Early Bird (Erkenci Kus)(Part 3)

69. Another win for Sanem

Mevkhibe chewed another seed out of its casing and tossed the pod down into a bowl. Her eyes were on the street, more specifically on the store down the street where she knew Nihat was right now. She's been sitting at the window for the past hour staring.

She missed her husband. She hated sleeping alone. She hated waking up alone. She wanted to see him every morning and every night. She wanted him to look at her with love not hurt. She ironed his shirts for him, a small thing she wanted to do to feel close to him in some way.

"I wonder where Bonjuk ran off to."

Mevkhibe stops trying to see what Nihat is doing and pretends to be knitting as Sanem comes into the living room talking to herself, pushing the seeds aside.

"That woman chased all the cats away." Sanem sits back down on the carpet in front of her laptop. "I've looked for Bonjuk everywhere." Sanem pauses. "Maybe - No," she shakes her head. "No, she will come back," she nods and takes a deep breath, settling in to start again.

"Honey, what are you talking to yourself about now?"

"I'm still angry at that woman that came today, mom. She made Bonjuk run away and take all the others with her!" Sanem jabs her finger at a button.

"Tell me about it. A little bit of soda was spilled on her and she went ballistic. You should have seen. Her ankles were up to here. And she's looking for a place in this neighborhood," Mevkhibe scoffs.

"I swear if she moves here I will never have a quiet tongue again. I'll lash out daily for her benefit."

"Oh she won't dare. This isn't her scene."

Sanem tilts her head after a moment of watching Mevkhibe knit. "Mom?"

"Hm?"

"Are you knitting a sweater for dad?"

Mevkhibe looks up midstitch. "Why would I do that? This is mine."

"Yours? Isn't it a bit wide?" And like two sizes too big?

"What does it matter if it's wide or not? I'm knitting this for myself, heavens." Mevkhibe tsks. "Are you done with your work then? Why are you not focusing on that instead of doing a survey on me?"

"Hello!" Leyla calls with a smile coming in.

Sanem sighs in relief. "You're home," she smiles at Leyla.

"How are things here mom?" Leyla asks, looking at Mevkhibe knitting with pursed lips.

"Oh great! Wonderful! My children are both home and near me, God help him who chooses to stay elsewhere."

Sanem and Leyla look at each other and back at Mevkhibe, who heaves in a deep breath and burps it out lightly, pressing on her chest.

"I'm going to bed." She puts her knitting down and gets up. "I have a lot to do tomorrow. Chores. I need energy to finish them." She looks at the bowls. "You girls clear this."

"Mom, this can't go on," Sanem looks up at her. "I'll talk to dad tomorrow and settle this. I'm tired." Mevkhibe holds up a silencing finger.

"She's right. So am I. I'll come with you Sanem, we'll do it together."

Mevkhibe holds up another finger.
"Don't you two dare. You will not stick your noses into this. I swear it will end badly for you if you do." She glares between them. "Don't meddle."

Sanem pouts and looks down at her laptop. "Okay mom." Leyla looks at Mevkhibe with no expression.

"I'm going to bed." Mevkhibe looks out the window one more time then walks out of the living room.