Leszek nodded. “I will tell you a story. When my son was very young he found a little knife. I took it away from him so he would not hurt himself. He got very angry and yelled at me. But I was not angry at him.” His expression lightened. “I am not saying my Ania was like a knife.” He leaned forward and grinned as if he were going to tell me a secret. “Even though sometimes her tongue was very sharp.”

I laughed.

“I am just saying that I am older and wiser than my little boy and I understand why he was much upset, so I did not take it so serious. God is older and wiser too. I think he understands too.”

This made sense to me. “I hope you’re right,” I said.

He grinned again. “So do I. Or I am in much trouble!”

I laughed again. As I looked at this grinning old man my heart was full of gratitude. The thought of leaving him filled me with sadness. We ate awhile in silence before I finally spoke. “I’m going to be leaving today.”

He nodded. “Yes, I thought you might.”

“I would like to shower first if that’s okay.”

“Yes, of course.” He looked sad. “Is there anything you will need before you go?”

“No. You’ve done more than enough.”

“I can drive you back to the freeway.”

Even though I had normally refused rides I could not refuse him. “Thank you. I would like that.” I took my plate over to the sink and turned on the water to wash it.

“No, no. Just leave it. Please. I will do dishes later. You go shower.”

“Are you sure?”

He waved his hands, as if brushing me away. “Yes. Go.”

At his dismissal I went to my room, retrieved clothes and a razor, then went into the bathroom. I shaved first then turned on the water and stepped into the tub. There were small slivers of soap in a plastic dish. Leszek was a man who had little and wasted less. I didn’t shower very long as I was conscious of using his hot water. I washed my hair twice, still amazed at how long it was. I could almost pull it back in a ponytail.

As I got out of the shower I could hear Leszek playing the piano again. I toweled off, dressed, then went to my room and finished putting my things back into my pack. I made the bed, then carried my pack out to the front room where Leszek was waiting for me. He looked very sad.

“You are ready to leave,” he said.

“I’m afraid so,” I replied.

“Okay, okay. We go.”