LOVE PROBABLY

15.

So dazzled by the great cathedral, I didn’t realise that the driver stopped with warning lights on the side of the road, picking up a few honks from other drivers in a hurry. The din ends up pulling me out of my reverie.

“How about we go?” Mr Chen calmly suggests. “Patience isn’t our forte in the profession. My vehicle could be set on fire if I don’t move and I don’t particularly want that… I love my clunker,” he said, stroking his leopard-fur covered steering wheel.

I’m not a fashion victim, you understand, but this leopard print isn’t very tasteful, it seems to me.

“Yes, I understand! Either way, I’ll be back. Let’s go! Bye, you!” I said in the direction of the cathedral which, right at that moment, as if to greet me, began to sparkle. Wow!

As the taxi pulls away in the direction of the Tower of London, I turn around in the back seat to admire the spectacle. I feel like a child of wonder, at the foot of the tree, on Christmas morning. Gorgeous! I grab my phone to film the scene, but I’m not very skilled with the device. Fortunately, the density of traffic gives me plenty of time to capture the moment. It’s as if the lights were crackling deep inside me. Once again, my thoughts go out to my mother.

My mother! Oh, goodness me, Simone! I forgot to tell my neighbours that I had arrived safely. They must be worried, especially her. I wait for the cathedral to finally disappear from my field of vision to send her an SMS:

I arrived safely in London. Your neighbour, Madeline.

Simone’s answer isn’t long in coming:

Be careful! Let us know as much as possible. Don’t forget to eat! Simone. Gerard says hello.

I lock my phone with a sense of accomplishment. Eat, she said in her message. It’s true… Come to think of it, I’m still a bit peckish. My stomach is starting to emit small grumbles that are sure to be heard if I don’t swallow something as soon as possible. Decidedly, travelling sucks.

“Okay, now I’m taking you to Sun Street. You’re sure, huh? Is that where you want to go?” asks my driver before giggling again.

“Yes! Of course! I don’t know what you mean. It seems that this street has a great effect on you.”

“It’s very lively and very… pedestrian,” he adds. “I’ll drop you next to it. How’s that?”

“Very well, that will be perfect,” I said, watching a river barge sail down the Thames.

“We’re going to pass by the Tower of London, where Anne Boleyn was imprisoned and executed.”

“Oh my God, what a tragedy! Rest in peace!” I say, making a quick sign of the cross.

“I’m a Catholic too,” he says like a hair in the soup.

“Eh? Why are you telling me this?” I ask, sceptical.

“I saw you make a sign of the cross.”

“Oh, yes? I didn’t even realise it. It’s a reflex. I don’t really believe in God. Or rather, I’ve forgotten to believe in him for a very long time. Since dad died. I was eight years old.”

“My poor girl! You no longer have your parents?”

“Well no. I don’t have any relatives anymore, to be really precise. But I assure you, it’s not that bad. I’m a loner. I’m used to it. It doesn’t bother me.”

Mr Chen gives me sad little looks through the rearview mirror.

“Good! You won’t have to be alone too long anyway. It’s right now that you need to make friends. How long are you staying in the capital?” he asks as if to change the subject.

“A few days, weeks... I don’t know. I don’t have a schedule. Just yesterday, I didn’t know I was going to come here. I had never left my village before.”

“Well! So welcome to London!”

“Thank you, sir!”

“This city holds many surprises.”

“I have no doubt about that.”

With that, Mr Chen continues on his way. As if to let me know that our conversation is coming to an end, he turns up the volume on his radio slightly. And guess what he listens to! Sing everyone! James Brown…

The car finally stops, definitively, it seems to me. My driver taps on the needle of the speedometer. I deduce that we have arrived at our destination. The amount to be paid is displayed: thirty-five pounds. Ah anyway! How much would a subway ticket have cost me? Better not to know. I take two twenty pound notes and hand them to him.

“Keep the change!” I say enthusiastically. “That’s for the guided tour.”

“Are you sure?”

“Certainly!”

“Well thank you. Don’t lose my card, I’ll be happy to drive you wherever you want.”

“Very well,” I said, checking that it was in my pocket.

“The street is on the left sidewalk, in about twenty metres. Enjoy your stay among the crazy!”

“Crazy people? Aren’t you exaggerating a bit there?”

“It’s my sense of humour... It’s just a little special at times.”

We get out of the vehicle simultaneously. He takes my suitcase from his trunk and holds out his hand to me.

“See you soon maybe.”

“Yes, goodbye, Mr Chen.”

“Goodbye, Miss Madeline.”