BooksBarbecue
Back Loop Save as PDF
Chapters (33)
  1. Loop
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. 5
  7. 6
  8. 7
  9. 8
  10. 9
  11. 10
  12. 11
  13. 12
  14. 13
  15. 14
  16. 15
  17. 16
  18. 17
  19. 18
  20. 19
  21. 20
  22. 21
  23. 22
  24. 23
  25. 24
  26. 25
  27. 26
  28. 27
  29. 28
  30. 29
  31. 30
  32. A note on the text
  33. Copyright

I bought some biscuits that were really delicious, but a bit expensive. I recommended them to Tania. Before I’d finished describing them, she cut me off: ‘Listen, I used to buy Barilla spaghetti. I’d spend fifteen pesos and make pasta that kept for three days in the fridge. Ever since I discovered this fancy Italian brand I’ve been spending a hundred pesos on some fusilli that only lasts one sitting. It’s hopeless, I can’t go back to Barilla now. That’s the thing, you can never go back. Maybe it’s the curse of nice things. The other day a collector’s secretary offered me a coffee, rubbing her hands like she was trying to tempt me. And it was instant! I’m sorry, but once you taste good coffee you can’t go back. Forget it. It’s like good sex, once you discover it, there’s no going back. So forget it, I’m not trying these biscuits you’re talking about. I’m sure they’re better than my María biscuits. But seriously, forget it.’

No news from Jonás.

Tepepunk and Nina arrived at their residency in Tokyo a few days ago. This is how Tepepunk’s email begins: ‘I’m writing to you from the future, and from here I can tell you that everything’s going to be OK with Jonás. I should also tell you that in the future I have very precise dreams and every afternoon I drink tea with a wise Japanese man. Now’s your chance: I’m in the future, ask me anything you like. I’m your oracle.’

The cat trapped his paw in an armchair. He got hurt, I took him to the vet. Luckily it wasn’t serious. Back home, I called Tania. ‘I’ve realised I really love the cat,’ I told her. ‘I love him too much.’ ‘I need a pet,’ she said, ‘but I’m allergic to cats. Maybe a dog? No. They need a lot of attention, you can’t have two needy personalities like that under one roof. A fish? No, I don’t like them, they don’t do anything. Remember how there used to be fish tanks everywhere in the eighties? Hilarious. Even on the ceilings. A ferret? No way, not even a juggling one. They’re basically sausage-rats. I know, I’ll buy a canary. A canary in a cage. Do you know if you can get plastic canaries?’