Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Juliet

She introduced herself to us as Juliet and, since we were in Verona, she forestalled any comments by saying that at the hotel where she worked, someone would always be remarking on the co-incidence – always very pleased with themselves and their wit – and she would tell them about the full-time position in the tourist bureau where a man called Ernesto signed himself as Juliet, responding to letters that the lovelorn and the crazy from all around the world kept sending to Juliet in the city of Verona.

Of course, this Ernesto would always reply in longhand, she told us. To respond in typescript – let alone email – would cost him his job.

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