About every morning, me and the sisters would hike up to this really pretty overlook and spend time with Dad. There are huge volcanic rock up there, so we would sit for hours and just meditate on whatever Dad wanted to say to us that day. Well without fail, everyday, 3-4 little boys would show up and sit, staring at us until we either 1)stopped talking to them, or 2) didn't bring enough candy to share! I would look over at the other sisters, one singing at the top of her lungs and giving a concert and the other trying desperately to practice her new arabic, waiting for my turn with the audience.
From the first day we arrived at our compound, we had little friends who would come over everyday. One of my special little friends was his little boy Habeebi. Everyday I would stand in the compound and yell out, "Habeebi" and everyday he would come rushing over from wherever he was and sit and eat with me. He didn't speak much, but we would eat and then we would see who could make each other laugh the most by making silly faces! One day he brought his sweet little friend, Jamela, over. She didn't look happy at all. Me and May tried and tried to make her laugh, but we got nothin. We sat with her and Habeebi for a few hours just eating and doing all we could to get a smile...but no avail! While Habeebi was eating his peanuts, me and him started speaking some new language, that sounded much like a horrible version of Chinese. I would say something and then he would respond...this went on and on. The next thing I know I look over and little Jamela is laughing..and trying to speak along with us! We keep speaking this "fake language", eat our lollipops, and I sit amazed that my silliness finally worked to make her smile!
One night the entire team ventures up to the tea house at the top of the hill. We wanted some tea and also to see what kind of opportunities we could run into. We all crowded in this little hut and started drinking tea and jebina (really strong coffee). As we are sitting, more and more people start cramming into the hut..mainly cause there are a bunch of khawajas laughing it up and trying their best to keep the coffee down! Me and May are pressed into one corner, trying desperately to see what's going on around us, and also staying keenling aware of the rats and such running behind our backs. At one point I look at May, who has this face of disgust and horror. I look in the direction she is staring, and realize that our other poor sister has practically been sat on by this bigger woman and is now getting a very awkward head/back massage. I look to May and we immediately break out in laughter, trying desperately to contain it, but failing miserable. I look up again to see this woman has not only forced her love on our sister, but has now decided to rest her head on our brothers leg. Me and May continue the snickering, trying to find something else to focus on, but thankful that even though there were rats, we were positioned in a safe corner away from the excitement!
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