As I leave my house to empty my mop bucket, my new neighbor is sweeping on the stairs. I say, "Oh, it's cleaning day for both of us." He informs me that I cannot go downstairs yet (presumably because he is working there). Not wanting to hold the heavy bucket longer than necessary, I say I'll go by quickly, and skirt past him before he can react.
After washing my mop at the faucet below, I begin to gather my blankets left on the laundry line from yesterday. Behind me I hear him say, "Sobrina" (niece). I answer him, "Vecino" (neighbor). He corrects himself and says, "Neighbor, it's going to rain." I respond, "Yes, that's why I'm taking down my blankets. ...Thanks for letting me know."
As we both go back up the stairs, I mention that he has done a good job sweeping. I point out that it is already raining on the mountain across the valley. We both look at it and then go our separate ways. My new neighbor is about 4 years old. Yesterday he was shooting me in the backside with his toy gun as I walked with him to the dining hall. I much prefer today's more subdued interaction. 😉
Ah, community living. 😊
