I bring to your window beautiful songs.

April 18, 2008 2:49 AM

The Serenader. Roberto’s long moon-shadow stretches absurdly across the walls of the house as he plucks prettily at his guitar while his drunk client swaggers like a cat... Like many men in San Cristóbal, Roberto holds two jobs. At night he plays and sings the love songs that men use to woo women; in the day he teaches guitar to young men who may someday be his competition. Of the two jobs, serenading is far more lucrative.
posted by amyms (3 comments total)

In one, we went to serenade a second-story window, in which stood one of the most beautiful young women I have ever seen, gazing down with apparent love and admiration at her suitor

I don't know why this is important, but it is. Serenading only seems to work when you're serenading up to a balcony or a window. In fact, I don't really think I'd try serenading any other way. Also, serenading works a hell of a lot better if you have the ability to do it on your own.
posted by allkindsoftime at 4:20 AM on April 18, 2008

Like many men in San Cristóbal, Roberto holds two jobs.

Sounds to me like the same job, but with two shifts.
posted by three blind mice at 5:23 AM on April 18, 2008

That was a good piece. But it was only one side of the story, the male side. One wonders if there isn't a companion piece to be written, from the distaff perspective, about the right way to wait, and how to get over emotions of anger and jealously, in the space of time covered by 7 or 8 $2 songs.
posted by paulsc at 6:43 PM on April 18, 2008