Downstairs, pass the reception desk, a goodbye to Duane and out into the blinding sunlight. Darn…sunglasses!! Looked in my bag and there they were. The black ones with the big saucer-size lens. They will do.



The stops in town this afternoon first the cambio to exchange more money and to buy more credit now the auto parts store to look at car headlights. Driver said it’s getting harder to see the road at night so he’s purchasing brighter bulbs. I thought I hope it IS the bulbs need changing and not his eyesight going bad.

I wander through the store while he takes care of business.

I felt I was being watched.

Went over by the tires close to the window. I like the smell of new tires. Could see a young woman outside selling bags of mangos. She had some big ones, three to a bag and I had to have them. I turn to see a little person peeking around a display of motor oil and other cans of fluids. I smile, but he doesn’t. I go closer but he runs to his father.

I leave the air conditioned store to go out into the heat to buy the mangos. She only has two bags left and tried to talk me into buying them both. The price of 100J per bag was excellent but I didn’t want 6 mangos. I gave her 200J for the one bag. She was happy with that decision.

Go back into the cool store and the little peeker is watching me as I enter with my bag of fruit. He moved close to his dad’s side as I approached.

“Is it okay to give him a mango?”
“Yes mon…is alright.”

“Do you like mangos??”
“Yes” he answered followed by a nod.
“This is for you.”

He took the mango with his left hand, but uses the palm of his right to press against my dress. He lifts the hem up to his nose and smells one of the blue flowers. He didn’t let go right away but lifted the hem for another smell.

“He thinks your dress is beautiful.”
“Thank you.”

The men got a kick out of him smelling my dress. I appreciated the way his innocent actions let me know the flower barrette wasn’t even needed.