Early Bird (Erkençi Kus)(Part 1)

22. Project Albatross Wins

"JJ says she had a sign around her neck! And marker pen all over her face like a toddler!" Leyla shakes her head, relaying the story of Sanem's day to their mother that night. "He was so worried about her getting fired after she then went and almost bulldozed Mr Can over!" She tuts and taps the side of her head. "Your daughter is either crazy already or well on her way! What kind of person does something like that? She's a psychopath!"

Mevkhibe hums while knitting, looking at Nihat quietly reading the newspaper. "Did you hear what Leyla just said, Nihat?"

"Hm hm."

"This man's calmness will be the end of me one day..." Mevkhibe mutters before raising her voice. "We're talking about Sanem, Nihat and what she did at work today."

"She takes after her mother," Nihat shrugs, "and it's your fault she's even having any kind of problems at work." He looks up over the newspaper. "You told her to go and work somewhere else. Now just look what stress she's under, my poor child."

"Stress?" Leyla spins in her seat. "She's not under stress daddy I am!" Her voice breaks and Mevkhibe takes her hand. "I don't know if I still have my job... I hate this waiting mom, I can't stand it... Maybe I should lose it too..."

"No, please don't my darling," Nihat says and Leyla looks at him, pouting. "Besides, didn't you say it was just until they're done repairing your computer? It can be any day now."

"It's not being repaired daddy, it's being searched for evidence."

"Either way, you have days off, rest until they call you. You work too much as it is."

Leyla lifts a bowl of seeds that was sitting between her mother and her. "Is this what it means to rest dad?"
she mumbles, inhaling deeply as she looked out the window. She was starting to see seeds everywhere.

"And even if they don't call you, you won't be out of work for long. You're smart and capable. You're my daughter... but Sanem...I mean, no one even knows her name and she felt forced to write it down for them. That's a stressful situation."

"Mom," Leyla looks at her mother. "Say something to daddy." He was taking Sanem's side in this. As always. It wasn't Sanem's name being slandered all over the office, it was hers, because she brought her in.

"She wouldn't be this stressed if she just agreed to get married. Look at what she's done to poor Leyla."

Nihat ignores this and goes back to his reading, making Mevkhibe stand and walk over to him on the other side of the room.

"Nihat, for God's sake, talk to your daughter when she gets home."

Nihat looks up at her. "And say what?"

"Tell her not to make a laughing stock of herself. If she can do this, who knows what else she's doing out there...Where is she anyway?"

"Mevkhibe," Nihat sighs, "she's been on her own since she was born. She knows the streets. Don't worry." He looks down at his paper again. "She's probably just out with Ayhan."

Mevkhibe stares at him and then turns to Leyla. "Honey, why don't you get your father some new tea hm? This cup is ice cold. Maybe his brain will wake up."

Leyla stands and takes his cup with her as Mevkhibe sits down, chewing on a seed while narrowing her eyes at her husband.

"Listen to what they're saying Mevkhibe, the district over is without water again." He shakes his head then looks up at her. "What if we're next? Should we fill up some bottles?"

Mevkhibe sighs and eats another seed.

"What?"

"Nothing Nihat."