Adam Sandler

I’m back at Regine’s flat after several weeks of cancellations due to an increase in duties at work. I’ve been feeling guilty about my negligence, and I plnned to bring a small gift but of course forgot to pick it up.

Regine greets me with a big hug and Clementine with a smile, so I feel instantly better that I showed up, even sans gift. Regine is cooking a pot of something beefy and mealie pap, the corn porridge that goes with everything here. She comments about my earrings as always, struggles with the can of tomato paste and the opener. Bits of red splatter the pristine counter, and the girls meticulously tackle every dot of paste with the rag. A gospel music video is playing on the TV, and it’s not in French, so it must be in Lingala. The girls confirm.

I sit between the girls on the couch, but I spend most of the hour and a half turned towards Regine. She’s the one with all the questions, and Clementine seems to just sit and daydream. I suppose she’s soaking up a little just by being in the same room. She’s so beautiful, she won’t have to say much to get what she needs in this world. At least that’s how I rationalize not trying harder to get her interested in today’s topic, telling time.

We’re now watching an Adam Sandler movie, clearly pirated because the quality is crackly, and it’s dubbed in Japanese (I think) with Spanish subtitles. I’ve never seen this movie in Engish, but I can tell just from watching the action that it’s got something to do with Israel, with Adam Sandler visiting Israel. He has a long beard and long hair. Tubs of hummus appear in every scene.

“It’s Adam Sandler.”

“What?” I point to the TV.

“The actor, his name is Adam Sandler.”

“Write.” Regine taps her pad of paper with her pen, makes me write out his name.

“Ah, Ad-um. Okay.”

Now Adam is working in a rather unconventional hair salon. He’s washing women’s hair, pleasuring them with the stream of warm water, occasionally styling with a dollop of hummus. The innuendos are not subtle. We’re all laughing.

Suddenly, Adam Sandler is completely naked.

“Oh Ad-um!” Regine exclaims, disapprovingly.