The Man Who WON'T Say Hello!
I have a neighbour whose hatred for P and me is almost sociopathic, neurotic even. His wife however, loves us. A typical conversation with her sounds like this. “When you take your weave out, can I have it?” “No, it’s booked.” “You need anything washed? I could do it for a dollar.” “No.” “Do you have a dollar? I desperately need a dollar.” “No.” “I can go fetch water for you for a buck, whilst you watch my baby for me.” I consider this for a while but the prospect of being saddled with an infant for an hour plus, fills me with dread. “No.” “If you give me a dollar I will give it back tomorrow.” My experience with my cheery neighbor where money is concerned has been that she doesn’t pay back. “Mai Dzika, you can ask me all you want, I really don’t have.” In her I have found a determined ‘pestimism’. Driven by a need to feed an ever growing family, five kids and counting. Three of them hers, but she takes care of the other two in a way no other w...