The Hour of the Oryx

by Farah Zaman

  “I love making salad,” Zaid said. “Can we help you?”

  Umm Kifah’s plump face beamed. “You’re such sweet children. Yes, you can help if you want to. Everything’s in the fridge.” They gathered up lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers and washed them.

  “How was your trip to the village?” Umm Kifah asked, stacking cutlery neatly in a drawer.

  “It was great,” Layla said as she sliced tomatoes. “It must be nice to live in a place where everyone knows everyone else.”

  Umm Kifah chuckled. “It has its advantages as well as its disadvantages.”

  “We heard you used to work at the orphanage,” Adam said as he peeled a cucumber.

  “Yes, I did. It seems like such a long time ago. I was there for two years. I left when I became pregnant with my first child. It’s been fifteen years already.”

  “Were you there when Ms. Mahveen and Ms. Yusra were students?” Zaid asked, dicing a red pepper.

  “Oh yes,” Umm Kifah said as she put away glasses in the cupboard. “They came in just after I started. Yusra came first and Mahveen two months later. They were both fourteen. Now they’re back again as teachers. I never imagined the two of them would be working here at the same time. But I suppose they’ve put aside their differences to work for the common good.”

  “Didn’t they get along?” Adam asked innocently. It was clear that Umm Kifah enjoyed a good gossip.

  “La,” Umm Kifah said with great emphasis. “Yusra was quite a handful but Mahveen was a well-behaved girl. Being the same age, you’d think they would have become friends. But it was fireworks between them right from the start.”

  Adam, who remembered the spat between the two women, could well believe that.

  “What did they fight about?” Zahra asked as she shredded lettuce.

  “Everything. Mahveen was forever complaining that Yusra was mean to her. Yusra did have a rather sharp tongue.”

  “It’s hard to believe she was like that.” Layla picked up another tomato.

  “She’s mellowed a lot.” Umm Kifah said. “Her son died and she and her husband divorced after that.”

  “How did her son die?” Adam asked.

  “It was some illness. He was only seven, poor thing.”

  “That must have been hard for her,” Layla said.

  “Yes, I think that’s why she left the city and came here to teach.”

  “Do you know her ex-husband?” Zaid asked.

  Umm Kifah pursed her lips. “Yes, he’s been living in the village for the past four months. Word is, he’s trying to get back with her.”

  “Does he have a fancy hairdo and bulging muscles?” Adam asked.

  “Yes, that sounds like him. Yusra is a fitness freak too. Karate, judo and Allah knows what else.”

  “We saw the two of them in the restaurant earlier,” Zahra said. “They seemed to be arguing.”

  Umm Kifah tut-tutted. “I hope she knows what she’s doing. If it didn’t work out the first time, it probably won’t again. She seems to have a knack for attracting the troublesome types. She used to hang out with that high-strung girl, Raha. Thick as thieves the two of them were before the tragedy.”

  “Raha?” Layla said. “Is she the girl who died in the vaults?”

  Umm Kifah sighed. “Yes, she tried to set a fire down there and ended up setting herself alight. Though I never mentioned it to anyone, I always wondered if Yusra knew of Raha’s plan.”

  The next morning, when the teenagers arrived at the orphanage to help out, the girls were assigned to laundry while the boys were sent to the kitchen. For the rest of the morning, Adam and Zaid were kept busy cutting vegetables, washing pots and pans, and filling up the food boxes. As lunch time rolled in, they hurried to wash up in the bathroom. Adam’s face was on fire and his clothes were plastered to his skin with sweat. He could not wait to douse cold water over his overheated face.

  Upon entering the bathroom, they were startled to hear a cry. They swung towards the sound and Adam’s gut tightened with fury. The Troublesome Trio had ambushed Mahmood in a corner. Fadi and Luay held the boy captive while Haysam was hitting him in the stomach. Mahmood was gasping and wheezing from the blows. Adam and Zaid rushed towards them. The three bullies let go of Mahmood and dashed for the door.

  “Not so fast.” Adam grabbed hold of Haysam. “How dare you gang up on Mahmood like this?”

  Haysam snarled, “Don’t stick your nose in our business or you’ll be sorry.”

  “You’re a bunch of cowards,” Adam spat out, standing nose to nose with him. “Were you the ones who put Baby Lina in the cage?”

  Adam saw the guilty expression that flitted across Haysam’s face before he sneered, “Why don’t you ask monkey-boy about that?”

  Wrenching himself free, he shoved Adam and scurried out the door with his cronies. Adam grabbed hold of a sink or he would have crashed to the floor. His anger surged anew at the miserable look on Mahmood’s face.

  “Are you in any pain, Mahmood?” he asked as Zaid wiped the boy’s face.

  Mahmood shook his head.

  On a sudden hunch, Adam asked, “Have they hit you before?”

  Mahmood downed his head and nodded.

  Adam clenched his fists. If the Troublesome Trio had still been there, he might have punched one of them. “Those slimy worms. I’m sure they’re the ones who put Baby Lina in the cage to get Mahmood in trouble. Haysam looked guilty when I asked him.”

  “I wonder what decision the administration made on Friday night,” Zaid said. “Did they say anything to you, Mahmood?”

  Mahmood shook his head.

  “Maybe no news is good news,” Adam said.

  “I hope so,” Zaid said. “Come, Mahmood, let’s go eat.”

  “Zaid and I will tell Mr. Mazin later what those bullies did to you,” Adam said, giving the boy’s shoulder a squeeze. “We’ll make sure they don’t do it again.”

  At lunch, Adam and Zaid told the girls of the incident in the bathroom and their plan to report it to Mr. Mazin.

  “Those jerks.” Layla looked with sympathy at Mahmood’s downcast face. “I can’t believe they’re picking on poor Mahmood.”

  “I’m glad you’re going to report them,” Heba said, her jaw set. “They shouldn’t get away with what they did.”

  A group of women trooped into the meal hall and picked up food boxes before sitting down. They were a lively group, laughing and talking among themselves.

  “Who are those women, Heba?” Zaid asked.

  “They’re from the village. They came for their monthly cuddle with the kids.”

  “That sounds interesting,” Adam said.

  “Yes, without parents and siblings, the kids are starved for affection.” They could see from the look of sadness on Heba’s face that she had experienced this firsthand. “A little hug and cuddle go a long way in making the little ones feel loved and cared for.”

  “Could we do that one day?” Zahra asked.

  “You could do it tomorrow if you want to,” Heba replied.

  “That would be great,” Layla said.

  “When you arrive, come get me from the kitchen and I’ll take you to the nursery.”

  As the meal hall emptied out and they were left sitting alone at the table, the teenagers told Heba about their meeting with Omar Alkhalaf at the Lighted Scrolls. When they were done, she said in disbelief, “A book of magic? That’s what Uncle Issa was murdered for?”

  “It seems so,” Zaid said.

  They went on to tell her about their conversation with Umm Kifah. After they were done, Heba said, “I hope Umm Kifah is wrong and Ms. Yusra didn’t know about Raha’s plan to set that fire in the vaults. I hate to think she would have knowingly endangered so many lives.”

  “I think it’s weird that her ex-husband is living in the vil
lage,” Layla said.

  “He moved there a month before your uncle was murdered,” Adam said. “It could mean something.”

  Adam and Zaid hurried to Mr. Mazin’s office, hoping to catch him before he retired to his private room. The door was open a hairsbreadth, but when they knocked, there was no answer. Pushing it open, they peered in. The director was not there.

  “I guess he must have gone up already,” Adam said.

  Zaid’s eyebrows rose. “And forgot to lock his door.”

  The two boys looked at one another, the same thought occurring to them.

  Glancing down the corridor, Adam said, “You want to keep watch or search?”

  “Search.”

  “Okay, I’ll tap on the door if anyone comes.”

  Zaid sidled into the room and went straight to the desk. Adam remained by the door, keeping half an eye on his friend. The other offices were closed. He hoped the rest of the administration had all gone upstairs too. As the moments ticked by, Adam’s nerves grew taut. What if someone comes? Or Mr. Mazin returned? Adam’s breath hitched and his palms grew moist.

  He spun around when Zaid called out softly, “Adam, look at this.”

  Zaid was standing by the bookshelf, holding up a book. Adam took a quick glance down the corridor before darting into the office. His eyes widened when he saw the title. The Arabian Oryx.

  “What a coincidence,” he said. “Let’s see what’s inside.”

  Zaid flipped through the pages. There was nothing exceptional from what Adam could see. Unless there was a more sinister significance to what lay within. Absorbed in their perusal of the book, the youths jumped when a door slammed shut and footsteps shuffled towards Mr. Mazin’s door.

  Eyes wide with fear, they looked at each other. There was nowhere to run or hide. They were going to get caught. The next moment, Ms. Tubaa demanded from the doorway, “What are you boys doing in there?”

  Chapter Thirteen:

  Talking with Ms. Tubaa

  Adam gathered his scattered wits. “We came to see Mr. Mazin but he must have stepped out. We’re waiting for him to come back.”

  Ms. Tubaa frowned. “The door was open?”

  “Yes,” Adam replied.

  Ms. Tubaa expelled an annoyed breath. “He must have forgotten to lock it. He’s always doing that.” Her eyes sharpened when she saw the book in Zaid’s hand. “What are you doing with that book?”

  “Just taking a look,” Zaid said. “We’re very fond of books,” he added lamely.

  Ms. Tubaa’s face darkened with displeasure. “Ta’al. Come out and let me lock the door. But don’t leave.”

  The youths shifted uneasily as she clicked the door shut. Then she turned to them and said, “You shouldn’t have entered Mr. Mazin’s private office in his absence. I’ll be sure to let Dr. and Mrs. Horani know about your lack of manners. A good scolding will teach you not to take such liberties again.”

  Adam clenched his jaw. Interfering old biddy. “We’re sorry,” he said. “We didn’t think it was a big deal.” I can’t promise it won’t happen again.

  Ms. Tubaa gave him a scathing look. “I’m sure you don’t think so, living in the west. But we do things differently here. We teach our children to respect other people’s boundaries. Now, what did you want to see Mr. Mazin about?”

  Zaid gave Adam a helpless look and said, “We wanted to report an incident of bullying in the bathroom.”

  Ms. Tubaa scowled. “Bullying? You’d better come to my office and tell me about it.”

  She unlocked her door and led them into a room that was painted a deep apricot color. The ultra-feminine décor had Adam blinking in surprise. There were flowery paintings on the walls, a frilly green curtain at the window and a geometric rug that looked suspiciously Turkish.

  “Have a seat.” Ms. Tubaa pointed them to two bronze chairs in front of her desk before sinking into an armchair in a matching color. She was almost swallowed up behind the desk. Fixing them with eyes that had slight bags beneath, she asked, “Who’s been bullying who in the bathroom?”

  They told her. When they were done, she frowned. “We don’t tolerate bullying here. We’ll speak to those boys.”

  “They need to be given detention or something,” Adam said. “Mahmood told us it’s not the first time they’ve hit him.”

  Ms. Tubaa raised a brow. “Is the boy talking now?”

  Adam flushed. “We asked him if they’ve hit him before and he nodded. If they’re not stopped, they could cause him serious injury.”

  Ms. Tubaa’s eyes turned flinty. “I believe we know how to deal with bullies. I’ve been working here before you boys were even born. Those three are not the first bullies we’ve had, nor will they be the last.”

  “We think they’re the ones who put Baby Lina in the cage,” Zaid said.

  “Do you have any proof of that?”

  “No, but they looked guilty when I asked them,” Adam said.

  She shook her head. “We need solid proof. We can’t discipline them based on how they looked.”

  But you were willing to punish Mahmood based on the guilt you thought you saw on his face. It was on the tip of Adam’s tongue to call her out for this bit of hypocrisy. Zaid must have guessed his thought. He put a warning hand to Adam’s knee and said to Ms. Tubaa, “Has the administration made a decision whether they’re going to punish Mahmood or not?”

  Her lips thinned in displeasure. “Since there were no eyewitnesses, the boy won’t be penalized. You may go now.”

  Glad to leave her grouchy presence, Adam and Zaid found the girls waiting for them in the atrium.

  “Did you speak to Mr. Mazin?” Zahra asked.

  “No, he wasn’t there,” Zaid said. “But the door was open.” He told them of the search and the book he had found.

  “Did you see what it was about?” Heba asked.

  “It looked like an ordinary book,” Adam said. “We didn’t get to examine it closer. Ms. Tubaa came and caught us.”

  Heba sucked in a breath. “What happened after that?”

  Adam told them.

  “It’s great they’re not going to punish Mahmood,” Zahra said. “But too bad Ms. Tubaa is going to tattle to your parents.”

  “You have to tell Mom and Dad before she tells them,” Layla said. “At least, they won’t be taken by surprise.”

  “I agree,” Zaid said.

  At dinner that evening, Adam said, “Mom, Dad, can we speak to you about something?”

  “Of course.” Dr. Horani looked up from his plate of pasta. “What is it?”

  “It’s about Mahmood, the boy with the monkey.”

  “Oh yes, we met him,” Mrs. Horani said between bites. “He came to the clinic a couple of days ago. He had a nasty little bump on his head.”

  “Oh no, they must have hit him.” Layla’s eyes flashed.

  “How could they do that to him?” Zahra said, almost in tears.

  “What are you talking about?” Dr. Horani frowned.

  “Three boys have been bullying Mahmood,” Zaid said. “We caught them hitting him in the bathroom today before lunch.”

  “That’s terrible.” Mrs. Horani said. “You have to report it.”

  “We went to tell Mr. Mazin but he wasn’t in his office,” Adam said. “We were looking at one of his books when Ms. Tubaa came by. She was upset to find us there. She said we shouldn’t have entered even if we found the door open.”

  “You were waiting for him?” Dr. Horani asked.

  “Er…something like that.” Adam could feel his face turning red. He picked up his glass of water and sipped it.

  “Ms. Tubaa was right.” Mrs. Horani chided the youths. “You shouldn’t have gone in if Mr. Mazin wasn’t there.”

  “We’re sorry, Auntie Nahla,” Zaid said. “We acted on the spur of the moment
.”

  Adam hid a grin at Zaid’s smart choice of words.

  Mrs. Horani’s face softened. “I understand.”

  “Since Mr. Mazin wasn’t there, did you tell Ms. Tubaa about the bullying?” Dr. Horani asked.

  “Yes, we did,” Adam said. “But I don’t know if she’ll take it seriously. She’s not sympathetic to Mahmood.”

  “What do mean?” his mother asked.

  Adam and Zaid told them of Baby Lina in the cage. Adam concluded, “Even though they’ve decided not to punish Mahmood, we don’t know if they’ll do anything about him being bullied.”

  “I’ll speak to Mr. Mazin,” Dr. Horani said. “Once he hears about Mahmood’s injury, he’ll realize it’s a serious situation.”

  “I’m proud of you boys for standing up to those bullies and reporting what you saw,” Mrs. Horani said. “It would have been easy to think it’s not your business and move on.”

  “Thank you, Mom and Dad,” Adam said, feeling a warm glow at his mother’s words. It was quickly followed by a twinge of guilt when he thought of the sneaky things they were doing behind his parents’ back.

  He wished he could tell his parents about Danyal’s dilemma and their quest to find Mr. Issa’s murderer. But their hands were tied in both cases.

  I can’t believe how complicated our lives have become.

  The nursery was all the way to the right on the ground floor of the orphanage. As Heba led the teenagers there the next day, Adam said, “Heba, do you think you can get hold of the office keys again? We can do another search during rest time today.”

  “Alright, I’ll give it a try,” Heba promised in a low voice.

  When they entered the nursery, they were greeted with children playing, laughing and crying. The sight of the motherless and fatherless youngsters tugged at Adam’s heart.

  “Help with whatever you’re comfortable with,” Heba told them. “Anything you do will be welcomed. Have fun. I’ll see you later.”

  The rest of the morning was an eye opener for the teenagers. First, they took turns feeding and bathing the littles ones. After that, it was changing diapers. When it was Adam’s turn to change a two-year old boy, he wrinkled his nose and stared in dismay at the gooey brown mess in the diaper. It stank to high heaven. He almost got peed upon for his troubles. Had he not dodged the stream, he would have been drenched in the face.