An African guy who lived in the apartments near me had the warmest smile always courteous and would wait on the pavement if I walked behind him so I could go by was taken away by police, five weeks ago I think, and the pot plants on his verandah are dying and now there is no cooking the evening meal on his tiny barbecue and no whistling to himself and singing as he pegs out his wash, always neatly, always pairing the socks, alone.