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person.”
    She did have a point. Of course she didn’t know that I had complete strangers renting rooms from me. Maybe I was putting myself in danger. Here I was so concerned about paying my bills to save the house, I didn’t even think of my safety. “All of my relatives are fine. They wouldn’t hurt me.”
    Cat reached over and put a hand on my arm. “I’m just worried about you.”
    “You don’t have to be,” I said.
    “Too late. I’m the worrier, and you’re on my list of people to be concerned about.”
    I giggled. “Seriously. You can take me off the list.”
    The doorbell chimed.
    “Would you please excuse me? I’ll be right back,” I said.
    “But if you take too long, I can’t guarantee that your ice cream will still be here.” Cat winked.
     
    ***
     
    Opening the door, I saw a thin man of average height with thick, graying black hair. He looked familiar. Had I seen him around town?
    He stuck out a hand. “Good evening. I am Joseph Jayawickrama.” Joseph spoke with a slight Asian inflection.
    How in the world did he pronounce that last name? I gave it a try. “Mr. Jawakrumama?”
    He chortled. “You call me Joseph.” He spoke in broken English.
    “I’m Bezu. I think we’ve met before.” I couldn’t remember where or when; then again, so many people were always coming and going from my house. “What can I do for you?”
    “I am here to see my cousin.”
    Since I had four people living with me, I wanted to make sure I knew whom he wanted to see: Frank, Lily, Mr. Phong, or Xavier. “Who?”
    “Yes.” Joseph nodded. He pulled out a card and handed it to me.
    It read Joseph Jayawickrama, supervisor, L. R. Souza, Inc. I asked, “Pardon me. Who is your cousin?”
    “Yes. You are correct.” A smile lit up his face, showing a row of crooked bottom teeth.
    “I am? But I don’t know who you want.”
    He cocked his head and nodded. “Yes.”
    “I’m sorry, but I’m still not sure who you are talking about?”
    Joseph smiled. “Yes. Who.”
    “Who?”
    He nodded. “I need to see him.”
    Feeling flustered, I rephrased the question. “Who do you want?”
    “Yes.” Joseph’s eyes lit up. “Tell him I am here.”
    Okay, he said him, so it was a male he wanted. I didn’t want to disclose my tenants’ names. I wanted him to give me the name. “So, his name is?”
    “Who?”
    “The person you came here to see.” I took a deep breath and inhaled a faint scent of eucalyptus. It must’ve been on Joseph.
    “My cousin.” Joseph pulled out a tissue from his pant pocket and wiped his nose.
    Maybe if I rephrased it. “And your cousin is….”
    “Who.”
    I looked around him, thinking that there very well may be a hidden camera. A group of runners went by, followed by a man on a bike. Then I thought that I should try a different approach. “Joseph, I’m sorry I don’t understand. Can you give me a full name? Right now I feel like we are replaying a routine by Abbot and Costello.”
    “Who?” He shrugged his shoulders as though he was getting tired of repeating himself.
    Rolling my eyes, I sighed. “Your cousin’s full name is?”
    “Hu Phong.”
    I laughed with relief. I’d never known Mr. Phong’s first name. On the lease he’d just scribbled his last name. Now that I think about it, he also said he worked as a janitor at a company on Bay Street. I wondered if he also worked at L. R. Souza, Inc. with his cousin. “Is he expecting you? I’d be glad to see if he’s in his room.”
    “No. He is not expecting me. He’s been hiding from me.” Joseph waved his hand side to side. “If I told him I was coming, he would leave.”
    “Oh?”
    Joseph shook a fist in the air. “He owes me a lot of money, and the thief took something from me, too. I need to get what is due me.”
    That sounded like an issue that I shouldn’t get involved with. “I’m sure that you two can work it out.” I didn’t want him staying in the house, just in case there would be trouble.