Felisberto Hernandez - Piano Stories

“You see how fast we installed the showers?”

“Yes — and they’ve been working well?”

“Sure. . as long as the machines are kept up there’s no problem. At night I pull a switch, the showers come on and the lady falls asleep with the murmur. At five in the morning I flip the switch, the showers stop and the silence wakens her. A few minutes later I pull another switch to stir the water and the lady gets up.”

By then I had excused myself and was out the door. The letter said:

“My dear friend: the day I first saw you at the top of the stairs, you were looking down, as if watching your step. I thought it was shyness — but you stepped forward boldly, not afraid to expose the soles of your shoes. I took an immediate liking to you, and that’s why I’ve kept you at my side all this time: otherwise I would have told you my story right away and you would have had to leave for Buenos Aires the next day. Which is what you’ll do tomorrow.

“Thank you for your company. As to your finances, we shall be in touch through Hector. Good-bye and much happiness to you — I think you need it.

Margaret.

“P.S. In case you ever feel like writing down the things I’ve told you, you have my permission. All I ask is that at the end you put the following words: ‘This is the story Margaret dedicates to Joseph. Whether he is dead or alive.’”