Isn't this just so lovely, so tender? The sudden warmth is making spring come so fast that the usual slow unfolding is more like an explosion. The buds on all the trees have swollen double in just a few days and very soon the leaves will unfurl. Perhaps we appreciate spring especially in cold places like Montreal and Vermont; it always feels poignant and joyful at the same time.
If spring is big mystery and miracle these days, we've also had a little practical mystery, with no apprent solution. A few weeks ago we subscribed to the Montreal Gazette, the main English-language newspaper in the city, which gave us both home delivery and access to the electronic edition. For the first few days, everything was fine,and we were really enjoying getting a paper newspaper again. Then suddenly, mysteriously, it stopped coming. We searched outside the building, in the bushes, around the corner...nothing. We are the only subscribers in our building, and the only anglophones - normally there are several copies of La Presse and one of Le Devoir in the rack, waiting to be picked up in the morning. J. called the main office, and was assured that the paper was being delivered. Where was it going?
Enter insomnia. One morning J. was up around 4:30 or 5:00 a.m., and decided to watch and see if he could figure out what was happening. La Presse was delivered, and then our paper - right outside the front door. In a few minutes, along came the paperboy for Le Devoir. He delivered his paper, and then stooped down, picked up the copy of the Gazette, and put it into his pack and took off! J. was dumbfounded. It was being stolen by a francophone who apparently thought an English language newspaper had no business being delivered in the Plateau! Our own little language war!
So again, J. called the Gazette and told them what was happening. He described our location in the building and suggested that the delivery person throw the paper onto out terrace, where it would be protected. OK, fine, they said, no problem. Except that, a week later, we still weren't getting the papers on the terrace. A few of them mysteriously appeared on the rack or in front of our door, apparently placed there by one of our neighbors. What gave?
A few minutes ago, a knock on our door. There was our upstairs neighbor - who, ironically, works for La Presse - with our paper in his hand. He explained that our paper has been being thrown up onto his balcony and he's been bringing it down - except that today, they threw it so hard it broke his screen. We apologized profusely, and tried to figure out what was going on - and then J. realized he had told the Gazette that we lived on the first floor - not the rez de chaussée, or ground floor. A stupid and typical English mistake...but the Gazette will pay for the screen, we'll start getting our paper, the neighbor will be happy, we will never make that language mistake again, and hope the mystery is solved for good.
aha. I feel foul of that same mistake several times on bsuiness trips to the USA when I would merrily leap out of lifts on the wrong floor and then spend ten minutes wandering around lost
I guess the first floor is, well, the first floor and the next one is 'upstairs'
n'est-ce pas?
(lovely picture, couldn't you just eat those buds???)
Posted by: Mouse | April 26, 2007 at 11:50 AM
Lovely photo, and yes, I remember spring being like that on the prairies. It seemed to last about a week, between coldest winter and hot summer, though that was usually in May.
Now that's a great story, which I bet will be told many times! I do wonder about that thief though, his employer should be notified.
Posted by: marja-leena | April 26, 2007 at 12:08 PM
very amusing, thank-you!
Posted by: the sylph | April 26, 2007 at 01:12 PM
Great story!
Posted by: Fred | April 26, 2007 at 02:57 PM
Ha! Great little ten minute movie.
I like the image of J., up at five with furrowed brow, determined to solve this thing once and for all.
Posted by: Teju | April 26, 2007 at 03:26 PM
What a great story and well-told.
And, Beth, thanks.
Posted by: MB | April 26, 2007 at 04:22 PM
An excellent mystery. Of course, we all expect Le Devoir's paperboy to reappear at a crucial moment in some future post. I'm already making up stories about him, but would rather hear yours.
Posted by: Jarrett | April 27, 2007 at 08:19 AM
What a story! I'd like to give an alternate interpretation of Le Devoir paperboy's theft. Let's continue to assume he's francophone - perhaps he's learning English now and wants to practice with the English paper, but as a paperboy doesn't want to spend his own cash on the copy. I could see my cousin doing this!
Posted by: Nicole | April 27, 2007 at 08:46 AM
Wonderful story -- thanks for sharing it!
Posted by: language hat | April 27, 2007 at 09:11 AM
You didn't confront the paperboy, or call Le Devoir?
Maybe he just thinks it's a better paper than his! ;-)
I'm confused about the "floor" story though: in Quebec, we almost always say "first floor" (premier étage) when we live on the rez-de-chaussée (or ground floor). It confuses French people (from France) since for them, the "premier étage" is the first floor up, above the rez-de-chaussée. So I'm not sure I understand why the Gazette people got confused? They had a person from France working the customer service phoneline? Or maybe it's just too early in the morning for me as I'm reading this...
Posted by: Martine | April 27, 2007 at 10:15 AM
Thanks, everyone, for the comments...
Nicole, that is very charitable! I will consider it as a possibility!
Martine, it beats me! Today the paper was delivered at about 4:00 am by a young girl, working all alone, who waved cheerfully at J. when he went out. No, we haven't called Le Devoir yet - we didn't want to get the paper boy in trouble. J. couldn't get out there in time to confront him - or maybe he didn't have enough clothes on that morning!
Posted by: beth | April 27, 2007 at 10:46 AM
Ha ha! That would have been quite the "early bird" scene! ;-)
Posted by: Martine | April 27, 2007 at 11:33 AM
What a great story! (Of course, newspaper troubles are always a bit disorienting, given that they often happen when you're staggering around pre-breakfast, hoping to begin the usual morning ritual of paper and food...)
Posted by: Rana | April 27, 2007 at 01:11 PM
That story is *so* Montreal. :-)
Posted by: blork | April 27, 2007 at 01:21 PM
Oh god, i am used to this delivery problem...Somebody was also stolen my Presse or sometimes my Journal de Montréal, depends. So the delivery person throw the two paper onto my balcony. But sometimes, he's missing it and thow a second one. So when the snow melted, i found some paper on the ground...And sometimes his "lancer" ( sorry i don't have the english word) is so hard and so noisy that i woke up. Dont' why but there is always problem with paper delivery...grrr
Posted by: Cecile Gladel | April 27, 2007 at 05:03 PM