Cingene Kiz(Gypsy Girl)

2. Tickle Tackle Topple

Merhaba Kardesim Benim,

I am sending you the books you requested. Tears of relief and happiness are rolling down my cheeks as I pack them to be sent to you. I have taken every care while sending them. I have found the families of ten people within the prison to send them through as it was impossible to send them to you alone. The prison rules don't allow all those books to be sent to one person. But I will not let that stop me from sending them. They may reach you in a scattered pattern but reach you they most definitely. It is at these times that I am glad we have enough money to burn.

I am so very glad that you have met this wise man, Arif Cakalgoz while you are locked in there. I have wished for nothing more than to be imprisoned in there with you, but you did not allow that to happen. Every time I close my eyes, I can almost hear your voice calling out to me, 'Benim Ates Abi'. I feel like if I open them, you will be there standing before me but when I actually do lift my eyelids, I am here by myself trapped in this huge mansion without you.

Ziya hates my guts and screams blue murder every time he sees me. He blames me of course, for your incarceration. We have known hard times brother, but we were together through every hardship. Now I am lost without you. Ziya is lost without you. The mansion feels ghoulish without your large presence to fill it up.

Sorry brother for burdening you with my ramblings, even as you suffer such a huge tribulation all on your own.

What designs fate has for you I do not know, but you meeting your Arif Baba in there says that perhaps fate still holds the doors of hope open for you. I am happy for you brother, happy that you finally will get to engage that brilliant mind of yours in the right direction, informal though your education will be. Your greatest desire to learn to your hearts content will be fulfilled.

So many subjects, so much to learn and though it is not the right place, time is on your side.

Forget the world and its problems. Forget your brothers and their problems. Can you for once just focus on growing and nurturing Yaman. For once do what feels right for Yaman.

Iqbal Yenge has a suggestion for me, and I am thinking of following that. You might not hear from me for some time but remember, no matter how great the distance between us, my heart and my mind are always with you.

And even though I do not have much faith in the concept of an almighty, if there exists a higher power, I pray that he watches over you and protects you.

Your Ates Abi,

Yalcin.

The second time he came around he had his emotions under control. He looked around restlessly, seemingly searching for something or someone. She had prepared coffee for him and was ready to send it out with Kiraz. She dealt with hundreds of customers every day, so she did not understand this strange anxiety within herself when she looked at him, but she was also not ready to face him yet. She wasn't sure what or how she would feel if she actually gazed upon that face. She cast her eyes anxiously towards the courtyard. He was still there looking around and Kiraz was nowhere in sight. She plated one of the small heart shaped baklavas that she made especially for Yusuf, hesitated then added another one.

"Teyze, you have been standing there motionless for quite some time, except for your head that's been popping in and out of that door like a turtle moving its head in and out its shell. Why are you hiding behind the door and what are you peeking at?" Yusuf asked suspiciously from behind her.

She gave a small squeak and turned around to look at her nephew who was gazing up at her with narrowed eyes while trying to see what was behind her.