Early Bird (Erkenci Kus)(Part 3)

23. Talking in codes

An hour passes, with JJ keeping Mevkhibe busy so she wouldn't bother the others. Leyla whispers to Sanem that she was going to take mom and go home, and she nods, leaning forward on her elbows.

"Hm, this feels like a nice green to me."

"Green? Okay, let's see... light green, dark green, lime green, emerald green, grass green?"

"Does it matter?"

"Yes."

"Hm," she looks again and nods. "Lime green. It'll be beautiful."

"A duck with a lime green head?" JJ stares up at her with raised brows.

"You're right, I change my mind. You know how what happens when you drop a leaf into water? It turns this dark green color? Use that."

JJ squints one eye shut and then he shrugs. "Okay." He adjusts the color on the screen. "Like this?"

"Mm mm," Mevkhibe shakes her head. "No, that's way too dark...JJ, are you sure you should be doing these colors? Open the spectrum, let me show you - "

"Mom?" Leyla touches Mevkhibe's shoulder, coming out of the kitchen with her coat and handbag. "Sorry, I don't want to interrupt but I'm done. We can go home."

"Alright honey, one minute...JJ, think along the lines if green peppers. Not chilli peppers, green peppers. I think that's the color you have to use."

"Got it," JJ nods and fixes the color scheme again. "There, this one?"

Mevkhibe smiles and nods. "Exactly, that is perf - "

"Mom," Leyla reminds her that she is still waiting, sighing.

"One minute honey."

"Yeah, one minute! Mom, mom, mom! We're working here!" JJ snaps.

Leyla's brows shoot up and she stares at him. Excuse me?

"That is it JJ. I'm telling you...it so good...what do you think?"

"It's great. I really like it too."

"You're doing a great job."

"Thank you."

Sanem looks up from the chart in front of her and Can when Mehmet comes to greet Can and says he was done and leaving. Can shakes his hand and returns to the chart, making notes and placing a card aside after each.

"I mean it, people under as much pressure as you are fold and become ill, but not you, oh no."

JJ's chest puffs up some and he smiles at her thankfully.

"Awesome," Leyla huffs, "he's great at his job, we're all great at our jobs. Come on mom, I'm tired, let's go." Leyla pulls on Mevkhibe's hand and helps her up. "You must be tired too."

"No, no, I'm fine. I'll follow, you go ahead."

"Mom, I'm done, most of the others are packing up too, look," Mevkhibe glances around. "What are you going to do here all by yourself? Let's go."

"Alright," Mevkhibe sighs and stands.
"Where is Sanem?" Mevkhibe turns. "Is Sanem coming?"

"Sanem," Leyla calls down the table and Sanem looks up. "Sanem, we're leaving."

"Oh," she gets up. Yes! She got her to go!

"Sanem, aren't you coming?" Mevkhibe asks after checking for Sanem's bag and jacket.

"Not now mom, I'm still busy. But have a safe trip home okay?" Sanem smiles and turns Mevkhibe to the hallway. Mevkhibe kicks in her heel and turns back to Sanem. "I still have some things to check for the last time, I don't want to make a mistake, it's very late and they happen fast. I'll finish and come home right after, promise," she explains quickly.