I owe Andrew an apology. It’s about eight years overdue, but it’s sincere. I got stuck at a middle school dance party tonight. (don’t ask, my life is weird.) It was enough like an American middle school party that I find the event too painful to write about right now.
The thing was, I was told I could leave whenever I wanted. That was NOT true - I couldn’t leave til 1 a.m. Also, today I went with the women to work in the fields. On the way home they stopped at every freaking compound they passed to go in and visit. A thirty minute walk stretched into an hour.
Which brings me back to the apology I owe Andrew. When I was in college I had a summer internship in Manhattan and he came to visit me for a long weekend. It was a great time, and I think two memories remain foremost in our minds; the ice cream we got in West Village (he still talks about that) and my repeated lying about how far we had to walk to our next destination. I lied constantly. Each time we set out somewhere Andrew wanted to know how far and I would lie or be vague. That wasn’t nice of me. People like to know where they are going, for how long, and when they can escape.
None of you might get the connection, but while I was clenching my teeth during that party I was thinking of those lies I told Andrew.
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