Chapter 10: Gabriel and Filipe 

Singing free form Malagueña flamenco songs and playing the guitar is what these two loves to do.

School is out for the last time and a whole new life is in front of them. Question is what to do with it?

Gabriel is in no doubt. He has his eye on a basement space just off the main square where he intends to rent space for his Bodega. He wants to be a bar owner with a difference, offering good cheap tapas and rich local wine and Manzanilla, a strong sherry type wine which he and Alejandro sometimes travel the long way to Sanlúcar de Barrameda by bus or a friend's lorry to purchase. They would normally reckon on being away for at least a week, staying with friends along the way.

Once back home in the village, Alejandro's cousin Lorenzo will store the wine in his parent’s house just down yet another side street from the main square. Having a huge basement below the house and the rock which forms three sides of the room provides a dry cool storage space, which is ideal. Also it is not far to go, should the Bodega run low on Manzanilla. Over time they have collected a large quantity, ready for the impending end of school and the soon to happen opening of Gabriel's basement bar bodega.

Once Gabriel has his Bodega up and running, it is intended that Lorenzo will be in charge of Tapas; Filipe will provide the entertainment while Alejandro keep them supplied with olives and other spicy products. 

Ángel has promised to find some old wine barrels, repair them and paint them black, then fitting circular tops to serve as tables for people to stand their drinks and tapas on while enjoying the impromptu performances in the Bodega.

Opening day arrives and the group of friends wait with baited breath to see if anyone will arrive down the steps into this now cosy bodega lit with candles and the smell of tapas and Manzanilla blending with the soft picking of Filipe's guitar.

They do not have to wait long. In groups of two or more, they traipse down the stairs, soon chatting loudly with friends and consuming the opening day free tapas and glasses of Manzanilla.

Gabriel then sits down on one of the traditional square straight back chairs, seat covered with woven esparto grass. Filipe sits to his left ready to accompany him on his guitar. Between them is a small round table covered in cloth intricately woven in black and red with delicate tassels along the edges. On top is a small vase with a single flower and a glass of water for the singer.

Luis has yet to arrive as has Daniel, but the crowd gets restless and there seems no reason why they should not start.

They start with a song in the Cante Chico format, a light hearted allegria Gabriel has composed for the occasion.

Then onto a few more serious numbers in the Cante Jondo style, paying tributes to friends and family.

Putting down his glass of water while Filipe carries on picking quietly, Gabriel spots among the newcomers an old friend of his from the Campo; one of a well-known flamenco singing family's sons. Lucas is embraced and offered a glass and motioned to take the seat vacated by the new bar owner.

After a few numbers, another would-be singer wants the seat. As is the norm in this village and probably throughout Andalusia, every self-respecting male considers himself a master singer. It is not unusual to hear a person singing loudly in the street as he walks along or suddenly burst into an emotional tune all by himself while standing at a bar enjoying a glass of wine or beer. Never ignored and nearly always appreciated. Polite acknowledgement always follows.

By now Luis has arrived, sporting his usual cloth cap, baggy green corduroy trousers and chequered flannel shirt. With him is Daniel, just returned from Torremolinos and accompanied by a few like-minded friends.

The party in full swing, free drinks and food long having run out, the crowd is happy paying their way and the air is heavy with cigarette smoke and loud conversation, everyone speaking a little louder to be heard over the others. Such is the good life in a hilltop village during the repressive regime of "El Caudillo de España por la gracia de Dios", also known as Franco. The atrocities committed over twenty years ago by both Nationalist Franco supporters and Republicans, friends and neighbours fighting and killing each others are in the past, but never forgotten and never forgiven.