The two room hotel we're staying at tonight has two towels for guests.  This was explained to me by Yousef apologetically after I asked for a third twice.  It seems Morocco is famous for it's $50 per sq. foot rugs, not for it's abundance of towels.

Mom used the first one to soak up the water in the shower.  The second, and last towel, became the issue of some debate between Mary and I after some cajoling with my mom about the first.

Cajoling, teasing, joshing.  We make light-hearted fun of people who are different, people who stumble, people who love us and changed our diapers but now look to us for help.  When does teasing become bullying and demoralizing?

Every joke has a grain of truth.  Truth as we see it and truth about ourselves, not necessarily truth as it really is.  We some times conceal exasperation or condescendence with such a joke.  But when a person asks you for help, really needs your help, no matter the size of the task or what you view as the absurdity of the task, it is cruel to make light of it, it is right to just do it.

Thus, the woman who washed my sheets when I peed my bed in junior high shouldn't have to ask me twice for a glass of hot water or put up with a snide remark, even if it's 100 degrees out and the waiter barely understands English.

Tomorrow will be a better day for both of us.