Day 12

Naghmeh Samini
Tuesday 12 February 2019

The map of St Andrews on the floor. The man is walking on the map, as if he is walking through the town. He is somewhere on South street.

The Man: (to himself) I know this is South Street, one of the three main streets of this small town. So I start here. (To an imaginary pedestrian) Excuse me, sir! …I wonder if you have seen a good-looking  woman of about 35 with a violet scarf ? She has brown eyes and brown hair and a singsong accent. Not like mine, softer. Okay, Thanks… (To an imaginary shopkeeper) Hi there! Excuse me, Madam! Your pastry shop is phenomenal. My girlfriend loves pastry. She must have visited your shop at least once to buy one of these delicious-looking  black buns…No, no, I am not here to buy them for her! Actually, I lost her. And I want to know if you remember seeing a woman with a violet scarf, a good-looking  woman of about 35? She has brown eyes and brown hair and a singsong accent. Not like mine, softer. No? Thanks!

The man goes to the Market Street.

The Man: (To an imaginary shopkeeper) Hi! do you work here every day? Okay, let me explain. I am looking for someone. My girlfriend…No! She is not lost! I lost her! She loves books, secondhand books, so… I am sure she has been here. She is an avid reader, and bookshops and libraries are the first places she discovers anywhere she goes. She has brown eyes and brown hair and a singsong accent. Not like mine, softer.…. Have you seen her? … OK! Thanks!

He gives some coins to an imaginary beggar.

The Man: Sorry, I don’t have more change! May I ask you a question? Do you always sit here, next to this supermarket? I wonder if you have seen a good-looking  woman of about 35 with a violet scarf ? She has brown eyes and brown hair and a singsong accent. Not like mine, softer. … She cares for people like you…I am sure she must have given you something. Do you remember anyone like that…No?!…Thank you.

The man goes to the North street.

The Man: Excuse me! May I ask you a question? Have you- or any of your colleagues—recently seen a woman in her mid-30’s with a violet scarf asking for membership? She has brown eyes and brown hair and a singsong accent. Not like mine, softer…. No! She is not a student or  a professor, but she loves books, and if only card holders can pass the electronic gate, she must have asked for temporary membership. Okay! … Yes, I have already talked to the people working in the small library in South Street?

The Man Goes to the Scores.

The Man: (talking to an imaginary hotel receptionist): Hi there! I am looking for my girlfriend. Have you had any Iranian residents  in the last 10 days? No! She is not a Golf lover! OK!…thank you. Yes! I have asked every single shop, hotel and bed and breakfast place in the town…I am sure she is here or was here. She can’t have just evaporated.

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