"Sleepy" and his new bike

Today's culture festival at school was definitely a highlight for me thus far in Japan! I had 6 hours to see & enjoy everything & I STILL didn't see it all! But, it overwhelms me to try to blog about it now, so I'll just write about my trip home & save the festival for another post.

On my bike ride home tonight a guy on a scooter/moped pulled up beside me & I stopped biking, figuring I probably knew him. Sure enough, he took his helmet off & I recognized him as "Sleepy," one the sleepiest, but cheeriest boys from school who graduated in March. His family lives really close to my apartment & many times we'd see each other to & from school last year (on our pedal bikes.) Whenever I'd say, "Hello! How are you?" He'd answer, "Hi! I'm sleepy!" or, "Hi, I'm tired!"

Anyway, tonight he pulled over, took his helmet off, & I felt SO happy to see him for the first time since March 1!! He was on his way home from a university soccer game & said he's working at a Chinese restaurant not far from our homes. Ah, it was wonderful to see his smile again! Of course when I asked, "So, how are you!??" I wasn't surprised at all with his response, "Oh, I'm tired!" :D