Early Bird (Erkenci Kus)(Part 3)

10. An opening to remember

"This is still my favorite," Can lifts a dolma finger from the plate in Sanem's hand where she's piled up various pieces of snacks. She bites into her own piece and grins at him around it. "I can't believe it's here." He bites it in half.

"You were coming, do you really think my mom wouldn't have made dolmades?"

He shrugs and chews with a smirk.

"This is the town hall courtyard. It's beautiful isn't it?"

"Very much. I like it."

Can looks over Sanem's head at JJ and Ayhan walking up before he spots a piece of dolma on Sanem's lip and wipes it off. She glares at him and keeps chewing, both cheeks filled as she turns.

"Hm, why!" She greets the two and swallows, gulping down the food.

"Mr Can," JJ nods at Can as Sanem hugs Ayhan.

"JJ," Can claps him on the back and he walks past with his hands full of books.

"How are you Sanem?" Ayhan asks, hugging her back.

"Hm, good, as you can - "

"People of the neighborhood! Good people of the neighborhood!"

Sanem looks around Ayhan at the truck pulling up with Ihsan's voice ringing out over the speakers on its bed. The man in question is standing upright in front of a large screen with a microphone.

"Ladies! Hello!" Ihsan grins and waves at Mevkhibe and Melihat standing in the doorway with Selin and Emel eating seeds and gossiping. "I bring news, or rather, sports! The European Football League to be exact! Right here in the open for all the men to enjoy!" He gestures to the screen behind him.

Can looks at the very man he threatened as he eats, lifting a brow. You really going to come and mess up this event?

"What is he doing?" Mevkhibe asks loudly as the men present move closer at the mention of football.

"Ladies, you haven't been forgotten, so before the match, you can all watch your favorite TV series, 'Forgive me', am I right? I am aren't I?" Ihsan laughs. "You have the full hour before the match for that!"

Emel and Selin immediately start moving towards Ihsan and Mevkhibe tries stopping them with Melihat waving Ihsan away.

"Wait, what about the library?" Mevkhibe asks, staring after the women running forward.

Sanem glares at the old woman passing her. "Aunt Vildan?" Can turns his head to a frowning Mevkhibe and back. "Fine, go, but leave the potato salad!" Sanem growls. You don't deserve that potato salad!

"Is that how you win friends? By making the poor men eat cake that's not filling?"

By now it was just Ayhan, Melihat, Mevkhibe, Sanem, Can and JJ still in the back in front of the library. Mevkhibe narrows her eyes at Ihsan.

"I have grilled sandwiches with sausage and cheese gents. Just for you. We don't have to keep to only cake or have cake at all!" He points to the side where a man is pushing a griller up towards the truck. The men start muttering excitedly. "There we go! Get excited!" Ihsan grins.

"Oh come on for goodness sake," Melihat huffs and looks at Mevkhibe stepping down the curbside.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Aunt Vildan, come back here!" Sanem hisses.

Can sighs and wipes his hand against each other. No one was paying attention to the library opening now.

"And before we start this amazing part of the day, ladies and gentlemen, I'll introduce you to the brains behind this idea, our sponsor, Mrs Aysun!" Ihsan says as the people line up for the food. "Come on dear!"