Easy Money: Chapter 3, Old Friend

Next morning back at the hostel, when Tom entered the living room, he noticed a face that seemed familiar. It can’t be, he thought to himself, but it was, it was Ian. Ian was setting over there in the living room, chatting with one of the cleaning ladies, who works at the hostel. He had met Ian exactly one year earlier, during his previous trip to Colombia, on his first day in Bogotá, in this exact same living room, they went out that night, and had a really good time at one of Bogotá’s night clubs. They made eye contact, but Ian also needed a few seconds to recognize Tom. Eventually Tom took the initiative; “Ian” he said, and then approached Ian offering his hand, Ian got up from his chair, shook the hand, and then they hugged each other. “Tom, Right?” Ian said uncertain, Tom nodded. “What a coincidence man, when did you get here?” Tom asked. “I just got here a few days ago”, Ian replied. “What a coincidence, to meet each other again in the same place after one year. What are you doing here?” Tom asked. “I am here to do some volunteer work with an orphanage, this time I am here for only one month, unfortunately. I just stopped by the hostel to say hi to some people”. Their conversation was interrupted when someone called: “Ian, Ian, cuando volviste?”, almost screaming. It was an old woman, another cleaning lady at the hostel, and Ian went over and gave her a kiss on the cheek and a warm hug. The woman’s the face was glowing with Joy at seeing Ian. “You are back again, how great, since you were gone I been having back pains; I am missing those back massages you used to give me”, she said. “Well if you need one now, I am ready, anytime you want”, Tom said. “That is so kind of you Ian, you were always so kind to me. I need to finish a couple of things first; I’ll be back soon”, the lady replied, and then went away with a happy smile still on her face. “I have to go now, I made some plans with some guys to visit the museum, but let’s get together for a drink sometime”, Tom suggested. “Yes sure, let’s do that, I’ll give you my phone number, I still don’t remember it though; it is a new Colombian mobile I bought. I think I have it written somewhere”. But Tom was quicker, he pulled a peace of paper he had written his new number on; he as well hadn’t managed to remember his mobile number yet, and he handed it to Ian, “Here, have my number”. Ian took the paper and dialed the number in his mobile, and after a few seconds Tom’s phone rang. “Ok now we both have each others number” Tom said. Then as Tom turned around and was about to go, Ian said in a hesitant voice: “Tomorrow I am going to the orphanage, maybe you would like to join me, I could show you around the place; show you what I do there”. Tom thought about for a second; maybe it is about time I do something other than partying in Bogota, in fact I am starting to get tired of this whole night life thing, “Why not? I’ll join you” Tom replied. “Would you like to go with me in the morning? I leave around 8 o’clock.”, Ian suggested. “I don’t like waking up so early in the morning, can I come on my own latter in the afternoon?”. “Sure I’ll give you the directions, and you can make your way there whatever time you want”. “Sounds great” Tom replied. Ian wrote down the directions on a piece of paper, explaining them while writing them at the same time, then handed the paper to Tom. “Common Tom, were leaving”, Tom heard Jim call him from the patio. “See you later man”, he said to Ian and left. On his way out another young woman working at the hostel seemed to notice Ian, and she let out a short scream of surprise, and then went over to give him a hug. He’s quite a popular guy, Tom thought, it doesn’t surprise me; he’s quite a gentleman and a good person.

Tom, Jim and the others went to visit the Banco Nacional Museum, the entry was gratis. The museum had some of Botero’s work; Botero the painter and sculpturer from Medellin, who became famous by depicting people exaggeratively fat: fat Pablo Escobar, fat Jesus on the cross, fat virgin Marry, fat bull fighters, fat everybody. But Tom had already seen plenty of his paintings at the Botero museum in Medellin, and they started to feel repetitive. There at the Botero exhibition, Jim asked Tom to take a photo of him, “I want to have a photo, to prove to my friends that I actually went to a museum, otherwise they would never believe me”. There were other works by other modern painters which Tom found quite interesting, though he had trouble remembering their names once he left the museum. There were also many works of strange modern art, which Tom mostly did not understand. And in one high security section; with thick steel doors and lot of security guards, they had a few valuable gold altar pieces, decorated with hundreds of emeralds, and tens of diamonds. They used to belong to the church apparently, the church must have been very rich in those days, Tom thought.