Why
“By the way,” he added, “you’re the lighthouse keeper aren’t you?” “Well yes,” Takis said. “Do lighthouse keepers have female classmates from university?” “Well what are you trying to say,” Takis uttered awkwardly. “No, I’m just asking because she said that she was a classmate of yours from Italy and that’s what I called to verify. I just wanted to double-check.” Not more than ten minutes went by before the phone rang again. Takis picked up the receiver immediately. Her voice sounded a little different. She apologized for bothering him; she was speaking hurriedly in Greek and she seemed flustered. She told him that she had decided to spend a few days on Paros and suggested that they meet up, if he was going to be there. She struggled to find an excuse for her sudden visit and finally left it at, “I need a little time to unwind . . . that’s all.” That was all? She wasn’t coming to see him, but since she would be on the island anyway she might as well see him as well? Why wasn’t she going to go somewhere else to unwind if that was what she really wanted? Takis surmised that he was probably the reason for her sudden trip. And where was she going to stay? She hadn’t said. Should he put her up at the lighthouse? Their humble village house wasn’t set up for that sort of thing. He immediately started to gather odds and ends in an effort to tidy up. He stashed things in closets, rearranged the furniture and cleaned the salty sea spray residue off the windows with newspapers. He laid out books on various surfaces, to give the house an artsy feel and covered the armchairs with throws. Then he made the beds, washed the dishes and got the guestroom ready. That is, he took over his parents’ room and designated his old room as the guestroom. He still had plenty of time until she was to arrive but he wanted
71