbluelightsinthehandsofthechefaobearealtreasure.WhenSalinaandEmmanuelwalkedoutoftherestaurantuheadmiringlooksofallthepatrons,theoldgentlemanquicklysettledhisatandwalkedoutafterthemwithhisbeautifulyoungpanion.EmmanuelwalkedaroubckcarparkedinfrontoftherestaurantadmiringlyandsaidtoSalina.

    “ThiscarisathousandtimesbetterthanthedipidatedoldtruckmyoldfriendRichardhas.Itshouldhavebeenthrownawaylongago,buthesaidit’shisoldfriendandhelovestheoldthingandwillnotdiscardit.Isn’thecrazy?”JustthentheoldgentlemaoftherestaurantandwasgratifiedthatEmmanuellikedhiscar.HestoppedbesideEmmanuelsaying,

    “Thiscarhas600horsepowerandrequiresonly2-3sedstogofrom0to100.It’sreallyamazing.Atmyage,drivingittakesmebacktotheheadydaysofmyyouthwhenIwastakingpartinan800meterradwonthechampionship.Thisotonlyhas600horsepower,italsoharemelywelndiswortheverypennyoftheexorbitantpriceIpaidforit.ItshiftssosmoothlythatitremindsmeofpyingbasketballwhenIwasyoung.Iwouldjumpup,turnatthewaistandshootatthebasketbiningawholeseriesofmovementsintooneseamlessflow.Thiscar’scapabilitytoshiftisjustlikemynimblenesswhenIwasyoung.Ilovetodriveitbecauseitbringsbackthegoldenageofmylife.”

    “Thiscarisreallyincredible.Howmuchdidyoupayforit?”askedEmmanuel

    “Talkingaboutpriceistoovulgar”repliedtheoldgentleman.“Whatbringsyouhappinessisworthanyprice.AsamatteroffactIamthinkingofgingcars.IfyouarethinkingofgettingoneIletyouhavethisone.Priceisofnosequence….eandseemeifyouareied.”Sayingso,hetookoutacard,haoEmmanuehecardoorforhisbeautifulyoungpanion.Theyoungwomanhadlongblondehairjustreaghershouldersandworeagingminibckdress,showingoffhershapelylonglegs.Aftershewasseated,hewenttothedriver’sside,opehedoorandsaidtoEmmanuel,“I’msorrythissportscarseatsonlytwo,soI’tgiveyouguysaride.Seeyou.”Heclosedthedoor,startedtheehecarshotoutlikeanunbridledhorseandsoondisappearedfromsightontheroad.EmmanuellookedatthecardinhishandandsawthattheoldmanwasthetopdesignerandappraiserofapromijewelrystorecalledSteveR.Wolfe.HelookedatSalinaandasked,

    “Whataboutit?Areyouiedinthedeal?Shallwespendsomemoneyandbuyit?”

    “Leavethatfortomorrow.Fortonightweshouldthinkaboutwheretogoohaveagoodtime”saidSalina.

    9

    “Ihavealreadypnnedwhattodo”repliedEmmanuel.“Youworryyourlittleheadaboutsuchthings.Wewillfirstgotoadiscotodanddrinkiodigestthergedihenwewillgotooheosandtryourluck.Howaboutit?”

    “Youknowhowtogamble?”askedSalinaissurprise.

    “Ofcourse.IusedtofrequentinnumerablegamblinghallsandosbigandsmallwithRichardandJamaz.MystaturewastoosmalltogambleoablesbutIwatchedthetwodownontheirluckguyslosetheirshirts.Theyreallywerepitifunddoomedtobepoor.Ifitwereme,Iwouldhavewonthewholegamblinghallov