Wishes....By: Talaat Skairek

02 / 03 / 2008, 47 : 03 PM

Wishes

By: Talaat Skairek

At that time of day, Abu Hunein moved through the lanes of the refugee camp, cursing alienation and displacement, away from benighted homeland.
At the same time, Amjed was drawing on paper a blue-print to get out of the camp, which was completely besieged by the Israeli forces of occupation. He was cursing the Zionists, and wishing he could escape as far away as possible.
At that hour, of that year, the Intifada was raging flame that knew no lull or quiet.
People turned everything upside down and ran, Israeli troops from every side ran in every direction, which stones gave up their usual quality of stillness and began to fly into the large, limitless space, pouncing out of the blue, like eagles. That was the picture.
At another hour, the steps of Abu Hunein were finding their way, moving steadily towards the homeland. Amjed's ribs , perhaps all his bones, were participating in the march, which he had begun, and insisted on continuing until he got out of the camp, as far away as possible from the occupation, its vicious darkness and brutal soldiers. The descending darkness devoured what remained of the twilight; and the children, who had gone to bed with their folks, were dreaming of another day, in which a better sun would shine...
Abu Hunein was full of joy. So was Amjed although they were poles apart, moving in contrary directions, having different goals.
Yet , the picture for each hovered under their eyelids and began to become larger.
Abu Hunein's eyes captured the picture of the homeland being embraced, which Amjed's eyes captured departure from the homeland. Nevertheless they both imagined the trees to be more beautiful, full of wonder, of thrilling magic, while life was becoming a glorious symphony of never-ending music.
Long hours passed. The night shed the last spot of its darkness, and the morning woke up even before the crowing song of the cock. Children began to walk the roads and lanes of their homeland, opening new apertures for the golden beams of the sun, while stones opened wings of fire began to soar. The Israeli soldiers insisted that the seventh year of the Intifada should be painted with blood. They fired thousands of bullets, and blood began to flow on the ground. Abu Hunein had reached the point of entering into the homeland, while Amjed was at the point of departure from the homeland; and there they met.
Each one unfolded his concern, his wishes, his speculations and aspirations. Abu Hunein exclaimed, "I want to go home after loss and long wanderings!". Amjed said, "I want to leave, after a long, humiliating occupation". The children were waves of attack and retreat.
"What will you do?" asked Abu Hunein. "And what will you do?", retorted Amjed. Time went by while each was trying to convince the other of his own opinion, in order to make, him retrace his footsteps.
Bullets began to whiz nearer and nearer. Even the footsteps of the children began to sound nearer, or so it seemed, while they are engaged in their dialogue about the Intifada, the homeland , the freedom, the beauty of getting rid of the foreign occupation. Bullets whizzed nearer, while the two forgot that they were standing on the lime of fire and blood.
They embraced each other and began to cry. They seemed to have reached an agreement. They moved together with great confidence.
Children around them were approaching and rushing away, Volleys of gunfire inflamed the atmosphere ! Engulfing man and boy. Blood flowed, then rose like a tree whose leaves gleamed . under the beams of the golden sun.

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