Communication

At Tahrir square, right opposite the museum I was standing on the sidewalk, waiting for a chance to cross a street full of speedy impatient cars. I don't usually panic when I cross streets and I don't act like some (silly) girls who say they don't cross streets alone. I was looking to my left to check that the vehicles are at a suitable distance for me to hop, when I spotted an elderly couple waiting for their turn..just like me. I thought, yeah why not? I'll stand next to them and let them get down the sidewalk first, so they block the traffic and I'll have a good chance to reach my destination safely.

But what was weird is that poor couple were waiting for the traffic light to go red (how naïve, huh?). but what was a comedy is that when they noticed me, they had the same malicious idea I had in mind. Slowly, but eagerly they stood close to me to lead them across the Tahrir square car jungle. As they approached I realized they are not Egyptians, most probably tourists trying to enjoy their life after retirement in Cairo. I smiled to myself and took enough courage to make the first step into the street- crossing hijra.

I stepped down the sidewalk first, they followed. A step forward, they followed. I stood erect and stretched my neck to see across them, they followed. As the habit in Egypt I stretched my left arm and raised my hand waving to the cars to slow down. They looked shocked but followed, I raised my arm higher and moved faster across the street, the couple ran hurriedly after me. Then hallelujah I reached the other sidewalk. The man looked at me with a triumphant grin on his face, the woman was still waking up from the trauma of her incredible adventure, I looked at them, smiled and without a word I moved on.

It was more than interesting to be the messiah even if for just a day!

A Dream (Part2)

Sara and Karl were Lilly's childhood neighbors and friends. Both families were like one big family. Sara was almost Lilly's age. They were best friends and used to go to the same school together. Karl and Andrew, Lilly's brother, were in the same grade. They weren't however, good friends. Each had his own field of interest. All remained close to each other until Lilly's family had to move out. The father had a job offer in a distant district which he gladly accepted. Not paying much concerns that he was trading their two-storey house with an apartment in a skyscraper. The families departed in tears but remained in touch. Life gradually pulled each member to its side sufficing families with now-and-then phone calls, and Facebooks and sms's for the children. This is how they keep in touch today.



Back to the story; Sara and Karl have a second degree uncle: Sami. He is a self-made millionaire. He suffered from a trauma which Lilly could not remember. But it lead to something serious in his life... He was later diagnosed with a kind of a mental illness. But what was it? This particular memory had escaped her mind, as many other junk memories

"You're still easily distracted? What were you thinking of" Sami said with a friendly laugh which again irritated Lilly. Again she was about to answer defensively hadn't it been to Honey who suddenly urged Sami to pull over as she wanted to vomit. Lilly quickly took her out of the car and Sami offered her a plastic bag. He then said to Lilly "where does she live?"
-" In my building, we're neighbors..."
"And where do you live?" said Sami impatiently
Lilly was surprised by his question, but the surprise reminded her that he wouldn't probably know where she lives, but how did he remember her and the DSL? and why did he offer them a ride? "It's my mistake!" Lilly said firmly, "we live in the Ninth Zone".

Sami was uncomfortable by Lilly's blank inexpressive face in this particular moment for he felt he was a bit too rude. Both kept returning each other's gaze until Honey very weakly said, "I'm sorry, I don't know what happened"

Rain poured down all of a sudden, as it sounded like an unwelcome guest.

After driving for a while, Sami looked at Honey and exclaimed " she's very sick, she needs a doctor or does she need a hot drink? come to my place, it's near, have a herbal tea, wait until the rain stops and I'll drive you two home, myself" he paused " well you live very far from here... what were you doing down here anyway??"
Lilly aggressively replied " that's outa question, just drive us home please, now..or...or we'd better get out and wave for a taxi"

"Lilly!" screamed Sami. Honey looked childishly at her and her face drew an expression of plea that may have gone ' please, let's go with him'

Sami, then burst: " Have you lost your mind? what's wrong with you?"

-" I am scared, I am cold, I am late and I don't even know you, I don't remember you"

Lilly was in tears and Honey relaxed her on her shoulder. Now the two girls looked as sick as ghosts. and this frightened Sami. Without uttering a word Sami continued his road ahead.

(to be continued...)

A Dream (Part1)

It was night. round nine thirty. this is considered pitch dark, especially in winter. Lilly was there trying to catch her brother's attention to get him to go home. He wouldn't, he was so much absorbed with his friends trying to catch some celebrity's attention, a wrestler I think. In vain went all her efforts to convince him to go home with her " you go and I'll catch you later, tell mama that I may be late" Upon these words she almost lost her patience that she even forgot why she wanted to go home this badly: it was her friend with her, poor she, she was very tired almost sick, she even threw up a couple of times, something she ate for sure. Aah this friend needed to go home as soon as possible,and as she lives in Lilly's neighborhood, it would be easy for her to get her home safe, or so she hoped. Honey was leaning on Lilly's shoulder and both were walking very painfully, Honey out of her sickness and Lilly out of Honey's heavy body. They walked until they finally reached the main road. There they both leaned on a parked car. Lilly carefully placed her friend by the car and after requiring on her health, she breathlessly took a step forward to the street to stop a taxi to take them both home.

She stood there for five minutes it seemed, partly looking at the coming cars, partly looking back to check upon Honey. A car stopped suddenly from which an elderly- looking man called her name" Lilly, is that you?". Lilly couldn't at first recognize the man, but something inside told her that she knows him very well."yes, mister it's me'', was her hesitant answer to him while she approached his car window and looked down to see his attractive grown up face and grayish hair. '' hello daughter, how are you, how's mom and dad and your brother and sister, it's been ages since I last saw you all.....ah tell me what are you doing here alone in this cold?'' '' well '' she replied quickly as if trying to defend a charge '' I was trying to catch a taxi and I'm not alone, here my friend is with me'' The man took a quick glance at her friend, he looked back at Lilly really puzzled '' Is she alright?'' he asked. '' A well yes, I mean no she doesn't feel well, we gotta get her home'' was Lilly's answer. Upon these words Honey, moved her head towards the talking couple but she paused at the man's face and she smiled inwardly, however it wasn't inward enough to escape the man's notice. He then spoke with a higher tone looking at Lilly but actually addressing both girls '' Come in I'll drive you home, open the door and get into the car''. '' Thank you mister, but no I'll manage to get a taxi,I really don't want to bother you". Lilly spoke this sentence while her exhaustion convinced the man that she meant the opposite. but she didn't. she actually started - not knowing why- to fear him. He nevertheless seemed very comforting and old enough for her to accept his invitation, but then she was confused and exhausted and tired and even sick that she almost cried. But she didn't. She held on. The man re-offered his help and this time he insisted strongly referring to her friend that she needs help too and she'd better think of her as well as of herself. Lilly bitterly accepted and went back to assist her friend to get into the car. The man stepped out as well and opened the door for both of them asking them to be as comfortable as they pleased. The two girls sat at the back seats and he took his position behind the driving wheel.

It seemed like ages before any of them uttered a meaningful word. It was but Honey's sighs and hums of protest of not being comfortable on Lilly's shoulder, Lilly's fed up calm voice offering her lap as a pillow for Honey, Honey's relieved sound agreeing on Lilly's offer. However, every now and then the man glanced at the mirror studying the girls' sickly reflection in it. Finally his eyes paused a second pause on Honey, but this time he was the one who inwardly smiled and fortunately it escaped the girl's notice. It was a strange smile, maybe of contempt or perhaps pity, but most probably disgust. Lilly, to his invisible eyes was lost in her thoughts looking at the same mirror. Her thoughts were focused, the same as his, on Honey." He sure thinks her spoiled" thought she. why not? she sure is spoilt, born the only daughter among six sons, she always got whatever she desired by one way or another. Another, that's what Lilly feared the most. What could Honey possibly do after disobeying her parents' firm warnings not to go out that moment even after she told them she was to go with Lilly whom they knew and trusted. trusted? could Lilly trust her? couldn't Honey possibly be pretending all this sickness? yeah, but what for?" Four cars already?!'' was the man's shout that put an end to Lilly's thoughts. The girls sat upright and looked at the man inquiringly, even the sick Honey refreshed and looked eagerly at Lilly. But it wasn't a big deal, it wasn't a big story, he was just yelling at someone through his cell phone. some kind of business sure. The man nervously hung up and turned his neck back telling the girls not to bother and it wasn't any more than a simple phone call. Lilly looked out of her window. She saw the street lights and they to her surprise looked very charming in winter. In cold. again the man interrupted her thoughts by asking " Have you already subscribed to the Internet service company for a DSL, Lilly?'' ''yes." she paused and resumed with: '' however we changed it several times, now this one is so far so good''' ' good '' the man said with a smile." He knows a lot of things about us already" Lilly thought.'' who could he possibly be?'' Lilly squeezed her eyes and tightened her lips in pursue of a memory, any single thing to remind her of this man, but it wasn't possible to find any thing at the moment in such a memory, it was overloaded with stuff, useful and useless and it terribly needed to be organized.

" what's your name Miss?" the man addressed Honey who sat properly and said in a weak delicate voice:" Honey". Lilly felt that she wanted to kill her for being over-delicate and for talking as if like Marylin Monroe saying ' my name is Sugar' in that movie, what was it called?''Are you still easily distracted Lilly?'' '' You haven't changed, just like your father" the man said laughingly, Lilly was about to reply as she was irritated and felt offended but Honey suddenly said: " And you sir?" " I beg your pardon" the man's voice changed into a lower and a calmer tone, he was shocked in fact." Your name, what is it?" here the man as well as Lilly gust a sigh of relief in the middle of it the man answered: " Sami, Sami Blue Charleston, miss". " Blue Charleston, God!, I know this name from somewhere" Lilly said to herself, "Oh I know, he's some body's relative, yes Sara's and Karl's and he...oooooh!" Lilly's eyes were open wide.( to be continued......)