My uncle George gave me the bicycle when I graduated elementary school. As I studied the picture, he disappeared from the room. He pointed to a small indoor tree and asked me to identify it. Well, not quite. This is a Ficus benjamina .
Edible figs come from a different species.
While I made my rounds caring for them each morning, I usually encountered John in one room or another. I always greeted him politely but said little else. Only a contractor performing a service, I felt it was inappropriate for me to insinuate friendship. But after months of our not talking, he began to ask questions and initiate conversations. Cautiously, he learned to trust me, and we became friends.