It was the very tone that said, as I was heading southward, “Young man, can you give these two men lift, with you?” by that time I could not comply with the check point guard's request. However, on my way to the north; the same voice asked me again “young man, would you be able to give lift to this boy?”
I saw a small boy whose sweat hardened the locks of his hair around his ears.
I continued driving.
Further on the way, an old bearded man waved his hand. He seated himself at the back; soon the smell of his "Haj perfume" (1) filled the car: “Al salam alaikum” (2).
I turned to the boy:
- Where are you coming from at this time of night?
- Work.
- What work?
I carry blocks.
- The mumbling of the man sitting behind with the sound of his rosary mixed with the voice of the car engine was a challenge to the absolute silence.
Do you go to school?
- Not anymore.
- Why?
- After my father was killed, I stopped.
- When was he killed?Why?
- During the war between the South and the North. (3)
Was he a Peshmarga? (4)
Yes.
“Inna Lillah wa Inna Ilayhi Raje'un"(5) the noise from the back inserted. The boy turned his head back and looked at the bearded man.
I asked the boy again:
- So your father is a martyr?
- No, he is not. There is no martyr ID or salary for him. (6) He spoke with a confident and tired voice.
- Do you have elder siblings?
- I am the eldest. I work carrying blocks, digging; hard labor work, whatever I can get. I will have enough money soon to give my mother, she has not bought the Eid chocolates yet.
The boy spotted the place and got out of the car. He stayed there and our eyes tightened together for a while.
Suddenly he shouted:
- “uncle, stop”
He put his hand in his torn pocket and offered me a chocolate and bid me good bye smiling.
I put the chocolate on his seat.
With the sound of the rosary behind, over the white lines of the street I headed toward the North.
..................................................................................................................................
* Eid Chocolate: Eid stands for the religious feast that usually Muslims celebrate. Its a tradition to distribute chocolates during these feasts.
1) Haj Perfume: it has a special smell, the pilgrims of Mecca use it widely
2) Al salam alaikum: Greeting in Arabic, mostly Muslims use it.
3) war between the South and the North: Referring to Civil War in Kurdistan
4) Peshmarga: Those who face death, Kurdish armed forces.
5) Inna Lillah wa Inna Ilayhi Raje'un: To God we belong and to Him we return, a religious expression used when somebody dies.
6) Mostly martyrs' families get salaries and government takes care of them.
· Translated on Monday, December 14, 2009 - MohammedAli Yaseen Taha
El Rodeo De Mora – San Jose – Costa Rica
| 
