I prefer the kind I can put on my finger, but how much would you say this rock is worth? It comes with about 150 m2 of land and two olive trees. It's on the border of my property and at the corner of the driveway entrance to my house. It would be nice to have, to shore up my acreage and square off my property. But the present owner is a tragic figure.When the road was opened up, on the hillside of Verga, it cut through his, or rather his wife's property, it was her preeka προικα(dowry). Yes, I know, totally archaic but still in play in parts of Greece and central Europe. Anyway, this rock (vrahos, Βράχος) and its postage stamp parcel of land, is a remnant of the cut road and quite worthless to him/her. We attempted negotiation twice with him and while he is open to talking he keeps stalling and saying that he can't make a decision without his wife. Like I said, tragic.
He is a tall, thin, wiry man, late forties is my guess with a vacant expression. Dark matte hair with eyes to match. We made arrangements to meet in the evening in Kalamata at George Giannopoulos' office, a civil engineer who is also working on my house. Giannopoulos and Boufeas have an interesting relationship, one best described as "good cop, bad cop". And its fun to watch. More on that later.
George Giannopoulos' office was busy that evening. Phones were ringing and meetings being conducted in the front room. So when this wraith of man entered the office and took a seat next to Giannopoulos, who uncharacteristically was having a rather animated discussion on the phone, Boufeas and I wondered if this was who we were waiting for. We had only ever spoken on the phone.
He sat there, gaunt, hunched over with his hands clasped. I thought the polite thing to do was wait for GG to finish his phone call, but Boufeas launched into introductions and didn't mince words. Classic. "Are you Mr P?" Yes. "Where is your wife?" (Or did I ask him that? I can't remember, it happened so fast). "She has a late shift at the supermarket", was his reply. "When does she finish so that we can have a resolution tonight", insisted Boufeas. Mr P just shrugged his shoulders and collapsed them in even further, I guess realizing that he is no match for Boufeas. I kinda felt bad for him.
Sensing a weaker opponent, Boufeas, in a reclined and relaxed position in the office swivel chair, presses Mr P gently on the price tag of the rock. I had turned my attention to GG because he looked up at me and was communicating to me with hand gestures that he can't seem to get off the phone. It was then that out of the corner of my eye I see Boufeas lunge forward, toward Mr P, swivel chair crashing in the opposite direction. "Excuse me, how much for this rock?!" Πώς τολμούν να έρχεστε εδώ με αυτό το γελοίο ποσό. Είστε δεν ντρέπεται για τον εαυτό σας; Δεν είμαστε ανόητοι! Βγες έξω, πριν σας πετάξει έξω! " "How dare you come in here with that ridiculous figure. Are you not ashamed of yourself? We are not fools! Get out, before I throw you out!"
We are all standing at this point, except for GG who has the phone pressed to one ear and the other plugged with a finger, and Boufeas has escorted Mr P to the threshold of the office door.
Well, that went well. At least it was quick. Not so fast.... Mr P comes back into the office with new found confidence and a rebuttal on the worth of the rock! 'It's a rock with two olive trees', Peter Boufeas exclaims to the staff and clients in the front room. 'Now, get out before I really loose it!" Boufeas leaves me and Mr P in the front room... awkward! He raises his head and turns to look at me. His eyes narrowed and he squared his shoulders, as if to make one final demand, but I wouldn't let him. I was surrounded by men and I wasn't going to be the one they called a girl. So just as he was about to launch in on me, I said, "Mr P, I will give you your 8,500...in drachmas. Make sure you tell your wife." Ouch. With his mouth agap, he turned and left the office in silence.
And the best line of the evening was when GG finally got off the phone with the client and looks at the two of us and asks, "Did it really have to result it that, honestly you guys." Ελλα, ρε παιδια.
Mr P actually wanted 8.5k euros, when originally, 2 days prior, he requested through Peter and George, 5k and I was prepared to offer him half.
"So where are we going to tonight?" I asked. "We all need a drink and something to eat." Which is something we did almost every night that week. We have become an unlikely trio and I have been pleasantly surprised by my great fortune to find myself surrounded by these bright men, who have become my friends.
And as I walk (more like run) the streets of Kalamata flanked by them, their steps and strides three times as long and quick as mine, in search of our next watering hole, my faith in the human spirit is restored. My father wasn't that lucky.
And as I walk (more like run) the streets of Kalamata flanked by them, their steps and strides three times as long and quick as mine, in search of our next watering hole, my faith in the human spirit is restored. My father wasn't that lucky.
