tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65053094493316204902024-03-05T00:24:37.273-08:00Stories; very short, short and long...Since the beginning of time, Man narrated stories...then wrote them down on tablets and papyri. Thus we became aware of our forefathers and of their achievements. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599777617707274591noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505309449331620490.post-80946811576749065172016-12-29T21:56:00.001-08:002016-12-29T21:56:27.830-08:00LYRICS: I might be young..<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQngPifgoBH4dYp16hO87W01zHSU62YCokK3SSdmwdSGqk0iUIl0yas-m_Wn-sOe87TUB8K7Htb0I9wPmDEbnmZSuBVDh1_dx6Fqev1P_Ox2oPkGMud5WvaD-pAah5pswh3iNcVjbtILc8/s1600/63880_453410194696260_1167038953_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQngPifgoBH4dYp16hO87W01zHSU62YCokK3SSdmwdSGqk0iUIl0yas-m_Wn-sOe87TUB8K7Htb0I9wPmDEbnmZSuBVDh1_dx6Fqev1P_Ox2oPkGMud5WvaD-pAah5pswh3iNcVjbtILc8/s320/63880_453410194696260_1167038953_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>I MIGHT BE YOUNG</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>By: Aadel M Al-Mahdy</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I might be young,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">But I’m a top rung<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I might be fragile,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">But I’m still vagile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Ma’s a smart detective,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">When danger looms,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">She is in a fume.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">That, I can see<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">She does love me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">That will always be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Me, she always feeds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">To a state pristine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">She licks us clean<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">My brother and I <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Adore you mama.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Period, no but, no comma.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Your comment will be highly appreciated.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599777617707274591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505309449331620490.post-11561171045358750782016-12-29T21:21:00.000-08:002016-12-29T21:25:48.686-08:00LYRICS: Bassel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMP73I3LTi9lyW7oQBpCi2ZL5p0aeTNcyOXq3wugq6cHO30vWMLtpFUo7MWFtEC5y5uO6Q2gT-T0ffOxMHnJ3Jwsfvylh18cVeAJRTl2MjiXI-yvFJB0xAj108png_CbqmMj7t0A-omj4/s1600/68796_458445347526078_243203369_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMP73I3LTi9lyW7oQBpCi2ZL5p0aeTNcyOXq3wugq6cHO30vWMLtpFUo7MWFtEC5y5uO6Q2gT-T0ffOxMHnJ3Jwsfvylh18cVeAJRTl2MjiXI-yvFJB0xAj108png_CbqmMj7t0A-omj4/s320/68796_458445347526078_243203369_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>DEDICATED TO MY GRANDSON, BASSEL<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>By: Aadel M Al-Mahdy<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Bassel is a bundle of joy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">He is lots of fun.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Bassel is a bundle of joy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Laughing! His own style<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Bassel is a bundle of joy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Oh, boy. Oh, boy, Oh, boy!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">He is my grandson.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">He is so cute,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">And cuddly, to boot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Oh, boy. Oh, boy, Oh, boy!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Grandpa loves you,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">And aunts and uncles, too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Oh, boy. Oh, boy, Oh, boy!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Your comment will be highly appreciated.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599777617707274591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505309449331620490.post-12128616600172619422016-12-29T21:03:00.002-08:002016-12-29T21:11:04.359-08:00LYRICS: Beautiful Damsel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhed247WU6bS26VSMI0nE2FXUXkw-pgpbQIcImIsWxNV7vR3k8BtGcJ1JUF8rQ07R0ztMC5aoytWX-ooq65x2sLRJMb6rZVLeE25jjsRHoYYslPQGELaHAbrUu3vAImZY_N_LsBzUgh3ySQ/s1600/Sussy+13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhed247WU6bS26VSMI0nE2FXUXkw-pgpbQIcImIsWxNV7vR3k8BtGcJ1JUF8rQ07R0ztMC5aoytWX-ooq65x2sLRJMb6rZVLeE25jjsRHoYYslPQGELaHAbrUu3vAImZY_N_LsBzUgh3ySQ/s320/Sussy+13.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 14.5pt;"><b>BEAUTIFUL DAMSEL</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 14.5pt;"><b>By: Aadel M Al-Mahdy</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 14.5pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 14.5pt;">A
beautiful damsel,</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 14.5pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 14.5pt;">May Allah bless her!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 14.5pt;">She ventures not</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="line-height: 14.5pt;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 14.5pt;">The downtown bars</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="textexposedshow" style="line-height: 14.5pt;">She cares not</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="line-height: 14.5pt;"> </span><span style="line-height: 14.5pt;">For </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 14.5pt;">luxurious cars,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="textexposedshow" style="line-height: 14.5pt;">Or frequenting</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="line-height: 14.5pt;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 14.5pt;">The up-scale bazaars.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="textexposedshow" style="line-height: 14.5pt;">And from family,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 14.5pt;">She is never afar</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 14.5pt;">With
her husband</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="line-height: 14.5pt;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 14.5pt;">She is in love.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 14.5pt;">Not beneath, her kids are,</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="line-height: 14.5pt;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 14.5pt;">But always above</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 14.5pt;">Nisriina and brother</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 14.5pt;">Are her precious doves</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 14.5pt;">Proud of them</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 14.5pt;">Her eyes speak of</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 14.5pt;">In her eyes </span><span style="line-height: 14.5pt;">I see her motherly love</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Your comment will be highly appreciated.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599777617707274591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505309449331620490.post-74776675778516401552016-12-29T19:07:00.001-08:002016-12-29T19:15:23.051-08:00LYRICS: Feelings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglb66A0U3C6p84j6eHp7vzk79T-gx0R-UF-UDVUrKWM8MXSN5FII5SQH1F76fcXgzYtEIgkZIyJEcLQXpr10_XRBlEn4yP8Izf7e2C_2KUczhFB-M2lkSamAtiRSSerb1yMigBShJyHqqU/s1600/feelings-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglb66A0U3C6p84j6eHp7vzk79T-gx0R-UF-UDVUrKWM8MXSN5FII5SQH1F76fcXgzYtEIgkZIyJEcLQXpr10_XRBlEn4yP8Izf7e2C_2KUczhFB-M2lkSamAtiRSSerb1yMigBShJyHqqU/s1600/feelings-1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 12pt 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>FEELINGS</b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>By: Aadel M Al-Mahdy</b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Thus ended their journey of love,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">But mine has just begun<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Mine’s the
gracefulness of a dove;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A journey of love
genuine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><u1:p></u1:p>Not a physical
infatuation..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">My genuine love is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Nor appearances
admiration,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Like hers or his.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><u1:p></u1:p>But mine is a love unique,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">As pure as glacier water,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Of which I firmly
speak<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Not sway and totter.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #666666;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Your comment will be highly appreciated.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599777617707274591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505309449331620490.post-79318541362195132302015-09-18T00:38:00.000-07:002016-12-29T21:29:39.414-08:00long story: Chit chat on the Oriental Express Café: Chapter 2: Religions <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tJqbtf9pif1IYlT4696anj0jWYFEoZ5ywVtNuGZAQ_0jcmSWrWov_f3z4jxfm48IWPuXHobVnKnR28J8ATytXieC4Yqm7sTCboW8cEEegPXqIbx2HZ-Di_u-cWCE3BhJYFgEk0kFVTdp/s1600/8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tJqbtf9pif1IYlT4696anj0jWYFEoZ5ywVtNuGZAQ_0jcmSWrWov_f3z4jxfm48IWPuXHobVnKnR28J8ATytXieC4Yqm7sTCboW8cEEegPXqIbx2HZ-Di_u-cWCE3BhJYFgEk0kFVTdp/s200/8.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Chit chat on the Oriental Express Café</span></span></b></span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">By:</span></span></span><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #76a5af;"> </span>Aadel M Al-Mhady</span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Chapter
2: Religions</span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Interrupting
them, Memmis, the assistant manager, came in the conference room wearing a
broad smile on his face and a big apron with an oversized pocked in the. He
held a pen and a pad in his hand. Quickly, he scanned the group with his eyes. He
knew who always wanted what. “Yes, gentlemen, is it the usual or am I going to
take different orders?” he asked the group. “The usual and don’t forget my pack
of smokes!” said Ben Ya-Quob in pure Egyptian accent ─ Dawoud Ben Ya-Quob is an
American Jew whose family left Egypt
for New York in the USA long time ago. Although he
lived in Israel for a few
years, he always yearned for visiting Egypt,
his birthplace; a matter that became possible after a peace treaty has been
signed between Egypt and Israel. As much
as Ben Ya-Quob supports the Zionist state of Israel and her right to exist, he
condemns the Israeli governments for all the crimes they are committing against
the Palestinians.</span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Memmis
popped his head out of the door and announced the order, “One local beer for
Mr. Bale and make sure it is very cold, hot fenugreek, whole, not ground for
Mr. Al-Ghazali, hot cocoa with milk and marshmallow for Mr. Osamah, and make
sure the tea for Mr. Al-Dhamanhouri is strong and medium sweet, and as usual
Mr. Al-Bahrawi would like his cold liquorice from the fresh batch, and make
sure the froth of the Turkish coffee of Mr. Ben Ya-Quob, Mr. Khorshed and Mr.
Al-Husseiny is still intact and sweetness minimal, and one caraway for Mr.
Bahloul, and one Anis for Mr. Salibah, and please don’t forget his Marlboro
smokes!” Osamah said, “Memmis, I suggest, you make it a standing order…print it
out and post it on the wall beside Dhabbourah, and whenever we want the same,
we will say the “usual. So will you to Dhabbourah” Memmis said, “Good!” and
then looked at Ben Ya-Quob and asked, “Is that all for now?” Ben Ya-Quob
replied, “Ah, on your way out, don’t forget to hang the do-not-disturb sign on
the door!” </span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">“You
have not lost the Egyptian slang or the accent, Dawoud, though you have been
away for a long time. You still have the lisp. Remember when we were kids? I
used to tease you?” Al-Bahrawi said as soon as Memmis swung his body out
closing the door behind him. “Oh, yes, how can I forget? What sweet days! You
know, I looked for that dead-ended street where I used to live but when I found
it, it did not look the same” said Ben Ya-Quob. “Except one thing” Al-Bahrawi
said. Ben Ya-Quob became so curious.
Al-Bahrawi then said, “The name...though the government gave it a different one,
people still remembered the place by its old name” Ben Ya-Quob said, “Haretel-Yahoud”
Al-Bahrawi confirmed, “Yes”.</span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sitting
back in his chair and waiting patiently until everybody settled down, Ahmad
Al-Ghazali </span></span></b></span><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">─ </span></span></b></span> an eloquent postgraduate student studying law at Ein-Shams
University </span></span></b></span><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">─ </span></span></b></span> pushed his crooked hat down to make it sit well on his head and resumed
his conversation that was interrupted by Memmis, “I am not a philosopher or a theologist.
I am no an atheist, either. I do believe in God whom I think of as the father
of all things. Nevertheless I am an evolutionist. I am a free thinker whose
mind is open to receive, discern and then absorb. My four criteria for weighing
things are my instinct, my experience, logic and science” ─ “What is your say on religions, then?” asked Al-Dhamanhouri
─ Hussam Al-Dhamanhouri is a student at Al-Azhar, studying Hebrew ─ “Manuals written for young humanity to seek
guidance therein and to maintain its physical self and spiritual self”
Al-Ghazali said. “Who are the manuals authors?” Al-Bahrawi, who finally decided
to lower his bucket into the well of discussion and scoop some of its water, then
asked. “Whoever created the universe and all that is therein” Al-Ghazali said,
“You may call it the Universe, the Force, Allah, Yahweh, Amon, Ra. These are
all different Name-Masks” Al-Bahrawi asked, “If that’s true, why then under the
banner of religion we see all sorts of atrocities are committed?” ─ Ahmad
Al-Bahrawi is a student in the American
University, studying
business administration ─ “A good question and mostly answered incorrectly”
Al-Ghazali said. “What do you mean?” Al-Bahrawi asked. “To answer correctly,
one should not only talk of the religion” Al-Ghazali said, “but also of the
follower of the religion, the time, the culture, the geographical location
where the religion was proclaimed and of any other factors one may deem
important to take into consideration” Al-Ghazali added. “Can you further
explain?” Al-Dhamanhouri asked. Al-Ghazali explained, moving his hands all the
time in affirmative gestures, “For instance, do not judge a religion by
contemporary established criteria but by universal ones or the criteria of the
time during which a religion was proclaimed. The laws were provided to suite
their current culture; their geographical and social issues. We should not also judge a religion by its
followers, but the followers by their religion. Napoleon was Christian but
committed crimes against humanity, so did Muslim Timor leng, and neither of the
two religions encourage killing” Al-Bahrawi asked, “Why did they commit these
atrocities then?” Al-Ghazali answered, “For reasons other than what the
religion dictates, for reasons the people who committed those crimes, through their
literal interpretation of the words, believed they were true, or they had just
grabbed the words by the nick and twisted them to suit their own selfish or extreme
purposes, or because of a political or personal agenda”</span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Memmis opened the door; signs ow worries on his face, and said, "Gentlemen, is there a doctor in the house? </span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Chapter not yet complete</span></span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjGDX9CZvYd3LwNYCqY6t_KH7fZYp9h-2Nrtw0_H9Qje4RVsx7J6P3USpDTRoAXuaVUumnRAx1ollEWQNz_phZxJF0-HFkjsuKHSz0xxedeMI4-Kil8IgoJRxzGrFYuZJCiWW3Tih-CAm/s1600/9.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjGDX9CZvYd3LwNYCqY6t_KH7fZYp9h-2Nrtw0_H9Qje4RVsx7J6P3USpDTRoAXuaVUumnRAx1ollEWQNz_phZxJF0-HFkjsuKHSz0xxedeMI4-Kil8IgoJRxzGrFYuZJCiWW3Tih-CAm/s200/9.png" width="200" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Your comment will be highly appreciated.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599777617707274591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505309449331620490.post-83695407325315438632015-09-17T23:38:00.004-07:002015-09-18T18:29:05.769-07:00LONG STORY: Chit Chat on the Oriental Express Café: Chapter 1: The Oriental Express Café<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5c7OK92MohHQeW_ZH-nbF8StM_kE52gtABnm0Ho3c-s9kTeUahImQaS6uRsdek_oJEBOHfPdOO16gegTJ4_qZRzELKXuSsDgEcJoL3rtscofR0NQMwHSF3mH1xtSRTKaX6oFCPTV3kPDg/s1600/8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5c7OK92MohHQeW_ZH-nbF8StM_kE52gtABnm0Ho3c-s9kTeUahImQaS6uRsdek_oJEBOHfPdOO16gegTJ4_qZRzELKXuSsDgEcJoL3rtscofR0NQMwHSF3mH1xtSRTKaX6oFCPTV3kPDg/s200/8.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #45818e;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Chit
Chat on the Oriental Express Café</span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #45818e;">By:</span>
Aadel M Al-Mahdy</span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #45818e;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Chapter
1: </span></span></b><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">T</span></span></b><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">he Oriental Express Café</span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The
Oriental Internet café is a place where they meet once a week; a group of intellectual
adults of different education, religions and nationalities. They gather
together to discuss freely and honestly a variety of topics; everyone does according
to his own personal view whether such view is moderate or extreme, with no
grudge held or insult taken. </span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
Located in Al-Azhar Street and owned and run by Dhabbourah Abu-Ali who is assisted
by Memmis Al-Halawani and his little army of waiters; Zuklah, Halambas,
Abu-Sinnah, Ukashah and Zeiner-Rigaal, the Café is of a considerable size, furnished
with tables and chairs inside and outside on the terrace. The inside is
composed of a big hall with a large Satellite TV monitor, a moderate size room
on the right hand furnished with internet computers and a printer, and a conference room in the back equipped
with a medium size TV monitor, one internet computer, a small printer, tables
and seats. In this room they meet once a week not interrupted by the outside
world. Lavatories are located next to the conference room.</span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The
renovated café is clean, air-conditioned and well-ventilated to combat the
smoke clouds created by the Shishahs’ customers. A whole array of oriental hot
and cold soft drinks is served in the cafe; tea, Turkish coffee, salep, carob,
caraway, whole and ground Fenugreek, anise, kakady, cocoa, liquorices and the
likes. Small dishes of sweets like meshmishiyyah, mihallabiyyah, rice pudding and
custards are also served. No alcohol, except for local and imported beer, is
served. A variety of dishes of nuts and delicious pickles always accompanied
the beer. </span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Before
modernization, the café was frequently raided by the police for suspicion of drug
deals. In fact a stone throw behind the café lies Al-Bateniyyah quarter where Cairo active drug lords
lived. Also at almost the same distance from the café stand Al-Hussein Mosque
and Al-Azhar Mosque supplemented by the second oldest functioning university in
the world, Al-Azhar
University.</span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">While
Osamah was sitting in the terrace of the café having his hot whole-fenugreek
drink and waiting for the rest of his friends to show up, the same man came in
and sat quietly in a corner inside the café far from the shishahs’ smokes and
the clients’ commotion. Osamah saw him once before. The man was in his early
forties, neatly dressed in meticulously clean and pressed pair of trousers.
Grey hair invaded the pitch black hair of his head that was covered by a white Egyptian
Takiyyah. His trimmed beard was not exaggeratedly long. He was a handsome man
of medium height whose facial features looked so relaxed and eyes so serene as
though he was in an ecstatic state of content.</span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When
Halambas passed by, Osamah held his sleeve, bent forward and whispered curiously
in his ear, pointing stealthily to the man who aroused his curiosity, “Who is
that man?”</span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“He
is Sheikh Ali, the Dervish. Thank you for pointing him out to me” Halambus
whispered back to Osamah and then turned around and loudly announced, “And
prepare one hot whole-anise drink, and make sure it is extra sweet for our
beloved Sheikh Ali and also be doubly sure it is on the house” Osamah asked
Halambas who was about to leave, “Wait! Why do you call him the dervish? He
does not look like one. Halambus said, “He is a Dervish all right and sometimes
he slips into peaceful fits and mumbles mysterious words which Dhabbourah
consider as blessings to the café” Osamah exclaimed, but asked Halambas, “Seized
by fits, sometimes!”, “Is he sick, or mad?” Halambas answered before left, “Neither!
He is just a dervish”</span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A
man pressing on little pieces of burning charcoal on top of his tobacco roll
and diligently sucking in an intermittent manner on the stem of his shishah
hose looked at Osamah and smiled. Osamah smiled back, moving his hands in the
air in a certain way signaling his confusion. The man then said after clearing
his lungs from the retained shishah’s smokes, “He’s one of those blessed who
are into religious things” Osamah asked, “Does he Hallucinate?” but the man
quickly said, trying to explain himself by means of gesticulating, “No! Maybe...
Religious hallucination…I mean…You know, those mysterious things” Osamah said, “Ah,
you mean mystic things Feeling a relief, the man smiled and nodded before
mildly having a round of short dry coughs. Osamah thanked him, and then stood
up to got to the conference room to await his friends. On his way to the
conference room Osamah passed by the dervish who mumbled when their eyes met, “One,
One, He is One and the only One. He is alive, alive and never dies” Zeiner-Rigaal
who brought a glass of water to the dervish said, “Here is the water you
demanded, Sheikh Ali. Allah makes it taste in your mouth like honey” Ten
minutes later Osamah’s friends started to show up one by one.</span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: red;">Shishah/waterpipe/Hukkah</span></span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHXmszpJcy-o1RPlTqzpIYc7fkU1_hzBzxJCXKQMlBR33lb-yzMa8ZvEvrGKXLHHPFCr0y6zsCP-M235kg1g86-eC4vsGFHcTrlc_s2oKdrrV3cPJ2DIi_l2yzQH0mlfb3oJkvFOwOjw9/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHXmszpJcy-o1RPlTqzpIYc7fkU1_hzBzxJCXKQMlBR33lb-yzMa8ZvEvrGKXLHHPFCr0y6zsCP-M235kg1g86-eC4vsGFHcTrlc_s2oKdrrV3cPJ2DIi_l2yzQH0mlfb3oJkvFOwOjw9/s200/9.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Your comment will be highly appreciated.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599777617707274591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505309449331620490.post-20628594902832896062015-09-15T20:12:00.000-07:002015-09-15T20:12:28.174-07:00SHORT STORY: My Study - Part II<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHy2bc_J9xMYgx4dnE1WqQ-yDPs8vsqh3P1-JNh-PLtQa9WKVMvTubjUhUXBRVyC2RHRcxYtaLjsTXsDHGFTcpnaKzSOP-BZdieqbu8sq42GkHEPQSffpguMB-UxqZlO8h7gOyJWpOf9h/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHy2bc_J9xMYgx4dnE1WqQ-yDPs8vsqh3P1-JNh-PLtQa9WKVMvTubjUhUXBRVyC2RHRcxYtaLjsTXsDHGFTcpnaKzSOP-BZdieqbu8sq42GkHEPQSffpguMB-UxqZlO8h7gOyJWpOf9h/s200/3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>My Study - Part
I</b></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>By:</b>
Aadel M Al-Mahdy</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After
dinner, Hamzah helped his mother in the kitchen washing the dishes, and Khaled
and I sat in the living room watching the TV. Nothing was interesting. So to
kill boredom, I challenged Khaled to solve a simple mathematical addition
problem.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“I’ll
be in my study. When you’re finished, meet me there!” I said and just as I
entered the room, Khaled came running.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“I
can’t solve this mathematical problem, dad” my son Khaled said. “Why?” I asked
him. “I can’t add the unlikes” he answered. “Why not? I asked him. “Because
math doesn’t allow us to do that” he said. “Who is that Mr. Math who allows and
not allow?” I asked. “Mathematics, dad, numbers, additions and subtractions”
Khaled said. “But math is not a sentient being to allow or otherwise” I said.
“I know that, dad, but this thing called math has inherent rules and because of
those rules we can’t add the unlikes” Khaled said, almost running out of his
patience.“Who
told you that? I asked. “Ms. Caroline, my school Math Teacher” he said. “I think
you misunderstood her” I said. “No, dad, I didn’t. It is the rule and it is
simple. Apples are essentially different from lemons” Khaled explained. “I’m
sure they’re, but still you can mathematically add apples to lemons to tomatoes
to potatoes without breaching Ms. Caroline’s mathematical rule” I said. “How
can that be?” Khaled wondered. “You do it everyday. So does your mother” I
said. “Ok, explain it to me” Khaled said ina challenging tone of voice. “That’s
what I wanted to hear from you” I said, and looking him in the eye, I asked him,
“How much was the population of Canada
in 2006?” he said, “Approximately 26 million” I asked, “26 million what?” I
asked. “26 million people” he said. “Good! Are they entirely of the same
ethnic race?” I asked. “Of course not! They’re from different races; European,
Asian, Middle Eastern. African” he said. “Good! So we can say mathematically: 5
European + 3 Asian + 2 Middle Eastern + 2 African are equal to…” and awaited him
to add up. He said “12 people”. I asked, “Why can’t we then mathematically add:
3 oranges + 2 lemons + 1 pear in the same way?” He argued, “Because these are
not people, dad. They are unlikes” I said, “Yes they are likes” he asked, “How,
for God sake?” Isaid, “They are, if you use the correct semantics, if you free
yourself from the olden rules and semantically approach math from a different
angle” I said. “How much is the total then?” he asked defiantly. “Simple. They
are 6 pieces of fruit” Khaled’s mouth gaped. Linguistically, there is nothing
wrong with the phrase, 6 pieces of fruits. The concept started to sink in
Khaled’s mind. He hit himself on the side of his head. “Doesn’t your mother do
the same when she prepares her grocery list, calling all the different items on
the list groceries?” I asked. “Yes she does. What was the problem with me
before? Why did I not notice that?” he asked, wondering. “The old concepts are
so deeply rooted in our brain as they have been received through a process of
brain-washing, though we call it education, and therefore we feel threatened
when a new concept or approach arises to slam us in the face” I explained.
“What to do then” Khaled asked. “Not to be scared, embrace the innovation and
spend time studying it. If it is worthy of acceptance, then why not accept it.
In our mathematical case, semantics is the major thing. If you marry it to
mathematics, you open a door to infinity and become able to solve problems that
seem unsolvable. When your mind is stuck in the traditional way which is not
necessarily true all the times…oh, without language, mathematics is for birds”
he said, “My God, in this way, I can add up the whole universe” I said, “Oh, hold
your horses…not until you become able to grasp the concept of nothingness!” Khaled
then asked, “What on earth is that, Dad? You’re full of surprises. How can you
grasp what is not there? I asked, “Well, son, mathematics is a science full of
wonders. Can you count up to 3?” Surprised by a question that seemed dummy,
Khaled controlled himself as he knew I was not a dummy or mean person and then
slowly counted, <span> </span>“One, two, three” </span></span></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">─ “Wrong!”
I said; the word came out of my mouth in a way that startled him. He looked at
me with the severest signs of confusion on his face, but I said, putting an end
to his torture, “You should have said, “Zero, one, two, three” Khaled
interjected, “I never heard anyone counting from Zero” “Traditional! If nobody
counts from Zero, It doesn’t mean, though, that Zero doesn’t exist. Isn’t it a
number? Khaled argued, “Yes, it is, but it is a representation of nothingness
which means it is nothing, therefore I did not count it” I said, “Nice
argument! Nice Euclidian mathematics. The Greek thought of the Zero in the same
way long time ago. To sense perceptions of foreground objects, the Greek tied
numbers to bounded finite things. They did not think in terms of empty extended
space. They thought in terms of shape and location. They concentrated on the
observable, the small, the unvarying. And so they were stuck” Khaled asked, “And
how to avoid that?” I said, “By becoming mathematically concerned with functional
relationship. Thus our math becomes dynamic, not a whole punch of statistics.
Discovery of Zero by the Hindus and the introduction thereof to the West by the
Arabs has led to positional numbers, simpler arithmetic calculations, negative
numbers, Algebra with symbolic notation, the idea of infinitesimals, infinity,
fractions, and irrational numbers” I paused for a short while and then added, “Sound
familiar, Khaled?” Khaled confirmed, “Mmmm, yes it does. But why did the Greek
miss on the Zero’s potential for development” I explained, “Overzealous logical
rigor, that is why. The Greek elevated logic to the highest intellectual
status. That led to a crucial argument by the philosopher, Parmenides ─ Being
only IS and nothing is altogether NOT. Hence, because non-being was impossible,
change was impossible. To the Greek this is sound logic and therefore, they
rejected both change and non-being” Khaled then asked curiously, “How did the
Hindus and the Buddhists think of Zero, then?” I sais, “Well, for both of them, the notion of
non-being was a state that they actively sought in their attempt to achieve
Nirvana or oneness with the whole cosmos. None-being was something ─ a state
that could be discussed.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hamzah
intruded on us and Khaled asked him, “Hamzah, can you count up to 3?” Hamzah
answered, “Are you retarded or something, of course I can” Khaled said, “Count,
then!” <span> </span>Hamzah quickly counted, “One,
two, three” Khaled and I said in one high-pitched voice, <span> </span>“Wrong! You forgot the zero. It’s a number,
too” ─ “Mother, can you count up to three?” Unbelieving his own ears, Hamzah
yelled talking to his mother. “What!” my wife’s voice was heard coming from the
kitchen. Hamzah asked her the same question again. Standing in the door of the
study room wiping her arms with a towel, my wife, said, “What’s wrong with you
people? One, two, three” we all laughed and said in one voice, “Wrong, you
should say zero, one two, three” my wife’s lower jaw dropped.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Khaled,
since you succeeded in grasping the nothingness, could you round up 0.098 to
its nearest whole number?” I said and then added, “Hamzah, help him out if you
want” Both of them gave me two different answers, 0.01 was Khaled’s answer and
0.1 Hamzah’s answer. I shook my head and said, “You are still hesitant in
accepting nothingness, otherwise your answer would have been Zero. I do not blame
you. Even Euclid himself would have not been able to come up with the right
answer. For him being only IS and nothing is altogether NOT.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Khaled
and Hamzah stood up yawning and excused themselves to go to sleep. I asked both
of them, “Are you bored?” Hamzah said, No, nothing can bore me” Khaled then
laughed and said, “Oh, Hamzah, you just admitted that nothingness is something”
I laughed and said, “boys, go to bed!”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The
End</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Your comment will be highly appreciated.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599777617707274591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505309449331620490.post-9776880609509948302015-09-15T19:10:00.000-07:002015-09-15T19:10:35.574-07:00SHORT STORY: My Study- Part I<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKvgogx66BpfCm9cKl7MOp97FVUPJQY-AIbvFZKT36UxCfzx-929XxsfHWMlb9qQIPk9OY2tdAslhCl-qEgpd5FzfEU6GosVbt2Ua30eZf3b4pWlfuoPzMwSn8_GLuD2Uz5_3p0mHuxug/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKvgogx66BpfCm9cKl7MOp97FVUPJQY-AIbvFZKT36UxCfzx-929XxsfHWMlb9qQIPk9OY2tdAslhCl-qEgpd5FzfEU6GosVbt2Ua30eZf3b4pWlfuoPzMwSn8_GLuD2Uz5_3p0mHuxug/s200/2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">My Study - Part I</span></span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><b>By:</b> Aadel M Al-Mahdy</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">I was born in a
house all walls of which were shelved; the study had book shelves, so did the
bedrooms, the living room, the dining room, the kitchen and the bathrooms. And believe it or not, the pantry, too. When I
was young, my favorite magazines were the Reader’s Digest and the National
Geographic and my favorite subjects mythology, scriptures of any religion,
fiction of any type, history and science. In fact, my father was a professor of
comparative linguistics. Ah, I’ve forgotten to add to the list linguistics, too.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Being a book-worm
was my choice. My parent never pushed me towards reading. I also never neglected having fun with my friends every now and then; </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">ganging up for attacking my
grandfather’s vine ranch to steal grapes or my uncle’s cucumber field to steal
cucumber</span></span></span></span>. Are-You-Afraid-Of-The-Dark
story telling was my favorite. In a nut shell, I did not bury my face all the times in books. I had
fun, too.But when I became an
adult, the most important room in my house was ─ you guessed it ─ my study. It was
the place where I could be the real me. It the place where I let my imagination run wild, or
be with whom I choose to discus freely any topic.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Aand here, my two sons, Khaled
and Hamzah, kick in. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Khaled wa 19
years old boy with an analytical mind. He won’t let things go before discerning
them and retaing what is worthy. But Hamzah, who wa 18, years old
boy, though less analytical, he wa more daring, willing to take the risk,
despite sometimes his calculations were based on nothing but gut-feelings and
mostly stubbornness, his mother said he inherited it from me. I liked Khaled’s
analytical ability though sometimes it reached a point of irritating zeal,
especially when discussion was bi-lateral; a brother-to-brother, thus lacking my
guidance that carefully steered them ashore through reasoning. I also liked
Hamzah’s spontaneous ability and determination. Both, sometimes,
came to me asking for a second opinion. I would then analyze the case and in the process of we would embark on a
journey to pinpoint the the flaws in their own conclusion. When
the truth revealed itself, thanks to their desire for knowledge, their eyes
would shined <span> </span>and they became totally
filled with content and happiness so contagious that I found
myself included by force.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">“Then, if that
is the case, dad, how can I tell the difference between Destiny and Fate?” with
eyes filled with interest, Khaled asked me. Resting my hands
on the arms of my comfortable chair and leaning backward, I paused for a while and deeply
looked at Khaled’s curious face and said, “Son, destiny is an unchangeable
constant; a record chiseled in stone, inescapable and its authorship propriety
is solely owned by the writer. Son, the earth spins on its own axle and orbits
the sun in total precision. That is destiny” </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Khaled then asked, “Couldn’t the unchangeable
be, in the meantime, changeable, or in another word, could the unchangeable and
changeable, constant and variable and running and stagnant fall together on the
same one object?” .I could not resist my urge for teasing his intellect,
so I smiled and asked him, “Have you heard of the moving-arrow case? It is a
very ancient one”Khaled answered, “No, but I am
all ears” I looked him and his brother in the eye for a while
and said, “Well, If an arrow’s shot from
point A to point and it reached point Z and stopped, and then if we divided the distance the arrow traveled into infinitesimal
portions, wouldn’t the arrow, by force, be motionless at each infinitesimal
portions?”Hamzah said, “That is right” but Khaled did not utter a word, so I went on saying, “But, on the other
hand, if we add up the infinitesimal portions then their total will actually represent
the arrow’s movement from point A to Point Z, hence I could say the arrow moved and
at the same time I could also say the arrow did not move since at every
infinitesimal portion it was motionless and by force the total of motionless
portion is motionless” Thinking, Khaled
was in deep state of silence for a while and then said, “In a different way, an
analogy of what you have just said is a movie. The movie has motion; the
totality of its single frames, but it is also motionless as if we add up the motionless
single frames, we will have by force a total of frames which are motionless.
Thus motion and motionless can both fall, at the same time, on the same object
which is the movie” I said, “Maybe, what do
you think?” Khaled then as though he has received a divine
revelation, hit the side of his head with his open fist <span></span>and burst out saying, “But, dad, we have been neglecting
two important factors; the transition from one still frame to another and the
occurrence of the alteration of the framesby the following frame. In fact, these factors are the movie
integral glue that translates the movie into motion. Where by removal of the
two factors, the frames will then be motionless portions of stagnant totality” Hamzah then
jumped in and said, “Hence your arrow case analogy is a fallacy, dad. It is one
of those deceitful things you throw at us when discussion is involving tough
issues”I laughed but then inquired, “Why would I do
that, Hamzah?” Hamzah said, “I guess, to forge our rhetoric abilities into the
heat of logic” I challenged him saying, “Ok, Hamzah, use your Armour and block the
following if you can” He curiously looked at me. “Apply what I
have explained on your own life. There are points or frames which are the
outcome of recorded destiny and others which are the outcome of streams altered by the
human choice, Let us snowball the points or frames’ totality into a lump!
Wouldn’t the snowball substance contain both constant and variable?” Hamzah said, “Ummm, well, I
guess, maybe, but I think if you explain fate, then we may be able to understand” </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Khaled emphasized, </span></span></span></span>“Yes, It will surely help” Isaid, “Fate is
dynamic. It is changeable and its changeability is subject to our choice. Its infinite
dynamics are yet controllable by factors such as laws of nature and our
profound knowledge and awareness thereof” </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Khaled then asked, “You said fate is
subject to choice. Could it also be subject to destiny?” I explained, “Definitely!
Though fate is changeable, Destiny always prevails. In fact, both destiny and
fate are integral parts and two sides of one and the same coin; life” Khaled wondered, “But some people say we can control the future if we write it” I said, “Metaphorically
speaking, yes, but in actual fact, we will have then to face a very important question
which is: Can we dictate the future?” Khaled asked, “Can’t we?” </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"></span></span></span></span>I looked at
Khaled for a while</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"> ─ </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>He’s still young, full of hopes and ambitions. So is his
brother, Hamzah ─ I thought, remembering myself at the same age when I used to believe in categorical sayings the way they were until I found that there was a lot
to learn, that the universe was full of puzzles that might take eons of human
cycles to resolve. “Well, the three
dimensions of time are: The past, the present and the future” I explained “We
may be able to influence the future by mapping the present’s D.N.A. and by altering
its Genomes in order to shape the future the way we like. But there’re a few
difficulties. Mainly, the way the present is shaped is definitely caused by how
the past had totally or partially been. Hence, for the future, which is the unborn
child of the present, and the grandson of the past, to be altered, the past has
to be re-written, hence the present, too. Also, alteration has to be based on
overall knowledge and awareness of infinite probabilities housed by time and
space; the former is still ambiguous and the later has not yet been totally
explored” </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Khaled then persistently asked, “Can’t we alter
the future to some degree?” I said, “To some degree, yes we
can, because we are the whole of our self and the universe; time and space, Destiny and fate...remember the snow ball...but
to become one day the masters of our destiny remains to be seen” I explained. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Interrupted by
their mother’s announcement for dinner, Khaled and Hamzah stood up to leave. Khaled
accidentally knocked his teacup off the coffee table. He apologized, but I asked
him not to worry and before he disappeared with his brother in the living room,
I yelled at him, “Khaled was that incident destiny, or fate?” He answered, “It was fate,
dad. I could have been more careful” Hamzah then commented, “Yes,
Khaled, if you were more careful, you would have had no impact on the streaming
of the future events”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">My wife’s voice softly hit my ears while I was still in
my study, </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">“Honey, are you
having dinner with us?”</span></span></span></span> I said, “Well, it depends” She wondered, “On what?” I said</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">
while emerging from my study and looking at my family sitting at the table</span></span></span></span>, “On whether I’m
hungry or not, the food is delicious or not, or if…oh, so many factors. Life
isn’t only a matter of choice or a whole punch of personal decisions. Isn’t
that right, boys?” I received no
answer from them, but they both looked at me; eyes widely opened and mouths filled
with food. I laughed and said, “When stomachs are empty and mouths busy
chewing, minds will be absorbed in the chores at hand”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">I then joined my family to enjoy a worm meal.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">The End</span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Your comment will be highly appreciated.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599777617707274591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505309449331620490.post-12169567556378849582015-09-15T17:29:00.001-07:002015-09-15T17:30:27.476-07:00SHORT STORY: The Greatest Common Denominator<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQbg3nMVOBiHulTaZ01ov9bc-_xpvcUT06AY6aIPVXY0Km4-QRxsY8FOnvTb8mHHWg8ZmZqc2AULZxGoAZIKxGAx075W66WsAl8-yTAHkdwUWC4pRrMcUQyjf6DzlhzpPmtg0sC_NUo-P/s1600/1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQbg3nMVOBiHulTaZ01ov9bc-_xpvcUT06AY6aIPVXY0Km4-QRxsY8FOnvTb8mHHWg8ZmZqc2AULZxGoAZIKxGAx075W66WsAl8-yTAHkdwUWC4pRrMcUQyjf6DzlhzpPmtg0sC_NUo-P/s200/1.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">The Greatest Common
Denominator; a Societal, Mathematical Aspects </span></span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><b>By:</b> Aadel M Al-Mahdy</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">It was a hot
summer day. John, though carrying a heavy plastic bag full of library books and
DVDs, had to walk all the way home because he couldn’t afford taking the bus.
His pension was so small that after he has covered his monthly bills and paid for
his medication, he ran out of money by the first week of the month. He was
afflicted with a chronicle liver disease, and the water leakage from his scared
liver into his abdominal cavity enormously distends his belly and made it
difficult for him to breath or walk. His jaundiced eyes were sunken and circled
with darker color. His skin looked clayish and clammy and on top of that, he
felt drowsy most of the time because of his anti-depression medication. A look
at John by those who did not know him would be deceptive. They would mistake
him by a homeless or a druggie. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">John’s depression made him careless about his
appearance.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">In the park
behind the library, John saw some people sitting to a picnic table while others
clustered nearby and engaged in talking. He became curious, but his curiosity
was elevated by the sight of the city’s newspaper crew in the midst of the crowd. He
sat close to the scene to figure out what was happening. He heard someone
saying, “I think it’s a great idea,”, and another one who quickly added, “This
town is supposed to be filled with God-fearing people and all the politicians
are supposed to be God-fearing, and nobody is doing anything about the
homeless”, and another one who said, pointing to a mid-aged man, “This
gentleman here, God bless him, is a priest. He is doing the right thing. He
is feeding the homeless. It is the right thing to do”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">John saw two
police cars parked next to the park’s fence and, on the other side of the
street, he also saw a few people standing in the entrances of their business
buildings, watching the people in the park. John then
remembered reading in the newspaper a few days ago an article on this
particular park and how it became a haven for homeless people, druggies and
prostitutes. People wanted the police to interfere and stop a priest from
feeding the homeless and the druggies, thus they would hum around no more </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">─ </span></span></span></span>But then where
will they go? The problem is far more complicated and they are still a part of
our society whether they made themselves or were made what they are by certain
circumstances. They are the one sheep that went astray ─ John thought. An old man sat
beside John and asked him what the matter. John told him about the homeless and
the druggies. “Oh, those guys,
they are scaring families away” the man carelessly said. “They do!” John
exclaimed. “Yes they do and businesses around here are complaining, too” the
old man said. “What is the solution should be like, then?” John asked, being
curious that the old man might suggest a feasible solution. “I guess they
have to stop them from coming to the park” the old man said. “Won’t this
solution infringe their rights; their freedom to come to the park” frustrated,
John asked him. “In a way, yes, but,” said the old man. “But what, they
never bothered anyone. They may approach you for a cigarette, but if you say
no, they just leave” John explained. “But they are undesirable for what they
do” The man said. “We can’t
jeopardize their right because we desire a different behavior from them,
unless their right hurts other people’s right in the process” John interjected.
“Are you sympathizing with them?” The man then asked. “No, I am not”
John answered and then added, “Those people have a problem and they really need
help. Any one of them can be your lost child. They are not criminals compared
to heinous crimes committed on higher levels everyday and do slip by with no
incriminating word uttered. The real evil-doers are the undesirables that need
to be harshly dealt with; they are, in fact, the greatest common denominator” </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">─ “Oh, I agree
with you. I do not know what is wrong with our society” the man said. John
explained, “Well, in my mind, the society is either in deep slumber or it is
collectively scared to locate the greatest common denominator factor and deal
with it and because of their guilty conscious they had to find an escape-goat ─
and they have found it; the homeless, the prostitutes and the druggies; the
least common denominator factor” </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">the main said, “Since you have
put it this way, I do not know what to say” John looked at his
watch and then said, “Excuse me, I got to leave. Nice talking to you, anyways”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">On his way home,
John felt fatigue and out of breath. So he sat on the low brick fence of one of
the houses on the street leading to his residence. A man accompanied by a huge
dog emerged from the house and looked at him and </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">angrily yelled,</span></span></span></span> “Why are you
sitting on my fence, you creep?” </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">John apologized,</span></span></span></span> “Sir, I am tired and I
want to rest for a while. I hope you do not mind!” but still
angry, the man yelled again, “Yes I do. Get the hell out of here, druggie!” </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">─ “Sir, please,
don’t call me druggie. I am not” John protested. “Yes you are. Have you
looked at yourself in a mirror lately?” the man still yelled. “I do everyday,
sir. And everyday, I see my life slipping away from me because of my ailment” John
answered. “Stop taking the
shit you are taking” the man yelled again. “Sir, you do not understand. I take
nothing but my prescribed medications. I told you I am sick” John explained. “Sick
my ass; I do not want the likes of you hanging around here. Get lost or I’ll
call the cops!” The man yelled. Having no
alternative but to leave, John stood up, picked his bag and started to walk away
but he was not quick enough, so the man pushed him. John fell to the ground. “God, I think I
heart my back” John said to himself, feeling like throwing up, but the man
shouted at him, “Don’t you dare throw up beside my fence, you piece of shit.
Get up right now and get lost” </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Lying flat on
the ground in a state of agony, the events, that John saw taking place in the park
behind the library, re-enacted before his mental eyes. He felt dizzy and as
though coming from a distant place, he heard his own voice, “Sir, why are you so
angry? I did not hurt you in any way. Sitting on your brick fence won’t hurt
you. I am not a druggie or homeless. I am just a person with serious illness. I
could have been you” and with eyes brimming
with tears John strove to roll his body away as the contagious aggressiveness
of the man made the dog threateningly bare his teeth, grunt and jump. John was
sure he was doomed and before he fell unconscious because of the immortal pain
he felt, he heard the sound of his ankle bone being crushed by the dog’s sharp
teeth.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">The End </span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Your comment will be highly appreciated.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599777617707274591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505309449331620490.post-34279190783701394762015-09-14T21:56:00.001-07:002015-09-14T21:57:06.540-07:00SHORT STORY: Religiously Drunken<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5e__XYBTuZBiZDOaKE4-_dI8JjdS_TEThSekQMFZxiiT4XBvYHTiIYBq0JXXc_wdhTB2Mgy6VNCVxYWbIppJB9g_SZNAvvlqd-zCWxi8viy6JR-o3i2-kWN0jzBlMd40ZOPzxeWuK7ZM/s1600/23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5e__XYBTuZBiZDOaKE4-_dI8JjdS_TEThSekQMFZxiiT4XBvYHTiIYBq0JXXc_wdhTB2Mgy6VNCVxYWbIppJB9g_SZNAvvlqd-zCWxi8viy6JR-o3i2-kWN0jzBlMd40ZOPzxeWuK7ZM/s200/23.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Religiously Drunken</span></span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><b>By:</b> Aadel
M Al-Mahdy</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">We, Jackie Wu
and his wife, Evelyn, and my wife and I were the last people to show up. It was
a house of a considerable size, beautiful and almost new. In the large kitchen,
the buffet table carried an abundance of food brought, as usually the case is, by
the attendants. People were sitting everywhere, in the dining area, in the living room and the kitchen. The place was filled with the appetizing smell of
food and wine and the presence of a priest who ceaselessly seemed to be engaged
in conversation with everybody. The priest was in his early sixties with a shining
smile which he made sure that everyone had a share of it as though it was the
body of the Christ. We sat down and smiled at everybody. The Wu’s were familiar
to them, but my wife and I were totally new. I surveyed the place with my eyes.
On the far end of the buffet table I saw a big ice-box full of beer cans and
next to it stood many wine bottles of different vintages. “God, I do not
feel comfortable at all” I whispered to my wife after I had seen on the kitchen
counter more alcohol stock stacked up as though everybody came over here but to
drink. “Once we start eating and drinking, everything will be fine, just smile
around for now” my wife whispered back to me, words hissing through her teeth.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">This is exactly
what I hated about my marriage; doing things against my own will. I did not
have a weak character and I could refuse, but I had already enough on my plate,
hence I tried to avoid evoking new arguments. Our acquaintance with the Wu’s
was one of the things forced on me by both my wife’s haste which was one of
many of her bad traits, and my deep love to my eldest son, Khaled. One day, Khaled
came back from the school with a letter from the family of his friend Newman stating
that Newman liked Khaled and wanted to visit with him and be with him more
often. Newman’s family, the Wu’s, were excited as their son who was too shy to mingle with other kids found someone to befriend, and pleaded to us, Khaled’s
family, to give their son a chance. Unaware that I was going to be overcrowded
in my life, I agreed thinking that it was only the kids who would exchange
visits not the whole family. I am a social person, nevertheless, I do not like my
personal space be preached. I did not want
to have any deepened familial relation with the Wu’s but, at the same time,
I did not want to become a hindrance in the boys’ friendship. My wife’s careless
openness has always been a spoke in the spine of my plans.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">I did not hate the
Wu’s, but I did not like them either. Jackie was an easy going, laid back
husband who owned Chinese restaurant but had to abandon the food business for
some reasons and since then has not been working. Evelyn did accounting works.
She was married to a man who owned carpet cleaning business but died of a liver
disease leaving her with a child who was a bit slow. She then married Jackie, a
Chinese man and had three kids from him; Jamey, Newman and Cameron. I never liked
Jamey and his mother. I felt, though time proved me right, that Evelyn was the
kind of a woman who would dig and poke her nose into people’s affair in the
guise of offering friendly advice. Jamey, who was the oldest, was manipulative
and aggressive, and had a bad reputation and troubles at school. One day, Jamey
caused Hamzah, my youngest son, to fall on the ground and then pulled him by
his leg. I was very angry and declared that Jamey was not allowed to visit or mix up
with my boys since the whole issue from the start was supposed to be friendship
between Khaled and Newman only, not the whole members of the family.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">At the time, I
was having troubles with my wife and her parents. In fact, the troubles between
me and my in-laws started long time ago and never abated. They never accepted
my marriage to their daughter basing their rejection on three reasons reeking
with racism: 1. I’m not Christian, 2. I’m from a third world country and 3.
They thought I was black ─ If you marry
this man, the kids you get from him will be born with wretched souls </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">─</span></span></span></span> My wife’s
mother said one day to my wife to discourage her from marrying me,</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">─ </span></span></span></span>And when you return
to Canada, the kids being born black will find difficulties mixing up with their
roommates at school </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">─ </span></span></span></span>When I heard
this, I realized that my mother-in-law was badly sick in her head. Khaled was born with
white skin, blue eyes, blond hair, so was his brother, Hamzah who followed him
a year later. “I guess your
mother will be miserable, now” I said to my wife. “Why?” my wife asked. “The
kids are born with physical features opposite to what she expected” I said.
“How could they be otherwise when you’re not black yourself and your eyes are
green” my wife answered. Why on earth did
my mother in-law think I was black? ─ I asked myself ─ could it be because I am
African. But I am from Upper Egypt and upper Egyptians are Mediterranean
like Italians and Greeks. And suppose I was black, why should be there something
wrong with it? ─ Well, After my immigration to Canada and when I took my boys to
school, I found other boys and girls to be of different ethnicities and they
all played together and laughed together in the school playground during the
recess. “I guess the
kids at school are color blind” I told my wife one day. “What do you mean?”
puzzled, my wife asked me while preparing dinner in the kitchen. “Well, although
I hate it, I can understand the religious rivalry, but racism is something I
never understood. The kids are definitely void of racism, because they’re color
blind. They all play with each other at school and even sometimes have fights
motivated by anything other than racism” I explained. “Of course! It is we, the
adults, who teach them racism” my wife said. “Then your parents are the most ignorant”
I said. With tears
rolling down her cheeks, my wife came out of the kitchen holding a knife in her
hand and said, “I know that”, and then put the knife down on the kitchen
counter, wiped off her tears and added, “They haven’t been to the church for
over three decades, nevertheless they were still worried about your faith. They
did not come from fantastic families in Scotland
and Holland; nevertheless
they still worried about your place of origin" Isaid, “I wish I can
say to them that my forefathers build the pyramids thousands of years ago while
theirs were still roaming the forests and the plains” and then added,
“On top of that, does your mother know that it has been proven scientifically
that we all came from the Southern African bushman tribes whose skin color is
dark”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">It is said that
a mill-stone, though big and powerful, will eventually break. The ceaseless wedges
that my in-laws relentlessly put between my wife and I, attained success mainly
when the circumstances helped their seed of destruction germinate. I had
Hepatitis-C. It lay dormant in my blood and kicked in at the most inconvenient
moment. Depression, Fatigue, inability to work and my in-laws warring caused
arguments to arise between my wife and I. This is when Evelyn interfered offering
her help. “I know of a counseling group headed by a
priest. They gather together, not in the church, but in one of the client’s
houses” said Evelyn to my wife. “When does it happen?” excited, my wife asked.
“It happens twice a month and next time will be the first day of next week” Evelyn
answered. “And what do they do during the meeting?” my wife asked. “We eat and
drink and discuss our problems and afterwards, the priest arrange for three-day
accommodation in a nice hotel where the troubled couple stay and work out a
solution”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">When my wife
told me about this counseling event, I was skeptical at first but finally I
decided to let her go through this experience. On Monday the Wu’s picked us and
we all went there.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">My wife was
right when she whispered back to me that once we started eating and drinking,
everything would be fine. Wine can be a good ice-breaker for people to start a
conversation, but if they don’t hold the reins of their wine horses tight, the
horses will run out of control and then the riders will find themselves
breaking the thin ice on which they’re running, thus ending up being drowned. A
humming voice emitting from the house as though there were many bee-hives
drowned the silence of the night as Everybody was talking; everybody was
smiling; everybody was shaking; everybody was drunk save for a few who still
talked with untwisted tongues. I was one of them. “Let me
introduce you to father Jackson, the priest” Evelyn said, holding a glass of
rosé in her hand and swaying like a tree branch, “Hi, father, this is Mr. and
Mrs. Al-Mahdy” Father Jackson
has not yet been drunken but rather tipsy. He might have chosen not to be drunk
in order to be able to attend his flock. “Ah, hi, how’re you?” said the priest,
“Where’re you from” the priest asked. “He’s from Saudi
Arabia, father” Evelyn said, budging in. “I’m not from Saudi Arabia.
I’m from Egypt”
I objected. “Who cares, Saudi Arabia
or Egypt,
they’re all the same” Evelyn said, almost falling down. Her husband helped her
sit on a chair. “I do. And Saudi Arabia and Egypt
aren’t the same, unless you think Italy
and France
are” I said, my voice showing that I was upset. “You do not have to be upset.
It is not of a big deal” the priest said. “I know, Mr. Jackson, but I like
people to know me for what I am” I firmly said. “Oh, you’re right, you’re
right” the priest said, trying to avoid getting into argument. When the party
was over, I asked Evelyn husband to give my wife a ride home as I was going to
stay behind and help in washing the dishes and cleaning the place.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Khaled and
Newman became very good friends. They spent lots of time after school with each
other and Cameron, Newman’s youngest brother. They all formed a
block against Jamey whom they called jackass.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">One day, my wife
told me that Evelyn told her that when she had a bath, she would step out of
the bathroom totally naked not minding the kids would see her. I wondered why Evelyn
told my wife about this personal behavior and why my wife told me. Is it the so
called hearsay natural cycle, or Evelyn is trying to impress my wife with her
liberal life style. I also wondered if my wife got the message and therefore told
me so that I would loosen up a bit. In any case, I did not like the whole issue
at all. Being a new immigrant who has not yet known much of the Canadian
customs and traditions, I was confused. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">I discussed the
matter with a born-Canadian friend of mine. He told me that the Canadian
customs in no way would allow for such behavior which he thought was child
abuse that must be reported to the authorities. “I thought so,
too. It doesn’t matter whether you came from the East or the West, there’re universal
standard of behavior” I told my friend. “Why didn’t you report the incident to
the authorities, then?” he asked. “I could not because my wife would be upset
and I did not want to have more troubles than it was” I answered. He then asked
me to give him the names, address and details and and said he would report the incident
himself without getting my name involved. A week later, when I went to pick up
my two sons from the school, I saw Newman sitting in the corridor. I asked him
if he wanted a ride home. He uttered no single word but looked at me with eyes
full of animosity. I told my wife about Newman’s attitude. She said that
someone reported his mother to the authorities regarding her nudity in front the
children and since then she has been in troubles. I told my wife that I
mentioned the story to a friend of mine and he must have reported her.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">My in-law’s
relentless middling and back-stabbing never ceased, so never did Evelyn’s since
she has opened fire at me shortly after that incident. Defending my family on
two fronts; my in-laws’ and Evelyn’s, and seeing my health deteriorating, I had
to lick my wounds and convince my wife to move to a different city. Thus I was
left fighting only one war. That is racism, oh, I mean my in-laws.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">The End</span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Your comment will be highly appreciated.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599777617707274591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505309449331620490.post-81415433429173512602015-09-14T20:57:00.000-07:002015-09-14T20:57:16.730-07:00SHORT STORY: Religiously fat<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0Aag_9DPKx3lzIHpTGNGodT4g63RWV433Adyw-CruSIquAZYpHDBzOB5o24391fG6QmV6M2EApkbfYr_iXbcHpJidNY93MKxWM3CHeQNl0YlXWYOSOmbVl3wWbP4IVWlqAJREzJMOUvP/s1600/22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0Aag_9DPKx3lzIHpTGNGodT4g63RWV433Adyw-CruSIquAZYpHDBzOB5o24391fG6QmV6M2EApkbfYr_iXbcHpJidNY93MKxWM3CHeQNl0YlXWYOSOmbVl3wWbP4IVWlqAJREzJMOUvP/s200/22.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Religiously Fat</span></span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><b>By: </b>Aadel
M Al-Mahdy</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">My friend and I
were separated from our wives. His wife kicked him out of the house and wasted
no time to have a relation with his best friend. He approached me one day
saying that there was a church where a priest and his wife hold meetings once a
week for counseling couples with marital problems. He suggested that we could
go there for help. I was skeptical and told him that I haven’t never been to a church. He said he has not been either and that we should go since the counselingwas free. I was still hesitant. My problem was far more complicated. He said he
knew I did not have a care, so he offered to give me a left. The next day we
went to the designated church. In a big room there were many people, women and
men and on a small buffet table, there were coffee, tee, cakes and a variety of
pastries mostly brought in by attendants. We sate somewhere. Scanning the room
with my eyes, I caught sight of him, and I moved my eyes no further. <span> </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">His mouth looked
like a little hole separated from his small nose by a well-groomed, well-waxed,
yellow mustache whose ends were so carefully twined and perfectly curved
upward. His eyes were pasture-like green and perfectly arching eyebrows well-trimmed.
His face was shaven and blood almost jumped out of his round cheeks. He was a man
of short stature and with abdominal bulge that was prominent and tightly round.
Whenever he wanted to pick a sweet ball, his short hands and stumpy fingers had
to maneuver in such a manner more precisely calculated than the movements of a
geisha dancer. With all dignity, his big rear-end filled a chair next to the buffet.
His shining pair of black shoes bespoke of the smallness of his feet, and the bold
spot on his head and the relaxed look on his face made him look like Bacchus,
the Greek God, or a happy Buddha. He stole a look at the attendants and while
everybody was busy he hesitantly but nimbly picked a sweet ball and threw it in
his little mouth. I started to wonder who he was. <span></span>“He is the priest and Catherine’s husband” as
though he divined my thoughts, my friend whispered to me. “Who is Catherine?” I
whispered back to him. He pointed to a woman sitting in the far corner of the
room talking to a man who had an aura of a flamboyant and whispered again, “She is
the counselor who will talk to us after we all have settled”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Catherine was in
her late-forties, a few years younger than her husband. She was every thing her
husband was not; slim and beautiful. She also wore a broad smile, but her smile
failed to conceal from the expert eye her latent misery. I failed to resist an
urge for stealing a peek again at her husband. While I was looking at him, I
wondered when the last time he copulated with his wife was. I shook my head
to brush the thought off my mind but it was soon occupied by the image of my
high school geography teacher whom we; my classmates and I, named Mr. Plateau
as he was really a very big man. We all wondered how such a mound would be able
to mount his wife </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">─</span></span></span></span>, “He has to lie
on his back and copulate with her in an astride position” ” Zachary suggested
during the recess. Thomas was skeptical, but Zachary then said, handing a
marijuana joint to Nathaniel, “You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to
figure it out. I see it all the time on the internet. Don’t you people have
computers at home? There’re all kinds of porno” Zachary sucked
deeply on the marijuana roach given back to him and then continued, “Fat
people, big boobs, black, Asian, interracial, and gay; transsexuals, and lesbians,
and if you are a real pervert interested in bestiality…” </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Nathaniel interrupted warning him, </span></span></span></span>“Shushush,
Jessica is coming, Zachary” Zachary shrugged
and sucked deeply on the joint then kept the inhaled smoke in his lungs for a
second before releasing it and then said, “So what, she is a slut. I bet you if
you give her twenty dollars, she’ll give you a blow job” </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Jonathan interjected, “I won’t let her
even for free. She is a filthy whore” Zachary laughed and
then left, but Jessica, who caught sight of him, yelled, “Hey, Zac. Devils away,
eh” ─ Zachary, who did not even care to turn and look at her, said, “You are an
angel, Jessie” then bent over slightly and slammed his own butt with both
hands and added, “Give me a freaking break!” </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Others were still
wondering that the teacher had to be extremely well-endowed in order to be able
to intercourse his wife. Jessica wondered what we were talking about, but we
all shut her up and asked her to get lost. As soon as Jessica left, I said, “May
be the poor man is sexually deprived. May be he never had sex with her” They all then looked
at me asking for an explanation. “I just can not imagine that he is able to
intercourse his wife. It just does not sit well in my mind” I said. “Why?”
Peter asked. “Well, I have
watched one day on the TV a documentary on elephants in must”, then paused
looking in their faces and continued, “I saw a young elephant mounting a female
elephant and despite he tried all what he could, his enormous organ failed to access
her vagina though her external vaginal lips were so large and thick and hanging
down” I said. “What a looser” Peter said, “Her labia were an easy navigable
canal for his river barrage to follow a mating course, but still he failed to
steer!” </span></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">I said, laughing at his description, “That is right,
but out of frustration, the female shook him off her and ran away screaming for
another older and more experienced male” Everybody
burst out laughing, too, and punning on his navigation concept, peter said,
“This young elephant has not definitely been aboard before this one time”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">I looked at the
priest again and then a thought crossed my mind. The pleasure he obtained from
throwing the sweet balls into his mouth was one side of a coin the other side
of which was the misery shown on his wife’s face; a coin called sexless marriage. Unconsciously, I
got a loony out of my pocket and flipped it in the air a couple of times and
then but abruptly I stood up to leave. “We haven't talked to Catherine yet”
said my surprised friend. Holding the loony between my fore and middle fingers
and waving it before his face, I said, “No need my friend. My coin is too rusty
to be polished. So I have decided to toss it into the ocean” ─ Puzzled, my
friend’s mouth gaped. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">On exiting the church,
my eyes caught sight of the donation box. I looked at it for a while and then smiled
slipping the loony into it, totally aware, though, that I'll have to walk all
the way home as I became unable financially to take the bus.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">The End</span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Your comment will be highly appreciated.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599777617707274591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505309449331620490.post-6686411209997773652015-09-14T20:21:00.000-07:002015-09-14T21:00:23.108-07:00SHORT STORY: Macho Man<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMecJR1JHhodaOx_OfCj8WfFiBkoz-edEFF-jslZsDFNdsKoBi7uDhtKARR__kUDPClsAjRKDCH124-uuta-Mi6xTOTpCkFUHcUTHnvomimQhOBCyignUcMxdYLGb8Cn2kaCyOHNPbHkKu/s1600/21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMecJR1JHhodaOx_OfCj8WfFiBkoz-edEFF-jslZsDFNdsKoBi7uDhtKARR__kUDPClsAjRKDCH124-uuta-Mi6xTOTpCkFUHcUTHnvomimQhOBCyignUcMxdYLGb8Cn2kaCyOHNPbHkKu/s200/21.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Macho Man</span></span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><b>By:</b> Aadel
M Al-Mahdy</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Steve was very tired
and trying hard to sleep. He worked late last night, trying to supplement his
humble disability income by editing movies of birthdays, weddings, safaris and
other occasion. But while he was sleeping on the sofa in the living room after
long hours of work, Tim, his roommate, had a loud chat with his native girlfriend
and her son in the dining room, paying no heed to him as though he did not
exist. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">“Guys, could you
please lower your voices? I am trying to sleep” Steve pleaded. “It is day time
now” Tim said; his voice coarse and arrogant </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">─ What did the son
of a bitch mean? So what, it is a day time ─ Steve thought </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">─</span></span></span></span> doesn’t a man have
the right to sleep whenever he wants? Shouldn’t room-mates care and respect each personal circumstances. “You son of a coward,
are you trying to show off in front of your girlfriend. You, bastard, get out
of my face right now or I’ll kill you” yelling, Steve jumped off the sofa
forgetting that he was naked, grabbed the computer’s chair and threw it at Tim. Shocked, Tim tucked
his tail between his legs and left along with his company. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Tim and Steve lived
together sharing one-bedroom apartment. Knowing that Tim was a womanizer, Steve
let him stay in the bed room to have privacy as Steve did not want to be
embarrassed by seeing Tim having sex with one of his whores had Tim been living
in the living room. Steve made it clear to Tim that the living room was also a
private area though it was open to the rest of the apartment.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">A couple of hours
later the police knocked on the Steve’s door their main concern was Steve’s threat-to-kill,
but as soon as Steve explained the situation to them and how edgy he was
because of his lack of sleep, they realized that the threat was just hot-air. “Well, he’s
scared to come back. Will you let him sleep in his bed, tonight” the female
officer asked. “By all means, he pays rent, too, and please ask him to watch
out for his sharp tongue and show some respect” Steve pleaded.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Steve met Tim
and a pregnant girl named Beverly, her kids and a cat named Obie at the
apartment of Joseph, Tim’s half brother. Tim was hiding from the police as he
was a key-witness in an assault involving drug dealers and the pregnant girl from
her husband who was a member of the dealers. Joseph hosted them for as long as
the visitation rules allowed and then asked them to leave. Beverly and her kids
did but Tim had nowhere to go. Tim and Joseph had a big argument and Joseph had
to call the police to force Tim to leave. Steve happened to be around during
the argument. He did not like one bit of it and out of the goodness of his heart,
he asked Tim to stay with him.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">“Tell me what
your secret is, Steve. I can not believe you’re still living with each other”
Joseph asked Steve one day. “Why not, Joe, people should help each other out”
Steve said. “Yes, but Tim is a druggie and troubles. We lived together before
but we ended up being evicted because of the drugs?” Joseph said. “Have you ever
asked him to stop?” Steve asked. “I have, but he did not care. Man, his wife
left him because of the drugs?” Joseph said. “Well, he has not had any drugs in
my apartment so far. I made it clear for him that having no drugs was a proviso
for him to stay” Steve said. “I do not
know what to say but time will tell, my friend” Joseph said.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Days passed by and
the nasty corps of Tim’s personality revealed itself a bit everyday. He did not
look for a job under the pretext that he was depressed; however in the
meantime, he spent hours on the computer chatting on MSN
Messenger with girls and surfing porno and dating sites, using Steve’s internet.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Tim was an
electrician, and one day, a friend of his called from Vancouver to help him design marijuana
growing electric system that won’t attract the electricity company, hence the
police. Promising to be back in a couple of days, Tim left for Vancouver, leaving Obie, his cat behind. A
week passed and Tim did not return, so Steve had to call him and tell him that
he ran out of Obie’s food and if he did not show up in two days, he’d call the
animal shelter people to come and pick up the cat. Five days later, Tim
returned. Two days later
after Tim’s return from Vancouver,
Steve received a notice from the building manager stating that his guest had to
leave as his allowed stay had expired. Steve asked Tim to pack up and leave. Tim
didn’t and Steve ended up receiving an eviction notice. Tim told Steve that he
new of a place where they could share the rent. Steve was skeptical at the
beginning, but thinking of becoming able to save few hundred dollars every month,
he was tempted. “Well, Tim you
have to promise me to change your attitude as this time you won’t be my guest
anymore and I won’t be obliged to serve you” Steve said. “Definitely, my friend,
and I’m going to start hunting for a job, too” Tim said. “Good and there are
certain rules we both have to observe” Steve said. “Like what? I am curious”
Tim asked “I’ll jot them down on a piece of paper and give it to you later”
Steve said.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Steve packed up
his belongings and on the moving day, Tim pretended to be badly constipated to
avoid helping Steve with the so many boxes he had, though on the same day he
had a date with one of the girls he knew over the internet and his alleged
constipation did not prevent him from seeing her. “Hey Steve, I’m
going to see this girl today. Wish me luck! I haven’t got laid since I divorced
my wife” Tim said, moving his groin area in a pretend thrusting movement. Steve
made no comments and resumed moving the boxes. His friend Henry who had a truck
helped him make the move though he was sick.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">During the first
week in the new apartment, Steve had a verbal fight with Tim. Time gave Steve’s
cell-phone’s number to all the whores he relation with and the phone never
stopped ringing. Finally Tim purchased a pay-as-you-go cell phone and the
problem was solved. Two month later, Tim’s friend, Chris, showed up and the
beads strung on the thread of time moved; each one smeared with Tim and Chris’
action that turned Steve’s life into a nightmare.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Chris is a muscular
man in his late thirties, but from the way he talked, Steve sensed a lack of
education as well as a lack of the main ingredient that made a man a gentleman; honesty. He
seemed to have the character of a weasel. Chris and Tim used
to go out every day for an hour or two and come back, eat the food which Steve prepared
for supper, drink Steve’s juice and spend the rest of the day on the internet
in Tim’s room. Though upset, Steve did not complain as Chris was still within
the period during which he was still a guest. Days later, parcels reached the
apartment in the name of people who did not live there. Steve became suspicious
and started digging. Steve found out
that Tim and Chris, during the time they spent outside, collected credit card
receipts from garbage pins of big stores and used the card numbers in purchasing
things on-line not heeding that they used his internet IP address in the
process, thus making him a member in their fraud activities. He also found out
that Chris was a fugitive wanted by the police for assault charges. “Tim, why are
you doing this fraud?” Steve asked Tim. “Credit card companies are damn rich
and monstrous. They can absorb the loss” Tim answered. “But, isn’t this
robbing; theft?” I wondered. “Nop, they’re the ones who rob us. Look at the
interest they charge you. Look at their diabolic ways for making money” Tim
explained. “I agree with you, Tim. I myself think the credit cards are the weapons
of the devil on which the whole economical system has been built , but still I cannot place the total blame on
them because their clients consented by signing a contract. Responsibility here
goes both ways”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Steve knew that
his words were falling on deaf ears. So he came to the point which is the usage
of his internet for illegal activities. “Well, I don’t
like it that you’re using my second IP address in your fraud operation, Tim”
Steve objected. “We’re not. Chris has already ordered for the internet and phone to be supplied in my room” Tim explained. “When did that happen
and under whose name?” Steve asked. “Last week and everything is in Chris’
name” Tim said. “But Chris does not live here, Tim. This is still illegal”
Steve said. “Oh, don’t fret about it. He’s moving to an apartment in the
building pretty soon and will get everything with him. I am thinking of moving
with him, too, so I’ll get out of your hair”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Steve was
extremely angry. Now he remembered what Joseph, Tim’s half brother said about
Tim. “Ok, your friend
still has a few days left. If he overstays his visit, I’ll call the police”
Steve said. “But he’s staying in my room!” Tim said sounding a bit upset. “I do
not give a damn to the details. And I am not going to waste my time explaining
the rental law to you. Your friend is a con-artist and a fugitive, and I have
been patient so far, but I am not going to let myself be burnt by the sparks of
your activities”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">One of the
scammed items that reached the apartment was a three-grand 42” LCD TV. Chris
wanted to sell it right away as he badly needed the money. He asked Steve if he
knew someone to buy the TV for half the price. Steve was hesitant at the
beginning but finally seeing the window of opportunity to get back at him and Tim,
he agreed to let a friend of his buy it. “Henry, I
checked the price of the TV on the internet. It is a three-grand TV but I am
going to let you get it for have of the price Chris suggested” Steve said.
“Which is how much?” Henry asked. “Half of 15 hundreds” Steve said. “That is 750.
But how are you going to do that?” Henry asked. “Well, Chris wants 15
hundreds” Steve explained, “I want you to pay him right now through me 750 and
promise to pay the balance in a few days. What happen after that, leave it to
beaver!” </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Steve’s friend agreed
and on the same day Henry paid Chris 750 through Steve who promised Chris that the balance
would be paid in a few days. Chris agreed. Two days later Steve kicked Chris
out of the apartment, saying that Chris over stayed the allowed guest-stay. Chris
left peacefully as Steve still owed him money and also he was scared that Steve
might call the police if he refused. A few days later
Chris showed up with a woman at Steve’s apartment, asking for his money. “What money are
you talking about, Chris?” Steve asked. “The money you owe me for the TV” Chris
answered. “Ah, the scammed TV. Well, as a matter of fact, I owe you nothing” Steve
said. “Yes, you owe me 750” Chris answered angrily. “Ah, the 750. In fact, I am
keeping this money as a payment for food and board and all the service you
received during your stay” Steve said. “Look at this
guy. He is trying to con me” Chris said, talking to the woman, “He’s trying to
rob me of my money“ T</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">he woman said, “The TV is mine
and I want that money” Chris said, “If he doesn’t pay that money, I’m
calling the police” </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">─ </span></span></span></span>“A con coning a
con, Chris. Isn’t that funny” Ignoring the woman’s threat, Steve said and
laughed wholeheartedly. “I expected this to happen and that’s why I talked to
the police before I came. They will be here any moment” Chris warned. “Well, I
am waiting. Don’t leave and stay put. If you set one foot inside the apartment,
I’ll break your leg” Steve said. “If you don’t
pay me my money right now, I’ll torch your face and this apartment” Chris
yelled, realizing that his trick did not work. Picking up his cell phone, Steve
said, “Well, do that if you can, Chris. In the meantime, I am calling the
police” </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Chris and the
woman ran away like a rabbit hounded by dogs. On their way out, Chris
intentionally broke the fire-alarm glass and pulled the lever. Steve called the
Fire Department and told them that the alarm was an accident and then called
the police and reported Chris’ threat. A couple of
weeks later, Steve heard that Chris was arrested in Burnaby and thrown in jail for an old charge
of threat-to-kill with deadly weapon. On the same day, Steve talked to the building
manager and told him about Chris and Tim and about his desire to move in
bachelor suite. In the meantime, Time met this hybrid
native woman (half native, half European) on one of the internet dating sites. She had two boys from a previous husband who, as per her account, was
abusive. She lived in a two-bedroom apartment with her current husband. Steve
knew later that Beth, Tim’s native girl friend, had an agreement with her
husband that she could do what she liked and he could do the same. “I though after
your divorce, Tim, you were going to look for unattached woman and start a new
life. This sugar-cane of yours is not going to cut it” Steve told Tim one
day. “Why do you think so?” Tim asked.
“On one hand, she is already married. On the other hand, she is not beautiful.
She has a fake eye, and you told me she lost her ovaries long time ago as she
had ovary cancer. She is barren and you won’t be able to have kids with her”
Steve explained. “But, I love her and she’s going to leave her husband” Tim
said. “Great! But I do not think you love her, Tim. I think you’re addicted to
sex. Do you remember the woman you knew in Langley?” I said. “What about her?” Tim
asked. “She had a venereal disease, and you still had sex with her”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">A month later,
Tim’s check for his rent share bounced and a few days later, the building
manager told Steve if Tim failed to pay his share of the rent then he’d have to
come up with the money because the two of them signed one lease. Steve told the
manager that he had already paid his share and he would pay Tim’s share if Tim
was evicted. The manger said he couldn’t evict Tim alone and if payment was not
made in a few days, he’d have to evict both of them. Tim did not pay
the rent and Steve handed a notice for terminating his tenancy contract. By the
end of the month, Tim left to live with his girl friend, her husband and
children. He did not pay the rent or repair the damage he made to his room,
leaving Steve stuck with everything.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">The End</span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Your comment will be highly appreciated.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599777617707274591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505309449331620490.post-34006382060724703582015-09-14T19:10:00.001-07:002015-09-14T19:17:40.593-07:00SHORT STORY: The Gold Island<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKCXxV5xvqaACyqCeZ7TuMsl_Iic8qojxXKSNNMbZbGtvkD0tFQs_qxVgcRCs-RLAiivWXtwjkH56ZmwqrYvvSzuZX6HFFBLV0QK7KWp_lbVG3zKPH_I7zxln4Hyh2FJn9-JCNzED-rkdz/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKCXxV5xvqaACyqCeZ7TuMsl_Iic8qojxXKSNNMbZbGtvkD0tFQs_qxVgcRCs-RLAiivWXtwjkH56ZmwqrYvvSzuZX6HFFBLV0QK7KWp_lbVG3zKPH_I7zxln4Hyh2FJn9-JCNzED-rkdz/s200/4.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The
Gold Island</span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>By:</b>
Aadel Al-Mahdy</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In
the olden times, <b>Herodotus</b> said, “<b>Egypt
is the gift of the Nile</b>”. Like a giant blood artery,
the Nile journeyed from the heart of Africa all the way through Egypt carrying
silt and abundance of easy-to-catch fishes in its flood murky water. I believe Herodotus
was right to some extent, but it is not far from the truth to say Egypt was and
still is the gift of her hard-working peasants whose dark skins were scorched by <b>Ra</b>, the Sun God, or <b>Aton</b>; a name that reappeared in the Arabic language as <b>Utoon</b>, meaning fire. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The
mighty flood of the Nile was a dangerous
natural phenomenon that required the peasants’ patience until the water
recessed and the silt deposited. The peasants then, under the blazing sun, seeded
the land and took good care of it. Thus the Nile banks and little islands,
scattered on its aquatic face like beauty marks, dressed up every year in a
lusciously green lined with black soil, hence giving a yearly birth to
the Nile valley.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The
Gold Island
is thus named because it has always been since the olden days a fertile patch
on the watery body of the Nile, and along with
other smaller patches, the gold island has always stood proudly like Joseph’s
granaries feeding the nation during hard times. The islands contained fields of
lusciously green crops of wheat, maize, vegetables, fruit bearing plants and trees. Milk, cheese and butter producing animals and first of all, humans; peasants
whose families took care of the islands for ages were all part of the Island equation.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It
is also said, <b>Egypt is the mighty rock on which her enemies’ arrows get broken</b>
for Egypt survived invasions whether from <b>within</b> or <b>without</b>. She has
always repelled her enemies at times that seemed her weakest. The <b>Hyxos</b>, the
<b>Greeks</b>, the <b>Romans</b>, the <b>Persians</b>, the <b>French</b> and the <b>British</b>, all came and left,
but the worst of all enemies was the one that lay within; <b>the maggot created by
corruption and decay</b>.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“<b>This
land is my body and soul. I can’t be separated from it</b>” chocking on his hot
tears that rolled down his cheeks old <b>El-Bendari</b> said. “<b>The land is ours. So is
the island. Look over there, that’s our cemetery! Here is where we were born,
and here is where we’ll be buried</b>” said old <b>Umm-Afifi </b>with emphasis placed on
every syllable.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Having
received eviction notices, the island inhabitants, whose sole profession is
peasantry, had no other alternative but stand united against the <b>government’s
decision</b>. So they dug grave-trenches and lay prone therein with hands crossed
on the chests like ancient mummies. The poor peasants swore not to leave until
death did befall them. That is how the <b>military captain</b> found the inhabitant. The Egyptian corruption, using one of its tentacles; the <b>military</b>,
steered a military boat loaded with soldier in arms towards the gold island in
an attempt to evacuate it. “<b>Why don’t you
go away and leave us alone</b>?” said young <b>Saniyyah</b>. The <b>military captain</b> said, “<b>But
these are the government’s orders. I can’t disobey the orders and I’ll have to
evacuate the island. You have been furnished notices 15 days a go</b>” Middle-aged<b>
Tuhami</b> pleaded, “<b>We have been living in hell ever since. I have a wife and three
kids. Tell me, who is going to feed them</b>” The <b>military captain</b> said, “<b>I do not
know. Don’t ask me</b>” <b>Ka’abel-Kheir</b> asked, </span></span></span><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The <b>Military Captain</b> said, “<b>Who do you think? Ask the
government, of course!</b>” </span></span></span><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Ka’abel-Kheir </b>said<b>, </b></span></span></span>“<b>But we have been living here all our
lives. We know no where else</b>” A</span></span></span><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> man
carrying a hoe on his shoulder</span></span></span> asked, “<b>Do they have to build their
hotels and summer resorts on the island? Can’t they build them somewhere else?</b>” The <b>Military Captain</b> said with sarcasm, “<b>Where do you think, in the desert?</b>” In defiance, </span></span></span><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">El-Banna said, “<b>In
the desert, on the mountains, that is not our problem. Not on the island where
hundreds of families already live</b>” The <b>Military Captain</b> said, “<b>I do not know. I am just following orders. I
do not have a hand in the matter</b>” </span></span></span><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Ahmad</b> who is a young student caught in the events while he was on his way to
school said, </span></span></span>“<b>Of course you do. You are
the tyrant regime’s executioner. But for the sake of argument and aside from
the fact that the land has been in our families for ages and that possession is
one half of the ownership, the island yields enough to feed its inhabitants and
the whole population of greater Cairo. Who will feed the population then?</b>” Ali, the hunchback, said, “<b>Please don’t tell me the recreational centers and horse racing fields
which are a luxury enjoyed only by the elite! Is
there justice above or below</b>" The <b>Military Captain </b>said, “<b>But what do you
expect me…</b>” and before he finished his sentence a woman seen coming from the
southern part of the island was wailing, beating her face, pounding her chest,
pulling her hear and tearing her garment. Knowing what must have happened,
<b>Ahmad</b> ran to comfort her. She was <b>Sittel-Banaat</b>, <b>Sadoon</b>’s<b> </b>wife. A
drum was heard and everybody recognized the beats; the announcement of <b>Sadoon’s
death</b>. <b>Sa’doon</b> was a peasant whose health deteriorated lately. His wife had to
divide her time between caring for her husband, looking after the kids and tending the
field. <b>Sadoon</b>’s knowledge of the government’s intention regarding the island
made him so sad and his illness worsened.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bound
by unfair decision which he believed it was nothing but a government’s blunder based
on grounds mainly prepared for serving the ones on the top, the ilitary captain
looked at the peasants and shook his head in sorrow. In the island’s peasants,
the <b>Military Captain</b> saw nothing but people who could have been his forefathers, his fore-mothers,
his uncles and aunts, his neighbors who also farmed the land. He saw <b>Egypt</b> </span></span></span><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> ── </span></span></span><b>Why
is the government totally heedless of the island inhabitants? Why is it always
the peasants who pay by the sweat of their brows to the lords?</b> ── the Military Captain questioned himself, but his self-interrogation was interrupted by <b>Sadoon</b>’s
wife’s cries and constant pounding of her head with both palms of her hands.
Another woman, carrying a 5-year old crying girl who seemed to be <b>Sadoon</b>’s
daughter, joined in, lamentation. A
ripple went through the crowd and the excitement of farmers who lay in their
grave-trenches elevated. They were torn apart between two choices; a choice to stay,
thus heeding not a death and the carrying out of all its relative social
duties, or a choice to surrender. The Military captain knew how vulnerable they
have become. He felt torn inside. He felt week, angry and being used as a whip
in the hand of slave drivers. He looked at his soldiers. Though they stood
waiting for his command to start evacuating the island, their sad eye begged
not to do so. They also had families who farmed the land.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In
the western horizon where red and orange-stained clouds slowly moved revealing
the birth of the moon, the sun was almost buried by the end of the day. Shortly
later, shining on the machine-guns that were carried by the soldiers, the lunar
light filled the grave-trenches. The <b>Military Captain</b> looked again at the farmers who lay in their ground hole; their
dark skin color blending in the black soil. His eyes shone with tears.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The
End</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Your comment will be highly appreciated.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599777617707274591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505309449331620490.post-59066571682932200602015-09-14T18:15:00.000-07:002015-09-14T18:15:08.943-07:00SHORT STORY: Mind-To-Mind-Sharing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJt2YJJy9-j_1CFfMs1OIcKTL1Ry8rc0_7Hdcv2B7r9bUrJVgWPQWFAqiS0aX2BPA5ASj1wUA4t_owyOK2YaNgLzyGow99gSKJ6fJQzOOEFE3EySr7j3PsEGxa7OyXa7bKUXolVdRU11N/s1600/11.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJt2YJJy9-j_1CFfMs1OIcKTL1Ry8rc0_7Hdcv2B7r9bUrJVgWPQWFAqiS0aX2BPA5ASj1wUA4t_owyOK2YaNgLzyGow99gSKJ6fJQzOOEFE3EySr7j3PsEGxa7OyXa7bKUXolVdRU11N/s200/11.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Mind-To-Mind-Sharing</span></span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><b>By:</b> Aadel M Al-Mahdy</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Looking out the
window, he watched the dark-blue celestial canopy that expanded to rain the
approaching night’s coolness over the city of Riyadh and the afar desert where sand dunes
have majestically stood under the abating sun. He was about to check on his son
who was playing in the kitchen when his wife’s voice broke the silence. “Hey, honey! Do
you know lemon was expensive, today?” His wife said. “Ummm, you’re back” he
wondered. “What are you doing? Where is Khaled?” His wife inquired, but he
quickly answered, “He’s playing in the kitchen” </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">His wife said; her tone of voice strongly criminalizing, “All by himself?
Remember last time!” - “Here
it goes; the tip of the iceberg”, He whispered to himself and then talked gently
to avoid getting into argument, “Last time I checked on him, he was doing fine” But hearing a
scream coming from the kitchen, he rushed out of his study room and shouted, “What
on earth is going on?” His voice was inquisitively sharp. She yelled, “See what
happen, when you leave the boy alone”, her voice was oozing with severe
blaming. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">In the kitchen,
Khaled was sitting on the floor in a pool of water that covered the whole
place, and nibbling on a peach like a rabbit with the only teeth he got; his
upper front ones. In the meanwhile, peaches, apples, apricots were scattered
everywhere while the empty fruit basked was sailing like an escape-pod being
pushed by a cascade of tiny waves created by water gushing out of the washer’s
draining hose. Khaled raised
his hands, wanting his father to carry him and then muttered, “Dadda, dadda”, and
then smiled innocently. He laughed and picked him up and said while tickling his
tummy, “You naughty boy, you took the washer’s hose out of the floor drain
again. You little devil” Khaled giggled.
His wife then said, words coming from between her teeth, “So this is his second
time! What a waist of detergent!” She was so furious
that her jugulars popped, her face turned red and her distended abdomen shook. “Calm
down! You are pregnant No harm done” He said. His wife yelled, “What! Look at
this miss” He said, “We are on the
first floor. The kitchen floor is an inch lower than the rest of the apartment
and do not worry, I‘ll clean the miss”, and held Khaled’s chin in his
hand and smiled. “Hey, buddy, did
you enjoy it. I hope you did!” he whispered. H</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">is wife yelled.</span></span></span></span>“You don’t care, ah, damn it, look
at this! He nibbled each piece of fruit. Damn it, we have visitors coming
today” He said while in the meantime started to leave.“No problem.
I’ll buy some more” he said and started to leave. “That is not the point“ His
wife yelled again. “Here it comes, the That-is-not-the-point. The first part of
an ugly looking thread of argument” He murmured. “And where the
hell you are you going with the boy?” She yelled. He pleaded, “Back to my
study. Please, stop yelling" His wife yelled, “I am not
yelling. I need to change the boy’s cloth” and then added with
a voice full of sarcasm, “Can’t you see the body is soaking wet?” He said, “I’ll change his
cloth. Please stop worrying!” and left. Half an hour later, her yelling
echoed again, “Have you
changed the boy’s cloth?” He answered, “Yes. You’re still yelling” and then added wondering, “I thought you would be calm by now” </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">she shouted; her annoyance resonating, “I am calm. The
bloody kitchen is now clean” ” . He said, “You
shouldn’t. I was going to do it myself” She said, </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">her tone of voice challenging, </span></span></span></span>“Why didn’t you?” He answered, “Priorities. I had to change Khaled’s
cloth first” she said, “Ok, Mr. mentally
organized. It is too late for that now” He did not say anything, but
carried his son on his shoulders and walked towards the apartment door. “Where the
hell are you going?” she yelled. “To the store, to buy fruits” He said and then
whispered to himself, “To any hell other than this one”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">On his way to
the vegetables and fruits shop that was closed to his residence, his mind roamed
─ He remembered when he fell in love with his wife. She was four years younger
than him when he married her; beautiful and educated, and as he thought then,
compatible to him. But time revealed to him a bitter-tasting fact; married couples
needed not be compatibly parallel to each other. if they are, they would become
an amoebic extension to one another; a boring sameness capable of nipping any
relation in the bud. Dissimilarity, on the other hand, would be an interesting
motivator; curiosity stirrer for gaining more profound acquaintance, hence one would
journey for learning, for openness and expansion and also would fear not to compromise
to meet mid-ways. He also
remembered that he never had an intellectual discussion with his wife as her lack
of self-confidence and self-esteem; an outcome of abuse inflected on her in her
childhood by her parents, molded her into a cynical adult. He thought her ridicule
was a self-defense mechanism; a dark cloud that might hopefully disperse by
passage of time and by a Councillor assistance. In fact, had he not
had his son, Khaled, he would have divorced her a while ago. So he had to swallow
his pride and disregard her ridicule, particularly when another child was on
the way. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Unable to fight the urge, he kicked a pebble he saw on the curb so
hard that it flew like a swift arrow across the street and hit the park’s fence
making a loud noise. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Inside the shop,
Khaled named the fruits, “Appul, appul, arcot, nana” ─ His father laughed and
said, “Yes, Khaled, and don’t forget the pomegranate. They’ve hard skin, buddy,
and your rabbit-like teeth won’t be able to go through it”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">On their way
back, Khaled was excited at the sight of the swings in the park. “Wings, wings”
Khaled cried tightening his legs around his father’s nick. “Ok, Khaled” He said,
“Take it easy! We’ll go to the park, but we have to be home before it is dark”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">The sun’s
eyebrow peeked from behind the low buildings that batched the horizon’s line but
seemingly not for long. A little wind blew just in time to reduce the lingering
heat left behind by the Arabian solar inferno. The park was
almost empty. An old man with a long beard, died with henna, was sitting on the
grass with a boy who seemed to be his grandson. “Judging by the type and way he
is wearing his ghutra, he seems to be a mutawa, Khaled” He said to his son, but
Khaled said, “Wing, wing”. Aiming for the
swings, he saw a woman sitting on a bench adjacent to the swings’ area, holding
the leash of a small beautiful dog which squatted by her feet. She seemed to be
in her early fifty, still beautiful, and the fair color of her skin and of her
hair, that reached down to cover her shoulders, bespoke of her Scandinavian
origin. </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">─ </span></span></span></span>So many expatriates in this country! I am one of them, he thought
and then talked to Khaled,</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></span></span></span>“Hey, Khaled, would you like to pat that dog”,
Khaled’s eyes shone immediately in excitement and clapped his hands in a
commanding manner. His father laughed, “Honey, this dog is for real. It won’t
flip over” ─ Khaled has a mechanical dog at home that flips over when someone
claps his hands. He then approached
the lady to ask her for permission to let his son pat her dog, but baffled, he
stood half-way; his eyes transfixed on the lady. “What in hell is going on?” He
whispered to himself ─ resting on her thigh, the lady’s hand cupped to support her
head while slightly bending forward; her whole body was shaking rhythmically as
though she was sobbing. He put Khaled
down and walked him towards her. Hearing their approaching foot steps, the lady rose
up her head and looked at them. “God, her eyes are brimming with tears!” He
whispered to himself again and then greeted her. She did not utter a word; her
lips were shivering and her body was still jerking. “Can I help you
in any way” He kindly asked her. She pointed with her forefinger to the old man
and to her dog while tears were running down her cheeks. He then quickly told
her, “I think I understand. He stoned your dog. Didn’t he?” She nodded,
still unable to speak. “Was the dog on the leash?” he asked her. She nodded
again. He then said, “Well, I want you to calm down. Nobody will hurt you or
hurt your dog any more as long as I am here. I’ll handle the situation” He inhaled a
deep breath and then resumed his talk, “I was about to ask you for letting my
son pat your dog. Well, I guess it is too late for this now. But can you please
look after him while I am talking to the old man” ─ “Yes you can” said she; chocking
on her tears.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">The old man was
in his early seventies; skinny and the facial dark skin of his lozenge-like
face, the wrinkles and creases around his eyes and the way in which he placed
the ghutra on his head, all bespoke of him being one of the old generation with
whom he had arguments about religion and they proved to be ignoramus zealots.
He squatted on the ground juggling a couple of pebbles which he has taken from
a tiny mound of stones standing before the old man’s grandson.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">“Assalamu-Alaykum”
he greeted the old man. “Wa-Alaykum Assalam” the old man greeted him back. He
then asked him, “Why did you and your grandson throw stones at that
lady’s dog?” The old man
mumbled a whole bunch of crab. He decided to quickly put an end to
this nonsense, so he said, “Listen old man, I am not going to level with
you and explain how wrong you. You are a fool and
your religious school of thought is full of crab. Neither am I going to waste
my time reasoning quoting verses from the Qur’an or sayings from the traditions
of the prophet,peace be upon him, that stand against your action. But, I am going to tell you this,
I live in that building, over there, and if I ever see you again casting a
stone at a dog, I’ll personally see to it
that I’ll pin you down to the ground and pluck the died hair of your beard, one
by one, so that you’ll suffer” The old man’s
face turned pale, but he continued, “Now, I want you to get the hell out of
here, or else I’ll use my camera ─ he pretended to be looking for his camera in
his pocket ─ and photograph you, and your grandson, and the lady, and the dog, and write a report,
and send it to all newspapers abroad to be published, thus you and your king
along with the head of the religious Wahhabi authority will be a laughing stock. He took a long breath and then said after a short pause, "Now, let us see what your king will do to you if that ever happen” As if touched by
a high voltage power source, the man jumped to his feet and quickly left,
dragging his grandson behind him. He yelled, “Hey,
you forgot your pebbles’ arsenal behind”, but his yelling fell on deaf ears. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Back
to the lady, he found her in complete astonishment. “The man left as if he’s seen
a ghost. What did you say to him?” The lady asked him. “Oh, it is a long story,
but I doubt you’ll ever see him around here anymore” She thanked him, and then asked, “Is
he one of the religious authorities?” He said, “The Mutawa’een...I believe so... and...an ignoramus one, too” She wondered, “Who are those people?” He
said, “They are followers of a zealot who lived long time ago during when the Ottomans were around...a religious
reformer and a leader of a movement that was named after him” She asked, “What does that
word Mutawa’een mean?” He said, “It a plural the singular of which is mutawa meaning among other things, one who bends, one who makes
flexible and obedient, one who forcibly sets straight” He then looked
at Khaled who was lying flat on the ground and giggling as the dog was on top
of him licking his face. “So he is the religious Fender-Bender” The lady
interrupted. “You can say that. I see your sense of humor is back!” He
said, laughing. “Did I offend you in any way?” She wondered, “Oh, no, you
didn’t. As a matter of fact, I am against their strict views. But it is just fair to mention, the old Saudi generation must
be given some credits. Irrespective of their strict perception of specific
religious matters, they have many qualities rare to find and lacking to some extent in the young generation" She wondered again, “What are these qualities?” He said, “Honesty, faithfulness, loyalty, humility, generosity;
all are desert principles. The oil-rich generation, who
never herded animals under the desert blazing sun but lived in air-conditioned
houses and drove expensive cars, have become arrogant and notably shallow” She said, “I have been
here for while, but I have never had serious talks with any of them” He said, “Just
hope not to meet the ones who are under the false impression that they have
already had all science and technology and that they are starting from where
the other stopped; a slogan I have heard once from an idiot” She said, “People are
impressed by all what the money has achieved so far” He said, “Those are the
fools who are unaware of the fact that their country still lacks the human and
industrial infrastructure required for the so called start-from-where-other-stopped” and then he added, “But would you believe me if I tell you that there are open-minded ones. Surprisingly, some of them are also Mutawa’een” She said, “I have just
been unlucky today, I guess” He said, laughing. “I guess so. And some
of them confided in me their disapproval of the way in which the religious
authority was handling the situation in a country; the total economy of which
relied on the expertise of foreign expatriates of different cultures
and different beliefs” She then wondered, “Can’t they do
something about it?” He shrugged while scanning the sky with his
eyes then smiled as the mystical hurries-like lunar face unveiled by the
absence of the day’s blazing sun, shone intensively. The age-contours on the lady's face were emphasized - Where did I see this lady? he thought, and then said, “Look at that! It is a full moon. God, it is so
beautiful and mesmerizing” S</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">he said while looking at the moon, “Oh, yes it is
indeed” He then commented, “I guess the old man under the influence of the full moon.” She asked, wondering, “What is that?” He said, “Haven’t you
heard of the full moon influence? It is said when the moon is full, crime ratio
increases” She said, “yes I have, but…” He interrupted her, “Well, I think the
observation is nothing but pseudo-scientific” she said, “No, it is true, but the moon was not yet around, when the old man showered my dog with his pebbles"</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Pointing to
his residence and said, “By the way, I live in that building over there. I am
married. My wife is at home. She speaks English fluently. If you like to have a
chat with her, a cup of cocoa or just sit and relax, I’ll be honored. We can
also continue chatting about the subject” ─ “The honor will be mine. I’ll be
glad to do that. My husband is going to pick me up in an hour or so. Would I be
able to use your phone to tell him where I am?” ” She asked. “By all means” said
he and then turned his face to his son and said, “Let us go, Khaled. Enough
playing with doggie! Let us go before Mama is worried”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">The four of them
then marched towards his house. “Hey, Khaled, look how shiny that constellation
is!” He talked to his son. Looking where his father pointed, Khaled raised his
hands and murmured, “Star”, and then clapped his hands. “They are called the
big dipper. A big ladle to serve dinner to the celestial realms in their cool
spatial corridors after departure of the blazing sun” he said. “Oh, that is
poetic” She said. “I wish I was a poet” He thanked. “May I ask you a
question?” She asked. “By all means” He quickly replied. “Your son’s name" She said. "What about it?" He asked. "Is it
true that Arabic names are descriptive and meaningful?” She asked. “Most of
them are” He answered. </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">“What does Khaled mean, then?” </span></span></span></span>She then asked. “Khaled means immortal.
I named him after an Arabian brilliant general who had never been defeated in a
battle" He explained, but she asked him again, “Are you preparing
Khaled to be a warrior?” He patted Khaled
on the head and then smiled. “We’re all warriors in our own ways. Not in the
lexical sense of the word, though”, and then added after realizing they were in
front of his apartment door, “Ah, here we are”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">He rang the door
bell, but before inserting the key into the key hole, he added, “A doctor is a
warrior, so is an engineer, a writer and a farmer. Anyways..." She looked at him in the eyes. "I can’t wait until
the second one is born”, He said. “Am I right if I
assume that your wife is pregnant already?” She said. “Yes you are” He said, turned the key and shouted after he had opened the door, “Honey, we are home.
We have a visitor, oh, what the hell! Honey, are you alright?” He was worried
as he saw his wife sitting on the sofa in the living room huffing and puffing while
her knees were spread apart. He rushed towards her, held her hand and asked her what was wrong with her. “Pangs of
delivery. I think she is due right now” the lady said said. “What!
Delivery! She is due the end of next month” </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">He screamed. “Honey, my water
broke” His wife whispered and then added, “Who is she?” Answering her in a very calm voice the lady said, “Eva is my name.
Don’t be alarmed. It is an early delivery. What is your name?” His wife answered, “Arwa” - “Oh, it is a nice name. it
sound musical. Ok, Arwa, I want you not to worry” The lady said in a
calm voice, and then looked at Arwa’s husband and said, “I need some clean
towels, and call the University Hospital ambulance, not any other hospital, and
boil some water!” The wife asked her, “What are you
going to do?” She told her that they had to be ready before
the ambulance came and asked her not to worry as she was a nurse at the
maternity ward of UH. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">He went to bring the towels, but when he emerged from the
bathroom, he saw his wife already lying on her back in the bedroom; her legs bent
and spread apart, and Eva sitting next to her holding her hand while her other
hand was gently stroking Arwa's distended abdomen. He placed the towels beside his
wife and went to call the ambulance and boil the water. In the kitchen, while
he was boiling the water, he heard one scream followed by a short period of
silence, and then he heard a sound no father in the world would fail to recognize
though he might have not heard it before, then the doorbell rang. He ran to
open the door. There were two nurses holding a stretcher. He invited them in, and told them that his wife was in the bedroom with a friend and that she might
have already delivered the baby. The nurse pushed the stretcher towards the
bedroom. “Hi, Eva, what’re
you doing here?” Seeing Eva holding the baby by his feet, the brunette nurse
asked her. “Delivering a baby, Suzan” Eva said, handing the baby to her. “Here
you go, umbilical cord already cut and tied. This is the quickest and easiest
delivery I have ever done so far” Eva said.“What a big
relief!” the wife said and then asked Suzan if they knew each other. “Eva is the
Maternity Ward Supervisor at the University
Hospital and she is my
boss”Suzan said. The other nurse,
apparently a Filipino, checked the baby. “Congratulation! You have got a baby boy” The
Filipino nurse burst out saying. “Really. Oh, look at his little thing” He said, looking at the baby’s male organ, “I am going to name him Hamzah” </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">─ </span></span></span></span>“Name who, his
Weenie?!” Surprised, the Filipino nurse inquired. Though she was still weak, Arwa burst out laughing. He looked at the nurse while placing his hand on his mouth
to conceal a smile and said patting her on her shoulder, “Of course not. Weenie
is already named weenie. I don’t need to rename it. I meant the baby” The nurse’s face
blushed, but when he bent to kiss his boy, she shouted, “Don’t, don’t kiss him!” He was confused for a second and said quickly, “Ah, adult’s germs. Ok buddy,
how dare I am to spoil your clean slate! Damn those adult’s germs!”, and then
asked the nurse, “Can I at least touch him on the cheek with the tip of my forefinger” The Pilipino nurse nodded.His wife and
Hamzah were transferred to the stretcher. On the way out, he looked at Khaled
who was sitting on the sofa playing with his toys. “Khaled, look, you
have a baby brother” He said. Khaled raised his head and murmured, “Beby”, and quickly
returned to playing with his toys. “By the way, Eva,
I am going to accompany my wife. Will you be able to look after Khaled until I
am back? If any thing happen, just call
me” He told Eva. “By all means, my husband is coming to pick me up soon. I’ll
then bring Khaled to the hospital. Hamzah may have to be placed in the
incubator for a few days. I’ll be there to make sure that everything is
alright” He said while walking to the door, “Thank you very
much! I am in your debts” but Eva
stopped him, wondering, “I am curious. What
does the name Hamazah mean?” He smiled then posed like a lion standing on his
hinds ready for attack, and bared his teeth, then roared two times. “Ah, a
jaguar” She cried. He said, “Pretty close, but with a mane, Eva. A feline with
a mane” and then closed the door behind him.</span></span></span></span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">The End</span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Your comment will be highly appreciated.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599777617707274591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505309449331620490.post-61209633004052341452015-09-13T17:37:00.000-07:002015-09-13T17:43:13.412-07:00Short Story: Finland<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWo2l4FGpaUPBp50A4WhfyccG21DYP46xM0VSw2Np2tgHdo5AhdE48dUYsEVXHrDXZNw-5WtfPVRhLglvK2qIQEWVU967Ald35fMLmrbg12wCbl_l-Po6-MC-jZX8FxKeSNtMfQ_EFD95Q/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWo2l4FGpaUPBp50A4WhfyccG21DYP46xM0VSw2Np2tgHdo5AhdE48dUYsEVXHrDXZNw-5WtfPVRhLglvK2qIQEWVU967Ald35fMLmrbg12wCbl_l-Po6-MC-jZX8FxKeSNtMfQ_EFD95Q/s200/6.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Finland</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>By:</b>
Aadel M Al-Mahdy</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In
my way to Helsinki after my stay in Warsaw, an Egyptian
saying crossed my mind ─ If one has a strong backbone, no one will dare spank
him on his rear-end –; power of connections prevails most of the time. I have
told Wael that I couldn’t obtain the Finnish visa and he asked me not to worry
as he would talk to his well-connected Finnish girlfriend, Mary Haraanen and
she would get it for me. Three days lapsed and the Finnish embassy in Warsaw called me for
collecting my visa.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here
I am aboard the Finnish air-line, looking out the window. The land, stretching
endlessly far below, looked like a sheet of Swiss Rockford cheese. “Good
Heavens! How many lakes are down there?” I whispered to myself but seemingly my
whisper was not low enough as the man sitting next to me said emphatically,
“Hundreds of them. Wait until we land. You will be amazed” </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The
metallic hunk of the bird-like vessel slowed down. The religious protocol of
fastening the seat-belts was announced, and the voice of the airplane’s captain
cascaded softly announcing that we were flying, at the moment, over Finland, minuets away from Helsinki.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Defeated
by the advent of darkness, the lingering sun rays were gasping their last
breath. From afar the forests looked like planted toothpicks, but they were far
from that as, though shrouded in darkness, the foliage began to gradually
reveal itself; a vast expansion of thick, dark greenery, and like most European
cities, illumination spread around in neat geometric patterns, pleasant to the
eye. But, in my mind, they were devoid of romanticism. Cairo during the day is comparatively a total
miss, but approached at night, it is a pitch black piece of velvet with
thousands of diamonds of different radiance, calibers and sizes randomly thrown
on the surface. I believe geometric cemeteries, though beautiful and easy on
the human eye, can be monotonous. Monotony is sameness, and sameness bears
boredom. Vulgar variety has its own unique beauty, too. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Finally,
the lights of the airport ramp hit my eyes ushering in a unique
experience. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At
Helsinki
airport, my friend Wael and his girlfriend, Mary, and professor Al-Harawi were
waiting for me. I dropped my luggage and rushed for a hug, having not seen Wael
for over ten years. Wael tried to stop me. “Not in public, Aadel! People around
here don’t hug in public. They will think we’re gay” Wael whispered. I blushed
but then said, “I don’t give a damn...back home friends embrace and kiss all
the time. There is nothing wrong with tow friends hugging each other” Wael
said, smiling,“So be it, my dear friend!” We then embraced. A young man cast a
doubtful glance at us but Mary looked with a worm and understanding smile
shining on her face, and Al-Harawi giggled.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Outside
the airport, I asked Wael if we were going to call a taxi, he said Mary’s car
was parked somewhere close by. In Mary’s car, Wael asked me how my stay in Warsaw was. “All is well
that ends well” I answered him. “Ooops, was Shakespeare wrong?” Wael exclaimed,
knowing my way of sarcasm. “Categorically speaking, no, but he was” I said, but
Wael curiously asked, “What happened? “ I said, ”On my arrival, custom
people were lenient regarding the gifts I had in my suitcase, but…” Wael then
interrupted “But what?” I said, “On my departure, they wanted me to pay customs
for the jacket I was wearing”Wael asked,“Did you buy it in Poland?” I
quickly said, “It was Polish all right, but a friend of mine bought it for me
last year and I didn’t wear it till then” Wael asked, “Then what happened?” I
assured him that I tried to explain, but they won’t let go until I started
babbling loudly about their lousy communistic attitude. Wael then asked in a
very curious voice, “Were you arrested?” I said, “No, the lady’s face turned
pale and to hush me up, she let me go” Wael quickly emphasized “She did you a
favor” and then inquisitively added after a short pause, “Did you enjoy your
stay?” I answered,“Absolutely, yes, though clouds of troubles were accumulating
in the Polish horizon” Wael asked with increased curiosity, “What
troubles?” “A big workers strike that started in Gdansk” I said. “May God be with them. Do you
remember what happened to Belgrade
decades ago?” Wael asked. “Yes, it was bloody. Who knows what the Russian stars
do hold in store for the poles this time”...The care slowed down, and Mary
interrupted us saying that we were already home. “And by the way, what are
those things on the window sills” I quickly inquired. "Ha, ha, those
little kegs, people around here like to chill their wine this way” Mary
laughed. I exclaimed, “Oh, really, I can’t wait until I hold one in my hand. I
will...” But Wael shouted "Oh, shame on me!"I asked him whay. He
said, "I forgot to introduce Professor Al-Harawi and you to each
other" </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Gentlemen!
Here we are. Welcome to Otanimi!” Mary announced, stopping the car in front of
a nice condominium. “So soon, I was enjoying the sight seeing!” I protested,
but Mary promised to take me in a tour later and then added, “Come on, I am
starving” I then asked, “Is it dinner, yet?” I asked, “Lunch, lunch, Aadel”
Wael said. “Lunch, but it is so dark. It looks like dinner” I argued. “You
never stop arguing. You never changed” Wael commented. “Do I have to change? I
asked. “Well, unchanging is stagnant” Wael said, but I immediately answered,
“No. It is stability" Al-Harawi then said, "Well, remember grass never
grow on rolling stones” Wael nudged me on the shoulderand said, "There you
go". I laughed loudly. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Al-Harrawi
is a husky man in his early 60’s and wears a long but neatly trimmed beard. He
is a civil Engineering professor at Helsinki
University. He invited us
to spend the week end in his log-cabin in the country where he retires for
seclusion every now and then. “After my vacation in Poland, I really need to retire the
city life for a day or two” I said resuming my talk with Al-Harrawi. “You will,
Aadel, though, you won’t be in a total isolation if that is what you want”
Al-Harrawi confirmed but Wael interrupted, “Isolation from the noisy city life,
yes, but rain-deer, bears, and wolves will keep you company most of the time” I
said, “I am not scared and I have to confess, I am a country boy. I do not
really like the concrete jungle of the city, the smoke of cars’ exhaust and the
noise”</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The
door bell ringing interrupted our conversation. I opened the door. It was the
pizza boy. I paid him and shouted, “Dinner, I mean lunch is ready” ─ “You have
paid for the pizza. Haven’t you? You’re my guest” Wael protested and nudged me
in the shoulder. I answered, “How could you? I have not been your guest before,
and still you paid for the flafil, remember!”</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After
lunch, Wael and I stretched on the sofas in the living room reminiscing in our
native tongue about the old days. We laughed and laughed. Mary gave up on both
of us and disappeared in the kitchen for a while after which she reappeared
pushing a tea-cart. “Aadel, have you been to a sauna before?” Mary asked me
while pouring the tea. “Yes, in Stockholm”
I said. “Did you like it?” she asked again. “No, I do not like dry heat” I said
and then added after a short pause, “I prefer the wet, steamy Turkish baths”
Mary said, emphasizing,“Finnish sauna is different. Wait until you try it” I
asked, “When will that happen?” “Al-Harrawi has a sauna beside his cabin” Mary
said. I then winked and slowly said, “Guys, I heard you do have the sauna in
the nude” Wael said with a curios smile was on his face,“That is right” I
hurriedly said “That will be wet enough for me. I can’t complain”Wael cackled,
“Damn you man! You have not changed a bit!” Mary interfered, “Guys, stop! You
both are so argumentative” and then picked the TV remote control. I inquired,
covering my head with my hands, “Are you going to hit me with the remote,
Mary?” Mary laughed and then said, “No!” and then added, “There is a good movie
I want to watch. So be quiet both of you. We are all going straight to bed
after the movie. Tomorrow we will go to the museum, then the day after we will
go to the country to spend a few days in Al-Harrawi’s log-cabin”</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The
highway ran for ever, lined on both sides by abundance of ever-green treas. The
fresh smell of air, loaded with the trees’ essence, made me feel so hungry. I
yelled at Wael, holding him by the shoulder to get his attention as he did not
have his ear-bud on, “This weather makes me so hungry. I feel I can eat a
camel” ─ “Help yourself, if you find one in this desert!” Wael said. Mary and
Wael exchanged places driving, while the rest of the gang, Al-Harrawi, Amgad; a
Lebanese student and I sat on the back seat. Al-Harrawi slept, but Amgad and I
were in a singing mood, so we clapped our hands and sang ─ </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"He
has risen. How beautiful the sun’s rays are. Let us fill up the jars with
water! Let us milk the cows!" ─ After a while, Egyptian folkloric songs
changed to Lebanese ones while our hands were feverishly clapping and our
bodies jerking in a dabka-like manner. Awakened by our commotion, Al-Harrawi
suddenly shouted, pointing to a vast body of water, “There it is. The biggest
lake around here. Let us go and fill our eyes with its beauty”</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Atop
the steep rocky side of the lake, I gazed; eyes widely opened. The sky was
cloudless and the water expansion was so far below at my feet. A feeling of
awesomeness overwhelmed me. So calm and soft the water surface was and far
away. An island stood like a castle in dreamland; trees covering its shore’s
slopes. Colors of foliage transcended in an array of dark green to
copper-brown. The cloudless canopy closed in behind the Island;
natural embracement a renaissance painter would fail to render to canvas.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A
nip in the air made me shiver. The shiver heightened my perception. I had a deep
breath. “I heard, sun rises here late at night. Doesn’t he?” I said. “Yes, we
are after all so close to the North Pole circle” Wael said. “I can’t imagine
how the lake would look like when the Sun is risen?” I wondered. “I won’t let
you miss this amazing natural phenomenal sight for all the treasures in the
world” Wael promised. On our way back to the car, my mind visualized how the
scenery would look like bathed in the sun rays. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I
nimbly jumped into the car seeking for warmth; my soul still hovering over the
lake. After we have driven for a couple of hours, Al-Harrawi said, “We are
pretty close to our final stop” ─ we looked around to see a narrow terrain road
penetrating the forest. Prevalent silence was only broken by the sound of the
cars’ engine and trees mightily stood on both sides of the road like
ever-awaken giants guarding the ancient mystical secrets of the North-man land.
The road was hardly wide to let the car go. Wael had to come to a full stop to
let a stag and his females cross the road. But In the middle of the road the
stag stopped, turned his head towards us, and then its whole body turned
towards us. It wiggled its nose and deeply inhaled and exhaled. It then
defiantly fixed its gorgeous eyes on us and pushed its broad chest forward and
readied its antlers for attack. “How majestic he is!” I said; my eyes
widely opened, but Wael yelled at it, apologizing for the intrusion. The stag
nimbly leaped and disappeared in the folds of the forest followed by its
females. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Located
deep in the forest, Al-Harrawi’s cabin looked like a Merlin’s cottage.
Adjacently, a sauna stood not far from a partially frozen small lake. Wild
ducks and geese were swimming about. Smokes, breathed out of the cabin’s
chimney in serpentine clouds, made me wonder loudly if there was someone
waiting for us. When Al-Harrawi saw me wondering and pointing to the smoke, he
said, “Ah, the smoke, I have just asked a friend to prepare the cabin for our
arrival and kindle some fire" Wael then intruded, "We
won’t let you freeze to death, Aadel” I replied, “Ummm, you won’t, Wael. Would
you?”</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The
cabin was warm and cozy, and basically equipped with all what a hermit would
need. A couple of shelves on the wall carried a few books. A variety of fruits
in a basket on a two-chair table shimmered in the oil-lamp light. I grabbed an
apple, polished it on the my T-shirt's sleeve and had a bite, then shouted
while browsing the other fruits, “Gold, diamonds, rubes…” understanding my
punning, Al-Harrawi said, “Just do not forget the password, Kassim or you
will be doomed” Wael who was sitting close to the fireplace looked at me and
said, “Who is going to fix some food before the gang retires to bed?” Mary
said, “Murgana, of course” showing her familiarity with the Arabian nights. “Who!
Where is she?” Amgad wondered. “Do you see any other female around, silly?”
said Mary and left the cabin. I followed her.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After
strolling by the lake for a while, I asked Mary on our way back where a person
would be able to answer his call of nature. She pointed to a little cubical
close to the sauna and said, “There, and be careful. There’s a small wasp nest
in the right corner. They won’t attack in such cold weather unless you bother
them” I said, laughing, “Well, if you see me running out but-naked, then I must
have bothered them, and for God sake, do not shy from offering your help” </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tired
after driving for two days, we all retired to our beds. Al-Harrawi pulled a
copy of the Qur’an from the shelf, sat on the rocking chair before the fire
place and started reading. The chair swung in rhythm with the inherent music of
the Qur’anic verses. His voice was so serene, so I pulled a chair and sat close
to him. Mary’s eyes were transfixed on us, but the heat emanating from the fire
place lulled us to sleep. My eyelids became heavier and finally I had to submit
to the greatest Sultan of all times; Slumber.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In
the morning, Al-Harrawi and Mary were the first to rise. Mary went out for a
while, and in the meantime the professor prepared a nice breakfast for all of
us. After breakfast, Wael, Amgad and Al-Harrawi went out for a walk. Marry
and I preferred to stay. I was still sipping my morning coffee, when Mary
looked at me with curiosity showing on her face. “What was the professor
reading last night?” Mary asked. “Chapters from the Qur’an” I answered. “Oh,
the Muslims’ bible” Mary said. I answered affirmatively. She then said, “You
looked like you were hypnotized. I thought he had cast a spill on you” I
explained, “The Qur’an is charming as it has its own inherent music, but I was
not hypnotized” Mary then hesitantly asked, “I know Al-Harrawi is religious.
Are you, too?” I said, “Actually, I am not a strict person...I am a
free-thinker...I do not let my personal belief hinder or blur my thinking” Mary
wondered, “Why, then, the…I mean, your body was…” I interrupted,“Swinging along
with the professor’s” I then added after a very short pause, “I am a linguist
who admires beauty and sound of the words wherever they are; in nature, in the
Qur’an, the Bible, the Hindu Vida, or the hymns of Akhenaton” she exclaimed,
“That is great!” I said, trying to curb her enthusiasm and pretending to sound
serious, “Yes, but right now I want to admire your beauty in the nude”
Mary’s mouth gaped, her eyes widened, her face blushed, and then gave me a
confused look. “Got ya. Just kidding. It is my way of saying let us go to the
sauna” I said, laughing. “Aaah, I thought you were serious” she cackled and
nudged me on the shoulder. “Of course I am serious” I said. “What?” Mary
screamed, her face this time giving a big frown. “Got you again. Serious about
going to the sauna, of course” I said, bursting out in laughter. “Oh, I have
already prepared it while you were asleep” Mary said. “Cool, thank you!” I
said. Unfamiliar with the usage of the word in this particular syntax, Mary
interjected, “Not cool. It is hot like hell, and by the way I’m sure my
nakedness will fail to arouse any one” Wael who stood by the door said,“That’s
true. Wait until we’re there and you will see for yourself” I shouted, “Oh! You
are back” and turned my face towards Marry and added, “Mary, don’t you know,
arousal is mostly mental?”</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We
all laughed and then nimbly left for joining the gang. We spent most of the day
having hot times in the sauna and cold dips, crowding the ducks and geese and
swans in the partially frozen lake.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The
End</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]--></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Your comment will be highly appreciated.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599777617707274591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505309449331620490.post-30712750706264664372015-09-13T14:48:00.000-07:002015-09-13T15:00:06.794-07:00SHORT STORY: He-She<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJeG98OyLq-3PnU_JXONCOrQwIUZ0-wzZjZKSbTvnEuO0tXiKcFYa35a2L1B02HimFl5oy855G5TdpfLQ_1_eH14YEhreiE0B3pnqc-XwHSFOXgk8tVu2Tm2Ie2gVnRw0OscEnzqNd0ZBc/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJeG98OyLq-3PnU_JXONCOrQwIUZ0-wzZjZKSbTvnEuO0tXiKcFYa35a2L1B02HimFl5oy855G5TdpfLQ_1_eH14YEhreiE0B3pnqc-XwHSFOXgk8tVu2Tm2Ie2gVnRw0OscEnzqNd0ZBc/s200/5.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">He-She</span></span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><b>By:</b> Aadel
M Al-Mahdy</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Three things he
has been long waiting on needles and fire to do as soon as he has reached the
age of sixteen; to get his ID card, to get his driving license and to get his passport.
And one burning desire ran in his bloodstream; to travel to Europe.
</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">In his childhood,
as much as he has enjoyed the Arabian nights and Ali Baba and the forty
thieves, he has also enjoyed Robin Hood and William tell, and many other
stories in which illustration of creatures like squirrels, penguins, skunks,
beavers and otters, fascinated him. He also wanted to see these alien creatures
in their natural habitat.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">“You’re a man
now, Waleed” his eldest brother said, seeing him holding his ID card in his
hand and looking at it with dreamy eyes. “Why are you saying that?” Waleed asked
his brother. “You’ve your ID card now” his brother answered. “With or without my
ID I’m a man” Waleed emphasized. “Why then all the fuss last year about when
you were going to obtain it?” his brother asked. “Because without my ID card, I
cannot have my driving license and my passport” Waleed answered. “What’re you
going to do with a passport?” his brother inquired. “Travel” Waleed said. His brother
failed to hide his surprise but then asked him, “Do you have money to travel?”
─ “I’ve been saving money over the last five years” Waleed said. “God, you’re
so determined!” His brother said and then added, “Ok, when the time comes and
you find yourself in short of a few pounds, ask me”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">As soon as the
window of opportunity opened, Waleed flew through it like a hawk swooping down
on its prey and over two years, he visited Italy
and France
where he worked during the school long summer holiday, lived his life as he wanted, purchased a few things and saved
some money for his next visit.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">“Where are you
going this summer, Waleed?” his brother asked.“This time I am going to Britain. I want
to visit the stone hedge. It’s an enigmatic monument and archaeologists have
different theories about why it was built” Waleed enthusiastically answered him
─ but cunningly smiling, his brother said, thinking that Waleed was still too
young to understand his double meaning, “Really, so the Eiffel tower and
Michael Angelo’s statue of David did not quench you thirst for culture. You
think the stone hedge will” Understanding what
his brother meant as well as his cunning smile, Waleed laughed all heartily
and said, “I guess the British monuments are kind of better looking; kind of
more round and bubbly" and then added with a smurky smile on his face, "Look at the stone hedge! Isn’t it round?” </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">─ “Round and
beautiful” his brother said, laughing, “Just don’t forget to bring me a piece
of English woollen fabric good for a suite, and if you still have money left,
maybe a nice turtle-nick Sweater; Saint Michael, the one that has elbows
patched with leather. English wool is the best as the Egyptian cotton is worldwide”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Two weeks later,
Waleed got the visa and flew to England,
and one week before the end of his visit, he stayed in London. A few days before he departed he
decided to go to a night club in Soho and have
some fun.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Sitting to the
bar with one half of his third Caesar drink in front of him, Waleed’s eyes fell
on her and absolutely refused to leave. “Who’s that houri?”
he asked the bartender. “Oh, isn’t she gorgeous. Her name’s Felicity” the
bartender said with a weird tone of voice and a strange smile on his face while
rubbing his left earring. “Felicity she is. God, she’s so beautiful” Waleed said;
his voice gently articulated. “Are you interested in her?” the bartender asked. Who wouldn’t, my
dear English man? Waleed thought, ignoring to verbally answer the bartender
question. Felicity was the most gorgeous girl he has ever seen in his whole
life, and he has, so far, visited two European countries well-reputed for
romance and amour and seen many girls. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Felicity was almost
Waleed’s age. Her thick hair reached down to her waist that looked like a thin line
emphasizing her seductive endowments above and below. Her hair; soft like
Chinese silk and raven-black like an intense moonless night in the Sahara desert, flew in response to her dance movement like
the mane of an Arabian mare galloping freely on the floor of a valley during
spring season. Her eyebrows perfectly curved perfectly like ancient Bukhara mosques’ domes. Her
emerald-green wide eyes looked dreamy. Her long eyelashes, rimming her slightly
drooping eyelids, cast light shadows on her soft rosy cheeks. Her lips were red
like wild cherry freshly plucked in the mountains of Lebanon, and the lobes of her ears delicate
and inviting. Her pomegranate-like breasts were perfectly sized and shaped, and
her nipples were defiantly perky. She wore a pleated mini-skirt revealing her erotically
seductive firm and round thighs and her gracefully alabaster-like long legs.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">He started
having butterflies in his abdomen, and an orgasmic feeling shot throughout his body
causing his toe tips to tingle. An urge for holding her tight in his arms and squeezing
the sweet honey out of her pouting lips overcame him. “God, the way she dances
is both satanically inspired and heavenly revealed” he whispered to himself,
feeling being dragged towards her by a cosmic gravitational pull. He gathered his
strength, walked towards her, tapped her on the shoulder and bowed politely.
“May I have you on the floor!” said he unaware of his bad English. “No, you may
not!” she said, her voice sounding gentler than cool-breeze in a hot summer
day, but realizing that he was a foreigner, she cackled and then added
correcting his syntax, “but you can have this dance with me on the floor”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">They held each
other. She submissively synchronized her moves to his, and then they both danced
to the music more harmoniously than the gentle shore-beating of ocean waves in
a moon-lit night. Tipsy of the essence they were, so they rubbed noses,
held each other tighter and closer and wiggled, heaved and gyrated. Soon their
breathing shortened and their foreheads shone with perspiration. “Let’s go home” she
whispered to him while slightly biting on his earlobe. He wiggled his neck and
whispered back to her, “We better do. Everybody’s looking at us”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">On their way out,
the bartender waved his hand and smiled at Waleed in a way meaningful to no one
but himself. Waleed had seen this expression before on the bartender’s face,
but failed so far to understand it.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">On the bed in Felicity’s
Studio apartment, they hugged and kissed feverishly. Waleed had her grape-like
nipples in his mouth, slightly bit them with his teeth, and flicked them with
his tongue. He scoured her nick, her cleavage and then his lips moved down to
her naval while his hands were busy scratching her back. He grabbed her firm, round
butt, cupped and pinched it. When he sat up
to take off his shirt, his eyes caught sight of her groin area. She was shaved
down there, something which always aroused him; but suddenly he stopped what he
was doing and abruptly retreated. His facial muscles contracted violently. One
of his eyes twitched constantly, the two corners of his mouth dropped along
with his lower jaw, and as though he has seen the devil, he screamed and jumped
off the bed. Felicity stood up facing him. Waleed’s eyes then had a full and
unmistakable view of Felicity’s sexual organ. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">When he was very
young, Waleed and his friend used to gather together during the long summer
holiday and sit by the Nile
River and tell each other
scary stories about Djinn, Ghouls, Efferits, Satan and monsters. They all were
under the impression that Satan had a weird sexual organ. Since no female
accompanied Satan when he was driven out of heavens, he had to have both male
and female organs, otherwise how would he be able to have offspring. Logical as
it may sound and unaware at their age of the existence of Hermaphrodites
among the human race, they had to come to this conclusion. “Where do you
think the little Efferits came from? They’re Satan’s offspring. He had to have
both penis and vagina” one of Waleed’s friends said unaware that hermaphrodites
were the mules of the human race; barren! </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Years later, in
a studio apartment in London, when Waleed’s eyes caught sight of the sexual
organ of someone whom he thought was a girl and saw her semi-erected penis and her
two hanging testicle, he realized that he a crush on the
daughter of the devil; a repugnant thought that made him feel like throwing up. So he picked
his clothe and shoes, ran to the apartment door, opened it and slammed it shut behind
him, ran down the stairs, called a taxi and never looked back.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Back in Egypt, Waleed
said to his eldest brother, laughing so hard that his legs wobbled and eyes
filled with tears, “Well, it is said,
there is seven benefits in traveling; one of them is obviously a shemale encounter”his brother laughed and said, “That’s right,
and, on the other hand, one of the seven bad things is forgetting to bring the English woolen fabric and sweater. I needed the fabric to tailor a suite for a special
occasion” Waleed shouted while still laughing, “What! What
occasion?" his brother smiled but did not answer. Waleed then asked while trying hard to hide his sarcasm by covering his mouth with his hand:</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">"Are you having a date with a Felicity?”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">The End </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Your comment will be highly appreciated.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599777617707274591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505309449331620490.post-63024269695044866982015-09-12T21:03:00.000-07:002015-09-12T21:03:24.233-07:00SHORT STORY; The Train<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcCzD9rIgTkZQue0JyOLARPf3GK-8ydiY84mZenPwMvfZ9x5VwmD_HlGl-_ax_IXSgVGRoSXrZeiEsakFZOt7McLldnVNYZIoWGAyy2xbLQ9QdjjyMqtQ6YAsflE-9IGdUo4XZ9b70_3G/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcCzD9rIgTkZQue0JyOLARPf3GK-8ydiY84mZenPwMvfZ9x5VwmD_HlGl-_ax_IXSgVGRoSXrZeiEsakFZOt7McLldnVNYZIoWGAyy2xbLQ9QdjjyMqtQ6YAsflE-9IGdUo4XZ9b70_3G/s200/3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The
Train</span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>By:</b>
Aadel M Al-Mahdy</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thoughts
chased each other so fast in his mind ─ Goddamn those customs and traditions. They are
nothing but a rotten yield of unhealthy past; arrogance and pride. Goddamn the
corrupt upbringing of my brother Ghayeth. He has turned my life into misery. He
lived the silky side of life; a womanizer until he was shot-dead. Blood-feud
has now become unavoidable. Ah, blood-feud; a feeling that keeps wavering back
and forth in the chest of an Upper-Egyptian and never rests until revenge is
attained no matter how many years have lapsed and generations been born. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here
it is; a letter from his father instructing me to immediately come home whatever
the circumstances are to carry out his duty. He is the eldest son, therefore, he
must seek revenge for his brother’ death. Thus, the perverted customs dictate, or
else he will live in eternal shame.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He held his head in his hands and squeezed on his temples to stop his mind from
thinking, but his efforts doomed to failure ─ Hasn’t my brother gotten what he
deserved? I have frequently warned him not to bother Rashidah, the daughter of
Abu-Swailam, but he did not listen. He would not lust after nobody else but
her. And my father, yes, whenever my brother’s erotic adventures tickled his
hearing, he would, eh, damn, Gayeth was the youngest and my father’s favorite
son. Honest to God, I found nothing in Gayeth but moral depravity, dissolution,
and obtuseness. But my father always discriminated between boys and girls. Girls
were the family’s untouchable pride and honor, and there would be no harm if
boys matured a bit earlier. My brother matured earlier all right. And Hamdan,
Rishidah’s husband, lay in wait in a sugar-cane field and shot Gayeth then went
home and killed his wife. For giving me a chance to avenge my brother’s death,
the police had been intentionally misled. They never knew who the killer was though
I knew while I was still Cairo </span></span></span><span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">─</span></span></span>
Now, obliged to perform a cultural duty, here he is in Cairo train station waiting for the train
that goes to Upper-Egypt.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">No
one will mistaken the station by anything else; the baskets, the boxes, the
luggage; all scattered around in indescribable chaos and the very long train
that arrives in after it has traveled a very long distance to finally stop
gasping for breathes and blow its horn; a complaint of injustice done to it by the
sons of Adam and Eve whom it boards in its abdominal cavity and carries on its
back along with their luggage.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He
turned his face away to distract his mind by a different view as his thoughts
were nothing but a torture. The cold drink vendors filled the station with
their voices and their knocking on the bottles by metal openers. A family sat
on the Train-Track curb having their dinner while their belongings heaped up
beside them. On
his left hand, his eyes caught a rich man with a big turban on his head. He had
a shining soft face and on his chest a long catena glittered. Attached to a
leather wallet pregnant with banknotes, the other end of the chain hid in the
left side of his chest causing a bulge. He smiled as he saw, close to the rich
man, who seemed to have just sold his cotton crop, two pick-pockets planning
how to hunt this fat goose and how to severe his wallet’s metallic umbilical
cord. A
man sat reclining to his basket; his bare feet hanging down the train track. He
snored so loudly that his waxed and twined ends of his mustache wiggled
rhythmically. Beside him, an eighteen-year old lad, wearing his lined
Upper-Egyptian traditional garb, stood holding a thick club in his hand as
if he were a watch-dog on duty. People were hither and thither; men and women,
sitting or standing, or snoozing.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He
managed to walk through the crowd searching for a remote empty seat but his
mind was still roaming ─ Damn you Gayeth! And vengeance, too! And damn the law!
It does not quench the thirst. So full of loops the criminal law is that a
second-year law student can manipulate it as easily as a sharp knife cutting
through a bar of butter. But families exaggerate their vengeance. Thus killing
begets nothing but killing; a vicious circle. Hasn’t Gayeth gotten what he
deserves for lusting after Rashidah and hurting her husband’s honor? </span></span></span><span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">─ His
eyes caught sight of a bench and a man sitting on it by himself. He sat a bit
far from him. Tears rolling down the man’s cheeks moved his curiosity. The man was
weeping. He wondered if the man was burdened by blood-feud, too. The man seemed
to be in his thirties; hansoms in spite of signs showing his strive and
struggle with life. “Why
is he crying? He whispered to himself as the man's moaning has almost burnt his face. The man was looking at him with
eyes full of misery </span></span></span><span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">─</span></span></span> "Does he want to talk to me? Come on, open up, brother.
Birds of a feather flock together” he whispered to himself again. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Doubt, It is
doubt, sir, which made me loose my mind” The man said as if he has read his
thought. “What
are you talking about? What doubt are you talking about?” He asked. <span> </span>“The severest kind. Let me tell you something
that happened to me” the man said and then after a short pause, he whispered, “I
have to tell someone. Let it be you, sir. Do you think my kids are mine or
Afifi’s? Please, let me tell you my story of doubts, my wife’s cheating with my
closest friend. God, what a whirl causing my head to spin! Will you hear me
out, sir? What! Did you say you will? Thank you”. But
suddenly, the crowd’s noise grew louder and people started to move in every
direction. The Upper-Egyptian train has arrived; smokes coming out of its
chimney in hot and quick blasts like breaths coming out of a wounded beast and
steam clouds were breathed out on both sides of the locomotive engine thus
filling the place with thick fogs. Squeaking and screeching heightened as the
enormous piston-rod stopped slamming the wheels. Compartments slightly ran into each
other, and then the train came to a full stop, panting like a buffalo chased by
a predator on a hot summer day. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Swallowed
up in the crowd, he found him self fighting his way through like a worrier in
one of the ancient battles. Finally, he sat on a window seat. Baskets and
luggage were flung in and out. A piece of luggage hit his nose. “Oh,
God, it is so painful” he whispered, his eyes shining with tears. A man with a
sarcastic smile on his face looked at him while he was shaking the dust off of his
cloth. Unconsciously, his hand plunged into his pocket searching for the train
ticket. The noise abated as the station became devoid of people save for the
cold-drink vendors. He looked out the window. There on the bench, he was still
sitting; misery depicted on his face. His mind roamed again ─ I almost forgot
him. What a cheating wife; women in Cairo and Upper Egypt. Are they all Rahshidah? Oh, no, of course
not. It is men, too. Damn you, Gayeth! Damn you Afifi! Hamdan should not be
blamed for doubting his relation to his kids. Do I still have to kill him
because of a whole bunch of old customs and traditions? Damn!</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The
train’s engineer blew the horn. It wailed like a loving mother who lost her
child. He looked at him again. He was still there, his eyes were so sad </span></span></span><span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">─ </span></span></span>No,
no! I will not kill you, Hamdan. Let someone else do it. Not me ─ he thought
and then jumped to his feet; a muffled scream coming out of his mouth. People
looked suspiciously at him.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The
train started to move leaving behind black clouds of smoke. On the other side
of the train track, he found himself standing watching the train’s
departure. And before leaving the station, he looked again across the track but
he found the bench empty. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The
End</span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Your comment will be highly appreciated.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599777617707274591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505309449331620490.post-23332928539550166572015-09-12T20:27:00.001-07:002015-09-12T20:27:57.699-07:00SHORT STORY: The Serpent<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4UADW_oMistZmAkuyXvW2agLIsY5744B5bg8WI183PIa0lmfIk4TNE3l6eVosV8q2rENkfmF5wsaSlzP20NP3XvdrKyYOBiZ6fMRxFYcFQVFBp_4v1ARgec0p6h1GppU7mjcqRhl6tok/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4UADW_oMistZmAkuyXvW2agLIsY5744B5bg8WI183PIa0lmfIk4TNE3l6eVosV8q2rENkfmF5wsaSlzP20NP3XvdrKyYOBiZ6fMRxFYcFQVFBp_4v1ARgec0p6h1GppU7mjcqRhl6tok/s200/2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">The Serpent</span></span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><b>By:</b> Aadel M Al-Mahdy</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">“God Gracious,
have mercy on him!” the words came out of my mouth in staccato whisper while my
fingernails cut through the skin of my palms. A pregnant woman held her
distended abdomen in pain. An old man fell to the ground unconscious. A little
girl hiding behind her mother shook like a dry leaf in the wind. People stood
riveted, stunned by the scene; fear blanching their faces.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">It was mid-day.
The carded-cotton-like clouds moved slowly to the horizon, and burnt in the sun, the
sugar cane leaves twisted into little cork screws. Tops of sparse palm trees
looked like unkempt hair of an aged woman. At the top of a palm tree was a man;
his eyes glazing and bulging, his dried-date tongue parting his swollen lips
and his forehead beaded by glittering sweat. Around him coiled a dreadful
serpent; its body massive and its head swinging violently. Its mouth opened to
bare its fangs and forked tongue.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">“God, look at
its tail hitting the tree trunk!” breaking the silence, someone exclaimed. “I bet
you, Hollywood
cannot produce such a scene!” a man wearing an elegant suit interrupted. “The
man is dying. Someone must do something to save him” an old woman begged the
crowd. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Screams were
heard, and a woman was seen stumbling down the road. “That’s Reem, Abu-Ismael’s
wife. Stop her otherwise her screams will kill her husband. The serpent will be
irritated” ” someone said. “Ignoramus, snakes have no eardrums” the elegantly
dressed man whispered to himself. I glared at him while two men pulled the poor
woman away and commanded her to be silent. “What are we
going to do now” someone asked. The elegantly dressed man answered immediately,
“I know what to do” ─ everybody looked at him, but he continued, looking into
the desperate faces “I know someone living on the western bank of the river. He
is a good shot. I am sure he will help”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">"I would not
recommend him. He is a bastard and would not care less unless he is getting a
big portion of interest in his favor” a university student interjected. “Mind
your language, young man! Haven’t you learned any manners at school” someone
snapped angrily. But gripping firmly a history book under his arm, the student
answered, “I have, and history as well”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">“Calm down
folks! There’s another alternative” a saddle-nosed man interrupted; his eyes
and mustache looked Mongolian. People looked at him with pleading faces.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">“I know of a man
living on the eastern bank of the river. He would not claim much in return, and
if you tell him that you are thinking of seeking help from the western bank
dweller, he may do the job for next to nothing”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">“I know him,
too, and he is worse than the other one” the university student cried, but his
voice was stifled by the sound of hooves clopping down the road.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Astride his
beautifully saddled horse, the village mayor rode into view; his chief sentry
running in his trail in a cloud of hooves’ stirred dust. A murmur rippled
through the crowd.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">“When did such a
serpent come to the village?” the mayor asked, appraising the desperate
situation carelessly. “Once upon a time, mayor” the university student said;
his voice was sarcastic. The mayor glared at him, but the student continued, “It
was smaller at the time. We fought it bear-handed, but we failed to kill it. We
then cried out for help, but you did not respond. You were up to your ears
absorbed into your own affairs”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">“How dare you
talk to the mayor like that?” the chief sentry said pushing the student on the
shoulder. The crowd roared, and a huge man held the chief sentry firmly by the
shoulder and yelled, “If you ever do that again, I’ll break your nick”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">“Let me kill the
bastard right now” someone pushed forward wielding his rod, but a white-bearded
man intervened, “Calm down, folks! Arguing and fighting with each other never
solved a problem. Does it matter now who is responsible? Right now all we have
to do is unite, be of one heart, of one mind and think of a way out. Neither
east nor west, or north or south is going to help us unless we help ourselves”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Some people
moaned and some other shouted, but someone cried happily, “There he is someone
from among us coming down the road” ─ All people turned eagerly to see a man
heading to the scene. He wore a
traditional garment, patched but clean. His nose was straight and sharp like
the edge of a sword. Thick eyebrows shaded his grief-stricken eyes. His beard
was as white as freshly blossomed cotton flowers. He was definitely old but
still as strong and tall as a mast of a ship. “I heard of the
incident, so I came to offer my help” he solemnly said.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">“That’s
Abdul-Aleem, a killer, blood-feud people use to hire” my friend whom I came to
visit whispered into my ear. “But I heard he quit since cancer killed his only
son” I whispered back. “That’s right” My friend said. “Save the man
and I’ll give you any amount of money you ask, Abdul-Aleem” a rich man said.
But Abdul-Aleem said, “I am not interested in your money. My bullet may miss
and kill Abu-Ismael. Would you then claim for my blood?” The rich man said, “On behalf of
everybody, I know you’ll do your maximum best. If you miss, we will then accept
it as God’s will and God be my witness, no one will blame you”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Abdul-Aleem then
asked for a rope which he wrapped around himself and the palm tree’s trunk that
stood opposite to Abu-Ismael palm tree. Carrying his rifle on his shoulder,
Abdul-Aleem climbed the tree until he reached a parallel point. He then took
his gone off his shoulder and aimed.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">The serpent hung
its head in the air in front of Abu-Ismael’s face; its tongue frightfully
appearing and disappearing, and then retreated with its mouth widely opened and
its fangs totally erected. The serpent then swooped forward, but at that exact moment,
Abdul-Aleem fired his gun. The headless
reptilian body uncoiled and hit the ground. Someone climbed the tree and helped
Abu-Ismael climb down the tree.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">“Water, water”
Abu-Ismael whispered as soon as he reached the ground. But soon after he had a
few sips of water, his head dropped on his shoulder. Cries rippled through the
crowd and Reem throw herself on her husband wailing. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Firmly squeezing
my friend’s hand, I whispered to him, “God may have mercy on all of us! It is
as if I haven’t come to visit you, but to walk in Abu-Ismael’s funeral”.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">The End</span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Your comment will be highly appreciated.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599777617707274591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505309449331620490.post-15036742680016814162015-09-12T20:06:00.000-07:002015-09-12T20:06:30.719-07:00SHORT STORY: The Shaytaan and Abdullah <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjBJt9MmvSHkHc59FwBDKbOf-NdnCkIn2jHdHpIslZgf4hGqkHbXg_fxiYwZdGcPEOWzvVQzHWPtlF-gPia84aHShQa9YLeHgJG8w25dbdj6jWKy19FQnMzKjJj-40imNUA-1MvtIx11N/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjBJt9MmvSHkHc59FwBDKbOf-NdnCkIn2jHdHpIslZgf4hGqkHbXg_fxiYwZdGcPEOWzvVQzHWPtlF-gPia84aHShQa9YLeHgJG8w25dbdj6jWKy19FQnMzKjJj-40imNUA-1MvtIx11N/s200/1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><b>The Shaytaan and
Abdullah</b> </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><b>By:</b> Aadel M Al-Mahdy </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span> </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><b>Omar El-Sufi</b> is
a pious man in his mid-seventies; always neatly dressed and meticulously clean.
Age may have snow-dusted his hair, but it has not debilitated his hulky corps
or his mental abilities. He is a man loved by his students for his piety and
his truthfulness that sometimes bluntly comes out.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">“And you really
want to see him”, <b>El-Sufi </b>asked <b>Abdullah</b>, one of his students, while combing his
grey beard with his fingers. <span> </span>“Yes, Master.
I want to see him. I want to talk and reason with him” <b>Abdullah</b> answered. “But he
is so ugly and monstrous. Won’t you be scared?” <b>El-Sufi</b> said, “No, I won’t” <b>Abdullah</b> answered, “But his mere sight will make your legs shake like a dry leaf in the
wind, your body trembles like quacking land, your head spins like a ship in a
mill-storm and your stomach throws up its contents like an erupting volcano. Do
you still insist on seeing him?” <b>El-Sufi</b> asked. “Yes, sir, I do,
and the sooner the better” <b>Abdullah</b> answered. <b>El-Sufi</b> said, “By Him, the
creator of him, you and I, once your eyes catch a glimpse of his terrible sight
and your nose a whiff of his horrible stink, your soul will strongly wish for
instant departure from your corps and your corps will shrivel and rot like an apple
that has been stored away for months”. </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><b>Abdullah</b> then said,“Master, your
exaggeration is not working. Take me to him, please! If I know where he lives...” <b>El-Sufi </b>laughed and then said, “Oh that is not a secret. He
lives so close to you. He always lives closer than one’s own jugglers are to his
nick”. </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><b>Abdullah</b> pleaded, “Enough talking,
Master and please, take me to him!” <b>El-Sufi</b> said, “I just do
not want to bear the consequences of introducing you to each other and bear
witness your flight” - “By God, I shall
gallantly face him. Temptation is the animal I wish to slaughter and offer to
the beasts of the wilderness” <b>Abdullah</b> confirmed. “Well, but when the test is conducted
and reckoning established, you will either be a winner or a looser” <b>El-Suf</b>i
said, but <b>Abdullah</b> said “Believe me master, I will be a winner, If the
Almighty, God, will” - “And if you
will, too. God will not change what has befallen people unless they themselves
change” <b>El-Sufi</b> emphasized. “I am totally and absolutely willing
to meet him and I will be totally responsible for whatever happen to me” </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Abdullah said. “It is he who is
saying that, my son. It is he who desires your conference” <b>El-Sufi </b>said, but perplexed,
<b>Abdullah</b> uttered no word. <b>El-Sufi</b> then put his sneakers on, dragged <b>Abdullah</b> by
the hand and said, “Let us go! We have one Satan waiting”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">They walked
until they reached the western desert. Deep in the desert they reached a mound
whereby its feet, a shepherd lad sat in the shadow drawing lines in the sand
while his herd grazed close by under the watchful eyes of his black dog. Not
afar from the shepherd, <b>El-Sufi</b> sat in the mound’s shadow and asked <b>Abdullah</b> to
sit beside him. Exhausted, <b>Abdullah</b>, sat down, closed his eyes and tried not to
think of the forthcoming events. <b>El-Sufi</b> asked <b>Abdullah</b>
to keep his eyes closed but mentally roam the desert, its folds, its caves, its
rocky nooks and crannies. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">At the mouth of a certain cave in <b>Abdullah’s mind</b>,
<b>El-Sufi</b> asked <b>Abdullah</b> to halt and then said to him, “Son, There is where
you will go. That is Satan’s Abode. God knows what is best for you”.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span> </span>Abdullah entered the cave. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Inside the cave, he found himself in
a bare hall. He looked deeper, but the hall soon filled up with whirling winds
loaded with dust that turned into an array of different colors heaving like
water in the ocean. Suddenly a nasty smell joined all the colors,and slime
was born. Smeared in slippery condensed and stinky dripping moisture, the most
monstrous image of a creature appeared; a pear-like head, on top of which a
ram-like curly horns sprouted on each side, a saddled-nose that ended in wide
nose trills separated from an ugly rotten teeth-baring mouth by an upper split broad
lip, blood-shot almond-like eyes with feline pupils that glowed like pieces of
fire, and floppy ears like those of a jackass; all walked out of the gooey slime.
His arms and legs were definitely strong. His split hooves were black like the
rest of his hairy body and his tail looked like a slave driver’s. <b>Abdullah</b> heard
<b>El-Sufi’s voice</b> coming from behind him, “Here is he whom you wanted to see. But
beware of temptation as he is the master of illusion!”. <b>Abdullah</b> looked
behind but saw nobody. When he looked forward again, he saw <b>Satan</b> standing in
front of him with a cunning smile on his ugly face.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">“So you wanted
to see me. Are you not scared?” <b>Satan’s words</b> came out of his mouth like the
slamming of steel against each other. <b>Abdullah</b> answered, “Why would I? You can’t
hurt me. You are nothing but a filthy whisperer”. </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><b>Satan</b> said, “And whispering
is where my power lies. I haven’t yet made you drink from its cup. It tastes
sweeter than honey”. Smiling. <b>Abdullah</b> said, “No, I haven’t and I
have no taste for your temptation. You are filth and filth begets nothing but
filth” - “You are
absolutely right, but somebody’s filth is somebody else’s treasure. It is only
a matter of desire” said <b>Satan</b>. “I desire nothing from you” <b>Abdullah</b> said. <b>Satan</b>
quickly asked, “Wasn’t it you who desired to see me? Ah, and you think you have
known it all. Am I not the one who tempted humanity since the beginning?”. <b>Abdullah</b> answered, “You tempted but
those who were sick at their hearts, not those who were pure” <b>Satan</b> said, mocking, “Pure
like your grandparents, Adam and Eve, hah, who is pure in this materialistic
world where therein lie its seeds of corruption? Do you consider yourself a pure
man whose piety can move a mountain?”. .</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Said Abdullah, “In God, I seek
refuge from you. In God, I pity those who have fallen into your snares. What
did they see in you? In my eyes, you are abomination”. <b>Satan</b> laughed and then confirmed, “You are not
far from the truth, <b>Abdullah</b>. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and in me,
they behold the immediate fulfillment of their desires in this life, not in a
life promised to come”. <b>Abdullah</b> spat on the floor, but <b>Satan</b>
said, “Hold your horses! If you let your horse run wildly, you won’t reach your
destination. We still have a lot to discuss. Tell me, <b>Abdullah, w</b>hat is your
destination?”. <b>Abdullah</b> said emphasizing every word, ”Your
destruction, your annihilation is my ultimate destination”. <b>Satan</b> then said, “But
I am not destructible. I am your God’s nemesis” .- “You are my
God’s enemy” said <b>Abdullah</b>. <b>Satan</b> laughed and then said, “I am the opposite of
the opposite. I am the night to the day and the dark to the light. I am the
enlightened. I am Lucifer. I am the North Star. Without me, you will not be
able to discern evil from good, hence, I am good since I make you discern. I am
the guidance torch”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Looking
<b>Abdullah</b> deeply in the face, <b>Satan</b> then continued, “Follow me! Be one of the multitudes
who followed me since the beginning!”. Abdullah said, “That is utter nonsense!
You are temptation. You are destructive but I also know you are destructible
and I have the means just to end you” - “Ah, and what is
that? I am frightened. I am shaking in my satanic skin” Satan said, mocking. <span> </span><b>Abdullah</b> shouted, “Faith is my weapon. <b>Satan</b> burst out
laughing and then said, “Faith is the object for my temptation. Temptation is
designed but for the faithful for as much as a doctor will not visit a healthy
man, temptation is sickness that befalls the healthy since the sick is already ailing”. <b>Abdullah</b> said, “Those faithful
you tempted were not faithful enough” but Satan asked him, “Are
you faithful enough, <b>Abdullah</b>? You asked to see me, to reason with me. It takes
strong faith to reason with <b>Satan</b>. You also seek for my destruction. Your faith
must be very strong. I have to admit it. I do admire you”. <b>Abdullah</b> said, “Thank you NOT!” Satan burst out laughing again and asked, “How old are you <b>Abdullah</b>?
Forty? And you haven’t yet married! Am I right?” – “I am forty one, though it is
none of your concern” said <b>Abdullah</b>. <b>Satan</b> then quickly said “Ha, what is none
of my concern I make it my concern. But so young you are, <b>Abdullah</b>”. </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><b>Abdullah</b> asked, “What is your
point?” Satan explained, “You are eligible, but you have not yet met your match.
But again, who would match your piety. Tell me! If there is one who does, will
you marry her?” <b>Abdullah</b> answered, “Of course I’ll marry her”- “Yes why not!
How stupid I am!" <b>Satan</b> said then added "Of course, a young woman who has not been touched by a mortal and
willing to embark with her spouse on a journey of discovery of all sexual
pleasures...” </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Biting on his lower lip and looking <b>Abdullah</b> in the eyes
<b>Satan</b> went on describing and shape shifting into his description, “A woman whose
face is like full moon so mysteriously radiant, her waist-length pitch black and
thick hair is softer than Chinese silk; her beautifully wide emerald-like eyes
are greener than meadow grass and pleasant like the sight of oases in the
desert to a tired traveler; her eyebrows are sleeker than the sun’s brow when
being born at daybreak; her nose is mightily strait like a sabre; her cherry-like
lips are seductively kissable; and her mouth is sweet like honey dripping from
a comb yearning to be squeezed; her breasts are soft to the touch, round and firm
to the grip and her perking nipples atop them sweet grapes to eat”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">Satan's voice
became sweet, worm and hypnotic whispers. <b>Abdullah’s eyes</b> slightly closed and
his legs shook. He felt as if the floor was slowly heaving underneath his feet.
But <b>Satan</b> who never stopped his descriptive whispering, “Shyly looking
outward, her perky nipples are; her waist is so thin, a contrast emphasizing
the size and cemetery of her breasts and her hips; her bellybutton is round and
deep and looks like a magical lake in her abdominal valley yearning to be
navigated and the valley grazed; her round and firm hips wiggle when she walks;
her rear-end hunches and protrudes seductively when she bends over; her full
thighs are round like sand dunes; her neatly mowed luscious triangle between
her thighs is bulging out and her gate underneath the gleaming triangle is a
road to heavens, its door’s leaves that look like curled petals of unfolding rose
are readily agape for the sultan to enter…and oh…”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">A weird
sensation ran through all <b>Abdullah’s body</b>, but before he could gather his
thoughts and strength, he heard <b>El-Sufi’s cynical voice</b>, echoing, "You have already sinned <b>Abdullah</b>. Haven’t
you?”A complete silence then followed. <b>Abdullah</b> opened
his eyes and looked around. He saw nothing but the shepherd bending over him and
nudging him on the shoulder, “Sir, wake up! The sun is already gone. Your
friend asked me before he left to wake you up as soon as the sun was gone”. <b>Abdullah</b> said,“Thank you: and then asked, "When
did he leave?”. The shepherd said, “Shortly after you both sat
down in the shadow by the feet of the mound. It seemed that you were so tired
and fell asleep” </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><b>Abdullah</b> stood
up, thanked the shepherd again and turned his face towards home, but before
taking one single stride, he heard <b>Al-Sufi’s voice</b> echoing again, “Have I not
told you, my son, you won’t win? And you have not yet met the real <b>Satan</b>, but
the one that lies within”. </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><b>Abdullah</b> curiously asked the shepherd, “Did you hear
that?”The shepherd wondered, “Hear what?". <b>Abdullah said</b>, “The voice, my friend’s voice”. The
shepherd replied with a smile on his face and said, “No, I did not hear anything. Sir,
the desert sometimes plays tricks on us”</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><b>Abdullah</b>shrugged and walked away, but after a few steps he failed to resist a feeling
to steal a last look at the mound. When he did, he saw nothing but the plain
desert stretching for ever before his eyes; no mound, no shepherd, no herd and
no dog. “Where did they
go. Did the ground open up and swallow them all?” whispered <b>Abdullah</b> and then resumed
his walking in a faster and frightened pace. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">By the time <b>Abdullah</b> was home, he was all sweaty
and panting like a dog. A feeling of shame overwhelmed him.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA">The End</span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Your comment will be highly appreciated.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599777617707274591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505309449331620490.post-19348247197839382352015-09-09T03:46:00.000-07:002015-09-09T03:46:01.530-07:00LYRICS: A beautiful damsel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmiJaR7RXs0LYF3mJjUJ2LH7i9VkeKQFepgog4k0-cKY_j9eoG6hjode3MXPdJOz5sEHYuSKz6Qeoa2HrhPnUcYZ_iVKVFlyejbmEZJs4sodXryCW9b_RgtneURMuxuPEH1szwDB5Rjn75/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmiJaR7RXs0LYF3mJjUJ2LH7i9VkeKQFepgog4k0-cKY_j9eoG6hjode3MXPdJOz5sEHYuSKz6Qeoa2HrhPnUcYZ_iVKVFlyejbmEZJs4sodXryCW9b_RgtneURMuxuPEH1szwDB5Rjn75/s320/7.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">A beautiful damsel</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>By:</b> Aadel M Al-Mahdy </span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">A beautiful damsel, <br />
May Allah bless her!<br />
She ventures not <br />
The downtown bars<br />
She cares not <br />
For luxurious cars<br />
Or frequenting <br />
The up-scale bazaars<br />
And from her family <br />
She is never afar</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">
</span><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">
</span><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">With her husband <br />
She is in love<br />
Beneath not, her kids are, <br />
But always above<br />
Nisriina and brother<br />
Are her precious doves<br />
Proud of them<br />
Her eyes speak of<br />
In her eyes<br />
I see her motherly love</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">
</span><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;">
</span><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">God bless!</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Your comment will be highly appreciated.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599777617707274591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505309449331620490.post-31953218672280950172015-09-09T03:35:00.000-07:002015-09-09T03:35:29.921-07:00LYRICS: L might be young<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegIKXFzuk1WrWJ4BhWkgg8XkrAL3cnTUvPIWRAbs73AlzJEfezG4SEAWQm_-7kjUeBXcFPyeZeVrirrR0WJKUL1SBhyzUqupXH6Q6uxhnviknANyGAdjTFxVOsU2IfViy1YnpX22sc5o/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegIKXFzuk1WrWJ4BhWkgg8XkrAL3cnTUvPIWRAbs73AlzJEfezG4SEAWQm_-7kjUeBXcFPyeZeVrirrR0WJKUL1SBhyzUqupXH6Q6uxhnviknANyGAdjTFxVOsU2IfViy1YnpX22sc5o/s320/5.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<br />
<b><span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I might be young</span></span></span></b><br />
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>By:</b> Aadel M Al-Mahdy </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I might be young<br />
But I’m a top rung<br />
I might be fragile<br />
But I’m still vagile</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mama is protective<br />
She’s a smart detective<br />
When danger looms<br />
She is in a fume</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">She protects me<br />
That, I can see<br />
She loves me<br />
That will always be</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Whatever are my needs?<br />
Me, she always feeds<br />
To a state pristine<br />
She licks me clean</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We love you mother<br />
I and my brother<br />
We adore you mama..<br />
Period. No but, no comma</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #76a5af;"></span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Your comment will be highly appreciated.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599777617707274591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505309449331620490.post-4632606079313208702015-09-09T03:29:00.000-07:002016-12-29T19:21:08.489-08:00LYRICS: beautiful and wise<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCv9EXLmjbGND0mqnOfw3nYaDDTqGvlY8U2akMGoleTO4ivr0ZvJ_5AVKClYoSgB_sc3i5SwuTSTgB0OFkocPPeHpwsUgigTPQqywyxthEOhWm_VU19gAmJDRAH49K1SHLULxo8CIhgpQ/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCv9EXLmjbGND0mqnOfw3nYaDDTqGvlY8U2akMGoleTO4ivr0ZvJ_5AVKClYoSgB_sc3i5SwuTSTgB0OFkocPPeHpwsUgigTPQqywyxthEOhWm_VU19gAmJDRAH49K1SHLULxo8CIhgpQ/s320/2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">BEAUTIFUL AND WISE DOG</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>By:</b> Aadel M Al-Mahdy</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Behind the fence, behind the fence;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">
A beautiful dog;<br /> </span></span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">
The look on his face</span></span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"> is so intense,</span></span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Although no bondage, nor </span></span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">a lace,</span></span><br /><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">
His eyes tell</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">
Behind the fence, is he to be?!</span></span><br /><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">
Behind the fence, </span></span><br /><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">
What a destiny!</span></span><br /><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">
That’s so intense.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">
A beautiful dog; </span></span><br /><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">
The look on his face</span></span><br /><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">
Is so intense</span></span><br /><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">
He looks so wise</span></span><br /><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">
Behind the fence</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">But, is there liberty?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sad, I wonder, is not he?</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">There is no liberty</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Behind the fence, behind the fence</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #8e7cc3;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">But, there is no liberty</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Your comment will be highly appreciated.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599777617707274591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505309449331620490.post-58713954105689293442015-09-09T03:12:00.000-07:002016-12-29T19:27:50.055-08:00LYRICS: Ducklings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRLIVnN6ky9Vul6BDX4dCP_h3fARHWxRYv6A9on4F2esTfI4GTNyLsmj_6cVRjthTqIkPxaXnmngIDxNB8ZWQdsHe6yMbsP2SZehnv7WNqd4T6FaMf7LIveOfmA4RU4JXgWTEhflWC9ry/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRLIVnN6ky9Vul6BDX4dCP_h3fARHWxRYv6A9on4F2esTfI4GTNyLsmj_6cVRjthTqIkPxaXnmngIDxNB8ZWQdsHe6yMbsP2SZehnv7WNqd4T6FaMf7LIveOfmA4RU4JXgWTEhflWC9ry/s320/4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">DUCKLINGS</span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <b>By:</b> Aadel M Al-Mahdy</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Duckling, duckling, duckling.<br />
Quack, quack, quack.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A three musketeers,<br />
Marching on the land,<br />
But not mutineers<br />
We are a strong band,<br />
Not sloganeers.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Duckling, duckling, duckling.<br />
Quack, quack, quack.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As beautiful as a buck,<br />
We are; no veneer.<br />
Yes, am I not a duck?<br />
That flies the atmosphere,<br />
That walks the land, be it muck?!</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We live on land,<br />
In lakes and rivers<br />
For us, nothing is a band,<br />
Neither cold makes us shiver.<br />
Protected we are with oil gland.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Duckling, duckling, duckling.<br />
Quack, quack, quack.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We come from everywhere,<br />
Not only Agadir<br />
We live in china, in Jakarta,<br />
In Sweden, in Egypt, in France.<br />
We live in Gebralta’.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Duckling, duckling, duckling.<br />
Quack, quack, quack.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our fuzz is deceptive.<br />
So do not be deluded<br />
Of our might, be perceptive.<br />
Surely, we’re not alluding.<br />
We repeat, be perceptive!</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Duckling, duckling, duckling.<br />
Quack, quack, quack.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Your comment will be highly appreciated.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599777617707274591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505309449331620490.post-63648630142653493522015-09-08T22:35:00.000-07:002016-12-29T19:38:25.190-08:00LYRICS: Children<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3riIvTIzq0jAJsZw9n1fBh4xX_2zMuk6-KttEzN8FftzNODOcm0BjGp9Mqs7ONGszbxt_a6TqFLvRljVw-ymy1YYcFOet_BBwFJfP28GFY2vZCxMrz_6jV-1EGwceH1seal78Z8LEdpEZ/s1600/20.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3riIvTIzq0jAJsZw9n1fBh4xX_2zMuk6-KttEzN8FftzNODOcm0BjGp9Mqs7ONGszbxt_a6TqFLvRljVw-ymy1YYcFOet_BBwFJfP28GFY2vZCxMrz_6jV-1EGwceH1seal78Z8LEdpEZ/s1600/20.png" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">CHILDREN</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>By:</b> Aadel M Al-Mahdy </span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sinless, a child's born. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It is we who teach the to hate.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sinless, a child's born </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A fact that calls no debate.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sinless, a child's born;</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Born with no greed.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sinless, a child's born. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">But greed becomes the child’s feed.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sinless, a child's born;</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Born with ignorance.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sinless, a child's born.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It is we who tutor belligerence</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sinless, a child's born;</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Born to live as we do</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sinless, a child's born;</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It is we who show how to do as we do.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">And in doing so,</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">We set the child’s destiny</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Your comment will be highly appreciated.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599777617707274591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505309449331620490.post-64214903441747541802015-09-08T20:41:00.000-07:002016-12-29T20:08:53.779-08:00LYRICS: Perpetual battle of the Sun and Moon.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026"/>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/>
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGpYSoS0TWLfLaEbnGdfCcwXuvDNJINB4QwSxUzvTj-6-CSF9qDepUVB19sRhoseV4Wr_Z50PMlwYyFruNsbjGgUNmZrI3ORV6A_XDonOCo2HS3PL5c56C1fgPiH-B16g45STykBPWW8T/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGpYSoS0TWLfLaEbnGdfCcwXuvDNJINB4QwSxUzvTj-6-CSF9qDepUVB19sRhoseV4Wr_Z50PMlwYyFruNsbjGgUNmZrI3ORV6A_XDonOCo2HS3PL5c56C1fgPiH-B16g45STykBPWW8T/s320/15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">PERPETUAL BATTLE
OF THE SUN AND MOON</span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>By:</b> Aadel M Al-Mahdy</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">For another day, </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
And then another day,</span></span></span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
A year and another year,</span></span></span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
His majesty, the king</span></span></span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Perpetually battles,</span></span></span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
And also rattles</span></span></span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
The heavenly queen.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
To his den, he retreats;</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
His tale not tucked </span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Between his legs.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Beyond the horizon, lies his abode, </span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
where the ear can see,</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
and the eye can hear,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
He licks his wounds </span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Some may heal,</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
But some never do.</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
And in another day,</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Some open anew,</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
In a perpetual battle,</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
are nothing but a witness</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
For a fight that never ends</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
A destined battle; a serious one, </span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
It is not a rattle.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
A battle assigned by the only one,</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
The father of all, not the father of none.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Her advent proceeded</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
By worriers of sliver-light, </span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
For cleansing the stage, they fight </span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
For the flux of her radiant flow;</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Her silver-lit appearance</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Do shine and glow.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Whose might is shortly ceded,</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
In a perpetual cycle of battling;</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
The Sun and the Moon proceeded.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
To eternally duel;</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
A conflict assigned</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
By the father of all, the only one.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Some people slumber. </span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
But people of passion, </span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
her presence, they pamper</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
And from a life fast-pacing,</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Grab moments of pleasure.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
As long as the king is thither, not hither.</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
For another battle, another task,</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Assigned to fulfill.</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
To shoot his arrow-like rays,</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Through Earth's skin</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
To let his blood run again,</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
In Earth’s arteries and veins.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
A battle of the opposites;</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Days and nights in an eternal chase</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
But yet not aware of a fact;</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Their fights but show</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
their majestic beauty.</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
A part of an assigned duty?</span></span></span></span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">As a wounded lion,</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">He roars in pain,</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The stains of blood.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">She rises up; her majesty the queen,</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">As if it were a flow of magic,</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">In the nooks of night,</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Rise again, surely he will</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">An unavoidable battle.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Your comment will be highly appreciated.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11599777617707274591noreply@blogger.com0