0 (zero) -part 2-

Finally I was driving into through the entrance to the Verificentro.  I was waved on in, and into the second line of vehicles waiting to be verified.

(By the way, if you missed part 1 of this story, read this first.)

It was a fairly large place – maybe 5 bays for vehicles – surrounded by a wall, but all outdoors.  The joker from outside asked to see my papers again (actually, he was a nice guy.  Just trying to differentiate him since I didn’t find out his name).

Now, I’m forgetting the details here, but somewhere along the line they were telling me again that I couldn’t get a "0" sticker.  It was probably because I didn’t have the magical … what’s it called?  Some card that all drivers in Mexico have for their vehicle.  I told them that we didn’t have those in Canada, but that I did have a copy of my vehicle registration.

"So," he asked me, "is there work in Canada?"

"Oh yes," I answered, and we chatted about Canada and the cost of rent and this and that.  Then he told me I’d have to take my papers and get copies.

"Oh, these are copies," I said.

"All right then, just go and pay at the cashier’s over there, and give her your papers."

I went to a window in a wall.  I couldn’t see through it, but eventually I heard a voice asking me for that card that all-Mexicans-have-but-I-don’t.  When she found out I didn’t have one, she sounded bewildered.  But the joker – I mean, nice guy came to my rescue.

He apparently explained the situation to her, and then she asked for my license plate number.  I never remember it, so I started over to the van to check it.  His voice shouted through the window – "In English!"

That threw me off – I’m not good at switching back and forth, but I managed to give them my plate number in the requested idioma.  She handed back my papers.  Apparently she had made copies anyway.  Did I pay for that?

I came back to the van and someone had appeared in the driver’s seat.  He took my papers (two copies now) and said he’s take it from here – I had to go and wait near the entrance for the verdict.

The van was pulled up into one of the bays, and someone was crouched over a computer pumping in numbers.  He looked confused.  A woman joined him.  She looked baffled.  Soon there were four or five workers crowded around the computer beside my van.  No one else had four or five workers around their computers.  Finally, someone motioned to me and I went back over.

"Sorry, we can’t give you a zero," said the computer guy.

"Why not?"

"It’s just the type of vehicle.  I punch everything in, and the computer shows that it doesn’t qualify for a 0."

"Well, I had a friend come in just a few days ago with the exact same kind of van," (I didn’t mention that mine is a slightly nicer colour) "and he got a zero."

"Really?" (more people began to crowd around the computer) "Same year?"

"Yes, same year, same model."

"Hmmmmmmm…"

Now it was just me and the computer guy.  And it was the computer that stood in the way of me and using my van every morning of the week.

Some little part of a computer program, put together by someone somewhere in a little office in downtown Mexico City.  Or maybe they hired someone in India.  Could I talk to that person?

For the next ten minutes, I was going through the data entry with the computer guy, making suggestions.  Are you sure that number is right?  Oh, here’s my address.  What if we used this number here?

Every once in a while someone would come over and explain to me that I couldn’t get a zero.  And I would explain to them that I had a friend with the same kind of van who had just gotten one.

Amazingly he patiently listened to my suggestions, and we tried this and that.  Then we came to the screen where he was going to show me that it said I couldn’t get a "0".

But look!  This time it did have a zero!

The computer guy looked confused.  It might have been a good time to talk about the power of prayer, but the look on his face made me hesitate.

So… there’s a zero now – there’s hope!  Right?

But the computer guy didn’t sound too hopeful.

I didn’t quite catch what he was saying.  But I know he was confused about why the computer was saying what it was saying.  And he was telling me that I still might not get the zero.  Then he told me to go wait again by the entrance.

How many times now had people told me I couldn’t get a 0?

The van was tested, and pulled ahead.  No one came to tell me what was going on.  No zero stickers were produced.  It just sat there.

Finally someone came out and called me over.

"Where do you want it?" he asked.

He held in his hand a beautiful, shiny, new "0".  I didn’t cry.  I told him to put it on the back window.

I was allowed to leave.  The bearded guy moved the chain and let me out.

Unfortunately, I forgot to check how long this is valid for.  The maximum is 6 months.  But it might only be one month.

I need to check that out.

You mean – in a month I might have to go through this again??

I’m not asking for much.  Just another zero.