Читать книгу The Arabian Days - Anastasiia Deniz Mitchell - Страница 3
7
Оглавление29 July 1972
Agadir, Morocco
I couldn’t sleep at night again. What an insane holiday! Seemed like an insane asylum! Oh, my God!
Now, I had np right to come up to Mohammed. Or, well, I did, but not in front of Mum. I need an escape plan. Though she was right to a certain extent. Yes, I had to be careful, especially if I’d got such a disease. But my Mohammed! I loved him very much!
We both needed a place to meet in. Not the beach. The hotel hall. Right. A great place, actually.
I started thinking whom to send for him. The cook! Because it had to be the one Mum didn’t hate. Mum liked the cook. «A good guy,» she said.
The cook suited very well for the business. He wouldn’t tell Mum about all those things I would talk to Mohammed. And, of course, he wouldn’t tell Mum that Mohammed and me were seeing each other in the hall!
30 July 1972
Agadir, Morocco
The next day, when we were having breakfast, I came up to Rashid (that was the cook’s name) and told him I wanted to see Mohammed at hall in the evening due to my situation. Mum didn’t notice anything, so it was all right for me to talk to Rashid. She was looking at what she had in her plate at the time.
From now on, we went to the beach only in the evening, when it was someone else’s shift, not Mohammed’s. And in the afternoon, we were enjoying the sun in the swimming pool.
I knew Mum was taking care of me, so I wasn’t against. She loved me, so I didn’t blame her for her actions in any way.
So, I spoke to Rashid. He promised to tell Mohammed that we would be meeting in the hall every evening, before I went home, back to England.
I told him I’d be waiting for Mohammed in the hall. As for Mum, I told her I would love to read a book in the hall. There were some indeed. In English, of course. I don’t understand any other language. Maybe I’m nuts. I should’ve learnt one.
Mohammed agreed. He was free in the evening anyway. I was looking forward for the first meeting in the hall. In fact, it was our second tete-a-tete conversation.
Mum agreed to let me go to the hall. I told her I felt lonely, so a book in English would do no harm.
8.
I put on my best dress. Although it wasn’t a dress but a T-shirt and breeches. Okay, let it be the best T-shirt and breeches. Well, I didn’t have another pair of breeches.
I was afraid. To be honest. What if Mum would notice me and him? That’d be a horror! She wouldn’t forgive me!
All the hour before our meeting, I was behaving like a stupid one. I was jumping around the room, singing a crazy song (I don’t remember how it’s called) and shouting something like «Ya-a-a-ya-a-a-a!» or «Cock-a-doodle-doo!» Mum asked what the matter was with me and why I was singing and shouting all that jazz. I answered that I’d just had a sleepless night. Mum told me I would better take a sleeping pill every night. But it’s bad for our health!
Finally, the hour was struck. I went downstairs (though there were only five stairs that separated our floor from the hall!).
I sat. Nobody. Even the receptionist had left somewhere.
I waited for some time. Nobody.
I thought, «And if Rashid and Mohammed have just decided to play a trick on me? That’s be the last thing for me to do to anyone!»
Perhaps, they were even laughing at me. Maybe, saying something like, «Well, this stupid fool has fallen in love with you, Mohammed. How bad of her! She doesn’t even know the rules of conduct and etiquette in our country!»
But… how could I know them? I wasn’t even taught them on arriving to this country! The travel agent should have taught Mum and me some simple rules! But they hadn’t! They didn’t even care about how we would do in this or that situation, or what should we say when someone unknown approached us. They didn’t even care!
I heard some steps. It was not him, though.
I waited for some more time.
And here he came. He was wearing a T-shirt as well. And jeans, not breeches.
«Hello,» he said. «You wanted to see me, right?»
«Hey! Weren’t you willing to see me?»
«I? Of course,» he smiled.
I smiled too.
«But… You’re so magnificent I can’t find words to describe you.»
«Oh, thank you very much!»
«Don’t speak!» he interrupted. «Just listen to our hearts beating!»
I was startled. I said nothing.
«Ha-ha, don’t worry! These were the words for you!»
«Thank you!» I blushed.
«So, how’s your life? What did you do today?»
«Well, nothing special. What about you?»
«Working, as usual.»
Then, he looked straight into my eyes! Oh my God, how beautiful his eyes were! The brown iris with a big black sphere inside. My God, how I admire him!
He took my hand.
Fortunately, there was no one in the hall at the time.
«I love you,» he said, smiling.
«Mohammed, thank you very much for the confession! I love you too! I was too shy to tell you about that! I was afraid you’d laugh at me!»
«Hmm, laugh at what?»
«At my words. And at me.»
«My dear… err… Janet, I will never laugh at you. You should know that.»
«Thank you very much! Let’s talk about something!»
«Let’s talk,» he said. «And about what?»
«About anything you like.»
«Okay. You choose.»
«So, o-o-okay,» I muttered. «Let’s talk about books.»
«Books?» he was surprised.
«Yes!»
«All right, then.»
I said, «I wonder what books you read. You must be so well-read! So, do you read any philosophical books devoted to everyday problems?»
«Oh, well, I’ve read… maybe, one or two books when I was young.»
«And what about now?»
«Now I don’t read any.»
«Oh, why?» I asked, my eyes wide opened.
«Because I’m not interested in reading. And I don’t have time for that because I work all the time.»
«I can see now. You must be very tired?»
«Not that much, but still…»
«I understand you very well. I myself am exhausted.»
«Why?»
«Because I study at university. And I need rest.»
«Rest from what?»
«From my studies.»
«But it’s amazing that you study at university!»
«Yes, but…»
«But what?»
«You need to work hard to get good marks.»
«And who doesn’t? Who doesn’t need to work hard nowadays?» he chuckled.
«Yes, you’re right. Now, everyone must work hard.»
«But look at this from the other side. You… you are the reason why I open my eyes and why I’m happy!»
«Oh, Mohammed, you’re saying such beautiful words!» I laughed.
«And I’m happy I make you laugh. I’m happy that I make YOU happy.»
He smiled. It seemed like I was now on the top of the world!
Then, we both fell silent. And so we sat until I had to go home. For how long had I been staying in the hall..?
«My Mohammed, I must go now. Mum’s waiting for me. And if she suspects something, I don’t know how we will see each other then…»
«No problem. So, tomorrow – here, at the same time?»
«Right! That’d be great!» I exclaimed.
«My love! I can’t wait for the moment I see you again!»
I ran up to my room. When I entered, the room, Mum said:
«Well, Janet, I hope you have found something useful for you. How did you spend your time there?»
Strangely enough, her voice was sincere enough. It meant she hadn’t noticed anything.
«Well, Ma, I’ve found some book, but not much of interest.»
«I see.»
«But, maybe. It’s better than nothing.»
«Of course, it is! And don’t get upset about Mohammed! You’ll soon forget him.»
«True!»
I pretended to be calm. I didn’t want Mum to know anyway.
«Okay, Ma. I promise!»
«My little Janet! Come to me and let me hug you!»
I approached my mother and hugged her. I loved her. She’s my only parent.
Dad left us when I was six. Mum and him divorced because of some property issues. I don’t know what exactly it was. Fortunately enough, I wasn’t the reason.
My best friend, Emma, has only her Mum too. And guess what – her father left them because of the daughter! He said he didn’t want Emma to be born. That’s awful! Emma’s a wonderful person. And I don’t want her to suffer. I’d be her best friend and dad at the same time because she doesn’t deserve a single-parent family. She’s good enough to grow up in a two-parent one.
9.
31 July 1972
Agadir, Morocco
The next day was very special for me. I would see Mohammed again!
Although I didn’t want to cheat Mum, I needed to see him every day. So, my way was the best one. Nobody would suffer.
In the evening, when it was time for me to go down to the hall, I told Mum I’d find a few more books there. She agreed. She said, «A girl mustn’t be bored. Especially on holiday.» Marvellous words.
I was waiting for Mohammed, as the day before. (Although it was already evening, so I’d say «the evening before’).
«Hello,» he said when he came.
«Hello,» I answered.
«How’re you?»
«I’m fine, thanks for asking! What about you?»
«Me as well,» he said, smiling and taking my hand. «Where is the best place I want to stay? Between your arms!»
I laughed. Such nice compliments he was saying! I was happy. Really happy.
«My love! How will I live without you?» I said, with sadness in my eyes.
«My dear! But you can come here whenever you want!»
«Yes, that’s true! Although… I don’t have much money for the tickets here. Maybe…»
«Maybe what?»
«Maybe you would buy them, for me to come here?»
«But, my love, I don’t have that much money either. All I earn I spend on food. I’m sorry, my dear Janet!»
«Well, I don’t know… It seems like you just don’t want for me to come here…» I was confused. Very confused. I didn’t know how much money I would need to come here every weekend! And I did want to come to Mohammed every weekend. I only wanted to be with him, and that’s it.
«Mohammed, let’s be honest. I have no money to come to you, so it’s you that I want to buy the tickets for me.»
Suddenly, he said:
«Okay. If you don’t want to come here, it’s up to you. I’m not making you to.»
I was struck dumb. So, it meant he didn’t care? That just couldn’t be!!!
«Wait! I thought you’re a man!»
«My love,» he said, taking my hand, «I’m a man. But not a bank.»
He hesitated.
«But, my beautiful woman, how I want to hug you! I’ll be waiting for you, my queen! You draw me like a magnet!»
With these words, he hugged me.
Well, maybe, he didn’t have money. But he’d be waiting for me anyway! It was so nice!
«Okay,» I said. «I’ll come to you as soon as I save a little!»
«Don’t worry, my love! I’m always here for you!»
«But there’s a problem.»
«Which one, dear?»
«My Mum won’t let me come here to you.»
«But can you tell her I’m a good guy?»
«I’ve been telling her this for million-billion times. And I’ll go on with that. But she won’t listen to me.»
He let me out and said:
«Looking into your eyes and thinking, «You’re me girl, the best girl, and there aren’t any other girls in my life’.»
I calmed down.
«Yes, maybe you’re right. I’m really sorry for what I’ve just said.»
«Janet, you don’t have to apologise.»
«Indeed? So, no hard feelings?»
«No hard feelings,» he smiled.
High time I went home. It was already very late. Our conversation took us two hours! Quite a lot of time.
«So,» I said, «see you tomorrow! Mum’s waiting for me!»
«See you!» he smiled. «Good night, my dear!»
But he didn’t go at once. I stood up and was about to leave. But suddenly, he came up to me, took my arm and drew me close to himself. And then… then, he kissed me!
He had been kissing me for about one minute. It was the first kiss in my life. I wouldn’t forget it. Yes, I’d never ever forget it.
It seemed like I was going to have a sleepless night again, thinking about what’d just happened.
His lips were warm enough.
When he let me out, he said:
«I’m the king, and you’re my queen!»
What nice words!
«So, Janet, I must go now. My…» there, he stuttered, and then said, «my family’s waiting for me too. You know, my mother and my father. They both need care.»
«I understand you very well, Mohammed. So, good night!»
When I got up to my room, Mum said:
«Janet, what’s up with you? You look like having drunk some bad stuff in the bar!»
«No, Ma, just being exhausted.»
«I didn’t know one can be exhausted while on holiday!» she answered.
«Yes, they can,» I replied.
«Okay. I tired too. Good night, Janet! And don’t forget to lock the toilet door when you’re finished. You can’t sleep very well with that vent making noise!»
«Sure, Ma.»
When Mum fell asleep, I began thinking again.
First of all, why did he kiss me? Second, why didn’t he care about Mum’s being against our meetings? Well, maybe he just thought when, for example, we married one another, he wouldn’t see her? Maybe. Sometimes, they live away from parents as well.
And third. I absolutely had to buy the tickets to Morocco to come to him myself. No other way.
I needed to earn money somehow. Somewhere.
Oh, how I want to live and be served like a real king! I want to visit someone and have a hundred cakes and a thousand cups of tea! By, the way, it’s not food that matters, it’s the hosts’ warmth that has a real meaning.
I often wonder why only famous people – such as actors or singers – are welcomed heartily and treated like that. I wish I were one of them. But no! I must study – and now work too, for me to get here every weekend! Study, and study, and study. Work, and work, and work. What’s it all for..? So unfair it is! Those actors haven’t got any education, but still, they’re so rich and prosperous! They’re respected. And, of course, they’ll laugh me off if they just see me!
Well, I don’t understand one thing. It seems like I must even work for them. Work and live, live and work. How crazy!
10.
1 August 1972
Agadir, Morocco
My God! I had only a week left to stay here! It was awful! I wouldn’t see Mohammed any more after I left Agadir!
Stop, stop! No panic! I was going to find a way to earn money to come here again anyway!
Mum got tanned very well. She was sunbathing by the pool in the afternoon, when I was with her, and in the evening on the beach, when I was home (getting ready for meeting Mohammed in the hall).
This time, I put on another T-shirt. It suited me too. A nice one. I thought we were going to have a beautiful date.
