Odyssey... ~{/}~31- Prosperity

As Hana watches the obvious, slow change in her life, she feels her long life misery is dissipating; however, a gnawing pain finds a way inside her to remind her how much she misses Sam and wants him to be here with them and share this turning point in their lives. She wonders about Sam's life and safety in Military. Although she understands him very well, she can not help a knot forming in her throat. Sometimes she wishes she could fly out like an eagle, her favorite bird, and go where he is to watch over him or to see what he does. Perhaps if she sees Military life, besides what she knows from movies and what Sam has told her, she can not be only at ease but confident that his choice has been a sound one for him. However, knowing that Sam begins college in Spring, when he is transferred to Fort Dix, in New Jersey, gives her a gleam of hope that Military life can not be as harsh as she thinks it is.

The party is a success. In Hana's small apartment, all the guests feel at home very quickly. They all praise her for her excellent cooking when they taste the unfamiliar Persian food which become common to them right way. The Persian style of rice, fluffy, long grain, and non sticky with lots of saffron on it, and the stew filled with fresh, green vegetable, beef, and beans (gormeh sabzi), and Hana's famous chicken salad, and soup with crushed barley and wheat, first look alien to the guests, but when they taste them, they all go for second and third helping which makes Hana very happy.

After dinner when every one is full and Hana moves around to serve her guests her homemade dessert, Persian Baklava, filled with almond and pistachio, each guest secretly admires the great hospitality of this little Persian woman, who has become American Citizen and has adopted this country as her own. Mick, Valery's husband, now understands why his wife has chosen Hana as her best friend, for he can see the great quality of this woman. Mario, drowned in his thought, wishes that he could hug Hana in front of everybody and tells her that he loves her and wants to marry her. Sylvie is very happy that she has found a boyfriend in America that his family's values are equal to hers, and Valery is proud that the statement she has made to her husband in their honeymoon is proven without any quarrel.

When Sylvie serves coffee, Mario smiles as though he has done something unusual.

"What about some brandy in our coffees?"

Hana blushes. She knows that is their secret drink, as she had it first time with her dead uncle, Behroz, twenty five years ago under a very different circumstances.

"I am sorry, I don't have any brandy." She shyly says.

"I've brought some with me. It's in the car." Mario says with a sweet smile on his face.

"I've never had brandy with my coffee!" Mick says.

"Wait until you taste it." Mario says while leaving the apartment to get the brandy from his car.

Everyone is waiting to taste this new drink, while Hana feels that Mario, in his own way, without speaking his thoughts is telling her how much he misses her.

In Hana's opinion she has accomplished her goal by having a good party. She is pleased by her performance. As everyone is outside for the last minute conversation before saying goodbye, Mick carries John, Valery's son, who has fallen asleep on Farhad's bed, playing video game, to the car. They are the first to leave. Because Farhad wants to be with Sylvie as much as he can, this morning he went and picked her up and now he is taking her home, and they are the second to leave which gives Hana and Mario a chance to be alone until Farhad returns. As much as she wants to be with him, she does not dare to invite him back in the house. She is afraid of her strong desire to be with this man, an intoxicating longing that takes over everything she knows. She does not want Farhad to see Mario is still there when he returns home from taking Sylvie home, even though she is not sure when will he comes back.

Mario offers to come inside and help her to do the dishes. She has never heard that from any man!

"Oh, thanks. Tomorrow is Sunday. I clean up then."

Standing outside in front of the apartment, Mario can read her mind and understands her concern; however, no one has said that they can not stand there and talk. Mario pulls her close to himself and begins kissing her passionately. She is melting by the smell of his cigar and does not resist his kisses. Like two teenagers having love affairs clandestinely from their parents, they kiss and stay in each other's arms under the cold sky filled with shinning stars and big and round full moon which its mountains looks from earth like a different shape and animals. In his arms, she remembers the days of her teenage years when she lived in the closet- like room of their house, when father and Van were still alive. When at night she walked down the stairs so she could see the moon with all her imaginary animals and trees in it from the turn of the stairs where the neighbor's yard was seen from the window.

As Mario moves his hand gently down her back and waist and kisses her even more intensely, she reciprocates by moving her hand on his body. It is a simple wanting and need that they both yearn for. They draw back quickly when the light of a car brightens the parking lot. Even though it is not Farhad, as the chains of their longing are broken, they just stand in the cold and hold each other's hand. Then they walk up and down the parking lot. Mario removes his coat and drapes it around her shoulder.

"You must go now, Mario. Farhad will be back any minute." She despondently says.

"Oh, Hana, I want to be with you. I love you."

She trembles by hearing those words and automatically says:

"I love you, too, Mario."

"Have you been to opera?" His desperate need and love makes him to change the subject.

"No, why?"

"I'm going to opera tomorrow, La Traviata, by Verdi. I bought two tickets just in case. Do you like to go with me?"

"Oh, God, I love to. I've seen opera on television but I've never had a chance to go. I've always wanted to. This is so wonderful." She is truly happy.

"Well, this is your chance. I'm sure, the way I know you, you'll love it. It's two o'clock matinee. I pick you up at twelve."

"Oh, thank you. How do I dress?'

"People wear nice clothes to opera. Use your own judgement."

They hug and kiss again and Mario finally leaves.

To Be Continued

Odyssey... ~{}~31- Prosperity

Hana meets Sylvie that evening, for Farhad can not wait to show off his new girlfriend to his mom. The immediate rapport between the two women amazes Farhad. It seems as though they have known one another all along. She is a typical Italian Girl with a look which can be deceived for an Iranian. She has dark hair, dark brown eyes, olive color skin, and she is very reserve. She speaks English with no accent, Just like Hana's sons, since she has been in America since age ten. She has an older brother, who helps their parents in their family owned Italian restaurant, where she also helps them on her spare time. She is studying fine arts at SMU, one of the better university in Dallas. She is nothing like Karen. In fact, Hana finds out very quickly a deep feeling for this new addition to her family. She is an honest, motivated, family oriented, and beautiful girl that Hana wishes to claim her as a daughter she has never had.

A few days later, when Hana tells Farhad she intends to invite Valery and her husband for dinner Saturday night, not only Farhad does not frown, but also he thinks that will be a good idea.

"That is great, mom. Why don't you invite Mario, too?"

Hana is almost shocked. As she has made a quick connection with Sylvie, she has the impression that Farhad and Mario also get along just fine.

The Saturday comes. Sylvie offers to come early to help Hana with the work. Hana is delighted. She lets Sylvie do the cleaning while she tries to put together her master pieces in Persian cooking, as she has promised her guests. Farhad watches the two women, he loves them so much in a different way and is blissful by his choice and his mother's approval.

Mario, full of energy and joy, coming back from seeing his grandson and his daughter, is not very optimistic for his relationship with Hana. To him this confused woman, being through so much in her life, is like a breeze that changes direction any minute and is like water that one can not hold in his hand. Even though he understands her mood swing very well, he wishes that she can get over her depressed cultural and former life style, so they can be together forever. He even does not mind to marry her without a long courtship, as it is normally a custom in America. He knows and believes that Hana is the right and perfect woman for him, a woman of intellect, yet very feminine, a woman of dedication, honesty, and loyalty, yet defying; nevertheless, her strong cohering with her cultural background, somewhat scares him. When Hana calls to invite him for Saturday evening party, a gloomy hope enlightens his misty perspective of their relationship.

Valery brags to Mick, her husband, about her best friend, her different life style, and most of all her excellent cooking. She wants Mick to witness why she has chosen a foreign woman for friendship and as her mate of honor and to prove to him the immeasurable quality of Hana which he has doubted. "Look and action can sometimes be deceiving." She has argued over that remark on their honeymoon.

To Be Continued

Odyssey... ~~31- Prosperity

Farhad's broken heart because of Karen's betrayal has stopped him of dating or having a new relationship; however, his recent secretive talking on the phone, when he closes the door of his room and talks for a long time, brings a light to Hana's heart. "He's getting over what Karen did to him and all of us. He must have a new girlfriend." Notwithstanding, Farhad hides this new relation from his mother for a while. Perhaps he feels guilty for his mother's stolen rings, they meant so much to her, or maybe he is so afraid that mom is going to lecture or advise him. But as all human must grow to maturity, some sooner than others, Farhad's turn has finally come, too. After a long time of not knowing what he wants, now at age almost twenty three, witnessing his brother's motivation and determination, he feels and knows that he must go back to school. But he needs help, his mother's help. He remembers the money he has blown away by enrolling and then dropping at college, the money his mother earned by hard work, sometimes even two jobs. How can he prove to his mom that this time he is serious and he is not going to act frivolously. What he does not know is that he does not need to prove anything to Hana. She will understand and she will support.

When Hana finds a pile of brochures about different colleges, Farhad has intentionally left them on the coffee table, she believes that her wishes have finally come through. At the dinner table that evening, she asks him about those brochures.

"Are you planning to go back to school?"

"Yes, mom, in Spring."

"Have you decided on major?" Hana asks in a way as though it is a done deal.

Farhad is surprised that she is not questioning his credibility.

"Yes, mom, Chemistry."

Oh, sweetheart, that is great. This is the best news I've heard in a long time."

"Mom, aren't you mad at me for all those fooling around and wasting money?"

"No, honey, I'm not. You're still very young. I trust you."

Farhad thinks now that his mother is also changed from a typical Iranian mother, who with intense love combined with extremity, nervous breakdown and crying, and hysterical insistence want their children do what they think is right for them, it is a good time to tell her about Silvana (Sylvie), the Italian girl he is dating for awhile.

"Mom, there is something else..."

Hana instinctively knows.

"Go on."

"I've met this Italian girl in a birthday party. Her name is Silvana." He stops. He is terrified of his mom's bringing up Karen's story.

"When am I going to see her?" Hana, calmly, says.

"Mom, you've changed. You don't lecture me. You're like a new person.

Hana introspects her feelings and realizes that her son is right.

"We all change, my son. Life is all about change. Growth and maturity come with change. In fact, I think it came to me, very late. I am almost forty four. I wish it did come to me sooner so I didn't have to put you, Sam and myself through all those miseries. You've changed, my son, too."

To Be Continued

Odyssey... 31- Prosperity

The sky today is blue with some light cloud layers far in horizon. At last the restless nature has come to peace with itself. The cold November suns tingles every cell of obstinate Hana, and she finally accepts her contented mood. Walking in the park across from her apartment with her heavy, wool sweater, it took her a whole year to finish knitting it, she breaths the cold, pleasant breeze. As a circle of fog comes out of her mouth, she wonders if it is the smoke of her cigarette or the vapor of her breathing the cold air and exhaling the steam. The last of tree leaves are falling on earth, as their stems can not hold them any longer. Walking on the dry, colorful leaves, she yearns to hear their breakage; however, the wet soil has moistened them and they do not break.

She recalls the fall in her home town, where she was born. The leaves always broke when she walked on them whether the earth was wet or not. Conjuring up the M. Street, where her beloved house was located, she remembers the apartment building which was supposed to replace that holy place which her precious grandfather had built and given to her mother. She recalls the days her parents sold that house which she did not know the reason for it at that time. Now she knows because of their growing family, they needed more space, a bigger house. They used the money from sale of that house as down payment for a bigger house in that dead end alley. How badly she wanted to buy that house back when she was a grown woman; but nothing went as she had planned. This park, somehow, reminds her of the cemetery which has enveloped her parents, Van in unknown grave, Saied, unknown grave to her, grandparents, and most definitely Behroz. She wonders if there is life after death, where bodies carry the souls and spirits of the people she loved so much.

It is Sunday, a day of rest, peace, and getting close to nature, as for some people is the day of praying in the churches, a man made building. She marvels why people have to pray or glorify their creator under a man- made roof they have built not under the sky their deity has sculptured. She has never felt close to her maker under a roof; nevertheless, out here, where she can breathe, observe, and watch the harmonious nature, whether cold or hot, rainy or sunny, she realizes that no man can compose such a beauty, when everything works together spontaneously, where no machines or computers can program an identical setting. She is contented for after a long vagrancy about her belief, she has finally chosen a path that her grandfather secretly believed (in the fear of the fanatic culture of Islam), nature.

Being born from a Muslim parents, she has never believed in that religion. As she tried church and Christianity by going to church with Valery, her friend, a handful of times, she could not accept that either, for all religions to her were originated from a same root. She does not need a Preacher or Molla (Muslim preacher) to tell her how to behave or act. That is the job of her conscience.

As she remembers the two blissful phone calls this morning, she knows that her feeling at that moment is a holy one for she is deeply happy for Valery and her new life and marriage, not envious; and for she is speechlessly blissful for Sam's arrival to his destination. She is confident as a mother, she has been a good one and has done a good job raising her sons, something she has always doubted before.That is why she worships the nature today, where she can be at ease and find a solution to all her confusion. Now she understands her beloved grandfather perfectly.

To Be Continued