THE WRECKS OF FAR DISTANCES

                     

     A scorching wind and thin bodies were getting out of the mosque and facing toward their works and homes to escape from the violent wind, the oppressive heat and from the oneness. Among them, who were getting out of the mosque, there was a thin, blind and hunchback human in his sixth decade, leaning on his old stick, using it to find his way. If he heard a high-pitched, he changed his way, then returned again to the same road, which he used to walk in since he was a boy, to attain his father will. His father, who was always taking him to pray along this road, except for the days he was ill or going to dive for pearls. He smiled when he remembered what the sailors said about his father. He didn't hesitate to travel, searching for the small pearls in different seasons. Even when he used to be the ship's leader (AL-NOUKHATHA). He was yearning for it, so he stayed for a long time collecting the oysters from the bottom of the sea, and put them in a special basket called (AL-DEEIN), while the others on the ship were feeling frightened and uncomfortable until he appeared from the sea usually shouting. Then (AL-SAYYAB) pulled the rope, which he was tied to him and took the basket (AL-DEEIN) from him, before he extended his hand to pull him up. But sometimes he laughed and dived again, while everybody were looking to each other unbelieving what they were seeing from patience, endurance and courage....... He took a breath, while he was remembering another thing. The first time his father took him to the ship to do some works there. His father dived as always, but he didn't see him again. While the days were passing a rumor that said, "The mermaid loved and took him as a lover", was spread over. And one of the divers said that he saw him in a dream staring at a huge oyster, which attracted him until it made him forgot everything even himself. A diviner said when they asked him that he was still collecting oysters from the sea until now. These memories flowed the tears from his eyes. He felt heaviness on his feet, so he sat down. But his sorrow multiplied when he remembered his mother, his oath to stay away from the sea, and his assent, which was just to please her. So he worked as a boy with a pearl's merchant, who kicked him out, when he knew that he stole something. He stayed in prison for three years, so his mother stayed in poverty and loneliness. She carried on until she died. Some people were whispering, that the mermaid decided to revenge from her, because her husband didn't stop repeating her name and because of her passionate love to him. Also her son became blind because of her black magic. All that because she loved her husband in a crazy way!
                                               
     A yellow car passed leaving a thick smoke and small stones after it awoke him up from his past. He turned his face, but the driver continued driving until he stopped his car in front of the house gate. He got down greeting him in a loud voice, "HI, DADY". And entered the house closing the door behind him............

DOHA - DECEMBER 1996