One woman asks what I need, meaning what would cause me to open my purse. I think of the long list of intangibles I crave. She asks, what colors would sell better?
Another spreads all of her pieces on my small table, looks into my face, pleading only ten pesos.
Almost free:
Candy
Andean music
Spatulas and shoe shines
Perfume samples, candy apples
Made by hand:
Bookmarks
Combs
Decorated toothpicks
Tablecloths and placemats
Heaps of blouses and shawls
Decorative gourds
Shoe shines
For your nieces:
Coin bags
Earrings
Bracelets
Masks
Wallets
Marzipan
Wooden chickens pecking
Special delivery:
Bottled water
Fried tortillas
Nieves and palomitas
Corn tamales
Pork rinds and chips of all kinds
While you wait:
The word of god in English and Spanish
The chance to help a hungry man with a bamboo cane
A flower wreath to wear in your hair
A portrait of you and your lover right here, right now
Is this my education for learning to say no?
shewhodaresnothing 
I thought it was, “No, gracias.”