(Keri’s note: My espirito spoke in Spanish for the entire conversation. And while I understood kir and remembered the meanings of the words, I do not have one tenth of the skill required to reconstruct what was said back into Spanish. So all words between angle brackets are translations.)
Espirito: <I want a smoke.>
Me: Nope.
Espirito: <Not even a pack to offer me?>
Me: Did you forget, I don’t have an ofrenda, and will not have any sort of offerings space anytime soon?
Espirito: <Yea… but… I’m special.>
Me: We’re all Special Snowflakes here. You agreed to help me despite not being able to do any of the traditional things that would be expected on the island [of Puerto Rico].
Espirito: <You should meet me halfway. Leave a pack of cigarettes out for me.>
Me: Don’t. Do not do this. Certainly not now after struggling with trust issues again. You offered to help me with the BE. And while I was a fool for agreeing without knowing your end-price, the agreement was made with current circumstances in mind. No physical offerings was one of them.
Espirito: <And if I refuse to help you any further? If I just leave you?>
Me: You won’t be the first. I doubt you’ll be the last. But I have a connection to the deck itself now, and an understanding that does not require your assistance to proceed further with. If you refuse to help me, then leave. Get the fuck out. But by doing so, you forfeit whatever your end game is.
Espirito: <How could you be so mean! I lived a hard life while alive, and now I do not get my due as your ancestral spirit!>
Me: Oh, for fuck’s sake! Do I look Catholic? Don’t try that guilt shit with me. You have many of my living relatives to haunt and play fairy godmother with. Knock the shit off. Shoo. Before I get a fly-swatter.
Espirito: <If you get me just one cigarette, I would be much more open to you.>
Me: If I get you just one cigarette, I will violate the terms of our agreement. Not to mention, cause a lot more shit on my side of the veil than you know.
Espirito: <You are resolute then. You will not give me a smoke.>
Me: No.
Espirito: <Stubborn little bitch.>
Me: A trait that runs in the family, I’m told.
Espirito: <Some more than others. Which is why I jumped at the chance to reach you.>
Me: Huh?
Espirito: <Stay true to yourself. We’ll talk more later.>