Early Bird (Erkenci Kus)(Part 3)

97. Allergies and triumph

"Alright, Mahmi?" Deren says, closing the file in her hand. There is no answer and she looks up. "Mahmi!"

The young man in question snorts awake and hops in his chair next to Guliz. There were a few others also either sleeping or yawning. Davit was snoring against Yila's legs next to the printer, spewing pages out onto him.

"Miss Deren?" Mahmi stands up and turns to her, blinking to wake up.

"Go and submit the posters, and you stay there until it's done. You don't sleep, you don't blink, you get it done. Got it?"

"Yes Miss Deren."

Deren stares after him as he shuffles out of the room, walking from side to side. "Goodness," she huffs then looks around at the others. JJ was swaying himself, trying to stay awake. "People, can you look alive? What is going on? Did we come here to lie around?"

"Yeah," JJ says in a trance, "wake up you lazy bums," he yawns.

"Holy - is he dead?" Sanem asks, coming in with a plate of cookies and tea in a tray, her worried eyes on Davit. "Wake up everyone," she sings. "I have tea and cookies."

"JJ, wake them up, we have work to do."

JJ leans over and taps Davit's shoulder, who just groans.

"Sanem got us only 24 hours, we don't have time to sleep."

"That's true but it's past nine o'clock, and they've been busy for hours. I can't blame them being tired," Sanem says and sits down. She was just as tired but she had to keep up a strong front.

"Hello! Hello!"

They look at the door where Muzaffer stood with a large grin and a plate of cutlets. Ayhan was right behind him, having been the one to make the meatballs in the kitchen.

"I have come to liberate your sleepy minds!" Muzaffer laughs, coming in further. "This party is as dead as uncle Abdullah. I'm here to liven it up, ha ha!" He points at the boombox slung over his shoulder. "I know I'm never welcome but it hasn't stopped me yet. You'll thank me."

"Muzo, we're don't have time to party, we're working," JJ says.

"I know that. But look at how bored everyone is. This guy's died of boredom, he's on the floor...No, we have to take a break from dying. I will play music."

"Mr Muzo, we are working on something very important," Deren says, her hands pressed together. "Please leave so we can do that."

"I'm sorry Miss Deren but I can't. I will lift your team's spirits within five minutes. Watch." He puts the plate of cutlets on the coffee table, shoving notes and papers out of the way.

"I'm suddenly very afraid," Deren says to herself and looks at Sanem who sighs in defeat.

"Play!" Muzaffer yells and presses play on the boombox, turning the volume up and starting to dance.

Sanem drops her head into her hands. Her parents were probably sleeping. They were going to kill them all.

As Muzaffer moves around getting everyone to their feet, Deren tries to stop him but he ignores her and dances with her instead. The group are forced to wake up and move.

"If you can't beat them," Ayhan dances over to JJ with a smile and he grins, unable not to, letting her pull him to his feet.

"Zebo, turn it off," Sanem sighs. "Zebo," she says again when he doesn't listen. "We have to work."

Guliz wiggles her shoulders to the music as Deren decides to also give up and moves her own, trying to get into it slowly but surely.

"What can we do?" Deren shrugs at Sanem, clapping.