Escape
Later that day the girls were both exhausted as Akbar had kept them busy learning their new duties. He pushed them and was very exacting. They were not allowed to talk each other, and there was only a small time allowed for play. Akbar realized in spite of his father's wanting to push these girls, they couldn't be allowed to work without even a small time to be children. After all they were just that, children. So he risked much to let the girls have a little time to run around. The girls though, being too exhausted did little but stand around.
Charmaine: I wish we could go lay down. I am tired.
Zoe: I am too, but we must not make Akbar mad. He may be our only friend to help us against evil Abdullah. We should do everything we can to please him.
Charmaine: I guess, but I can't hardly stand anymore.
Zoe sharply: Stop complaining. It is just as hard on me, but Akbar is just doing what his father wishes. If we upset Akbar, he won't be able to help us against his father. Like it or not, Abdullah is our new father. We will be his wives when we come of age, and if we displease him, we disgrace our old father.
Charmaine trembling from exhaustion and fear bleated petulantly: I don't care! All of a sudden what Zoe said penetrated. Y-y-y-ou mean you and I are going to be like mother is to father? While she didn't know what that exactly meant, she knew her parents were married and laid in the same bed together. This scared her out of her tiredness. She hadn't really understood why her and Zoe had been left here, but somehow she thought that maybe they had displeased their father and he had left them here as a form of discipline. Now she really knew they would never go home. Knowing this could she run away? Her father had given his promise to Abdullah, did she dare bring dishonor to her father by running away like a scared child? Sadly, she knew now that if she ran away there was no running home to her mom or dad. He would just be angry and bring her back here.
Zoe saw her sister lost in thought. What was her sister thinking? Charmaine had always needed protecting. She was weaker of the two of them. She had tried to always protect her sister from the blows of her father's hard hand. He was not stingy when it came to discipline. He had beaten them for the slightest indiscretion. She didn't know why their father had been so hard on them, but she now felt that continuous beatings from her father would be nothing compared to what would happen to them here. Could Charmaine handle being Abdullah's wife? The thought of belonging to this man filled her with loathing. Her mother, not too long ago had explained in answer to her questions, the way it was between a man and woman. Her mother had not held back knowing that they would be married at a young age and had to be prepared, It was the lot of all women her mother had said. She explained that it was what was expected of a woman, and having babies was their lot in life.. She kind of wished now that she didn't know. The thought of lying next to Abdullah and having his babies was scary. She knew she wanted to have children some day, but not with him. Some how she had to find a way out of this for both her and Charmaine, but how? She knew even more than Charmaine how they could never go home without disgracing their father, and if they ran away it would bring greater shame. She couldn't do that to her father. Zoe didn't blame her father for leaving them here, she understood that it was the lot of women to belong to men. She just hoped that somehow she could help her sister survive.
The next morning:
Charmaine: I wish we could go lay down. I am tired.
Zoe: I am too, but we must not make Akbar mad. He may be our only friend to help us against evil Abdullah. We should do everything we can to please him.
Charmaine: I guess, but I can't hardly stand anymore.
Zoe sharply: Stop complaining. It is just as hard on me, but Akbar is just doing what his father wishes. If we upset Akbar, he won't be able to help us against his father. Like it or not, Abdullah is our new father. We will be his wives when we come of age, and if we displease him, we disgrace our old father.
Charmaine trembling from exhaustion and fear bleated petulantly: I don't care! All of a sudden what Zoe said penetrated. Y-y-y-ou mean you and I are going to be like mother is to father? While she didn't know what that exactly meant, she knew her parents were married and laid in the same bed together. This scared her out of her tiredness. She hadn't really understood why her and Zoe had been left here, but somehow she thought that maybe they had displeased their father and he had left them here as a form of discipline. Now she really knew they would never go home. Knowing this could she run away? Her father had given his promise to Abdullah, did she dare bring dishonor to her father by running away like a scared child? Sadly, she knew now that if she ran away there was no running home to her mom or dad. He would just be angry and bring her back here.
Zoe saw her sister lost in thought. What was her sister thinking? Charmaine had always needed protecting. She was weaker of the two of them. She had tried to always protect her sister from the blows of her father's hard hand. He was not stingy when it came to discipline. He had beaten them for the slightest indiscretion. She didn't know why their father had been so hard on them, but she now felt that continuous beatings from her father would be nothing compared to what would happen to them here. Could Charmaine handle being Abdullah's wife? The thought of belonging to this man filled her with loathing. Her mother, not too long ago had explained in answer to her questions, the way it was between a man and woman. Her mother had not held back knowing that they would be married at a young age and had to be prepared, It was the lot of all women her mother had said. She explained that it was what was expected of a woman, and having babies was their lot in life.. She kind of wished now that she didn't know. The thought of lying next to Abdullah and having his babies was scary. She knew she wanted to have children some day, but not with him. Some how she had to find a way out of this for both her and Charmaine, but how? She knew even more than Charmaine how they could never go home without disgracing their father, and if they ran away it would bring greater shame. She couldn't do that to her father. Zoe didn't blame her father for leaving them here, she understood that it was the lot of women to belong to men. She just hoped that somehow she could help her sister survive.
The next morning:
Charmaine had left Abdullah's house early in the morning. She had meant to leave earlier in the evening, but having been exhausted from the day before had fallen immediately into a deep sleep. To her dismay the sun was beginning to rise as she awoke. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and bolted upright in bed. She would have to go now if she was going to do it. She was afraid, and didn't want to disappoint her father, but her fear of Abdullah and her life here was worse, so she climbed out of bed, and silently got dressed. She didn't have warm clothes, as it was hot in Al Simhara, and the nights although cold were spent indoors. That is why she was shocked at how cold it was when she stepped outside and the sky was raining white cotton balls. She wondered what it was. She didn't know, but it fell on her skin and was cold. She almost went back inside to bed, but she had the courage now, this moment, and she might not be able to do it later. In spite of the cold she started running. She didn't know where she was going to go, but it didn't matter right now. All she wanted was to get away.
Abdullah woke up and found that the fire in the stove hadn't been lit, and breakfast hadn't been started. How dare these lazy ones disappoint him for the second day in a row. This would not be allowed. He would punish them both but good! His stomach rumbled angrily, and that made him even more angry reminding him how long it would be before he would get some food. He stalked into the girls room and saw Zoe sleeping peacefully. Strangely Charmaine's bed was empty. If she wasn't in the kitchen, where could she be? He would deal with Zoe first.
Abdullah: Zoe! You lazy camel's behind, it is past sunrise and you still lie abed? Yesterday I forgave your laziness as it was your first day here, but this will not be tolerated. Your sister is already up! Get up before I beat you with my shoe.
Abdullah: Zoe! You lazy camel's behind, it is past sunrise and you still lie abed? Yesterday I forgave your laziness as it was your first day here, but this will not be tolerated. Your sister is already up! Get up before I beat you with my shoe.
Zoe had been dreaming deeply. Her dreams were strangely about how she was going to make friends with Abdullah. Now she was brought to life abruptly. Heart racing, Zoe popped up in bed. She quickly got out from under the covers and stood up. Being she was still disoriented she fell back down to the edge of the bed. For a moment she forgot where she was and wondered why this man was standing in her room. Her stomach rumbled and she thought of her mothers goat's milk cereal mush. Yummy she hoped her mother made it this morning as it was not an every day thing, but a treat she made infrequently.
Abdullah angry at her stalling approached her threateningly: Get up now or you will regret it! I want you and your sister in that kitchen within the next 2 mins, and breakfast on the table in 10 mins. and it better be edible. With that he stalked out.
Zoe realized where she was and sighed. She glanced at her sister's bed. She had thought she heard something about her sister being up. She smiled. Good for her. She hoped that her sister went to fetch the water to start the mush. Zoe quickly got dressed and walked into the kitchen.
Upon walking into the kitchen Abdullah turned toward her scowling. He was not pleased that was for sure.
Why was Abdullah watching her all the time, she wondered? She squared her shoulders and got up the courage to walk past him to start breakfast. Where was Charmaine? Was she dawdling getting the water? She wanted to cry. How could she get breakfast alone?
Abdullah turned toward Farid: I want you to go fetch Charmaine. She must have gone to fetch the water. Bring her here so I can beat her for being so tardy.
Farid bowed and left.
Abdullah barked at Zoe: What are you waiting for?
Zoe being still out of it slightly and hungry spoke slowly: Honored one, I need the water my sister will bring to start the mush..
Abdullah snapped: You can start the eggs. I will have them first. Now do not make me angrier.
Zoe nodded and walked to the fridge. She didn't remember how to make eggs the way Abdullah liked. She would have to hope for the best. She wished Akbar was here to help her like yesterday. Trembling she pulled out eggs, goat's milk and bread.
Farid all of a sudden rushed in, and in his distress forgot to use the proper title for his master: Abdullah!
Abdullah hearing the urgency in Farid's voice, and using his name for the first time since they were children stood up and scowled. Something must be very wrong. Deciding to forgive the breech of etiquette: What is it Farid?
Farid: None of the women at the well have seen the little one Charmaine. I have looked in the barn and all over, and she is not here.
Abdullah hearing this got angrier. Did this little snit run away? Did she dare disgrace him and her father in this way?
Why was Abdullah watching her all the time, she wondered? She squared her shoulders and got up the courage to walk past him to start breakfast. Where was Charmaine? Was she dawdling getting the water? She wanted to cry. How could she get breakfast alone?
Abdullah turned toward Farid: I want you to go fetch Charmaine. She must have gone to fetch the water. Bring her here so I can beat her for being so tardy.
Farid bowed and left.
Abdullah barked at Zoe: What are you waiting for?
Zoe being still out of it slightly and hungry spoke slowly: Honored one, I need the water my sister will bring to start the mush..
Abdullah snapped: You can start the eggs. I will have them first. Now do not make me angrier.
Zoe nodded and walked to the fridge. She didn't remember how to make eggs the way Abdullah liked. She would have to hope for the best. She wished Akbar was here to help her like yesterday. Trembling she pulled out eggs, goat's milk and bread.
Farid all of a sudden rushed in, and in his distress forgot to use the proper title for his master: Abdullah!
Abdullah hearing the urgency in Farid's voice, and using his name for the first time since they were children stood up and scowled. Something must be very wrong. Deciding to forgive the breech of etiquette: What is it Farid?
Farid: None of the women at the well have seen the little one Charmaine. I have looked in the barn and all over, and she is not here.
Abdullah hearing this got angrier. Did this little snit run away? Did she dare disgrace him and her father in this way?
Abdullah roared: You dare to let her escape? You Farid, are lucky I am not like my father. If it wasn't for my remembering we were boys together, it would not be well for you. Be glad I can be so forgiving. Now, I WANT YOU TO GO FIND HER AND BRING HER BACK HERE! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR YOU LLAMA'S DUNG GO!
Farid having never seen his master's anger so hotly directed at him trembled and bowed low over and over again backing out of the room. He would bring Charmaine back no matter what it took. He loved his master and there is nothing he wouldn't do to please him.
After Farid bowed his way out, Abdullah stormed around the kitchen swearing epithets.
Farid having never seen his master's anger so hotly directed at him trembled and bowed low over and over again backing out of the room. He would bring Charmaine back no matter what it took. He loved his master and there is nothing he wouldn't do to please him.
After Farid bowed his way out, Abdullah stormed around the kitchen swearing epithets.
Zoe leaned over in pain for her sister. What could she have been thinking? Didn't she know that Abdullah would punish her severely? Zoe trembled in fear and clutched her stomach. How could she protect her sister now? How could she have been so dumb?
Abdullah still raving bumped into Zoe. He looked down and saw Zoe on the ground. Angrily he viciously kicked her over and over again. She curled up in a ball to protect herself. This made him angrier and the kicks continued. Get up! You lazy camel's behind! By all that is holy, I promise you that ysour sister will be sorry she did this. Yes she will be very sorry. If you don't have breakfast on that table immediately you too will suffer your sister's punishment!
Abdullah still raving bumped into Zoe. He looked down and saw Zoe on the ground. Angrily he viciously kicked her over and over again. She curled up in a ball to protect herself. This made him angrier and the kicks continued. Get up! You lazy camel's behind! By all that is holy, I promise you that ysour sister will be sorry she did this. Yes she will be very sorry. If you don't have breakfast on that table immediately you too will suffer your sister's punishment!
Abdullah continued his storming and pacing in the other room. Zoe stood up trying not to cry, but the tears wouldn't stop coming. She rubbed her eyes, and walked to the stove to cook the eggs. She had never felt so lost, lonely, hurt physically and emotionally, and afraid. His vicious kicks in her side and all over her body made it hurt to even breathe. Still she didn't dare sit down. With tears falling into the pan, Zoe silently prayed that somehow the eggs would turn out, her sister would never be found and Abdullah would die a horrible death.