The Little Things

Some people's idea of a good day is getting to experience the adrenaline rush of adventure. Some people strive for the satisfaction of a job well done. For others, it is power, or money, or sex, or any combination of the aforementioned. 

Me? It is the little things in life that totally make my day. 

Like finding EGP 2.00 (equivalent to US$ 0.36. You can basically buy a packet of crisps with EGP 2.00) in a forgotten Longchamps that no one's touched since early 2006. 

Better yet, discovering said Longchamps hidden inside a ratty school messenger bag you were about to throw out. My mother told me to make sure it was empty. I rolled my eyes and flattened the messenger bag to prove it was. She told me to check anyway. Sure enough, the good-as-new Longchamps was inside. I felt sheepish accordingly. It's like that woman has the entire world's superpowers combined. Freaks me out, every damn time. 

Another little thing I love about life is how the powers that be sometimes decide to give me a break. Like today, when they graced me with just enough clairvoyance to save myself (and probably save Bloft) a lot of parental aggravation. 

Last night, Bloft told me that I might have to pick her up from Zamalek on my way home from work. She said she'd call me the next morning to confirm. I nodded, not really listening, but listening just enough to pick up the "I'll let you know tomorrow" bit. 

Tomorrow, being today, came and she never called. I, of course, forgot all about the previous night's conversation. 

Around 4:15 pm, I did something I've never done in my life. I called my sister to ask where she was. I don't know what possessed me to call her. May have been my boredom, or it may have been divine intervention. All I know is that rather than text her ordering her to start downloading the latest episode of Gossip Girl, I decided to prank call her from my office phone, the number for which she did not have:

[Telephone rings. Bloft Answers.]

Bloft: Hello?

Eureka: Hello, masa2el kheir [good afternoon]

Bloft: Aywa meen? [Yes, who is this?]

Eureka: Momken a3mil order, minfadlik? [May I please give you my order?]

Bloft: Hahaha hi Eureka. That's MY JOKE!

Eureka: Oh really? I didn't know. What can I say, great minds. 

Bloft: Yeah. What do you want?

Eureka: Where are you?

Bloft: What do you mean where am I? I'm at my friend's house. You're supposed to pick me up.

Eureka: Edah, begad? [Oh, really?] I was calling to tell you to download GG. 

Bloft: I can't believe you forgot me!

Eureka: I can't believe you didn't even tell me!

Bloft: I told you yesterday!

Eureka: You said you'd confirm today. Idiota. 

Bloft: Tab ok pick me up on your way home. 

Eureka: Fine, I'll call you. 

[Both hang up] 

This is an insanely uncommonly cordial conversation between two sisters who usually refer to each other exclusively as asswipe and "you fucking whore". Our last MSN conversation consisted purely of German curse words. And a lot of LOLing. Healthy relationship, yes? 

Unfortunately, I didn't forget to pick her up. She has just walked in bragging about having been just emailed tomorrow's maths exam, stolen by a friend in class. My sister is hooked up, yo.