BLUE ENTER - I/III - COLD DIVE

He wrapped himself in his jacket and scarf. An observer would think that he was fighting with them both. It was impossible to get that woolen scarf tighter on his throat and, as much as he tried, his thin jacket would not keep him warmer. Now that he thought of it, anyone would think he was at least odd to begin with. He instantly smiled. There he was on New Year’s Eve, aimlessly strolling at Larache’s Medina with an unimaginable cold for what he thought of Morocco’s winter. He lit the cigarette that he delayed for long and looked at the few stores, just before midnight. There were posters faded long time ago with big Arabic letters under the light blue arches. A narrow street filled with empty plastic baskets of all the vegetables that had been sold during the day, flickering neon lights, cats curled up in dark corners, baskets, skeps, colorful robes hanging behind windows, a scent of a spice that reminded him of a food that his mother cooked for him but, as much as he tried, he could not remember which one it was. Only Manos and a young man who sat lazily behind the dirty counter preparing hot tea were the only people in this big and humid medina.

Manos had followed his big love, or we should better call it the promise of it, that deflated after an even bigger fight the minute he set his foot in Morocco. It’s ok, he got into a plane for the first time in his life and he would enjoy a day all by himself in this strange place. But he was not prepared for so much cold. Not that he was prepared to see the door of his father’s house in front of him. How could that ever happen? He was so many miles away from Kallithea and yet he saw the metal door of the house where he spent his childhood. He passed by the guy who was selling tea, without paying any attention to the incomprehensible words coming out of his mouth, and approached that entrance. It was definitely the same door, it even had that warp on the handle, the one that his belated father promised to fix, but never did, and it was left like that to squeak and made your life difficult to unlock it. 

He was afraid to open the door of his childhood but, on the other hand, he felt that he had to. He was over forty years old and this was the biggest challenge he had to face by now. He touched the frozen handle and closed his eyes. Deep down maybe he had already regretted it. A dive into New Year or back to the past? He was not sure about the answer.