Chapter Five
Loula
As the days went by, we told no one of the marriage proposal or acceptance. It was our secret for now until we decided when the right time would be to make the announcement. I was very happy and felt like I was living in a dream. Everything felt so perfect.The queen and I formed a beautiful relationship. She included me in all her conversations during dinnertime and even insisted that I join her for a few strolls in the rose garden on the evenings the men went to their meetings. I was happy to comply. Our conversations were pleasant enough, and I looked forward to them. The queen turned out to be a very nice lady. I felt much respect for her, and I knew the feeling was mutual.During one of our walks with Her Majesty, she told me about the children in the orphanage. She was very fond of them. She called them "my children," and she said they were absolutely adorable. I looked at the queen with admiration after I heard her talk so lovingly about "her children." Although I felt sad that the children were without parents, I was glad that they were here because I knew they were taken care of in the best possible way.I could not get the children out of my mind after that. One day, I asked the queen if I could spend some time at the orphanage with the children and teach them English. The queen was so excited about my proposal that she immediately agreed, and I was so thankful because Nidal lately spent every morning in training with his trainer to use the sword with expertise. I was left to entertain myself. What better way to kill time than to be around the blessed children?The orphanage was behind the palace to the east, about a hundred yards away. Many flowers surrounded the home, and trees and bushes of all shapes and sizes were planted everywhere. In the backyard, there was a huge playground, and I could not imagine the children not being happy here.In the home, there were many rooms, including a few bathrooms to accommodate all the children. The queen went all out and decorated the rooms with only the best. No Persian rugs or crystal glasses were in this home, but everything here was of the finest quality to best fit the situation so the children could feel right at home. It was a warm environment, clean and cozy. I could tell that the children were very happy here.The furniture was made just for them, and many servants cleaned, cooked, and took care of the children around the clock. They seemed well adapted here. They were nicely clothed and well fed, and they had many toys to keep them occupied throughout the day. They were like one big, happy family.Each time I visited the children, their faces lit up with excitement. There were thirty-seven in all in this part of the country. Each child was more precious than the next. They were all adorable, but the youngest, Natalie, was a delight. She was about seven years old, and she had long, black hair that she wore parted in the middle with two ponytails. She had long eyelashes, and her eyes were the same color as Nidal's. Whenever I looked into them, they reminded me of him. Her lips were full, and a sad smile was always on her face. The few times she smiled, I thought I caught a glimpse of Nidal. If I ever had a little girl with Nidal, she would probably look just like Natalie.I started by teaching the children the ABCs. They were easy to teach. They were eager, and they learned really quickly. Then I taught them to write their names. Every day, they learned a few words. They looked forward to my teachings. Natalie always sat next to me, close enough where sometimes I pulled her into my arms and hugged her. She was missing a mother's touch, and I knew she substituted me for the mother she never knew.That was how the queen found me one day as she was visiting the children. She sat there in silence, looking stunned at the way I had all the childrens attention as they sat quietly listening to the lesson of the day while I held Natalie in my arms. I saw the expression on her face. It went from stunned to admiration. Tears were in her eyes as she covered her mouth with her hand. Natalie wiggled out of my arms and jumped to the floor as she hastily ran up to the queen and wrapped her chubby little arms around her.Witnessing this, I knew the queen had a heart of gold. Clearly this was not the first time that Natalie had done this. The queen gave her a squeeze and then ruffled her hair, as the child ran back to me and snuggled onto my lap. Her Majesty apologized for the interruption, and I continued with the lesson. The queen stayed back and watched with a pleased smile on her lovely face. After a while, I gave the children a few minutes of recess. The queen walked up to me and said wholeheartedly, "Congratulations Loula on a job well done.""Thank you my queen," I said proudly. "It is a pleasure being around these adorable children." I said proudly. When she left, I realized that I had come to understand her and her ways. We had reached a new level of friendship, and it was surely going in the right direction. Pleased with that progress, I focused my attention on the children and continued the lessons.
