Goodbye

Amman, Jordan | Connection | 1074 words |

This (mostly) true dialogue-only story is based on my times with Taha, our generous building caretaker when I was living in Amman, Jordan. It explores the fulfillment and emptiness of connection. Thank you for everything my friend, I hope your family is well.

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“Taha, I think I’ve locked myself out, do you have a spare key?”

“No key? You have no key?”

“No.”

“Ok ok I call mister Zach. Mish mushkila.”

“Thanks.”

“He no answer. Have to wait. Want tea?”

“Oh, uh, sure. Thanks.”

“Come come mister we sit in my room down basement.”

…

“Your place is nice, I like what you’ve done with it. Too bad there are no windows. Mr. Zach really should give you a proper place.”

“Eh?”

“It’d be good if you had some windows.”

“Win-dow-wis?”

“Uhhhh here, let me get a picture on my phone”

“Ah ah yes yes I want but can’t. Mr. Zach only give me this.”

“Yeah…”

Buzzz buzz

“Is Mr. Zach”

…

“Ok he come 20 minute. Sit.”

“Thanks…ouch! This tea is still quite hot.”

“Hahaha maybe you not drink so much tea before?”

“Yeah, that’s true. I don’t really drink a lot. You make it sweet though, which I like.”

“Welcome anytime mister.”

***

“Hello Taha! What are you cooking?”

“Chicken, mister. Come sit.”

“Well alright, let me put my things upstairs and I’ll be back. Shukran!”

…

“Oh, we have another friend joining us? Nice to meet you.”

“Yes thank you, my name is Walid, I’m from Yemen.”

“Oh wow, are you here permanently or…”

“Ahaha of course yes, business is not so good back home with all the fighting. I sell ATVs, other vehicles, that sort of thing. I’ve been here a few weeks now, met Taha a few days ago.”

“Mr. Walid, he is here and there.”

“Wait, are you in this apartment Walid?”

“No no, but I have two rooms in the building on the left and on the right. I have a big family you see, had to get them all out. It was…it was not easy.”

“Oh my god I’m sure, I can’t even imagine.”

“Mister, sit. Have chicken with us, tomorrow we go to bath.”

“Bath?”

“Ha ha he means Turkish bath. He tells me there is a good one in Al Swaifyeh. We will call you tomorrow.”

“Oh uh, yeah, sure, let me know.”

***

“That lesson did not go well, I need a nap.”

Buzzz buzz

“Hello?”

“Hi. It’s Walid. We are ready downstairs.”

“Oh hi Walid! Of course, I’ll be down in a minute, see you! …damn I completely forgot about this.”

“Hi mister! No we go. You have bath before?”

“Hi Taha, no I don’t think I have.”

“Will be good, Walid, let’s go.”

…

“So, after this we go in an ice cold bath?”

“Yes, then we do it again, then the third time instead of going to the steam room we go into the tub of hot water. Then the cold.”

“Right. How are you doing Taha?”

“Eh? Very good mister. Very good.”

…

“Oof that was quite relaxing.”

“Yes, now we will relax in the tub here, and then they will call us in for the bath.”

“Ahh yes this is where they put you on the stone and scrub you down right? Like a massage.”

“Yes, very very nice mister.”

“Ha I don’t know if it will quite be like the massage you are used to.”

“Oh, uh, what do you mean?”

“They clean you mister, they clean you very good.”

“Here, you can go first.”

“Ok, uh, wish me luck I guess?”

“Enjoy mister!”

…

“I don’t think my body was supposed to bend that way…”

“You enjoy, eh mister?”

“I think so, yeah. It was quite an experience…I’ll just have to see how sore I am tomorrow. Thanks for letting me join you.”

“No problem mister, Walid almost done too. Here, you get tea.”

“Being wrapped in these towels is pretty relaxing, even though I feel like I’v been put through a meat grinder…oh Taha, how much is it?”

“Eh? No no mister, is ok.”

“Oh no Taha I couldn’t…”

“Mish mushkila is fine”

“Well here Taha I can’t just let you…”

“No mister! Let me.”

“Ok, well, thank you very much. I really liked talking to you guys.”

“Ah, there is Walid. Now we relax then go.”

“Sounds good to me.”

***

Knock knock

“Hi Taha! I’ve got some food for you. How was your day?”

“Good good yes.”

“Here you go, some chicken, eggs, veggies. Oh and I have a ton of sugar if you need some.”

“Ah thank you. Mister, three days I go Egypt. The Sunday man will be here.”

“Oh! Do you actually get this long weekend off? That’s nice they got the guy who comes on Sundays to cover you. You usually don’t get the holidays eh?”

“Uhh sorry mister I no understand?”

“This weekend you go? Saturday, Sunday, Monday?”

“Friday Friday I go.”

“Oh tomorrow, great! You get to see your family? It’s been like 7 years right?”

“Yes yes I see family, my daughter, mother, yes yes.”

“Wow three days doesn’t seem like enough…but I’m happy you will see them! Well here’s the food. See you soon, have a great trip!”

“Thank you very much mister, very very much”

“Yeah no problem…oh a handshake! Sorry! Yes of course my friend, safe travels, see you soon!”

“Thank you thank you mister!”

***

“Mondays are always the hardest…hmmm…this is odd. Garbage cans in the hallway? Taha must have a new system.”

…

Knock knock

“Hello? Oh Mr. Zach, welcome! How are you?”

“Good good just coming to check how everything is, how you are liking the apartment, how the service is.”

“Oh its wonderful Mr. Zach. I’m really liking it here.”

“That’s great to here, and you have everything you need?”

“Oh more than I need. I even noticed Taha has put garbage bins in the hall now, I guess it’s more convenient eh?”

“Oh no no that’s the new guy.”

“Oh, you’ve got Taha some help?”

“No no Taha has gone back to Egypt.”

“Oh he hasn’t gotten back yet? I thought he was there only three days.”

“No he’s staying there now.”

“What? Oh I thought he was just…”

“Well I’m glad you are enjoying, oh, here comes Faisal, our new man.”

“Oh…hi Faisal.”

“Hi.”

“Well I’m off to check with other guests. Fasisal min fadlik khudh qimamatin. He will take your garbage.”

“Oh sure. Hey Faisal, I have some food if you would like.”

“Uhh. Sorry.”

“Food? Here, look, do you want?”

“Uhhh. Garbage?”

“No, no. It’s ok…”

“Ok.”

“I never got to say…”

“Goodbye, mister.”

“Goodbye, Faisal.”

…

***