Every Kaleeb Has It's Day

 Well I hate to say it: Zahir was right. He has been doing a lot of out of country business.  I occasionally will work with him, but I am now in training with most of the design teams. The concept is to give me a wide degree of experience in a short period of time.

 I have something new in my wallet that Zahir does not like. The boss gave me one of the company's "black cards" (a credit card with almost no limit) for when I am entertaining clients. From time to time we entertain the high-spending clients, take them to lunch, and pay for entertainment. Now that I'm actually "soloing" with clients I too have that responsibility.

 Which led to a prophecy of Zahir's being fulfilled. It was a simple meet and greet, "make sure the client gets settled into the hotel before the big meeting the next day." Zahir had not yet returned from his latest trip abroad so the boss thought it would be acceptable for me to go and greet the client at the airport and shuttle him to the hotel. Once there he had other ideas. 

 Light boys are a bit of a novelty in this part of the world. I was fortunate that a "passing" hotel staff member heard me (I am not that loud) and entered the suite. I think the boss had the hotel watch out for me. It is the only thing that makes sense. The staff member was able to correct the "gentleman's" misunderstanding. I was shaking when I got home. I told Baba all. He told me I did nothing wrong.

 The meeting the next day did not occur and I do believe I may have cost our firm a client. Both Baba and Zahir were not thrilled with the breach of my safety. Yes, that is of course an incredible understatement. They both wanted me to stop working. I told them I cannot just be a pampered puppy. I explained I would not be happy just being a house boy. But in the end I would obey my husband. They said they would make things work.

 The boss apologized to Zahir and me for not thinking of my safety. I will not be used to shuttle clients... the phrase "too frail" came up a lot from both of them. Rather than risk losing Zahir (or to a lesser degree me) the boss pulled some of his strings and now Kaleeb is "certified" as my therapy animal. He has a cute little vest that he wears to let everyone know that he is indeed my "therapy dog." He accompanies me everywhere. Everyone I work with knows he is my protection, a stand-in for Zahir. 

 The neighbors are nice to me. Z's brother still has me walking different routes to the local English speaking embassies, "Just in case." The family wants me to know my way to safety. I always have someone with me on these walks. They are there for the same reason as Kaleeb, to ensure nothing happens to me. The people of Jordan have been nothing but kind to me. I think it is an over-reaction.

 We had another person attempt to harm the perimeter dog (Kaleeb's surviving pack-mate). Our neighbors caught him and held him for the police. Okay there may have been some roughing up of the idiot before the police arrived.

 Arba'ah has promised to replace the dog who was killed in November. Kaleeb and his brother will stay with me in the inner garden. The outer zone will be patrolled by the new dogs. Arba'ah and Zahir do not want me to be involved with their training or deployment. I think they are afraid I will make pets of them.

 The neighborhood shopkeepers are getting to know me well. My Arabic is improving and I have polite discourse when my voice permits. Conversation is a special gift of the Jordanian people. There are no short chats.

 This is HOME!