Yesterday, Viana and her little friend, Feby, came flapping up to the door--or rather, they flapped up to the parking garage, where one can see the back patio through spaces in the wall, and announced their presence from there. "Meester!"
You see, we have a paranoid resident in our little settlement who obsesses on the condition of the door, whether it is closed or open or locked or not locked. The preference of this resident, who never comes out of her room, is for the door to be locked at all times. I and another resident objected to this arrangement, finding it both unreasonable and inconvenient. As a matter of compromise, I suppose, she had the caretaker install an attachment that would automatically close, but not lock, the door. The trouble with this attachment is that it is so stiff that one has to push the door quite hard to enter, and many, on first try, conclude that the door is locked. This was likely the conclusion of Viana and Feby, and thus they called out to me through the wall.
"Meester!"
Well, I let them in, and demonstrated that they could actually open the door by pushing harder, although I don't know whether they would do that. These are polite little kids with, seemingly, a perception of boundaries and a sense of propriety.
Naturally, they wanted to use the laptop, and the iPad, and the phone. I have had a horse-shaped piggy bank (a horse-bank) sitting around in my residence ever since Sasha moved back to America (some two, or was it three years ago?), so this I gave to Viana and Feby. This was of sufficient delight to wrench their interest away from the internet for a moment.
The counting of the coins proved a particular challenge, as Viana and Feby proceeded to call out their individual tallies at the same time, like in an old comedy skit, for of course each of them lost count a number of times and had to start again. Ultimately, they agreed upon a system of tens, and each began to arrange the coins in little stacks equaling one thousand ribu.
I was surprised, however, when they returned the coins to the horse and put the horse in front of me.
"No, no," I said, "I'm giving it to you."
"Yes, yes, we know, but we will keep it in your room.
Hmm. Something going on with Viana and Feby, hints of which I have noticed before. For instance, when Viana hears a motorbike on the street out front, she will duck out of sight and peek at who the driver is, sometimes standing and seeming relieved, sometimes not. Is there someone that they fear? Or have they been told not to come here to the villa? Or are they just playing some girls' game? Are they afraid to take the money with them because 1) it might be taken away or 2) they might get in trouble for taking it? I don't know. I've tried to ask Viana who she is looking for or if she is afraid of something, but she offers no comment whatsoever on the subject.
Oh well, I will keep the coins for them in any case.
You see, we have a paranoid resident in our little settlement who obsesses on the condition of the door, whether it is closed or open or locked or not locked. The preference of this resident, who never comes out of her room, is for the door to be locked at all times. I and another resident objected to this arrangement, finding it both unreasonable and inconvenient. As a matter of compromise, I suppose, she had the caretaker install an attachment that would automatically close, but not lock, the door. The trouble with this attachment is that it is so stiff that one has to push the door quite hard to enter, and many, on first try, conclude that the door is locked. This was likely the conclusion of Viana and Feby, and thus they called out to me through the wall.
"Meester!"
Well, I let them in, and demonstrated that they could actually open the door by pushing harder, although I don't know whether they would do that. These are polite little kids with, seemingly, a perception of boundaries and a sense of propriety.
Naturally, they wanted to use the laptop, and the iPad, and the phone. I have had a horse-shaped piggy bank (a horse-bank) sitting around in my residence ever since Sasha moved back to America (some two, or was it three years ago?), so this I gave to Viana and Feby. This was of sufficient delight to wrench their interest away from the internet for a moment.
The counting of the coins proved a particular challenge, as Viana and Feby proceeded to call out their individual tallies at the same time, like in an old comedy skit, for of course each of them lost count a number of times and had to start again. Ultimately, they agreed upon a system of tens, and each began to arrange the coins in little stacks equaling one thousand ribu.
I was surprised, however, when they returned the coins to the horse and put the horse in front of me.
"No, no," I said, "I'm giving it to you."
"Yes, yes, we know, but we will keep it in your room.
Hmm. Something going on with Viana and Feby, hints of which I have noticed before. For instance, when Viana hears a motorbike on the street out front, she will duck out of sight and peek at who the driver is, sometimes standing and seeming relieved, sometimes not. Is there someone that they fear? Or have they been told not to come here to the villa? Or are they just playing some girls' game? Are they afraid to take the money with them because 1) it might be taken away or 2) they might get in trouble for taking it? I don't know. I've tried to ask Viana who she is looking for or if she is afraid of something, but she offers no comment whatsoever on the subject.
Oh well, I will keep the coins for them in any case.
5 comments:
well, according to the house rules this place is meant to be a retreat and children as well as pets are not allowed here.. I guess they know that.
Christoph-Hmmm, that's odd. Tney've met Stephanie and others, and no one has said anything about no children being allowed.
Christoph: Aside from that, what they seem concerned about is someone on the outside, not anyone on the inside.
Sure, just ask Stephanie about it, maybe she has changed her mind meanwhile. :D
Christoph--Seems unlikely, given that the girls rarely come here and are only here a short time when they do. I can think of only one person who might be bothered. One person's solitude includes the music of children, another's does not.
"Of such is the kingdom of heaven made."
--Matt 19:14
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