The Hakawati

Read The Hakawati for Free Online Page A

Book: Read The Hakawati for Free Online
Authors: Alameddine Rabih
Tags: Fiction, Literary
the Nile itself.”
    “Boasting and fireworks.” Fatima applauded. “Every poet needs to show off.”
    “I do not find what he said particularly enticing,” Jawad said. “I appreciate the technique, but my soul is unmoved.”
•   •   •
    And on the fifth night, Khayal said, “I must beg your forgiveness. I have been doing this all wrong. I implore you to forget what has come before and allow me a new beginning.”
    “Go on, please,” said Jawad.
    “No need for apologies,” added Fatima. “You may not have seduced us, but you have certainly entertained us on this long journey, and for that we are grateful. Proceed.”
    And Khayal began:
“My love for you, Jawad ,
Leaves me no health or joy ,
You are the moon that has taken on
The shape of a boy.”
    “Oh, how scrumptious,” Fatima cooed. “Back to Abu Nawas. We are going to have an evening of love poems. You will enjoy this, Jawad.”
“Your face reveals a down so light
A breeze might steal it, or a breath;
Soft as a quince’s bloom that might
Find in a finger’s touch its death .
Five kisses and your face is cleared
While mine has grown a longer beard.”
    “Ah,” sighed Fatima, “that must be Latin.”
    “I am pleased,” Jawad said, “but if my suitor finds me beautiful, does that necessarily mean that I should find him so in return? This form of poetry is fun, delicious, but my soul remains untouched. It only increases my longing for the ineffable.”
    “Your name means ‘horse.’ My name means ‘horseman.’ We were meant to ride together. Can you not see?”
    “I can see that I still do not feel seduced. My heart flutters not.”

    “Your daughter is a strong woman,” the bey said. His mustache twitched when he spoke, and paralleled his thick brows. He dragged the chair closer to my father’s bed. My father refused to look at him,kept his eyes fastened on Hafez, who hovered, unable to control his nervous energy, and seemed torn between opposing overseers. My father followed his every movement disapprovingly. My father’s father had been employed by successive beys, treated as one of their many servants. I didn’t think my father ever forgave his for that, and it was going to take quite a bit of time for him to forgive Hafez for becoming a toady by choice. “What are you doing here?” my father asked him. “Why didn’t you come when you heard I was hospitalized?”
    “It’s not his fault, Uncle,” the bey said, his voice unctuous. “I wanted to come see you, and I wanted him to accompany me. I was a little busy, as you can imagine. Don’t blame your nephew. Now, please, tell me about your health. Are you feeling better?”
    “So you couldn’t come without your master,” my father told Hafez.
    “I called Lina every day,” Hafez said quietly, head bent as if he were speaking to the floor. His tie folded upon itself, bashful.
    “But how is your health?” the bey asked.
    Lina stuck her head into the room. “Your mother needs you, Hafez,” she said curtly, with a disapproving glance at the bey. My father shot her a pleading look. “We’ll be right back,” she said to him, and to Hafez, “Now.”
    I knew I should stay with my father, but I could not bear it. I followed them out.
    Aunt Samia was agitated and gasping for air. Her respiratory problems belied her true concern. “Is my brother offending the bey?”
    “Ah, the illustrious bey, father of all,” I said.
    Hafez took his mother’s hand and glared at me. “You’re so American,” he said. “Why is it that you’re quiet all the time but when you do speak all you do is irritate people?”
    “Kiss my ass, Hafez,” Lina hissed. “If anyone shouldn’t mention the word ‘irritating,’ it’s you, you dumb shit.”
    “Why do we always resort to strong language?” Aunt Samia asked no one in particular. “It’s all my father’s fault. He had such a tongue, that one. Shit, shit—that’s all he talked about.”
    Hafez ignored her. “I

Similar Books

Dear Mr. You

Mary -Louise Parker

The a Circuit

Georgina Bloomberg

Disgraced

Gwen Florio

1979 - You Must Be Kidding

James Hadley Chase

Maggie MacKeever

An Eligible Connection

Murderers Anonymous

Douglas Lindsay

Unholy Dying

Robert Barnard

Nobody Saw No One

Steve Tasane