Kismet

I was on the roof of our building... where we go to smoke... the lady (and she is) who does our cleaning was up there. She's a neat lady, cute, and reminds me of my cousin Rita... same facial structure etc......

I was having a smoke. Looking off into the foothills, when I heard a sneeze. "Iiiiishhhhhooooo."

Whoa! Hey, what was that? Let me see if I can find the source of the sound that so energized me. "Iiiiishhhhhooooo." Again.......

What a great noise. What an exciting sound. Oh... it felt good to hear. "Iiiiishhhhhooooo." Again! Wow! Where did this come from? I looked over by the elevator entrance...there she was. Little Fatima. Oh dear, she was doubled over. Whatever was in the air had gotten to her her that day. And Lord knows the Southern California air can play those tricks.

"Iiiiishhhhhooooo." One more time. I started to go to her. I had Kleenex in my pocket and though I could help her out, "Iiiiishhhhhooooo."

And then the elevator doors opened and a gent walked out and....."Iiiiishhhhhooooo,"... he offered a hanky and she declined... too embarrassed to take it... poor dear......

He got into his car and drove off to his lunch date, wherever it was.... "Iiiiishhhhhooooo." She kept sneezing.

I was now late to getting back to my desk. Were I to go over and push the button I'd only embarrass her more. "Ak-shoooo!" Oiy… the decisions...

And with each exhalation, her tiny body bent double and strained so... you could see it begin to tighten and then bend over for the release..... "Iiiisshhhoooooo!"

So I waited. I watched as she gathered herself..."ih... ih... ihhhh.... sssshhhoooooo....!" And when finally she was done, and she gathered her trash basket and pushed the elevator button...I strolled over and joined her for the descent.

And I said, bless you. And she giggled and smiled and said...."Gracias, mi amigo." And I said "Gracias, mi amor..." And today, we are together...