Nobody Smiled Back
Madrid finally caught up with Jersey and today we had our first autumn chill. Usually, I seek out any bit of shade I can find - so you can imagine how happy I was to be able to wear a sweater and scarf for a change.
Normally after a long day of school, I won’t even consider the walk home an option, succumb to my laziness, and take the metro. Today, I didn’t dare trade the newly, brisk air for that of the stuffy underground tunnel and I let my feet carry me home.
The walk can get pretty boring and my own mind (exhausted from the struggle in school) can only keep me occupied for so long. What was my solution to this? To play a game with the grumpy people in the streets of Madrid, of course! It’s completely normal for two people in passing to glance up and share a polite smile to acknowledge the presence each other, right? Well that’s what I thought-but I couldn’t have been more wrong . . .
I broke out my biggest smile (those of you who know me, know how huge that really is) every time someone passed me. Most didn’t even glance my way, and those who did definitely knew I didn’t belong in the city. It was a twenty-minute walk, in the busiest city of Spain and all I got was ten strange looks, a coupon for a coffee shop, and zero smiles - that’s right zilch.
With my cold teeth and my still cheery mood I climbed the stairs in my building, unlocked the apartment door, and walked into the kitchen. I was greeted by our housekeeper - the sweetest woman in the world - with a smile that put mine to shame. I’ll count it - even though she’s from Romania - so there’s hope for the people of Madrid.
-Bella
