Читать книгу The Arabian Days - Anastasiia Deniz Mitchell - Страница 2

Any person has different feelings, emotions and… fears and complexes. So does the main character of this book, Janet. Moreover, any person has his or her own dreams, as Janet does. She wants to marry a good man, a prince or a knight. She believes in love. The hardest thing for any girl is to find her special someone, and when they hear words of love, they always believe these words.

But what does life give Janet at first? And what does she receive afterwards? Believe it or not, but Janet will be grateful for everything that has happened to her. So, read on and take a dive into the midst of Janet’s thoughts and emotions. You either will or will not understand the main character. Anyway, every person is unique, and aren’t you?

Enjoy the book!

Always yours,

Anastasiia Deniz Mitchell

13 September 1972

From: Mohammed

To: Janet

Dear Janet,

I’m so happy to have met you! How are you?

I’m constantly repeating to myself how beautiful you are! Your eyes, your voice, your face… I’m recalling the days we were together, you and me, me and you. When will you come here again? I’m waiting for you! It seems like I’ve fallen in love with you. No, I really have! I really have! My dear, sweet Janet, for how long shall I wait for you? Maybe I could even come to you, to look into your blue, deep blue eyes?

Please, come here in Agadir as soon as you can!

Oh, my Janet, I’m also waiting for your answer!

With a lot of love,

Mohammed

1.

That was the first letter I received from him. It was so nice! I’d say it was lovely. How I admired him..! And how nicely he was writing!

Well, it seems like I haven’t introduced myself so far. My name’s Janet Grace…

So, maybe, I’ll tell you more things about me a bit later: I’m already being late for my classes!

14 September 1972

I’m a second-year student. A design one. In University of London. On having only one friend, I can say that it’s better than none, but still, it’s better than a lot of friends. They can be fake anyway. Not false but fake ones. I’m not a translator. Although I’d love to have a degree in Translation and Interpretation, or at least study for it. Why am I a designer student? Because if I were to choose between translation and design, I’d pick the latter. You know how prestigious it is to be a designer nowadays! You can make a lot of money just in a wink!

Mum says I’m not obliged to earn a lot. But I think I am. Again, why? Because how else may you prove you’re a good one? And you’re not a loser? And you’re better than your friends who already have a family, though hypothetically? I wouldn’t put up with that.

The classes today were boring. But well, there’ll be other ones, much more interesting! It’s the design department anyway! The today’s lectures were: Art and Design History, Graphic Media, and Architecture History. Only lectures! I wonder what I’ll feel like when I have only seminars left!

Anyway, after the classes I got home. I still live at home with my Mum. So what? I’m not able to rent a flat somewhere on the outskirts of London! Or… Well, it takes me a little to get to Mum’s house. Thank God for that. To be honest, I don’t know how to rent a flat alone or share it with someone Oh, strangers! They can be evil. They can cause harm to me. They can take something from me. Though I hoped they wouldn’t kill me because I believe I’m a good person. And I don’t cause harm to anyone. I just don’t want it.

15 September 1972

What a beautiful city London is! It’s a pure enjoyment to view all its landscapes, and every tree, and every building, and every stone… Of course, when you’re busy. Because when you’re not, you’re going to hate it all. And when I’m busy, I start to think about Mohammed. My Mohammed. All the time. Whenever I read his first letter, I’m over the moon. Although how can I go to space? I’m not an astronaut anyway!..

I always recall how I met Mohammed. It was in the summer, in Agadir, Morocco, when Mum and me were off for our holiday.

2.

23 July 1972

Agadir, Morocco

If only you knew how I like holidays! You can relax for the whole holiday period and not even say a word. And the most interesting thing is that no one’s going to scold you for that! Holidays are intended for you to relax fully and forget about everything. And forget everything. Even your name…

No studies. No university. Yes, studying’s a hard toil. You must make yourself get up early in the morning, for you to arrive at this or that class (note – on time!!!) and show yourself by answering all the teacher’s questions. Not during one class – during them all! A hard toil it is, yes.

What about the campus cafeteria? To be honest, I’m greedy enough to spend a pound more than necessary. So, I force myself to economize, whereas other students spend a fortune to dine. I’m jealous because of that.

And now – holidays! No other students! No cafeteria! You can eat everything for free! Wait, not for free – Mum’s paid it all. So, I need to economize here as well.

Well, yes, I adore travelling. I remember the day when Mum and me were off for another holiday. It was three years ago from now. We took a bus tour to France.

And there was a man who had a birthday that day. We all clubbed together to buy a cake for him. We needed to please him somehow, especially on that day!

Men love food. They love cakes as much. So we thought it’ be a good idea to buy a big cake for him.

And guess what! The cake fell on his head when the bus was jolting along the twist mountain road in France! Fortunately, it was in the box, so he didn’t get dirty with the cream. But the cake wasn’t the cake already: it was a MASH-mellow..!

So, during the flight to Morocco, I ate the portions for two people. But Mum got her food. It means someone else was left without their portion.

Anyway, we were arriving at the airport. It seemed to me it was really hot even inside the plane.

I saw almost nothing outside the window when flying. Maybe I should’ve broken the window glass and poked my head out of the window. But if I’d broken the glass, I’d have been considered a law-breaker!

What’s more, someone let in a fly when we were getting on the board.

So, it had been travelling with us for the whole flight! A fly traveller! The so-called amateur traveller! It’d go around the world forever… Lucky fly! And my trip would come to an end sooner or later.

So hot outside! I wanted to take off my T-shirt. But Mum said, «You have nothing put on you but this T-shirt.» Indeed! I had to put up with the high temperature of both the air and my body. I hoped I wasn’t ill.

Our hotel was called «Paradise». What does it mean? It means it’s not like a paradise but something similar. I had to look more closely into it. Maybe it was really a paradise.

And it really was! The shining hall walls. The magnificent rooms. And I’d have it all for two weeks!

We got our keys and came into the lift.

The first thing I wanted to do after I took a shower was to go to the beach. And so we did. Mum wanted this as well. Especially if I hadn’t been to the beach for more than a year.

Last year, we travelled to Torquay. It wasn’t that hot there. Neither was there a lot of sun. It was near to impossible to sunbathe there, so I got almost no tan.

But this year, it’d be vice versa. I’d get tanned (I hope not sunburned). And the main thing’s that I’d be swimming a lot. I hope there’ll be no sharks. I’ve heard they’re quite dangerous. Can they eat a person? Or even two? Or three..?

Anyway, after we took a shower, we went to the beach. Fortunately, it wasn’t three miles away from our hotel, as it happens sometimes. It was located… right within the hotel territory! What a good luck!

I like swimming. I like swimming a lot and looking at the fish. I like looking at the corals deep down at the bottom of the sea. Of course, I wear special glasses. So I did now.

But wait, where was all the flora and fauna? Or had I brought all my equipment here in vain? That just couldn’t be.

I wanted to talk to a fish. And what’d I do now? Talk to the empty water?

I’d like to make some friends. Talking friends. Talking fish. But it seems like no one in the water would like to talk to me. Pity.

In the films and cartoons, they show how the main characters make fish friends. And what about me..?

No animal wants to make friends with me. Well, then, I want to make friends with no animal!

(And I’d never wanted to make friends with animals since they don’t want to make friends with me!)

When I was 13, Mum took me to the zoo. There were so many people! And so many animals! I wonder how they weren’t fed up with each other, but I already felt they’d been fed up with me, even if I had just appeared in the zoo. A bird was looking at me so angrily I wanted to go back home. Mum asked what the matter was, for she noticed nothing wrong with the bird. Maybe he was in a bad mood. Maybe he’d had a bad day, or something had happened to his birdie friend. A birdie friend! She was a birdie indeed! And not just a birdie, but even a smarty! Another one looking at me angrily! Actually, that is the reason why I don’t like animals.

Anyway… Who’s that man looking at me? He’s so nice, and… handsome! A lifeguard. Yes, he is. Sitting in the observation tower. Big round brown eyes, muscles all over his body, the sun having tanned his skin. A Greek god, not a man!

I swam a little bit and got back to shore. Our deck chair was placed near that lifeguard, so he was literally staring at me while I was sitting there.

It seemed like I fell in love.

I thought: «Is he married..?»

I hoped he wasn’t.

3.

26 July 1972

Agadir, Morocco

And so, we went to the beach every day. Four days passed. No, not four. Maybe five. Or six. I don’t remember.

I noticed that I began to feel shy when coming up to this man. I started to avoid him. And he looked so surprised when I did that. I think he even was about to laugh at me!

How unfair. No man can laugh at me. Just because I’m a good person. I’m not a bad girl. I’m not that kind of girl either.

So, I showed him my tongue. Let him know I’m a good one. Now, he literally laughed at me. Mum asked what the matter was. I explained that this man was too cheeky with me and that he’d been laughing at me all the time. But she said I had an inferiority complex.

27 July 1972

Agadir, Morocco

I didn’t sleep for the whole night. Thinking about this man. Taking into account that Mum and me were in ONE room (we didn’t have that much money for TWO ones), she was angry at my rolling over in my bed for the whole night. At 6 a. m., she asked what had happened. I answered nothing. When she tried to fall asleep for the second time, I started rolling over again.

In the morning, I looked in the mirror. How horrible! Pouches under my eyes and pale skin. As if I’d been ill.

Of course, I didn’t want to go to the beach with looks like that. So, Mum asked what’d happened. I answered nothing. She suspected that something was wrong with me, but I didn’t want to tell her what the matter really was.

So, I began to cry. Mum started to worry about me. And she also started to keep an eye on me. It seemed like she guessed the reasons of my behaviour perfectly.

So, she said she wouldn’t let me out without herself. Although I’m already an adult.

Well, I understand her really well. She loves me and meant only well to me. But she’d laugh at me if I told her the truth!

Yes. I wanted to see him. That man. The lifeguard. I wanted him to marry me. I wanted him to live with me for the rest of my life and take care of me. I wanted him to call me the best girl ever. The most beautiful girl ever.

I wanted him to look at me for all the time.

Is there anything bad in these wishes? No, I think there isn’t. People around me may think (and they actually do!) there is. But what..?

I started to make up an escape plan.

4.

28 July 1972

Agadir, Morocco

In fact, I like going outside. Especially when it’s sunny. The same here, in Agadir. The only exception is that I couldn’t go outside our hotel: the evil locals would finish me off because I was a white person and because I wore open clothes: my head, hands and legs were uncovered. And they despise such people. But maybe they just didn’t like me..?

So, that day, I decided to run away for an hour. Just. For. One. Hour. To. See. Him.

I hoped Mum didn’t see me get out of the window. Our room was on the ground floor, so it didn’t cost me much effort. She was in the shower at the time.

I put on my swimming suit and escaped, looking back. Fortunately, there was nobody around. I strolled towards the beach.

And there he was – this man, looking at the sea! How romantic!

I decided to have a swim. I didn’t want to COME UP to him anyway. I just wished to SEE him. Well, it’s rather impolite to approach the man first. It’s him that must take the initiative, isn’t it?

And he didn’t even look at me! Or, he did, but he didn’t let me know that. I think he just despised me too. Then, why ignore me if he didn’t?

I swam up to the buoys and back. Then, I decided to have one more swim. Why not? Mum still hadn’t noticed my absence and didn’t come here to call for me. Would she be angry with me if she found out the reason of all that? A hundred percent she would. Zero percent she wouldn’t.

Suddenly, I felt bad. What was up with me? No, I didn’t eat anything expired. I just couldn’t move.

I tried to swim back to the shore. Though I couldn’t. I’d got quite far away from the beach. Right up to the buoys.

I was about to faint. Then, I started to drown.

And then… Only darkness.

5.

«Where am I? I don’t understand anything!» These were my first thoughts when I came to my senses. What was happening around me?..

«Hey, are you all right?» a man’s voice asked.

I opened my eyes. It seemed like I was about to die today. I raised myself upon my elbow.

Actually, I wasn’t all right, but still, I wasn’t dead either. So let him think I was all right.

«Yes, I am. And you?»

«Of course, I am too.»

He had saved my life! Oh, my saviour!

I asked, «Why so?»

He looked at me as if I’d been crazy. Though I wasn’t. He didn’t say anything.

Then, I said, «And why are you asking? Let’s say it’s my own business!»

«Err… Do you run a business?»

He seemed to be deaf! And I seemed to be crazy…

«What business do you mean? I said, it’s up to me to decide if I’m all right or not!»

He chuckled.

«Of course, it is. And may I know your name?»

I answered nothing. I didn’t want him to know my name. He’d tell Mum I was here.

«I won’t tell you.»

«Why? You’re so beautiful! And I definitely must know your name.»

I blushed. Never in my life did anyone tell me I was beautiful.

He took my hand. I was about to melt with joy. Or with happiness.

«Hey! What’re you doing?» I pulled my hand out of his.

«Sorry. I didn’t want to. I’ve just… I’ve just fallen in love.»

«With whom?»

«With you.»

I didn’t expect him to say that. So, I blushed even more.

«Why are you saying this? We don’t even know each other!»

«And what? I fell in love just when I saw you!»

«You mustn’t have to. I’m a usual girl. And I guess nobody’s perfect. Me neither. I have lots of issues. So there’s no reason to fall in love with me.»

«Why?»

He looked at me as if I’d been drunk. Though I wasn’t.

«Because I’m English. And you’re Arabic. We live in different worlds. We have different religions. And your parents wouldn’t accept me.»

«We’ll see that! I bet they would!»

Indeed, would they?

«I’ll introduce you to them, and they’ll love you when they first see you!»

«Really? I don’t believe that!

«Let’s come with me!»

Strangely enough, he stepped back and stood like this for a minute or two. I didn’t know what he was thinking about. But I didn’t want to go to his home. First, Mum would be worried about me. And second, his family would be worried about him! Because if he had met a girl like me, he would have been considered a complete idiot! And, well, third, I want to stay alive for some more time!

«I’m afraid I won’t. Mum’s waiting for me.»

«Okay. And what if I’ll tell her how I was saving you from death?» he chuckled.

I startled. He had no right to tell this to my Mum! Or I’d choke him with my own hands!

«No, you won’t. You’d better tell it to me.»

He squinted.

«Well, then, maybe you will tell me your name? My name’s Mohammed, little girl.»

«I’m not little! I’m already nineteen!»

Who did he think he was? Not a Prime-Minister for sure. To talk to me like that!

«And you have no right to talk to me like that! I won’t tell you my name! No way!»

«But that’ll be unfair, don’t you think?»

He smiled.

And I got confused. Indeed, would that be fair?

«Okay. You win. My name’s Janet.»

«Oh, nice! What a beautiful name! Like you yourself.»

I blushed again.

«Why do you think I’m beautiful?»

«Because I fell in love with you when I first saw you. You’re my queen! So, do you agree to be my queen?»

I laughed.

«I’ll think about that. But I also think it’s high time for me to go home. Mum must’ve been waiting for me for a long time.»

«I think she isn’t worried. Our beach can be seen from the hotel windows.»

«Your English is so perfect! Have you studied it somewhere?»

Indeed, had he..?

«I studied only at college, here in Morocco. Not in Agadir. I went to the capital, Rabat. But I think it’s all right for me. English is good.»

«Yeah, I agree. But maybe I’ll go.»

«Okay. See you.»

My God! I didn’t know what to think. Everything happened so quickly! And he’d fallen in love with me so quickly! I couldn’t believe that! Turns out men can fall in love as soon as they see you for the first time!!! I was shocked!

I also wondered how a BOY (or already a MAN) could have spoken to me! Never in my life had boys even talked to me!

And never in my life had boys fallen in love with me!

I was so overwhelmed!

But… what should I tell Mum? She would be angry with me for sure.

6.

«Where were you, Janet?» Mum asked angrily when I just crossed the threshold of our room. «Though I know everything! So, don’t even try to hide anything from me!»

I was taken aback.

«But… Mummy, I didn’t do anything that could harm me!»

«Indeed?» my mother looked snake-headed. «While you were coming to yourself, I was there too! Helping this man save you, my foolish daughter!»

«But… I didn’t want to…»

«Listen to me: why did you go there at all?»

«I don’t know. Maybe I was sleeping or something…»

«Don’t hand me any more of that jive!

«I don’t!»

«You do! Listen to me, Janet: do you love him? I know everything!»

How can Mum know everything? Wow! I was really surprised! Mum’s a real superwoman! I can’t stop admiring her!

«Yes, Ma. I love him very much. So much I’d give all my life to him. For him to be happy.»

«But, my darling, do you know it’s me who ran there first when you were drowning?»

«You did?»

«Yes, me! Not him!

«Then where was he?»

«He ran when I shouted that you had been drowning! I don’t know how to save lives!»

«So, then, he pulled me out?»

«Yes! Only then, did he pull you out of the water!»

«Err… Did he go away when I saw swimming?»

«I don’t know. Maybe he was in the shower. I don’t know. Don’t ask me that.»

«O-o-okay. I won’t.»

«Janet, I want to warn you: he’s not for you. He’s not your type. I can see that clearly.»

«But, Ma, why do you think so?»

«I’m afraid he isn’t taking much interest in you. Maybe he doesn’t even need you.»

«But, Mum, I love him!»

«I know that, my dear. But, please, be careful.»

I couldn’t understand anything.

«What do you mean to say, Ma?»

«Just don’t come up to him so often. You better go to the beach with me, not alone, when I’m in the shower. My darling, I’m so worried about you! I know what you feel, but it’s my duty to take care of you, even if you’re already nineteen.»

«But he told me he loves me!»

«Janet, Arabic men always say thing like that. So, it’s not much of a rarity for tourists to hear something like «I love you’, or «Be my love’, or «Be my wife’. And then, it turns out he already has a wife, and maybe, not one! So, please, I beg you: be careful. You might be disappointed in your «love’ in the future. Although I can understand how you feel now.»

I couldn’t help starting to cry. Mum approached me and hugged me.

«My dear Janet, you’re my only child, and I don’t want to lose you. When you were drowning, I thought it was the end of the line! Imagine my feelings! I’m a mother,» she said, sobbing. «I’m your mother! And imagine what a mother feels when she loses her child! What’s more, her only child!»

I could understand her now.

But still, I had a right to my happiness as well. I told this to Mum.

«My dear, you’ll surely find your special someone. But not here. Look, they’re all poor people. They have nothing but their huts…»

«But he must have a big house!» I interrupted.

«How could you know? He must’ve told you a lie!»

Actually, he didn’t say anything about his house.

Though bewildered, I carried it off very well. I had to win my case anyway!

It was late, so I couldn’t go and say good night to Mohammed.

«So, Janet, please, don’t take him so seriously if you still happen to talk to him. Okay?»

I needed to think about that. I had a whole night ahead of me.

«Okay,» I said.

«So, come and have a calming shower. By the way, how come you started to drown aground? The sea’s shallow here.»

«I felt bad, Ma. I’m sorry.»

«My God! What’s happened to you? And how do you feel now?»

«Thanks, I’m better now.»

«I must’ve looked after you all the time! Promise me you won’t go anywhere without me! Remember – you’ve got asthma! Have you forgotten about that?»

«No, Ma.»

«Okay. You crazy fool!»