"The Carnation and the Thorn" – Yahya Sinwar (story, part 31)

My brother Hassan, after graduating from the Faculty of "Industry", got a decent, well-paid job. The place of work was in the Zaytun region of Gaza. The people there hired me with the promise of increasing my salary again depending on my work. After many years of poverty and famine, it seemed as if our golden era was beginning. I was about to finish the sixth grade. My cousin Ibrahim had moved to the seventh grade. My brother Muhammad had moved to the ninth grade. My sister Tahani had finished the tenth grade and was assigned to teach.

The world began to laugh at us again. It seemed that after a long time, our cousin Hassan also appeared. But his appearance had changed completely. He had become a grown man. He had grown hair and a beard, he was dressed in clothes that were not worn according to our customs, similar to those worn by Jews, with gold chains around his neck and arms, flared trousers, and a tobacco box in his pocket. He knocked on the door of our courtyard like a guest from another planet. I went out and opened the door. I didn't recognize him at all. He put his fingers in my hair , smiled a little and said, "Are you Ahmad?" Recognizing his voice, I said, "Hasan aka, is that you?!" He replied, "Yes..." I exclaimed, "Mother. . . Mahmud aka . . . Hasan aka is back . . ." Everyone rushed out of the house and went out to the courtyard gate. Before that, Hasan aka had taken two or three steps and entered the courtyard. Everyone who came out to the courtyard froze as if struck by lightning when they saw Hasan. Everyone didn't know what to say. Mahmud aka was the first to catch his breath, greet Hasan aka and hug him. Ibrahim also came to see him, then Mahmud aka went to his room. The brothers and sisters gathered in Mahmud aka's room. My mother went to set the table. Mahmud aka asked Hasan what had happened and why he was in this situation. Hasan kept telling me that he had a Jewish mother, that his father worked in his company, that his financial situation was very good, and that he was living in a rented house in Jaffa. His language was not fluent in Arabic. When he spoke, he mixed Hebrew words. Meanwhile, my mother set the table and served tea. Hasan greeted my mother:

-Bridesmaid , are you okay?

-Thank God, I'm fine!

-What's important , my daughter-in-law ... It was for the best that I left that house. I saw the world. I lived in comfort. If I hadn't, I would still be living in hell, like a camp.

-Have you seen the world with your Jewish girlfriend?

"Yes! What did he do if he was a Jew?!" said Hasan. Then my brother Mahmud joined the conversation:

-Okay, fine. What next, Hassan?

"No, not really. I just came to see you guys. I wanted to see Ibrahim. I wanted to see if he needed anything and ask how he was . "

At that moment, Hassan took out his wallet from his pocket, took out a wad of paper money, counted out a lot of guineas , and handed it to Ibrahim. Ibrahim's brother was sitting quietly. We also sat quietly. Then Hassan began to talk to his brother:

-Here, Ibrahim, this money is for you . Abraham replied:

-No, no need, thank you. I live well with my uncle 's family. I have no shortcomings.

- What if you take ... I am your brother ...

"When you come home, you'll be my brother. I won't call you brother unless you leave those Jews and live with us."

"Don't rush, Ibrahim. Why don't you hurry? Instead of me coming to this useless camp, why don't you come with me?"

-God forbid! Never!

"You know, " Hasan grinned. Mahmud, my brother, tried to distract Hasan and began to speak:

-Hasan, you have a house. When you come , you can live there. Stop living among these Jews. When you come , we will repair your house together, what did you say? Then we will find a better girl and marry you. Are we running out of girls in Gaza? We will find the best girl and marry her. I will also find you a better job.

Hassan listened to these words with a smile in his mind. This smile in his mind was a sign that he would reject everyone. And so it was - everyone rejected the offer and, saying a warm goodbye, left the courtyard.

To be continued...