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Chapter 3 - Girl Watching.Tony would soon have a hand in creating a still freer atmosphere. For too many years we had been bogged down on Ross' rock in boring and agonizing political ruminations that hardly ever moved anybody deep inside. I was satisfied that slowly, bit by bit, we were working ourselves out of this trap and into an arena that goes deeper than political ruminations. The spunk and determination with which Sylvia had fought for our common dignity, and had succeeded in ripping up the conference agenda for a renewal of economic rape, before anyone had a chance to object, had kindled a fire in all of us. That fire was reflected as a new daring that was just beginning to unfold. Ross and I had been the first to be caught up in this fire. Tony was still unaware that he would be next. He would have protested, had someone predicted that in a few days he would change the atmosphere once again with something as silly as a girl watching speech that really wasn't silly at all. Tony's project came about quite accidentally. It unfolded one morning during breakfast, and was in part inspired by the now open agenda. The sky was always overcast when we got up in the morning, but by breakfast time the clouds dissipated without fail. From then on it would remain sunny all day and through the first part of the evening when the city glowed with the golden light of its sunsets. The steep sides of the valley radiated the rich color of the setting sun in a way I had not seen in any other city. Tony remarked that the sunsets, regardless of their splendor, weren't anywhere near as beautiful to look at than the girls of the city were. This comment evolved shortly thereafter into an idea that set the stage for his girl watching speech. The main idea of Tony's speech evolved at Alberto's pub, actually. The conference was being convened in the brand new civic center near the city's most startling office tower that rose 68 stories from the valley floor, like a thin golden needle. And somewhere in between the civic center and the office tower was an equally brand new shopping plaza that had an open pub on the second floor. We usually went there after the meetings to relax and unwind. For this unwinding, the chaps from the British delegation joined us. We discussed with them the day's events, the city, and the state of the world. Our English friends soon noticed that whenever someone outstanding of the beautiful sex came by, and that happened rather frequently, the conversation slowed and even stopped dead in its tracks until the person had moved out of sight. Then the conversation resumed. Indeed, this had happened so frequently that we no longer took note of it, but our British friends did. "By gully!" exclaimed one of the Englishmen boldly; who had a sweeping view of the passageway in front of the pub, "There are no bad-looking ladies in this country at all!" "Oh, you pervert!" replied Tony with a grin. The man apologized to Sylvia for "this unfortunate remark." He was as sweet in the way he apologized as anyone could be. Of course the whole charade was a joke. One could see it in his eyes. "I wish the whole world were like us," he added. Sylvia smiled. I too, agreed. "You are quite right, these girls are all beautiful, every one of them," I said to Tony and to our English friend. I said it laud enough for everyone to hear. This was honestly said. One simply couldn't help notice the obvious fact from the moment that one set foot in this city. I wondered, however, why it took us moral morons three days to acknowledge to one-another what had been obvious from the start. The question that Tony asked in response, was, "why?" || - page index - || - chapter index - || - Exit - ||
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