69 September Last month of Sahel Befriending diaryland folk on social media feels like interdimensional travel :) I ordered vegetables from the guy outside the village and when he asked for my address I answered 'Dr. Z's niece' and it worked! Z called asking for cigarettes, I found a box on baba's dresser There's another village party at the beach cafe tonight I'm having lunch with Z And tomorrow we're going to a bazaar at the mall midway between the coast and Alex proper If there's a sale, Z knows about it I'm getting shoes Z gave me shopping tips I have to maximize Z time before she leaves She's upset that Riri and the kids are moving in Cairo They were all in the same building. "I'm too old to be alone now" You have more energy than me Tantey! "Still, I don't want to speak ill of anyone on a Friday but there's a very mean neighbor feuding with us" It's a grumpy old retiree who hangs out in the building lobby making comments. "Out again I see, at this hour..." (he picked on Riri a lot because she's a single mama) One day Riri snapped. She had wrangled the kids and bags downstairs only to hear, "Summering again? Which is it Sokhna or Sahel, you have twooo places!" In Egyptian/Arab culture, when you praise somebody too much or overtly show bitterness or jealousy, it's considered a curse -- evil eye You're basically wishing accidents/misfortune on somebody So Riri saw red and yelled, "If you ever speak to me again, if I ever see you sitting here I'll *expletive expletive expletive*" Tante Z said, "Of course he deserves it but now she's leaving and I'm the one who has to see him and his wife" I promised to sleep over at her place every few weeks I feel like I'll end up moving in with her I have to do laundry and prepare a cafe party outfit-- I hope it's the dance troupe and live music again, I don't think I can stand a DJ Tante Z is good for me, she gets me out and about And since mama and Tante Eman passed away, she's become my mama figure too Laundry time |