'Puzzled'

Episode 45 - Va Banque!

Episode 45 - Va Banque!Monte Carlo, France, 30 December

The remains of the day I spend surfing social networks, trying to figure out who might have an invitation to that son of the Ambassador’s party. But all in vain. Those who might have been invited are the ones who are well acquainted with maman and might spill out the works to her. And the ones who aren’t acquainted with her don’t seem to have even heard about the party.

I run through the list of my social ‘friends’ once again and realise I have exhausted my options. But I have no intention of giving up. Not now, not when I believe there is a good chance of seeing her again.

If I can’t get hold of an invitation then the only thing left to do is to go ‘va banque[1]’ and crash the party. Though, I have never done anything of that sort before. Thanks to maman my name has always been on the lists of all notable events of the Cote d'Azur. But this time, I have no choice really.

Crashing the party is rather risky, as I don't have a foggiest idea whether there will be a red velvet rope at the entrance or not. If there is none, then getting through will be a cakewalk. But then comes a question: how well does the host know his invitees? Can they bring guests to his party?

A sudden idea strikes me. First, I can watch the entrance from the yacht of Monsieur Moreau, get an idea of what sort of party it is and then, depending on how it all goes, choose the right moment and join in.

I run down the stairs to the library, knock on the door, then open it and peer in.  Sitting in the armchair by the fireplace, Monsieur Moreau is reading a book. I glance at the cover. The title reads – ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’.[2]

'May I?' I ask.

He lifts his head, lowers the book and looks over his glasses at me.

‘Yes,' he replies.

I come in and sit down on the sofa. Staring at the floor, I try to gather my thoughts. Patiently, Monsieur Moreau waits. Loudly, the clock ticks on the wall. 

Finally, I clear my throat and say: 'Monsieur Moreau, I'd like to spend the New Year's Eve on your yacht.'

'Really?' he says, ' I was under the impression that you'd rather spend it in a stimulating company.'

 'Yes, well, that's why I'd like to be on your yacht,' I reply.

'I'm flattered, mon ami. I couldn't imagine my yacht would touch you so deeply,' he says with a smile.

'You see, I'd like to meet one person, but have nowhere else to do it in private,' I venture out.

'Yes, I see.'

'But please, not a word to my Mum about it,' I add quickly.

‘Of course, Monsieur Luke,’ he nods.

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[1] ‘Va banque’ is a risky strategy deployed most commonly by emotionally unstable or inexpert players. In essence, it means risking the balance of one's capital on a single card.

[2] ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’ (Spanish: Cien años de soledad) is a 1967 novel by Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez that tells the multi-generational story of the Buendía family, whose patriarch, José Arcadio Buendía, founds the town of Macondo, the metaphoric Colombia.