The boy felt depressed, as if having a long life was a true sign of mediocrity. The girl held her breath, still submerged in her experiment.
“No. I can only see five. There was a blue that looked like it was going to turn purple. I was really scared.”
The game entertained them for a while before they noticed that the rain had stopped. Above the roofs, a cloud was slowly ripping apart, displaying a band of dark sky with a few stars visible on the edge. But you could still hear water falling all around, the sewers incapable of absorbing it all.
The boy sighed as if a nightmare had lifted.
“I was afraid we’d have rain all night. If you want my opinion, I think we need to hurry.”
“Wouldn’t you have enjoyed sleeping here in the doorway? I was starting to like the idea.”
For some time the boy had begun to feel impatient. His legs were cold, his back soaking wet, and he was unable to control the tremble in his knees.
“It’s stopped raining. We need to go.”
The girl stretched out her arm, looked up, but didn’t move.
“Where’s your mask?”
He’d removed the cardboard nose when they started running in the rain and was holding it by the elastic band.
“I’m not coming unless you put it on.”
With a condescending air he put on the mustache and nose without uttering a word. She noticed his forehead was full of bumps.
“You must have eaten something that didn’t agree with you.”
“Who, me? You mean because of my forehead? The doctor says it’s because I’m growing so fast.” Why did she have to notice these things? he thought.
They left the bright area by the doorway and entered a dimly lit neighborhood, walking along a seemingly abandoned street. Two dogs were rummaging through a pile of garbage, attracted by the nauseating stink. At the end of the street they could see the lights of the Diagonal.
They walked side by side, without saying a word. She held up her skirt and walked very slowly, hardly able to see where she stepped. Midway down the street, a shadow appeared and planted itself directly in front of them, demanding a light.
The man was tall and stocky, with a husky voice. A shorter shadow, as if it had just sprung from the earth, stood alongside.
“Sorry, I don’t have a light.” The boy was about to continue on when a hand as heavy as a hoof struck him across the chest.
“Hey, not so fast. Your money, first.”
The boy felt his stomach contracting and his eyes well up. Instinctively he tried to keep his head.
“Look, it may be Carnival time, but it’s too late for jokes.”
“I wonder what you look like without that disguise of yours. Listen to the little sparrow chirping. Does your mamma bring you worms?”
Suddenly he was blinded by the man’s flashlight.
“Send us a note when you get more hair on that face of yours. The little shit thinks I want to play games. Hand it over.”
The girl intervened, her voice trembling slightly.
“It’s not worth arguing,” she said, handing her purse to the large man.
“Well, I’ll be damned! Take a look at that star. Did it just pop out on your forehead like the Mother of God?”
As he spoke, the large man handed the purse to his companion.
“Count the money, Gabriel.”
The short man opened the purse and took out two bills.
“Twenty-five and twenty-five, fifty,” he said without enthusiasm.
“And you, brave little boy, you made up your mind yet?”
The boy was about to explode with anger.
“I’m not giving you anything.”
The large man shone the flashlight on him again. Using his index finger and thumb he pulled on the cardboard nose, as far as the elastic allowed, then let go of it.
“That’s for starters, and to wind this up—” and the man slapped him so hard he fell on the ground.
“Get up, you shit. Learned a lesson? Gabriel, get the girl’s chain and medal. When you make your first communion, your godfather’ll buy you another one.”
The little man walked behind the girl and tried to unfasten the chain.
“Shine the light over here. The clasp’s small, I can’t see.” The hefty man joined him, pointing the light. “Got it,” he said, handing over the chain and medal.
The boy had struggled to stand up. He was covered in mud, his mask bent sideways, his cheek aching.
“Don’t you want the star?” the girl asked, making an effort to smile.
The men didn’t bother replying.
“Clean out the kid, Gabriel.”
The short fellow went over and began going through his pockets. The stocky man laughed, “Don’t cut yourself, he has scissors.”
“But he’s short on dough.” From his pocket the man had pulled out a small, old wallet, its edges worn down.
“Two pesetas plus a five-peseta coin, seven pinched pesetas.”
The large man looked at the boy curiously and said: “All that hullabaloo for this, you ass?”
He buttoned his jacket, raised the lapels, and spat.
“Down the street.”
He turned to face the girl, tipped his hat, and said, “We’ll accompany you a while, princess. You’ll be safer with us. Want to take your mask off? No? As you like.”
They headed down the street, one man on either side of the girl, the boy following behind. He felt like crying. He could feel a lump in his throat, his eyes damp. The girl was talking to the men.
“You could at least have left me a few pesetas, enough to catch a taxi home. You did a great job, a bit over the top, but you can’t just leave a girl without a penny.”
“Maybe she’s right,” said the shorter man.
“Gabriel, stop being so romantic. Think about that steak.”
They reached the Diagonal.
“This is where we split. If you’re looking for better company, feel free to come along. You won’t get very far with this little guy.”
•
She waited till they had walked away. The two men disappeared around the corner, their jackets turned up, their caps set firmly on their heads. Then she went over to the boy, who was standing apart, and said, “Some adventure!”
The boy didn’t reply; he had a dark look. His outfit was muddy and wet. She didn’t dare say anything else. The wind had calmed; the night was gentle and velvety now. They walked slowly between the stunted palm trees along the Diagonal. Passeig de Gràcia was an explosion of light. The plane trees stood motionless, their branches just beginning to bud. The asphalt was stretched taut like skin, shiny with patches of light, and littered with papers and drooping flowers. Colored confetti hung from the trees and balconies, drops of water still falling from them. That was all that remained of the festa. Every now and then a car passed, the lights on inside, displaying sleepy, listless men and women in disguise.
“Why are you so worried?”
He couldn’t stand the silence any longer and began speaking with a serious voice.
“It’s not that I’m worried. It’s something much worse. I wanted to make this evening. . I don’t know how to explain. . a night like this! I wanted a memory, something I could cling to, keep for the future. Because I will never take any trips, or write poetry. And it’s not true that I study. I used to, now I work. I have a younger brother and I’m head of the household. So, now you know it all. You also know what a bad impression I’ve made. I’ve made a fool of myself.”
She was filled with a deep sadness. It was as if a secret reserve of anguish had melted in the bottom of his chest, risen to his throat, and turned yet again into pain. She stopped and looked at him steadily. Perhaps a long, sweet look from her could raise his spirits. Instinctively she took off her mask and laid it on the bench nearby. He was mesmerized. “You look like an angel.”