Saturday, March 29, 2008

For the love of Chocolate

I was curled up on the back seat of our old little red Seat - as in car - with my half asleep brother, my usually silent mother, and my always in control father. My father always played this tape on our way back from visiting grandma

.. oh mamy .. oh mamy mamy blue ...

I felt the wind blowing against my face and I was growing cold and stiff by the minute. It was a long drive from Hadayek El Kobba to Dokki ... the 6th of October bridge was still under construction I guess.

By the time we got home, I was longing for my blanket. I had a little blue blanket and a little pillow that I kept for many years. I left them behind when I moved out.

I got in bed and crawled under the cover pretending to be a crab digging a home in the sand. I was thankful for having a bed and I was happy to be in it. I dozed off as happiness crept inside of me and in that magical moment before a person actually falls asleep, I got stuck in a chocolate factory.

I stood there as I watched a big round tray rotate on an axis. Little chocolate pieces of all sorts and shapes were lined up on the tray. My eyes caught a one of a kind piece and I set my sight on that piece as I watched the tray rotate. Every time I saw that chocolate piece I would squint as warmth filled me with a quiver ... I opened my eyes and looked again at the tray .... and another shiver followed ...

God ... I was 9!!

5 comments:

  1. I am taking credit for this story that was not meant to be posted online :)
    KN

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  2. Dear Marwa,
    I have just finished reading your book. Enjoyed it thoroughly... It's a Bridget Jones meets "Banat il Riyadh" meets Paolo Coelho and i must say i u do know how to tell a story. However I would have liked to see more illustrations and better layout.
    Girl, u need to marry a foreigner! No insecure Egyptian guy will do for u!

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  3. Thank you so much Dina for this lovely comment:) - A writer's dream:)

    Maybe the third edition will have more illustrations:)

    Give me your suggestions about the layout .. pleaaaaaaaase:)

    Wallahi .. I have managed to bring out the insecurities in a few foreigners I ran into here:)

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  4. Why don't u include subtitles: they would make reading easier and give your work more of a scientific or "academic" feel. After all, u have done your homework (you quote writers and have done your own "field work"). The book will still be fun to read...
    I can relate to everything you say in it (except for the heartbreak bits)))) and can sense how much u enjoy writing in English. But why don't you also write in Arabic. Why not target a wider public?

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