The girls offered to help, and auntie Simadhne cleverly asked small questions, fishing for the real reason why they had come.
- I’ve never met your parents, she said, but I hope they are in good health?
- Yes, thank you, Eira answered, they are both fine.
- So Noor, you and your sister have boyfriends? So many girls end up with a swollen bellies these days.
- Oh no, we are much too young for that! We are much too young to get married and such things.
- I don‘t know about that, Simadhne sighed, here around girls marry early. I was 14 summers when I got married to your uncle.
- What?! I can’t imagine getting married a year from now! That’s terrible!
- Not really. It is totally normal here. All my friends were about the same age when they got married. The terrible came later, she added subtly.
- Isn’t your daughter going to eat with us? Noor was puzzled that Amunet didn’t sit at the table with them.
- Our daughter? You think Amunet is our daughter?! Hahaha! Itaja giggled.
- Amunet is our doula. Simadhne explained. She came here after the war in Tobruk, and helps me with all the work in the garden.
- She doesn’t eat? Noor was still puzzled.
- Of course she does! Simadhne laughed. She will eat after she has washed the dishes and finished her work.
It dawned to Noor and Eira that it was not only the language and the food that they would have to get used to. The way of life was also very different. And some customs didn’t seem very easy to agree with.
- Since we have only one proper room in the house, you will have to sleep in the shed with Amunet, Simadhne continued. I hope you don’t mind?
- No, no, not at all! Can we talk to her? Eira felt she had to ask, she was afraid to step on anyone’s toes.
- Yes of course! She is not very fluent in Kretika, but better than you are, so that should work out perfectly, Simadhne smiled.
Amunet didn’t say anything, but didn’t look too enthusiastic. Maybe she wasn’t too happy to share her sleeping quarters with two strangers, maybe she didn’t fully understand what was said, but for sure she knew that she could not object.
In the evening Itaja went off somewhere and left the women alone at home. The atmosphere was immediately lighter. Simadhne and Amunet both seemed more relaxed, and chatted in Kretika while knitting.
- What a day! Eira said to Noor in their own language.
- Indeed! Noora replied. I feel exhausted physically and mentally. There are so many things to take in.
- We will learn. We have the Ngo-spirit you know! And auntie seems like a nice person, I’m sure she will help us adjust.
- But our uncle!! What a rude bully! He is nothing like our father, I almost can’t believe they are brothers!
- Yes, siblings can be very different, Eira nodded. So are we. But we are both good people, and not anything like our uncle!
- Thank Mrs. Moon for that!
- I guess it will not be easy living here. On the other hand, it’s not easy living anywhere. But having people around you that care for you, is really important, and that we have. If nobody else, we have each other.
A huge thank you to those of you who have followed, liked and commented on my story so far. It means a lot, and I am truly grateful. 💕
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