Now that I have a job, I don't see Mr. Kebap as often. Occasionally I'll run in and grab a kebap for lunch the next day when I get off work, but that's pretty rare. But Mr. Kebap still knows me and welcomes me whenever I come in.
Today I grabbed a Turkish Pide from another kebap shop on my way home from the city center because I never know if Mr. Kebap will be open on Saturday. The shop was empty and the owner was happy to muddle through a conversation with me as my food cooked, and even offered me a glass of tea. I left the shop with my Pide in hand, feeling kinda like I had just cheated on Mr. Kebap. I missed the bus, and would have to wait 10 minutes for the next one. Well, it only takes 10 minutes to walk to our apartment, so I decided to walk. The thing is, Mr. Kebap's place is on the walk home. And there I was with food from another kebap shop in my hand. During the 5 minute walk to Mr. Kebap's, I contemplated several things: should I cross the street so he won't notice me if he's open?, should I wait at the next tram stop for a tram to avoid seeing him? I chose to do neither and just hoped he wasn't open. Needless to say, he was open. Normally when I see him when I'm walking home, we just wave, but this time he made me come inside and gave me a vodka schnapps and we chatted (as best we could) for a few minutes. I asked if he would be open this evening for dinner, he said yes, and you better believe I'm eating a kebap from Mr. Kebap's as I write this blog. And yes, I got another vodka schnapps while I waited for his son to make it. :)
