{"id":14203,"date":"2020-04-02T21:32:44","date_gmt":"2020-04-02T21:32:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lelandhale.com\/wordpress\/?p=14203"},"modified":"2020-04-03T15:16:43","modified_gmt":"2020-04-03T15:16:43","slug":"magic-mexico","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lelandhale.com\/wordpress\/magic-mexico\/","title":{"rendered":"A Strange Incident in Mexico"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Facing Lorrie, on the street, Mexico City. My back to the direction we’re headed. It’s two blocks max. Me with an armful of fresh tacos al pastor<\/em>. She with a coke in each fist. A lukewarm liquid hits us from above. We glance up. Nothing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"mexico\"
Tacos al pastor, Mexico City<\/strong> (copyright Leland E. Hale)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A woman, 40ish, appears from nowhere. Stylishly dressed. Beige slacks, white blouse. Speaks English. “Oh my God a bird pooped on you.” Pulls out a napkin. Starts cleaning me off. A magic trick. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lorrie says, “it’s okay, we don’t need help. We’re close to our hotel<\/a>.” She makes a move to walk away. Hesitates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"mexico\"
Casa Decu, Mexico City<\/a><\/strong> (copyright Leland E. Hale)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Suddenly another woman. Behind me. A face I never see. More napkins, dabbing my back. Then a man, slick hair, middle aged, glasses. “Un pajaro grande<\/em>,” he declares. A large parrot. He has napkins too. Where did they get all these napkins? Now a second man and a fourth napkin. This one tapping down my leg. I follow with my eyes. No bird poop there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The man with glasses wipes the back of my neck. Pulls my head slightly forward. “Hay mas<\/em>,” he declares. I thank him. Viva Mexico<\/em>. He repeats after me, voice dull. Viva Mexico<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suddenly they’re done. The first woman glides away. Reminds me to wash my hands. Bird poop<\/em>. There is a car parked on the street. A nondescript, not-quite-new, Japanese four-door. Why didn’t I notice it before? Where did it come from? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She gets in. She is alone. The car disappears. A magic trick. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Onwards, to our hotel. We’re chatty. Saying things like, “strangers would never help us like this at home.” And, “they’d never have that many napkins, that’s for sure.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We’ve been in Mexico City less than 24 hours. Viva Mexico.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Part One<\/strong> of a multipart distraction from COVID-19. Next: A Few Details Emerge<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Facing Lorrie, on the street, Mexico City. My back to the direction we’re headed. It’s two blocks max. Me with…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[91,106,17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14203","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-culture","category-mexico","category-true-crime"],"yoast_head":"\nA Strange Incident in Mexico - Leland E. Hale<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Mexico City is many things. Grand avenues. Monumental buildings. Incredible food. 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