I returned home from another day of galavanting about Lomé to find the guards and building staff fraternizing with a local merchant lady who had taken a break from carrying her goods on her head. I walked up to greet them. Ca Va's all around. I noticed that the merchant was peddling fags. Yeah, that's right -- bundles of sticks. I asked what they were and one of the guards explained that they were "African toothbrushes". Looked like sticks to me. About 1/4" X 1/4" X 3" sticks.
"How much?"
"5 for 100 francs."
"I don't have any money." That wasn't true. The fact is, 100 francs is about 20 cents. All I had in my pocket were $10,000 bills and no one - I mean no -one - has that kind of change. They all seemed amused that I couldn't figure out how to use the toothbrushes or really, what they were for. I mean, there were no brisltes or anything. The lady pulled one stick out of the fag and handed it to me. I reached in my pockets and all I could find was a used black plastic bag that I was saving for a trash bag. She smiled and motioned for the bag.
"C'est bonne" It's good.
I went upstairs to my apartment with my new stick and placed it on the dining room table for all to see.
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9 comments:
so your teeth are nice and clean now?
I was suite mates with a guy who was a "lost boy" from Sudan and in the cup on the sink were three tooth brushes and a stick. He was pretty authentic and gathered his own sticks though, which you should change more often than a conventional toothbrush I might add.
The real trick is to get one end to fray out and you have thousands of bristles/splinters.
these are the most amuzing short stories i have ever read.
Thanks everybody for all of the nice comments!
and my teeth are still yellow!! ACK
Thanks everybody for all of the nice comments!
and my teeth are still yellow!! ACK
kevin, i tried calling you twice and it picks up but i can't hear anything. could you hear me at all? this is the number i called: 002280111852. xoxox
je n'ai pas su que tu pourries parler ou écrire en français!!?!?!?!
Only you could have experiences like this. Hope you have many more!
-Pablo
no.. soulla the new number is 228-968-3737. :)
Free smiles for everyone!
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