It was busy day today. It was a very busy, too busy day. I was supposed to remain at the hotel. I had planned to write.

I had already had my coffee, and told Eunice that tomorrow morning I would be leaving.

 I stopped to see grandfather koi. He swam over to me. I smiled. I look forward to seeing him everyday. There was something very comforting and solid in that old fish. Beautiful rich orange, large and flambuoyant. A morning greeting from an indoor pond; a tail wiggle from someone who had weathered living in a place not common to his kind. He accepted it and had thrived for many years. I’m certain it was difficult when he was first taken from his home and moved to a hotel pond, more shallow than home…with company he did not know, faces and noises that were unfamiliar, and even strange new food. I think he understands me.

I took a picture yesterday, the light was right. He seemed particularly happy.

Shortly after Nick left the hotel room this morning, he called and asked how long before I could be ready. He said the taxi was waiting, and I needed to come with him to the embassy. So much for writing.

Tonight is my last night in the hotel. We move to Masindi tomorrow. The keys will be delivered to us in the morning. Nick and I celebrated with a lovely steak dinner at a small restaurant/market in the Garden City Mall. And on the way back, I told him I wanted another picture of grandfather koi.

As we entered the hotel, we presented our bags, and my purse, and Nick emptied his wallet. We walked through the metal detector…clear.

I immediately went to the bridge over the indoor pond where grandfather comes to meet me. But I didn’t see him. I walked to the end of the pond, and looked under the rocks, and didn’t see him. It was then the doorman came up to me and said. "Are you looking for the koi?" I told him I was – that I wanted one more photo of him.

"Ah, I see." He smiled gently and lowered his voice, "I'm sorry, the koi died this afternoon."