December 27. “My daughters were up before 9 this morning.”

“But why?”

“It’s because the glare from the outside is too much and since their curtains have been removed due to the building repairs, they couldn’t sleep till very late. I’ll share something with you, provided you don’t tell them: I won’t put back the curtains, at least for some time, so they have no choice but to be up at a decent hour from now on…”

“Don’t be mean, friend. I also saw you peering at me from behind the partition. Was that because you wanted to see me?”

“Why else would I look out? I don’t have any intention to see the rubble that lying all over!”

“Have a nice Sunday. Your ma is here which is what you wanted. And clean me up nice and quick.”