Just Backgammon
"What are you looking for?"

He approached, and I shrugged.

"Nothing?" He smiled.

"Yeah, I guess nothing really."

He made small talk, asking if I was traveling alone. My suspicion was aroused, so I lied. I shifted my backpack from arm to arm, unsure of whether he had a cohort behind me.

But he turned out to be harmless. I learned he had just started university, studying mathematics. The fact that he was studying such an academic topic (as opposed to practical) at a private university put me at ease--he probably had no need for anything from me. He was on summer break, helping at his cousin's store, which we stood next to, and his parents' carpet store across the street. He offered me some tea.

I took a hesitant breath, and I said sure--I really had nowhere to be. We walked into his cousin's store, where his cousin was already talking with two Australian women. The women soon left to try some lunch place recommended by the cousin, but not before accepting his offer to come back for dinner. The young man who approached me also invited me to dinner. While I was sure that would be the more interesting option, I'd already told the hostel that morning that I would attend their BBQ, so I regrettably declined his invite.

Somehow, the conversation turned to backgammon, which I've recently learned on my Nokia. We played a couple games, and I was wallopped. He offered that he'd been playing for ten years.

The conversation turned to music, and we traded band names. He asked if we could go download some of the Shins. I actually had my iPod USB cord, so I plugged into his laptop (ed.- that's what she said). I pulled a few files onto his desktop.

The conversation continued quite easily, and I was glad I'd accepted his offer of tea. I just kind of wish the story stopped here. But I asked about the carpets, just to show an interest, and I think at some point he mistook my curiosity for being interested in buying one. And I would've been fine correcting this impression--I felt comfortable enough--but his brother came along, and he started giving me the hard sell.

I tried to explain that they really didn't suit my tastes; I find the colors kind of drab, and the patterns feel kind of stuffy. I really couldn't imagine owning one. But I didn't know how to explain this clearly enough without being insulting.

There's also the matter of money--I have barly enough to cover this trip and first and last months' rent, even factoring credit cards--and I really wasn't about to use my small sum of disposable income on a Turkish rug unless I happened to love it.

Eventually, I just had to ask what time it was and pretend I was late to be somewhere.

The young man, whose name I never got, told me as I left to come by some time if I wanted to play some backgammon.

I got on the bus the next day a little sad, but what can you do.

Labels: bar trip, Selçuk (TR)

- posted by roger @ 10:15 PM