The Romani want you to be witty

Not just occasionally. All the time.

Pepi hanging out with his Roma relatives | Picture by Pepi’s son, Naiden

Martina woke up in the morning and walked into the living room. Her partner Pepi was there, having coffee with two of his relatives, Little Pepi and his son, Tzvetan. Little Pepi’s wife was still asleep on the couch. They had spontaneously spent the night at our place because Tzvetan, quite a large young man, had gotten a little tipsy and had fallen asleep on the couch, his legs pressing against our Christmas tree.

After we exchanged a “Good morning,” Little Pepi said to Martina, “Tzvetan slept like a baby.” Then all 3 men looked at her in silence.

In the past, Martina would have responded with something like “Glad he slept well” or a more direct “Hope he’s feeling better” or “Does he need anything” knowing that Little Pepi was making a reference to how Tzvetan had a bit too much to drink and fell asleep like a rock.

But that was in the past. By now, Martina had learned that Pepi’s relatives and the Romani in genera…