moosaalhu and i are at bianco again and it’s really packed – as it should be because the coffee here is just phenomenal. no wonder, as meraki helped set them up from what i hear.

anyhow, we’re shown a free table and as we thumb through their neat white menu i decide not to have coffee.

‘strawberry soda,’ i tell them. moosaalhu orders a latte and looks at me curiously.

‘i’m letting out my inner gay,’ i tell him.

‘inner?’ grins moosaalhu.

funny.

‘when are you leaving?’ he asks. obviously trying to be nice.

‘next week,’ i reply.

‘will you be doing some reporting from the old town?’

‘if i must.’

‘you must. ah, here come our drinks.’

the server places two glasses on the table, they’d assumed moosaalhu to have ordered the soda.

‘ah, this drink is for my fabulous friend here,’ says moosaalhu and the server smiles.

the soda is clear with a red blob resting on the bottom of the glass and strawberries afloat on top.

‘what am i supposed to do with this,’ i ask the server.

‘you should stir it, sir,’ she says smiling and moosaalhu looks at me and shakes his head.

‘you don’t even know what to do with a soda, man. what DO you know?’

more than YOU, i think but i don’t say it, instead focussing my energy on stirring up my drink.
i take a sip. it’s sweet and bubbly and tangy all at once. a nice, crisp drink for a sultry afternoon.

‘how would you describe this day, man?’ i ask moosaalhu.

‘keekay?’

‘like, weather-wise. how’d you describe it?’

‘hmm. i’d say sweltering. maybe even blistering.’

‘what about sultry?’

‘sultry. hmm, too sexy i feel.’

‘huh, i like sultry,’ i say. ‘how’s your coffee?’

‘very good but it doesn’t quite have the same taste as before,’ he replies. ‘i should ask a server what’s up.’
he calls someone over and explains the matter.

‘you should stir it, sir,’ they respond curteously and i laugh. moosaalhu looks at me as he moves the straw in his coffee, defeat scrawled across his long, horsey face. oh yes, i have won THIS battle.