Chap downstairs directed up at the Municipal Library beside the Architecture U, Skopje. At the counter on the first floor a younger woman took the passport; took 5-6 minutes for the necessaries, before the card was issued. Down again, chap again sliding his perspex. The card was handed over, details entered in a ledger with the yellow, blue topped BIC we had used in school. Numbered tag, plastic-sealed 37, a thin keyring attached. With that the chap came around into the hall, now much taller than in the chair. Two gaps in his upper incisors either side failed to tarnish his confidence. Some attempted jocularity fell flat, only the last venture about the availability of raki raising a smile. The escort showed the door of a room diagonally opposite (there were three or four others), behind which small laminate tables were arranged in rows like in the crowded schoolrooms of the ’60s. A good sprinkling of quiet young students sat scattered, a couple seniors and females predominating. No. 37 sat pretty well slap-bang, rickety and less than hopeful. Tall leafy trees outside the window, the quiet and calm reigning only disturbed by the noisy door in & out. Monthly MKD100 / AU$1:20 couldn’t be argued. The assigned desk was for the duration, but we would soon see about that, stiff soldiery posture or no.
No comments:
Post a Comment