Sunday stories by Agim Xhafka/ PILAFI

2023-06-25 12:19:00, Opinione Agim Xhafka

In every corner of Greece, if you go on vacation, you will definitely meet Albanians. To offer friendship, service, laughter and endless and free of charge.

That's how I had lunch on the island of Tios, a big piece of rock, but filled with tourists so much that I thought it would sink, it wouldn't be able to hold the human load.

Since we were in a hurry, because we were on a tour of 6 islands, we did not have the opportunity for classy restaurants or for dining with laid-back conversations.

We went to an alcove on a street corner that immediately approached the carrier's seafood. We didn't finish the words of the order when the plates of octopus, squid, and shrimp filled the small round table.

We weren't very hungry, but an alarming appetite engulfed us that the dishes were royal, full of freshness, aromas and spices from all over the globe. The amazing gastronomy added to the impressions of the picnic. We wanted to pay quickly, but:

- You gave them to the owner. It's Albanian like you! - said the waiter who brought us all those dishes, only we, we, we spoke Albanian!

We were happy of course, but I wanted to thank him personally.

-Can we shake his hand?

-Definitely,- we heard and an average man, smiling, with blue eyes, brown hair and very very white teeth was coming towards us.

After thanking him, we learned that his name was Bledar, he was from Këlcyra, he had come 25 years ago, he dreamed of becoming a teacher in Albania, but they did not take him to a pedagogical school. He was married, had two sons and both at university in Athens. He would do his master's degree in London.

At first he collected olives, then he gardened in some hotels, then he and his wife rented a small bar, where they have been waiting and escorting tourists for 12 years. Every year and more.

He also asked us about our professions. When he learned that I was a journalist, he said he knew one of them. They called him Koli, his father had invited him once for dinner in Këlcyra, he said. He promised that he would give me a scholarship for school in Gjirokastra, but I don't know why he didn't succeed.

Koli was my chief editor for many years. I didn't say that I knew him, because I remembered the whole dinner of Këlcyra, that whole night so disgusting and shameful. I also remembered Bledar there in the corner of the room, speechless and with his hands over his mouth, biting his nails.

I had just started working in the newspaper and in a service in the south of the country, Koli, my boss, decided to take me on in order for this young man to learn from the practice of journalism, he explained.

Gazi and Tit the driver were with us, so there were four of us. The services with the bosses are boring, not because he was twice my age and Gazi, but because for every thought of his you had to say ok.

There was no talk of discussion or debate. When we arrived at the tourism hotel in Gjirokastër, we were met by Llani, a local correspondent who was the host and escort of the bosses from Tirana, as he called them.

A resourceful guy who, with acquaintances from the center, had become a realtor to solve the problems of people in the city. That's why they waited for him at lunches and dinners full of hallelujahs.

- We will go to Këlcyra in an hour, - he told Koli. - A good dinner awaits us.

In fact, we were hungry because for lunch we ate two pies with cottage cheese in hand that we bought in Fier.

In less than half an hour we entered the Chinese BCH and ran to Myrto, that was the name of the man who had invited us for dinner.

There was warmth from the entrance. Myrto, a smiling man, average body, but muscular, hugged us. His whole family welcomed us in the corridor. Wife and two grown daughters. The last one was Bledari, the only child of the house who had just finished eight years.

Myrto took care of the maintenance of the winery, but he had a lot of vines in the yard and every year he made two kv of brandy. He took us out of one glass, then the second, some olives and pickles on a plate, the third came, the fourth and the conversation heated up.

- I want to make the boy a teacher! - he told us and his eyes moved.

- Why not do it, said Koli.

- An intervention is needed!

- We have friend Koli, don't worry, said Llani, looking at Koli.

- Yes, yes, we will solve it.

- That these members of the council give it to someone of their own, - expressed Myrto's concern

- But who farts these, the driver said to Tit and filled and emptied the glasses.

After those two miserable appetizers were finished, five dishes of pilaf arrived, but only two had meat, Koli and Llani. Titi reached out and took it from Llani.

- The meat of the week's tallon came with the bone, - said Myrto with a red face. - But it makes good pilaf.

For five minutes the dishes were washed. Llani was talking in Kol's ear and he didn't move his head at all.

After drinking two more brandies, we left. As soon as Koli gave the tip of his hand to Myrto, the wife of the girls did not hiss at all. We got into the car, silence. After a few kilometers I almost scared everyone:

-Tit, stop, we didn't get the name and surname of Myrto's chun.

Koli turned around and shouted at me:

- Why are we going to work with a pilaf?

The gas bit me. I understood the silence. I swore that I would never come to work with the boss again.

After so many years, in front of me sits that honest son of that honest house, who shared with his friend even the talon bone.

That boy, who probably slept without eating that night, but he told us that he has a big heart. There was no interest or friendship with us.

Apart from the fact that we spoke Albanian, he was generous. He showed us that this beautiful island is owned by the Greeks, but not only they, but also the Albanians are developing it.

I wanted to ask him about Myrto, about the sisters, about the mother, but it seemed to me that I would return to the scene of a moral crime. I thanked him and was very happy that the man was happy with his work.

I felt relieved that I was worried about that black night made in Koli. At least I escaped my shame. That evening I was rejoicing in the triumph of a simple man who was simply called Bledar./ CNA