When I came out of the forest and ran until the town, my hasty attitude worried my mother. I hung my cloth bag on the hook which is was swinging because being broke and gave the fishes that I lined up, to my mother. "Mom, clean the fishes and cook them until I come. Don't wait for me to eat. I'm a bit busy today." I said. Then I hugged her and my little sister, Gece.
"Take care of mother and Evren, okay little one?" I kissed her on the nose as she shook her head up and down. "Won't you come back, Alya? I'm only 9 years old, I can't protect all of us." I smiled at what her said. "Of course I'll come back dear, I'll be here by evening." I kissed her once more and left the house after hugged Evren too.
I was afraid that may be I can't able to see them again, or in case I lose them in that hubbub of occupation and be regret about my decision to not to listen Tan.
When I realized that my mother was following me while I started walking, I stopped, turned back and looked at her.
"Where are you going?" She asked hurriedly. I proceeded towards her, grabbed her right hand and trapped it in my both palms. "I'll tell you in the evening, now please don't ask. After you eat, pack the things in the house as well." My mother was looking thoughtful when she pressed her lips together. "They're coming, aren't they?" Her eyes peered into the pebbles on the ground when she asked. I softly nodded my head and release her hand in my palm. She seemed to have determined what to do before when this moment came, she did not react.
She turned away and gone, as Tan did.
I kept moving forward, trying not to think how sad and worried my mother would be.
I go into the first street I saw. The smell of dust and damp was all over the streets. As I got used to the smell, I tried not to care and kept moving forward.
When I turned the corner, the little body lying on the floor was enough to chill me. A kid was moaning quietly and lying in fetal position. I bended beside the thiny boy and straightened him where he was, leaning against the wall. "Do you want some water?" At first he did not react when I said, but after repeating the same question several times, he was able to shake his head vaguely. Probably because of thirst and hunger he was in this situation. This was normal in this town, it was quite natural to meet such people oftenly on the streets.
While I was looking around desperately, I saw the bakery that we were not had very nice relationships with its owner. I did not have many options, nor could I be said to have money. While I put the little boy in the jacket I'm wearing, I was thinking about what I could give to the bakery for a piece of bread and a glass of clean water. My eyes meet the silver ring on my index finger. It was the last thing left for me from my father, but if he could be here, he would have wanted me more to save a life, by saying that I don't need a ring to remember an old memory. I stood up and walked towards to there and took the ring off my finger, handed it to the baker I knew as Mila. "I want a piece of bread and a glass of water." She took the ring that I held out with a straight expression in my face and placed a piece of bread and a glass of water on the table, then she started watching me without changing her expression as I did. Her demeanor was so annoying, for to stay calm I was able to take a deep breath and then left the bakery. "Bring the glass back!" She shouted after me. It was clear that I would not do this.
I rushed back to the boy and wet his lips with water. When he licked his lips weakly, I could pour the water through his mouth slowly and gently. He was so sluggish, I felt like I could kill him if I do a quick move.
I took small pieces of bread and put them in his mouth and then gave him time to chew. "Don't you have parents?" I asked. It was a question that I was already knew the answer. He shook his head slightly to two sides.
He had eaten all of the bread, looking more alive than just before. "What is your name?" I asked the boy. "Kayra." He could say with his forked voice. "Okay Kayra, go to the house that I will describe to you now and tell them that Alya sent you."
I put on the jacket I had put on Kayra, on me, when I sent him to my mother and threw the glass in my hand on the floor without thinking about its fate. Even though I heard Mila's screams behind my back, I couldn't say that I cared much. I continued on my way.
Although the poor were in majority, there were a few rich families in town and their words would be heard. My plan was; going to go to one of them and tell him what I heard from Tan and ask him if he could arrange a big van for everyone to come out of town. There were not many people left anyway...
I knocked on the door three times when I arrived in front of the building, which can be regarded as magnificent compared to other houses. A servant in a long dress had opened the door. "I need to talk to the owner of this house." I said to the woman. "I can't let you in without asking him, if you wait here for a while…" She said, with her embarrassed face. I went inside as she continued her explanation. I knew when she asked the owner of the house, he would never want to let me in his house. I had already come to the owner, while the servant woman was running after me.
There was a man in his 50s, sitting in a beige leather chair, watching TV and drinking coffee.
Noticing the mobility, he left his coffee on the glass table next to him and turned around. While the servant woman was trying to explain that she was sorry and that she could not prevent me, the man sitting in the raised chair made a move with his hand and sent the servant. "Yes, young lady, what is the reason for your hasty and rude attitude?" He asked. I ignored his sarcastic words and turned to my goal of coming.
I take my fast breathes away and said the first thing that came to my mind. "I need your help." I entered directly what I was going to say. When the man's curved eyebrows frown, a short line formed between his eyebrows. As he gestured me to sit with his hand, ''Please.'' he said. I knew that his kindness was his fake face, and if he was so kind and kindhearted he could have generously opened the stockpile of supplies he had in his house to the town instead of drinking coffee here.
As he clapped his hands for to got holographic television off, he turned his face to me. He took off the glasses that had fallen on the tip of his arched nose and put them aside, "I'm listening to you." said.
I told the whole situation from top to the bottom and questioned him if he can get help.
"I can help you, I have a farm three hours ahead from town and I have two tractors and a van. I think it would be enough." He said, thoughtfully. His thiny lips acted as if he was calculating something. Unable to suppress my excitement, "Of course it will." I said. His lightning blue eyes, turned into the wall clock. "Time is around 12, I can call my sons in the farm and ask them to come by with the vehicles. I think they will be here at 3 pm." He said and smiled. "Thank you very much indeed, we will be here at the hour you said." This was so simple and fast, so I had a little doubt in me. But I burried it in the deepest corner of my mind and focused on the reality of the present moment.
I left the house, which smells good and looks tied, returned to the streets smelling of dirt and blood.
I ran towards the small house where Tan was staying.
The fourth second after I started knocking on the door hard, the door opened. "Hi." He said, as if we didn't argue in the morning. "Something beautiful happened." I said, unable to stop my grin. "Tell me." He said, while pointing me to get in with his hand. I went in and sat down on the chair swinging back and front. "When did you get this? It's kinda nice." I was just continuing to swing. "Your joy is quite high, tell me what you have done now." He said, while smiling. "I went to a rich man in town and asked if he could arrange a car to get all the people out." I said, still grinning.
"And did he accept it?" He said, disbelieving. "Yes!" When I squeaked, his lip puckered and he shook his head up and down. "Good job."
"Yes it is." I replied. "It really is."