Early Bird (Erkenci Kus)(Part 2)

62. Didn't even look

The next morning, four hours later in fact, Mevkhibe and Nihat are standing over Sanem's sleeping form glaring down at her. Leyla is at her feet, looking just as angry. They were all tired and they only got home an hour ago. Osman yawns to the side, his hair standing up with Ayhan half leaning sideways next to him.

"I told you," Ayhan says and they look at her dryly. "I told you she'd be here. We spent hours at the station for nothing."

"I'll kill her," Mevkhibe whispers. She shoves Sanem with her fist. "I'll kill you."

Sanem slowly opens her eyes, starting to yawn and then stops when she sees her mother glaring at her. Her head lifts and she stares around her at the other four faces, pushing into a sitting position in confusion. "What's happening?"

"I'll show you exactly what's happening," Mevkhibe warns and reaches down for her slipper.

"No!" Sanem jumps out of bed and runs.

"Come here!"

"Mevkhibe!" Nihat runs after her as she chases Sanem out of the room.

"Get back here young lady!"

"No!"

"Mevkhibe! Stop!"

Nihat and Ayhan grab her from both sides to keep her at bay, Osman coming to help.

"Let me go! I want to kill her!"

"Mevkhibe calm down!"

"Sanem! Come back here! This time I'm serious! Sanem!" Mevkhibe thrashes against them as Sanem locks herself in the bathroom.

-

Another hour later, Ayhan is still snorting as she steps out of the house with Osman and Sanem. "You're a complete disaster," she shakes her head. "An adventurous one, I'll give you that, but still."

Sanem closes the front door. They'd managed to calm her mother down but she was still livid. "Just when I thought my life couldn't get worse, this happened," she huffs and zips her jacket up all the way, sticking her hands into the pockets.

"I don't know how you escaped your mother," Osman says disbelievingly.

"I had to say they called me to come in early, so she calmed down...and no thanks to Leyla, she was no help."

"No, your sister was very worried about you, Sanem." Osman chastises and Sanem nods, her lips pursed. "Okay," he grins and puts his arms around both Sanem and Ayhan. "It was a very eventful evening for us all, but I have to go shower and open the shop. I'll be a walking zombie but at least people will be getting meat."

"I'm sorry," Sanem winces. "I didn't mean to just disappear."

"As long as you're fine."

"Will you tell my sister I left for work, so they don't go running to the police again?"

"You're not waiting for her?" Ayhan asks.

"No, she's in the shower. By the time she comes out, I'll be late...I have to go, see you later." She pats Osman's arm and Ayhan waves, yawning.

"See you Sanem." Osman looks at Ayhan, puffing his cheeks up and then sighing.

"I want to sleep so bad, I'm going to just fall over and become a starfish on my bed." He chuckles and they turn to start walking home.

"Ayhan!"

"Oh no," Osman groans when Muzaffer sees them and gets up from unlocking his store.

"Ayhan," he repeats and runs over. "Osman. We're done! I swear we're done! Was that Sanem?"