The Exchange Rate

There are some things you never get used to

but you learn to live with – you have to -

for the sake of sanity!

There are other things you can’t allow yourself

to get used to. Let me explain

a story about a natural born salesman, ie. a conman

a motormouth, like the Norwegian in Greece,

“How’s the starving going?”

Naturally talented surfer from California

and consequently a cock

convinced his church that he is a born again Christian

recovered alcoholic, (he is) who receives church funding

in order to run a youth center in South America

He follows through with good work ethic, a stable marriage, a community leader and accepted Gringo,

but really he is still a shallow surf bum

and shameless pedophile

themes: trust, lying-believing, clarity of narration, reader’s relative perspective coming into question?

moral relativity, small town gossip

must include down and out sugar addict, the corner drunks,

the country girl, “I don’t live en el campo,

I live downtown!”

with her uggs boots, satin overcoat and faux fur collar,

trudging through the dirt roads and garbage,

people burning pickets from a neighbor’s fence

blaming it on the Santiaguinos,

El Bronco, the discotech, the first gun fight, the paved roads, jote, Elvis del Palo bar,

the milkmaid walking door to door with her cow,

the crab salesman offering free samples from his filthy fingers, the furniture maker and waterbottle truck –

a gringo trying to teach in the face of incompetence,

the manana attitude, the lateness, the siesta, tranquilo, the corrupt mayors and the innocent travelers -

idealist and good natured

who are seen as aprovechadores,

either hated by society or loved

for their elitist, first world aura

like rock stars, they are “famous”

they believe in love, steal the hearts of local

small town girls and predictably disappear forever

when their vacation expires