i really, really like that old man...

i had impulsively tucked a book - The Kite Runner - into my purse.  I wanted to pass it on to  someone who would appreciate it, and I had just the person in mind.

Dr. H.

He has been so kind to me, and it's so hard to express gratitude and even affection to co-workers without sending signals that could be misconstrued by others.  I wanted to thank him with something aside from the email I sent with the subject line: Almustafa doesn't have much to say..., telling him how I appreciated his kindnesses, and his allowing me to borrow from his extra cup of calm during that first hard year, the email I signed:

much respect,

ms. b

No, I wanted to give him something tangible.  Something he would like.  And so that morning, I impulsively grabbed the book.

I was surprised at how his eyes lit up, and how he told me he had been looking for middle eastern fiction to read, and how he was sincere.  We talked books and poetry for a while, my last day as a true employee, and I can honestly say that once again, he loaned from his cup of calm and quiet. 

Seldom do I meet someone I connect with on a deeper level, but the moment I first saw him, I knew.  I recognized him.  It was his dry sense of humor, in the beginning.  And later it was his youthfulness, and yet again - his kindness.  Sometimes, it was that tired look behind his eyes, when the stress was a little too much, and other times it was even his curt responses when he was in a bad mood.  I just LIKED the man.

Today, I worked at the prison, where I'm filling in two days a week until they hire someone to replace me.  I made it a point to stop by Dr. H's office.  As always, he extended his hand - and quite frankly, when I extended mine back, it was in lieu of a hug.

We talked for a bit, and then he reached behind him to his desk and handed me a book.  He had told me about it on my last real day there, and he brought it for me.  Had it waiting.

I thanked him and promised to bring it back as soon as I was finished and he said,

No, that's yours to keep.  It's high on my bookshelf. 

And then he patted the one I had given him, which was on the desk, too. 

And so is this one.

I really, truly, sincerely and unequivocally like that old man.

Much respect, Dr. H. 

Ms. B.