Grrrrsis

Corner shop owners in Barcelona rarely grant their customers too much attention. But the owner of our store stood out even compared to his peers. Instead of greeting the people entering his shop, he’d just give them a sullen look, if anything. When accepting money, he’d mumble a “thank you”, but his lips would barely move, as if they had just run a marathon. Instead of “gracias” the word came out as something like “grrrrsis.” Due to his unwelcoming attitude I had to haul home eight-liter bottles of water from another shop. Besides, half of his stock didn’t have price tags. It seemed reasonable to assume that he would fleece you. Laziness getting the better of me, I dared to buy one bottle one day. It cost ten cents less. Another time, coming back home from an evening stroll, I stopped by for toilet paper and a few other odds and ends. I rushed to the back aisle and found him sitting on the floor on a small carpet, right between the shelves with sunscreen and paper towels. The carpet was laid at an angle to the shelves, probably on the east-west axis. Apparently, he had just finished his prayer. Still kneeling. Slouching, looking aside solemnly, not registering my presence. His face looked detached and melancholic. It struck me how young he actually was. I went to look for other items. When I appeared from the back of the store with a roll of toilet paper tucked under my arm, he had already taken his usual place behind the counter, and the familiar grim look had taken its usual place on his young, noble face.