Neil’s new acquaintance, Francois, was a short man, with protruding eyes, wide shoulders, and sturdy legs. His legs were built for playing soccer; his wide shoulders fit for carrying the weight of life. A careful observer might notice that his head is physically large relative to his body. Neil’s artist eye noticed this and speculated that perhaps a life of serious thinking could swell a man’s head the way weightlifting creates bugling body muscles.

Like Neil, Francois was observant of his environment, but felt that it was a sort of curse, “I am born to see all without being able to change anything,” he used to say in describing himself. His friends described him as hyperaware and hypersensitive, a charge he did not deny.

After Neil left the Café, Francois turned his attention to apartment ads in the newspaper. He hoped to have better luck today. After finishing his coffee and circling half a dozen new prospects, he departed the café, and hopped on his bicycle. His destination was Newton, which is where one of the colleges at which he teaches rests on an expanse of land in the rolling hills of Chestnut Hill. The ride takes him about an hour at a reasonable speed but he often slowed down to admire beautiful women. When they glanced at him, he would return the gaze generously. Eros was present everywhere and he made sure to respond to its summons.

He also slowed down on the stretch in Brighton that is filled with shops, bookstores, and cafes. Here he seemed to forget he had a destination at all. But along the deserted areas he zoomed fast, without seeing or hearing. Occasionally, he turned to look at an assemblage of nice furniture thrown out for a garbage pick-up day. He could not help but wonder how grateful Tanzanians would be to move in the chairs, tables, lamps, utensils, television sets and radios to their barren homes. Even the middle class in Tanzania would not hesitate to take in this furniture in the middle of the day to furnish their tastelessly furnished homes. Garbage here is wealth there, he noted to himself.

He slowed down again, this time to defer to old couples who were pain-racked to cross the street. He has quickly learned how not to freely be oneself in this country, by offering his seats and greeting people on the street, when it comes to gender and age relations. Habits are habits though. He did it again. He deferred to the couple. So many elders had refused to take his own seats at buses and trains. They had humiliated him a few times. That is why he was extremely hesitant when he decided to let the elders cross first. He was pleasantly surprised when he was thanked for it. This was the first time ever