Today I want to tell you a story. Well, those of you who read my blog already know that my son, Danielito, is studying graphic design. Today he had his final exam for this first level, and part of his presentation was to hand out some stickers that he designed himself.
Yesterday, we sent the stickers to be printed by a girl at an internet café who happens to live in my neighborhood. We sent her the design, and she agreed to print them. Since it was almost closing time, we agreed that she would take them home and I would pick them up at the security booth at around 5 p.m.
At 5 p.m., she texted me saying she would arrive around 8 p.m. At that time, she told me she was going to be late, but that she had them ready in her car, just to give them to me. I confess I was worried, but I gave her the benefit of the doubt. As we had agreed, she would let me know if she was running late, and I would pick them up.
The problem was that she didn't answer her cell phone that night, and my son and I were distressed because he had to be in class at 8 a.m. sharp. I didn't sleep all night, thinking that the cell phone would ring at any moment. My son left for school at 6:30 a.m. because he starts early, and by that time, the girl at the cybercafe still hadn't responded.
At 7 a.m., she replied to my message, telling me to go pick them up at her house. I went to the address she gave me, and when I arrived, a boy came out and gave them to me. I quickly went to find my son to take them to him, but when he saw them, he told me that the girl hadn't cut them and he had to hand them in cut. It was already 7 a.m. and everything was closed.
So we went to a bakery for breakfast, hoping that the cashier would lend me a pair of scissors to cut out all the stickers, but the scissors never appeared. Time was running out, and I was distressed. I left Danielito at the bakery and went out to look for a place where I could get a pair of scissors. I walked around, and everything was closed except for a mechanic's shop and a lubricant store. I went in because I had to do something.
I asked a man for help, and he kindly came out to meet me. I told him I needed scissors for my son's homework assignment, which was due that day. Like any good Venezuelan, he set out to help me and showed me the scissors he had: they were metalworking scissors, huge and heavy. But they cut, so I started cutting out the stickers, trying to hold up the weight.
Seeing me in trouble, Mr. Frank Gamboa, as I later learned his name was, took out another pair of those huge scissors and started to help me. Then a lady from the workshop came over and lent us a pair of paper scissors, which I used to perfect the cuts. Meanwhile, Mr. Frank surprised me with a delicious cup of coffee, piping hot and pure, just the way I like it. So, this good Samaritan helped me save the day from his workshop.
I left feeling truly grateful to pick up my son and drop him off at the academy with his stickers ready. But on the way back, I wanted to stop by the workshop again to thank Mr. Frank for his gesture, since I wasn't in such a hurry. That's how I got to know a little more about him and his work.
It turns out that Mr. Frank is a coffee lover and always offers his visitors to the workshop a delicious cup of this drink that unites us as Venezuelans and distinguishes us for our cordiality and willingness to help. It was there that I discovered that Mr. Frank is a born builder, as he creates many projects related to engines and anything else he can think of with his hands.
He showed me a helicopter he built, started it up, and everything. It's a single-person helicopter used in agriculture. He also makes small, rustic cars, very similar to ATVs, mainly for planting. He's one of those people who brings the ideas that come to his mind to life.
He also told me that he buys coffee in sacks and grinds it in his own machine. The one he gave me is called Café San Antonio and comes from Caripe. It is a very rich coffee, but above all, it has human warmth. It comes from a Venezuelan like Mr. Frank, who is always willing to help and provide good service.
So, if you want to enjoy a good coffee, a place to fix your car, or to build big projects, visit Mr. Frank Gamboa's workshop, located in the city of Maturín, Las Brisas del Orinoco sector in Venezuela. Because that's how we are, and there will always be more good Venezuelans.