Leftovers

What do you do when faced with a few pieces of ram stomach, some bites of boiled potato, an oily broth, and a piece of bread? I opted to eat the stomach with the potato then conquered the broth with the bread. It's Tabaski leftover time!

The stomach soup was, not surprisingly, not the highlight of my day though. This morning I was sitting downstairs reading when the neighborhood kids realized they could see me through the open door and talk to me without coming into the house. They started chanting my name, asking me to come outside because they had something to show me, and then telling me they loved me. I normally would be nicer to neighborhood kids except everyone is running wild after a week without school. Every time I leave my house I get harassed with demands for money, a soccer ball, called names - everything. Also I've realized that I only enable kids when I give them attention for things like this... if you give a mouse a cookie. Eventually, Miss became annoyed with them chanting my name so she went out to tell them to leave. This caused them to momentarily scatter... but they returned. Adji (the 12 year old) went out to tell them to leave but they ignored her so she, all on her own, got a pitcher of water to throw at them. After enjoying the hilarity of the situation (my 12 year old host sister was sticking up for me against a whole bunch of 8 year old boys) I went out. "What do you want to show me?" they responded with giggles and silence. "Okay, if you don't have anything to show me or anything to ask me, you need to leave." Khady (the 3 year old) emphasized with a "go! get out!" It didn't really stop the kids.

I decided, regardless of the success of the mission, I would reward Khady and Adji for helping me out. My parents sent me bubbles a while ago and I'd been looking for a not-awkward time to bring them down. After realizing what they were Adji quickly hid hers in her room (that she shares with her mom and sister) while Khady was AMAZED. After having me blow bubbles for her, she tried to do it on her own. Unable to master the skill she had everyone else blow bubbles for her while she cheered and pointed out the bubbles. Eventually she spilled most of it but had enough left that, when she filled the bottle with water, it still worked.

This evening she brought her bottle out again and sat on Miss' lap trying to blow bubbles. Every time she would get one she would chant, "I can do it! I can do it!" or "look! I did it!" She also took turns having us blow bubbles for her. Mom and Dad, thanks for the bubbles - they were a huge hit.

If anyone wants the recipe for stomach soup I'm sure Miss will share!

KO