Eggplant

I went this morning to the big outdoor vegetable market to buy some groceries for dinner.  On my way out of the market I saw some eggplant that looked inviting to eat.  Here's my conversation with the veggie seller.

ME:  How much is that eggplant?

SELLER:  30 cents for 1 pound. (Then points to a stack of old and ugly eggplant), but I'll give you some from this pile for 14 cents per pound.

ME:  ok, I'll take two eggplants

SELLER: (starts filling up a plastic bag)

ME: wait, I just want half a pound (seller keeps filling the bag) um...okay, I'll just take one pound ...

SELLER: what?  you want 3 lbs?

ME: no, no, I just want 3 eggplants...

SELLER: (finally stops filling the bag and puts it on the scale)  that will be 30 cents please

ME: (surprised at how much eggplant he is giving me for such little money!) Oh? Yes! Thank you!

Seller: (smiles with delight)

The Sound of Death

Yesterday morning the 'sound of death' started.  My apartment window looks out to the front door of another apartment complex.  There was a man sitting on a chair playing his horn.  He sat next to a large green army tent, a large flower wreath, and a big yellow paper horse.  I stood staring out the window for a long time watching this man play his horn and seeing people walk in and out of the apartment building, paying their last respects to whoever just passed away.

...all Saturday this man played his horn.  More wreaths were brought and set up around the large green army tent....

Sunday morning, 9am, I was awoken to the man playing the horn.  A second man came playing his horn too.  The men would play for about 10 minutes straight, then they would take a 10 minute break, before playing again.  Alternating the same tunes over and over again.  The tune is squeaky, really loud, depressing, hits me deep in my soul.

I eventually learned it was a funeral and the horn would continue playing for three days!

My family is so tired of the horn and this depressing tune.....but what can we do?