Wednesday, February 17th, 2021

I finally get the courage to ask the boss where I can buy a belt around here. What I've seen in stores so far don't fit me. He’s round, too. He would know. “You should just do what I do. Pick them up when you’re in Thailand.” He isn’t entirely kidding. He tells me a long story about how he got the belt that he is now wearing, and how he found out later that it was made of elephant hide. “But more quickly, there’s a shop on the main street where I get these things. It’s one very old man.” He gives me the name and address of the store. I had known that there was a place like that on that street, but had forgotten exactly where it was or what its sign would say. “I will be near there later today. I have to stop at a place next door. I have to get lices.” I look confused. “For my shoes.” He raises his foot and points. Oh. Laces. “It is hard to find those here.” I know. “There is another place that you can get a belt made for you, next to the Grand Synagogue, down a corridor to the left. They make them there. But it will cost twice as much and take twice as long, and may not be better.” After work, I think of going to the shop he suggested. When I get off the bus and start to head toward it, the rain starts up again. I go home. My current belt should last at least until Friday.