One Morning in Spain

         "Well, it's about time you got up, Ferdy."

         "Good morning to you too." He snapped as he sat down at the table. "Is that what you're wearing today?"

         "It's what I have on so then yes I guess I'm wearing it! Anything wrong with it?"

         "I'm always paying for silk and I never see you wearing any."

         "This is silk." He made a sound in his throat.

         "You're in a nice mood. What do you have to do today?"

         "That Italian. He's back again. I have an audience with him."

         "Why? What does he want?"

         "What do you think he wants? What does everybody want? Money of course. They all think I have most of the gold in Spain!"

         "Well, you do have don't you? What does he want it for?"

         "Stupidest thing I ever heard of, He wants to sail west across the ocean."

         "West? Why?"

         "He thinks the world is round."

         "Well, of course, it is! Just like a dinner plate."

         "No, he thinks it's round like a pearl. He thinks if he sails west far enough he'll end up east."

         "But that doesn't make any sense.If that was true we would all fall off it and all the ocean would spill! Besides that isn't what they told me at school."

         What did they teach you?"

         "The nuns taught me to sit still, be quiet and not let boys touch me."

         "They didn't do a very good job on the quiet part of that ."

         "What are you going to give him?"

         "Nothing."

         "He'll be back again,"

         "And I'll give him nothing again."

         "Why not give him what he's asking for? Then we'll be rid of him and put an end to it."

         "Since when do you give me advice? I'm not giving him anything."

         "Well, can I give him something of mine? This string of pearls is so last year, I hardly ever wear wear them any more and these are real diamonds in my tiara. "

         "You want to give him your pearls and tiara?"

         "Oh, don't you know anything? Tiaras are out. Nobody's wearing tiaras any more. He should be able to buy a boat with that, and then he'll go away and stop bothering us. What do you say?"

         "Do whatever you want, Isabella. You will anyway."