< ![CDATA[  Just when life begins to get comfortable, just when we’re tempted to relax and think, “Ahh, this is the life.” Just as I’m getting used to the joy of baking cookies in a real oven and taking an afternoon bubble bath with piping hot water in the afternoon. Just as I’m sitting down to tea with a group of ladies in a real living room for a little “mommy time.” The phone rings: “It’s your husband,” says Susan, quizzically. It sure is. Calling to report that the gas has been shut off at the apartment. Of course it has. Why would it occur to the owner to pay the bill (which is three months overdue) when he’s only known we were coming for five months? Naturally, I schlepped straight home and up three flights of stairs to visit our neighbors. The same man who was hauled off in a police car three nights ago for nearly beating his wife to death (or so it seemed to those of us listening) came to the door in a towel. Did they have gas in their apartment? Yes. So it really was an unpaid bill. Mr. Hachana and I have had a difficult week. He was down here on Monday in his business suit, all bent out of shape because his bank won’t cash our traveler’s cheques without a contract, signed by me. We got that contract signed and he hopped a train back to Tunis, I thanked our new friend Peter for going along and intervening on my behalf as Mr. Hachana and the bank manager ebbed and flowed between french and arabic at a mind boggling speed. The last thing I wanted to do this afternoon was call and tell him we didn’t have gas. When the nice man in the black jumpsuit delivered the bill, however, I was without option. That was six hours ago at least. Mr. Hachana assured me he was paying the bill immediately. He even called back to ask the exact amount on the bill. In spite of this, we are still without gas. Tony is cooking his third meal of the day on the deck with the camp stoves. The kids will just have to go to bed dirty. True, a lack of gas in the apartment is not earth shattering, especially to people who’ve lived in a tent for seven months, but it is irritating. Especially since we’ve paid two and a half of our three months stay in advance! If all else fails, tomorrow I’ll track down the office of the gas company and pay the bill myself. At least then I can cook dinner IN the house, and take my bubble bath before bed!]]>