Wind blowing
“Wake up Maher! School time…” said mother, Maher slept late, he spent last night time on looking and studying maps and routes, “Yes, mother!” Maher replied with closed eyes, “Maher! You should have enough sleep at night … you can’t continue in this way…!” mother said with a fed-up tone, “Okay! Mum.” Maher was still lying on the bed, mother removed the cover off, “Maher! What is the benefit of spending much time on maps… since we have cell phones and computers?!” mother was looking directly to Maher with wonder, “Mother. I want to know where am I in this world, I’m trying to memorize the routes…” replied Maher as he woke up intentionally, “Geography is not the only subject you study at school…” “I know. I also spend time on studying physics…you remember…” “We won’t’ reach to an end... get up and be ready for your school.” Ordered mother, Maher was still lying on the bed when he heard sounds of explosions coming from far away, he got up to look through the window “Mother! They are hitting nearby areas!” worries were shown on his face, “It becomes part of our daily routine! You should get used of hearing pomp sounds. Anyway, hurry up...” mother tried to hide her worries as she was looking through the window. Maher stood in front of the toilet mirror looking at himself, he was lanky slender boy with sleek black hair.
Maher reached school after the first class had begun and the teacher had already started the lesson, “Good morning, sir!” said Maher embarrassingly as he was entering the class, “Maher! You are late today!” the teacher was looking at Maher directly, “I slept late yesterday, sir!” Maher didn’t meet the teacher’s eyes, “With such night sounds; it’s not easy to sleep. Join us.” the teacher gestured to Maher to sit in his place, “Now! Where were we, yes! We were talking about how animals adapt to live in cruel environment…” continued the teacher. Maher was enjoying the lesson, he was carefully listening to the explanation provided by the teacher, and looking at the animals’ organs and changes happened to their limbs, that serve the animals to live in their natural habitat, “Amazing! This animal can walk on water… it balances its weight in a sensitive way!” wondered Maher, “you still have day dreaming Maher!” said a classmate as he was coming towards him, at that moment, Maher realized that the lesson was finished and that the teacher walked out, “I’m talking to you…! Come everyone…see he is still dreaming” smiled the classmate wickedly, Maher didn’t respond, he preferred to enjoy visualizing matters connected to the lesson, Maher then stood in silence, collected his books, and left the class quietly. As Maher was wondering about how some animals can ride the wind and others walk on the water, he heard someone calling him from distance, “Maher! Maher…Where were you… I thought you are absent.” A chubby young boy with coarse brown hair and eyes came towards Maher, he was his neighbour and best friend, “Hi Hadi! I came late today.” replied Maher, “As usual! Any way …what are you up to!” said Hadi, “Noting specific, but today’s science lesson enlightened me to find…” Hadi interrupted Maher “To find what Maher…You still live in your dreams…wake up…see around…come with us to the back yard to play football.” “Not now Hadi. Give me time to wake up first!” Suddenly, a huge bombardment sound hitting near the school area, the horrific sound caused big miss spread between the people in and out the school, students ran out of the classes to look at the school yard where was the hit area, “The fight is becoming closer!” Hadi, “It seems so…” replied Maher with worry, an announcement was broadcasted through school mic broke the boys’ conversation, “Announcement! Announcement! All students are dismissed…Teachers! Make sure to empty the school building.” “Hadi! Let’s get our bags…” Maher and Hadi ran to the class to get their stuff, as they were leaving the classroom another bomb hit the school main building, “Maher! We have to leave the school… airplanes are striking the school.” Shouted Hadi loudly, the two boys rushed with the crowds leaving the school building behind on fire, they were heading towards the main street when they saw heavy smoke covering nearby buildings, “Oh!! The fight reaches our city….” Shouted Hadi with panic,” Ya Allah! The road is blocked… I can’t go home…” Maher was in shock, “Maher! Come home with me…sure we will find a way later…” Hadi was hurrying Maher quickly to agree, the two boys ran between the crowds, they ran without stopping heading towards Hadi’s house, which was at the end of the village at the top of a hill.
Hadi’s mother was looking from her house balcony when she saw the two boys running towards the house, as soon as they became within her sight she asked them loudly, “What happened boys!” Hadi and Maher were about to reach, “Airplanes has stock the school…!” said Hadi breathlessly, “Come in! The door is open.” mother gestured to the boys to open the main door, “Close the door! How are you Maher!” mother looked at Maher directly, “Aunt! I want to go home!” Maher remembered his mother when he saw Hadi’s mother, “You will my son! Tell me, how’s your mother!” asked Hadi’s mother trying to calm Maher down, “She’s good!” the silence took place for a moment, “Let’s have something to eat! What about meat and yogurt, I’m sure you like it” Hadi’s mother was trying to change the matter of conversation, “Warda! Come dear to help me with lunch.” called mother, a pretty young girl appeared with a smile on her face, “You grow up Warda!” seeing the young girl attracted Maher’s attention for a while, “Hi Maher!” said Warda quietly, “You were a little girl…You become taller!” Maher was looking at Warda with a smile, she was pure youthful shy girl with bushy eyebrows and jet-black hair, her eyes were brownish yellow reflected the colour of anything she looked at “Follow me to the kitchen Warda.” gestured mother to Ward, the boys were in the living room, “I can still hear the airplanes striking… What is happening!” wondered Maher, “No worries, Maher! This house is at the outskirts of the village.” “Hadi! It’s like they won’t reach here! What about my family… where are they now…!” wondered Maher looking at Hadi, “No! No…” replied Hadi hesitantly when Maher interrupted him, “Never mind Hadi! Sooner or later things will be revealed…” said Maher quietly. “Come here boys! Lunch is ready!” called mother, the boys walked to the dining room, “The smell makes me hungry!” said Maher, “You most welcome my son! Please eat as much as you want. I want these dishes to be empty” Smiled mother looking at Maher and Hadi, “Empty! It is a huge meal.” Smiled Maher back to mother, “You are young men… you need to eat well to grow stronger.” Hadi, Maher and mother started eating, soon Ward joined them, she brought a dish to complete the meal. “I’m full!! I can’t eat more.” Maher gesturing that he couldn’t breathe, “That’s it! Maher finish your dish!” Hadi’s mother pointed to Maher’s dish, “No way aunt! I can’t have any more.” “Okay then! You can go and wash your hands.” mother pointing to the bathroom door, “Thanks aunt! It was really delicious.” Said Maher as he was leaving the table, “You are welcome my son! Warda, put the dishes in the sink. ” Yes, mother.” Warda started carrying the dishes, “I’m worried about Maher’s family; They live near the school…” whispered mother looking at Hadi, “I hope things are fine for them; I will open TV, there might be updates.” Hadi went to the living room where TV in, he switched it on and kept changing the channel until he stopped on one, he stared with shock at the showing news scenes on the screen, “Ooh! Mother…mother…come here and see…!” shouted Hadi, “What happened Hadi…tell me…What’s up!” mother rushed quickly towards the living room with worries showing on her face, “The troops are coming! They are in control…” Hadi was in shocked with his eyes opened widely, “They are cruel! What will we do now!” said mother with absent mind imagining worst scenario, Maher was looking at the screen quietly, “What will happen to my family! Please aunt… let me call them!” Maher was holding Hadi’s mother hand impatiently, “Yes! Sure son… you are right! Let’s hear from your mother.” Hadi’s mother picked her cell phone and pressed to call Maher’s mother, “Hello…Hello…the line is not clear…” said mother with annoyance, “Let me try aunt!” Maher took the cell phone and tried to speak to his mother, “Maher … we are leaving the city… they are everywhere…where are you…don’t show in any place…call us…” in an interrupted voice Maher’s mother replied, “Aunt! My family are leaving the city… It is true… the troops control the city.” Said Maher with panic, “Sooner or later, they will reach outskirts.” Hadi’s mother was looking directly at Maher and Hadi with fear, “Mother! Let’s get ready before it is too late.” Hadi was trying to convince his mother, “Oh! I can’t bear leaving my house… what will happen to us…” fear and confusion completely controlled her, “No time left to think mother!” shouted Hadi, “I’m alone with two boys and a young girl! Where shall we go!?” wondered mother, “We can go to the camp in the North… we will reach it walking within the sunset.” Said Maher, “Oh! I hope it will be as easy as this! And you my son to meet your family there!” Mother started to prepare luggage, she filled them with food and covers, “Warda! Bring our papers from the drawer.” “Mother! We have to hurry up! We can’t carry more than this luggage.” Said Hadi as he and Maher were waiting at the house door, “Hadi! You carry this, and you my son carry that luggage.” Mother was pointing at the luggage, “Warda, carry this bag; it’s not heavy.” Mother gave a bag to Warda. Everybody was ready to leave the house, Hadi’s mother made sure to lock the front door before their journey started, “What Road shall we take?” asked mother with worry,” I’II guide you aunt. I know the route to North camp.” Replied Maher quietly trying to relieve Hadi’s mother,” Yes mother! Maher is good at routes and directions.” Hadi was holding his mother arm, “Hope to reach there before sunset; the dark is heavy in the North.” “If we keep walking on this way, we will be there before sunset.” Maher was trying to assure Hadi’s mother that everything would be fine.
