Niles, who never needed to look at a breakfast menu, chatted animatedly, while Scarlet and James attempted to reach a decision.
“It’s the poorest country in the western hemisphere, with eighty percent of the population living below the poverty line,” he directed towards the top of James and Scarlet’s head.
Feeling suitably guilty hearing this, as her current dilemma was choosing between an omelette or waffle, Scarlet looked up and placed the plastic menu on the table.
“How are he and his team doing with the Sanitation project?” James enquired.
Niles scratched his right cheekbone. “Tom says not bad, considering they have serious challenges with the water supply. Plus, the country’s organization skills aren’t the best.” Raising reddish blond eyebrows, Niles continued, “Haiti’s, apparently, serious about basketball, though. Even planning on the 2020 Olympics.”
Forced by the waiter’s arrival to pause, Niles ordered his usual double stack with strawberries and maple syrup. Scarlet and James both opted for the Denver omelette.
Following the return of three menus, Niles continued, “Tom said they only have six courts for a population of ten million people.”
James shook his head. “And still, they’re heading for the Olympics.”
“Here in the States, we’re serious too,” Niles returned. “Summer camps, private coaching, nutrition experts and that’s not even counting school teams and leagues. It works; we produce incredible athletes. But how does a country like Haiti, with little to no resources, create equally amazing competitors?”
Niles smiled as he took in James and Scarlet’s expectant expressions from across the table.
“Haiti, unlike the States, doesn’t have modern transportation. Kids in Haiti aren’t driven to school and back. They walk everywhere. I should say, hike everywhere, ’cos it’s not flat terrain, it’s friggin’ mountains. Tom says they walk at least five to ten miles every day.”
Placing a napkin on his lap, James volunteered, “So by the time they step onto a basketball court, they’re already fit and strong.”
“Exactly,” Niles concurred, smiling up at the waiter who expertly placed large fluffy pancakes in front of him.
After discussing challenges Tom and his team faced working around rubble from a seven point zero magnitude earthquake, the conversation turned towards Scarlet’s radio show.
“I heard that wacky caller last night,” Niles divulged. “She seemed pretty panicked.”
“You deduced it was a woman?” Scarlet eagerly enquired.
“No question, it was a woman,” Niles replied. “I guess she felt the need to sound male because it’s a men’s call-in show.”
Tapping a forefinger against her lower lip, Scarlet proclaimed, “I’m a little uneasy with the censorship. How is Mending Men different from those awful bars in Australia? You know the ones, where up until the nineteen seventies only men were permitted.”
Niles and James patiently waited for more relevance. Scarlet, earnestly continued, “No Sheilas allowed until some brave women chained themselves to railings around a bar, whose publican refused them service.”
Emitting an exasperated sigh, Niles looked over to James for support, only to find him gazing lovingly at Scarlet.
“Scar,” Niles began in his tolerant-but-you’re-pushing-me tone, “you’re as bad as Tom. You cannot fix the whole world. At least not overnight anyway. There are plenty of call-in shows for women. Yours is for men.”
Receiving only a slight hint of indignation from Scarlet, Niles continued, “Did I mention, Tom wants to adopt a whole slew of Haitian children?”
Filled with warm thoughts of their absent friend, Scarlet giggled before saying, “Gender aside, I’m wondering if that caller could have been talking about the commune where Violet’s living.”
Eyebrows almost meeting, Niles asked, “You think it was a legitimate call?”
Scarlet pulled a face. “I’m hoping not. It’s just the part where she said, the place near the place where you’re from.”
Niles stared out onto the busy street for a few moments before imparting, “Pretty vague statement when you break it down. It’s verging on gobbledygook; don’t you think?”
Grabbing the check before Niles and Scarlet stood a chance, James suggested, “How about we put it out of our minds and assume, yes, it’s gobbledygook. If the lady calls again, we’ll revisit its possible validity.”
Niles and Scarlet agreed this was a good plan. Despite this agreement, all three walked from the diner with gobbledygook consuming their thoughts.