[عبدالله الخطيب]

Childhood Memories
By: Abd Allah El Khateeb

I grew up in a quiet town
My childhood was very happy, I always walked to my elmentary school
that was adjacent of my neighborhood

During my sixth grade year, I began to explore my interests in playing football
I guss I put so much attention into football that made me
forgot that I needed to put as much attention into my classes

I was warned multiple times in the school as well as by my mother, God bless her soul

By that time and, at that point.. football got into me like an addicting drug
I was missing classes, I sneaked out of my home to join other mates for a play
and, I was doing poorly at school
until that day, when ...

[عبدالله الخطيب]

Childhood Memories
By: Abd Allah El Khateeb

2

I was practicing in the back alley
I kicked the ball too hard, it went passed our neighbor's bedroom window
broke it into thousands of small pieces.. driving Mr. Basyouni, the old man and next door neighbor to come outside like a bullet
screaming and yelling, claiming that my football crashed into his window went through the room knocked down the picture of his late wife

Mr Basyouni was really mad, and I was really scared
Mr Basyouni was a mean and a grouchy old man, he had always been rude and insulted the others
There was no other way to describe him

My mother overheard the whole thing
she came out running, saw Mr Basyouni as mad as a hornet
Tried to calm down his anger, she looked at me madly and immediately started reprimanding me

Mr Basyouni kept going on and on with his shouting and yelling

- I'm sorry Mr Basyouni.. I said
- sorry?.. Where can I cash your sorry, menace boy
- I'm willing to pay for the damages Mr. Basyouni
- How are you going to manage paying for that Mr Pele?...said it in a cynical way

I looked at my mother. She was gazing at me amused and curious

I turned my eyes back to Mr Basyouni
- I will sacrifice my school allowance until you are paid in full

Mr Basyouni refused my offer and told my mother that he needed to discuss this matter with my father very soon

My husband left in a business trip this morning and he would not be back soon.. my mother said

Mr. Basyouni turned his back to my mother and walked mumbling to his home

Please... Give me my football.. I asked politely as I nodded my head and dropped my eyes down to the ground, so I can't see him
He turned his head around and gave me that evil smile

He continued walking to his door
went inside and left the door ajar
Few minutes later he showed up with the ball in one hand and an ice pick in the other

[عبدالله الخطيب]

Childhood Memories
By: Abd Allah El Khateeb

3

.I looked at him with contempt

.Do you still need your football?... He asked madly
Come and get it

.I wanted to believe him
I wanted him to forgive me
I wanted my football back
I promised myself, not to get in trouble again
I promised myself to straighten up and be a better person

He stepped forward offering the ball with his right hand
and kept the ice pick with the other, behind his back

.I had to take a slim chance, trusting Mr. Basyoni

As soon as I extended my hand to him, he plunged the ice pick into
the ball..One..Two.. Three.. and fourth time
*****
That same night, as my heart was broken over my football
my mind was busy, thinking of a plan of retaliation
It didn't take me too long to figure out one nasty idea

I planed to drive him crazy by pulling on him a prank called "Ding Dong Ditch 'em" once
I saw in an American movie, where you go out to a door, at night and ring the door bill
then run away and hide

To be continued