Odyssey... {}{ 19- Load

Hana did not say anything to her mother that evening. For the first time since the riot had started, she was anxious and alarmed. Talking to her mother about her day, as she did every evening, or helping her sons with their homework, as they expected from her, seemed an impossible act that evening. Gol, who nothing can be hidden from her, noticed her daughter's strange disturbance. She was filling with a startling hysteria, as it happened after Van's death. A pounding headache was hammering her to a degree of almost fainting. She knew about Hana's activities as well as the both governments cruelty. Losing another child would probably break her unconquerable resilience. Should something happen to Hana, Gol, who had gone through many crises, would not conceivably be able to tolerate it. Hana, her first child, mother of her grandsons, and her friend was her soul, her dead husband, and son and the only purpose of her living. There was no need for words to understand Hana's state of mind that night. Just looking in her eyes and watching her frenzied movement told Gol everything. Mina's phone call that evening added to Gol's dread. Her husband's friend at the office was arrested that day for talking against the newcomers; and nobody knew where he was. His wife had called Mina earlier that evening sobbing hysterically. Mina was very concerned for her sister, Hana; and she asked her mother if Hana had given up her activities. Gol, feeling depressed, said:

"I don't think so. I give the phone to her. Ask her."

As much as Hana liked Mina, her favorite sister, she did not tell her about the conversation with Mrs. T. because she did not want to frighten her family beforehand.

That night in bed, Mina's words about her husband's friend kept echoing in her ears; and like old days, she pictured so many different scenarios for her morning meeting with the new assistant district manager. However all those moving pictures ended up by her running in dark alley while bloody eyes of so many enemies were piercing her through.

Dallas-

When the phone rings early in the morning, it is Sam who answers it while Farhad and Hana are watching him.

"Oh, it's you, dad."

A cold shiver enters Hana's body.

"Let me talk to your mother." Hamid's voice is almost unrecognizable.

"You can talk to me."

"Let me talk to her you son of b..." He is enraged that it seems his anger can touch Sam through the wires.

While Hana is about to take the phone from Sam, her sons look at her ardently.

"Mom, don't give in. We're behind you." Farhad says.

How can she be tough without practice!?

"What do you want?" Her voice is weak and shaky.

"I'm stuck here with no money. They say my credit cards are no good anymore." He is trying very hard to speak softly to his wife.

"Your credit cards! They are not yours. I put stop on them yesterday. I should have done it last week." The words "my credit cards" of him angered Hana that she suddenly finds the amazing toughness she prays to have it.

"First you and your sons throw me out; and now you want me to die. What can I do without food and..."

She impatiently interrupts him:

"Do what every one else does. Get a job. I don't have to take care of you. You are not sick or a child."

"Is that it? You finally spilled it out. You don't love me. You don't want me. Now you're Americanized. Perhaps you have a boyfriend bow. Did you sleep with him last night?"

Hamid's irrational talk makes Hana to hang up the phone. It rings again; and mother and sons decide not to answer. Suddenly something strikes Hana. He is using her phone card. She immediately calls the telephone company to issue her a new card and cancel the old one. She is not sure how much this last week has cost her; something she will find out soon. But as her grandfather always said it is better to eliminate the danger as soon as possible rather than giving another chance to a person who has caused it.

She and her sons are very well aware that Hamid's real revenge will begin now. At the breakfast table, they talk it over.

"I say let's move from this apartment right away so he can't find us." Sam says.

"This is a good idea but it can't be done right away. We still have two more months left from our lease." Hana answers.

"We talk to the apartment manager. Maybe she let us go." Farhad says.

While Cindy, the apartment manager, sympathized with them, she says if they break a lease, their credit will be ruined and they can not rent another place. Then she recommends that they call the police for protection.

After the police officer hears Hana's bitter story, he says:

"Unfortunately I can't do anything. No crime is done. You're predicting he may harm you and your sons. He has no criminal records. We just can't do anything. When is he coming back?"

"I don't know." Hana's voice is weakened by her emotion.

"I tell you what, when he comes back, if he wants to enter your apartment, call us right away. By the way change the locks. That helps."

It seems all doors are closed for them. Why can't they prevent crime before it happens if evidence shows it will happen? But as she could not do anything in past to change the system, she can not do it now either. With Cindy,s approval, the locks are changed that day. At least that is a small step; even though Hamid is capable of breaking doors and windows or even driving the car through the wall of the living room.

To Be Continued