Big big business – I think!

WHILE reading the paper I heard the knock upon the door. My wife briskly moved to open it.

There two local policeman stood with great importance and handed my wife a paper. They left us staring blankly at a paper with a few words and one large blue stamp from the mayor’s office. Mysterious and needing a resolution we loaded up and headed for the beach to find someone that could read and hopefully explain the dilemma.

At the Puntazo restaurant was Kiki, a French girl that explained in a light matter our car was being sequestered by the town hall to greet the visiting Minister of Tourism who was coming to Mojacar. With luck another local personage who also had his car commandeered explained. Either we were to give our car to someone from the town hall to drive it or we could take it ourselves to Carboneras. When the Minister’s motorcade appeared we were to fall into procession, honk our horns and wave flags and banners as if the Second Coming had arrived.

Later that day another policeman messenger came to visit me asking that I meet D. Jacinto in the town hall at exactly 9am Monday. It was almost all too much for my mind to comprehend so I looked forward to the appointment.

“Plankey,” Jacinto bellowed at me excitedly, “the Minister of Tourismo is going to inaugurate the new Hotel Parador but also wants to see what other tourist activities are happening. Can you do a large plan showing what you’re doing; areas for housing development and some for shops and apartments. Make it look good and professional, the future of Mojacar could well depend on your presentation”.

My brother arrived back that night and I told him the exciting news. He alerted his French cook to prepare some canapés for our Friday guests and had our architect come in and immediately design a plan showing all the projects. It was all excitement and go.

We were instructed the Minister would walk in at exactly about 2pm to witness the fruition of our frantic efforts. I was ordered to sit next to the model and present it all in vivid detail to none other than Sr. Sanchez Bella second in command of the world and head of Spain’s tourism.

At 5.30pm D. Jacinto rushed into the room and enquired if everything was prepared. He stared at the plans and noticed the number of units we had planned to build. “Gimme a pen,” he exhorted. He then added a zero or two zeros to each project. In swept the Minister avoiding my hand shake. He rushed for the canapés, popped a couple into his mouth, looked at the plan for less time than it takes to blink and rushed out. He didn’t say a word to me or the cat that too was indulging herself in fine salmon.

So it goes in big, big business; I suppose.