I had just finished my 5K run on the runway, which had taken a fair bit out of me. So after stretching, I just sat there with my legs stretched out and my palms resting on the ground, trying to look more composed than I probably felt.

That is when these two adorable kids came along and struck up a conversation with me. Their English was broken, and their version of asking my name was, “Who are you?” But they were curious and cheerful, so we chatted anyway.

Apparently, they were sisters and already in school. They had plenty to say about it, though I did not catch much because their Tuvaluan kept slipping into the conversation and leaving me behind.

After generously sharing the story of their lives, they took off down the runway just as suddenly as they had appeared.

Not before they let me take a picture of them, of course.