Risking All for Love (Wattpadprize14)

Chapter Three

At 8:00 a.m. the next morning, Margaux was waiting beside her Mercedes as Manfred and Gary emerged from the Peace Corps Hostel.

"As I was saying." Manfred was in his most helpful mood. "Lisa was quite upset the last time." He gave Margaux his favorite wide grin. "Oh, she is too fine, young man!" He traced Margaux's shape with his hands and repeated himself, "Awww, too fine!"

Looking up, Gary returned Margaux's smile. In a moment they were heading toward downtown Monvoria.

"Want to go to Waterside?"

"What's that?"

"It's the most well-stocked shopping district in this country."

Once more they passed the Executive Mansion and drove up Camp Johnson Road to United Nations Drive, which looped left around the city of Monrovia and ran by the ocean, at last swinging around to Waterside Market.

After they got out of the car, Margaux stepped over to a fruit stand. She handed the vendor a dollar. "Guard my car, Thomas, inna?" The boy smiled and offered her a banana. She declined and turned toward Gary.

"You have to bribe kids to keep your car safe?'

"Not really, but it helps out a small boy now and then."  She took Gary by his arm. "Come on, I just have the morning off." In Waterside Market were endless rows of tables. Fresh fruit, clothing, trinkets, medicine, electronics, tools, and cloth were in abundance.

"Got any suggestions?"

"Gary, did you want a radio or TV?"

"Is a TV practical?"

"Not really...unless you want to watch reruns of Laverne and Shirley or Gunsmoke."

"So a radio would be better?"

"Yes, plus you will get a lot of reading done here.  Peace Corps gives you a lot of books. Among radios, I suggest a good Telefunken from Germany with plug in and battery power. You can get something with several short wave bands, FM, and Medium Bands. Dual speakers if you prefer stereo. Here we only get two local stations that are AM and FM."

"Where do I buy?"

"Come with me," she said, once again holding onto his arm. She led him to a local Radio Shack run by an Indian by the name of Chandra Singh. He offered Gary several choices. Then Margaux took over palavering over the price.

He said, "Two hundred dollars, please?"

"Can you help me small, my friend?"

"For you and your friend, miss, I make you special offer." He looked at Gary and back to Margaux. "Will a hundred ninety be too dear?"

"Can you help me small more? I wouldn't pay more than a hundred twenty-five for this radio."

"Oh, young lady, I will be too poor if everybody could able to palaver too much like you." He had about given up with Margaux.

"Make it a hundred fifty dollars and throw in free batteries."

"Okay, young lady, we have a deal."

"So that is what palavering is like?" Gary took up the radio box by its handle and continued down the street. "Can't people just post a price on something and sell if for that price?"

"Gary, you are dealing with people for whom palavering over prices is a way of life. Take this Lebanese store, for instance."

"Oh, you mean the one with the sign saying Fouad Ashkar?"

"Yes, exactly. Don't you have need of furnishings?"

"Yes, such things as pots, pans, silverware, cups, brooms, mops, and the like."