Say HELLO to my Little Friend!

Shortly after returning to North Africa a few weeks ago, I got reacquainted with my favorite route for stress-relief running. I pushed myself a bit harder than perhaps was wise and could sense, upon returning to my apartment complex, that my blood sugar was low. I was pretty pale.

Since I had just returned from summer vacation, and since several others still had not returned, groceries were in short supply throughout the apartment complex. Desperate to get some sugar into my bloodstream, I went to the home of the junior telemarketer pictured above, where I asked her parents if they could spare a banana. They graciously gave me a banana and about half a liter of Kool-Aid.

Now, whenever I return from a run, my friend promptly greets me with, “Do you need a banana?”

Yesterday I engaged my friend in conversation as I approached my building on the way home from work. (She often stands in front of the main entrance to my apartment building and forbids me from going inside.)

Apparently the friend who took this aerial photograph almost captured a better picture of our near-daily chat—but I sat down on the concrete step just before she could push the button on her camera. Actually, I had made a conscious decision to sit down to talk with her, because I feel strongly against talking down to children.

I’m pretty sure the above picture is of the pizza man calling to confirm my order.