At the border
At the border
The afternoon shift at customs was always slow. Then she walked up to his desk.
The afternoon shift at customs was always slow.
The afternoon shift at customs was always slow.
Then she walked up to his desk.
Then she walked up to his desk.
She set her passport on the counter.
She set her passport on the counter.
The officer looked up from his paperwork.
The officer looked up from his paperwork.
"Purpose of visit?"
"Purpose of visit?"
"Studies."
"Studies."
"What kind of studies?"
"What kind of studies?"
"Art history."
"Art history."
She smiled.
She smiled.
"Medieval cathedrals, mostly."
"Medieval cathedrals, mostly."
He opened the passport.
He opened the passport.
American.
American.
Twenty-two years old.
Twenty-two years old.
The photo didn't do her justice.
The photo didn't do her justice.
"Duration of stay?"
"Duration of stay?"
"A year.
"A year.
Maybe longer if I find what I'm looking for."
Maybe longer if I find what I'm looking for."
"And what's that?"
"And what's that?"
"Beauty.
"Beauty.
Truth.
Truth.
The usual things."
The usual things."
She leaned forward slightly.
She leaned forward slightly.
"What about you?
"What about you?
Do you ever find what you're looking for here?"
Do you ever find what you're looking for here?"
He stamped a page.
He stamped a page.
"I'm not looking for anything."
"I'm not looking for anything."
"Everyone's looking for something."
"Everyone's looking for something."
"Maybe."
"Maybe."
He handed back the passport.
He handed back the passport.
"Welcome to France."
"Welcome to France."
She didn't take it immediately.
She didn't take it immediately.
"Is there good coffee near here?"
"Is there good coffee near here?"
"There's coffee."
"There's coffee."
"Good coffee?"
"Good coffee?"
"Café Laurent. Two blocks south."
"Café Laurent. Two blocks south."
"Do they serve customs officers?"
"Do they serve customs officers?"
"They serve anyone with money."
"They serve anyone with money."
"I have money."
"I have money."
She took the passport.
She took the passport.
"Do you get breaks?"
"Do you get breaks?"
"Sometimes."
"Sometimes."
"When?" He looked at the clock.
"When?" He looked at the clock.
"Four o'clock."
"Four o'clock."
"I'll be reading about flying buttresses until then."
"I'll be reading about flying buttresses until then."
She walked toward the exit.
She walked toward the exit.
He watched her go. "Miss," he called.
He watched her go. "Miss," he called.
She turned.
She turned.
"The coffee's better at Chez Marie.
"The coffee's better at Chez Marie.
One block north."
One block north."
"Thank you."
"Thank you."
"Four-thirty," he said.
"Four-thirty," he said.
She smiled and disappeared into the crowd.
She smiled and disappeared into the crowd.