excerpt
IT’S EARLYMORNING and Hakim is pacing his apartment, waiting for the coffee
to brew and for Jennifer to get up. His thoughts are with Ibrahim and Mara as
well as with Talal and Emily in Baghdad; he hasn’t heard from them since
yesterday when they sent a message that they had arrived safely. His mind is also
occupied with the upcoming meeting in the office; he needs to meet with Peter
to plan a strategy ahead the meeting.
He looks at his watch; it’s already ten in the morning, which means it is nine
in the evening in Baghdad. They must be finished with dinner by this time he
thinks; he logs onto the computer and sends a message.
“Hello there, my uncle, is anybody around?”
The answer comes more quickly than expected.
“Hello to you, my dearest son. Yes, we are all around; we have just finished
dinner. How is your morning in Los Angeles?”
He smiles happily as he finds them all in the house. He wants Jennifer to
exchange words with Emily.
“How did the day go for your guests, my uncle? How’s Mara?”
“We’re all okay. Talal and Emily are doing very well; they went to Falluza today.
I’ll get Talal over to talk to you; goodnight for now,” Ibrahim types.
“Thankyou, my uncle. My kisses to both you and Mara.”
Hakim goes into the bedroom and finds Jennifer half asleep; he gets her up.
“Come on, sweetie, come talk to your mom. I have them online; come on.”
Jennifer excitedly gets up and Hakim goes back to the computer to talk to Talal.
“Hey, how are you?”
“Hey, to you, too; I’m fine. I met my siblings earlier today; my sister is a pretty,
young woman and she is getting married this summer. My brother works here and
there; he is okay. How are you?”
“Everything is fine. How’s your home in Falluza?”
“We didn’t go there; the next time, I guess.”
“Okay, I wish you well. Get Emily to talk to Jennifer.”
Emily comes and sits at the computer and types, “Hi, sweetheart. How are you
and Hakim?”
“We’re okay, mom. How is Iraq?”
Mayanaam
vequinox
Manolis 