The young woman said wistfully, "It really made us sad that you couldn't be there, but there was nothing that could be done."
Her brother too expressed his regret. Mrs. Kirsha smiled, not yet recovered from her astonishment. She muttered, "Welcome to you all."
She then turned to her son, upset at his obvious unhappiness. Now she realized for the first time that he had not uttered a single pleasant word since his arrival. Reproachfully, she commented, "So at last you have remembered us."
Hussain shook his head and answered gloomily, "They have laid me off."
"Laid you off? Do you mean you are out of work?"
Before he could reply, their ears were assailed by a loud knocking on the door. Hussain and his mother exchanged meaningful looks and then she left the room followed by her son, who closed the door after him. In the hall, Hussain spoke: "It must be my father."
"I think it is," she said anxiously. "Did he see you? I mean, did he see you three, as you came in?"
Her son, instead of replying, opened the door, and Kirsha came charging in. As soon as he saw his son his eyes shot sparks and his face contorted with rage. "So it's you? They told me, but I couldn't believe it. Why have you come back?"
Hussain replied quietly, "There are guests in the house. Please come to your room, where we can talk."
The young man moved quickly to his father's room, and Kirsha followed, still fuming. Mrs. Kirsha joined them and lit the lamp, saying hopefully and warningly to her husband, "Listen, my husband. Your son's wife and her brother are in the other room…"
The man's heavy eyebrows rose in astonishment and he bellowed, "What are you saying, woman? Has he really got married?"
Hussain, annoyed that his mother had released the news so abruptly and without introduction, thought it wisest to answer himself. "Yes, Father, "I am married."
Kirsha stood silently, grinding his teeth with rage. Not for a moment did he consider criticizing his son, for criticism would, in his opinion, imply a kind of affection. He determined to ignore the news. His voice full of rage and contempt, he said, "That doesn't interest me in the slightest. However, allow me to ask why you have returned to my house? Why are you now showing your face to me after God has given me a merciful relief from it?"
Hussain took refuge in silence, bowing his head and frowning. His mother, attempting to pacify Kirsha, said in her shrill voice, "They have laid him off."
Once again Hussain inwardly criticized his mother for being too precipitate. As for Kirsha, what his wife said only increased his rage, and he shouted in a voice so loud and threatening that his wife hurriedly shut the door, "They've laid you off? Well, what next? And is my home an almshouse? Didn't you desert us, you hero? Didn't you bite me with your fangs, you son of a bitch? Why are you back now? Get out of my sight! Go back to your 'clean life' and your water and electricity. Go on. Hurry!"
Hussain's mother spoke quietly: "Please quiet down. Say a prayer for the Prophet…"
Kirsha turned toward her menacingly, his clenched fist raised, and yelled, "Are you defending him, you daughter of the devils? You all need a good whipping and punishing in hellfire. What do you want, then, you mother of all evil? Do you think I should give shelter to him and his family? Have people told you I am some sort of pimp who gets money from everywhere without trouble or effort? Oh no! You might as well know the police are hovering around us; only yesterday they took four of my colleagues. Your future looks black, with God's permission!"
Mrs. Kirsha thought patience the best course to follow and so she said in a manner unusually gentle for her, "Say a prayer for the Prophet and affirm your faith in the Oneness of God."
Kirsha shouted roughly, "Am I to forget what he did?"
"Our son is headstrong and foolish," she replied, trying to pacify him. "The devil took a fancy to him and led him astray. You are the only person he has to turn to now."
"You're right," shouted her husband, full of angry scorn. "I'm the only person he can turn to, me, the one he curses when all seems well and crawls to when things get bad."
He turned and gazed hard and straight at Hussain and asked reproachfully, "Why did they fire you?"
Mrs. Kirsha sighed deeply. She knew instinctively that this question, despite the bitter tone, was a hopeful sign of reconciliation. Hussain replied quietly, feeling the bitterness of complete defeat, "They laid off many others besides. They say the war will end soon…"
"It may be finished on the battlefields, but it's only beginning in my own house! Why didn't you go to your wife's parents?"
"She has no one but her brother," answered Hussain, looking down.
"Why didn't you go to him for help?"
"He has been laid off too."
Kirsha laughed sarcastically. "Welcome! Welcome! It's only natural that you could find no other refuge for this fate-struck noble family except my two-room house! Well done indeed! Well done… Didn't you save any money?"
Sighing, Hussain replied sadly, "No, I didn't."
"You've done well indeed. You lived like a king with electricity, water, and entertainment and now you're back a beggar, just as you were when you left."
Hussain answered indignantly, "They said the war would never end and that Hitler would fight for decades and then eventually attack."
"But he hasn't attacked; instead he has disappeared, leaving the biggest fool alive empty-handed! His lordship is Madam's brother?"
"That's the situation."
"Splendid… splendid. Your father is most honored. Get the house ready for them, Mrs. Kirsha, humble and inadequate though it is. I will improve the situation by installing running water and electricity. Why, I'll probably even buy Mr. Alwan's carriage for them."
Hussain blew out air and said, "That's enough, Father… that's enough…"
Kirsha looked at him almost apologetically and continued in a sarcastic tone: "Don't be angry with me. Have I upset you? It was only a little joke. All glory and honor to you. Have mercy on these fine people down on their luck. Be more careful, Kirsha, and speak respectfully to these respectable people… Do take off your coats. As for you, Mrs. Kirsha, open up the treasure we keep in the lavatory and give the gentleman enough to make him rich and cheer him up."
Hussain stifled his anger without saying a word and thus the storm passed. Mrs. Kirsha stood there saying to herself, "O Protector, protect us." Kirsha, in spite of his rage and sarcasm, had no intention of driving Hussain away. All during this scene he was pleased at his son's return and delighted with his marriage. Eventually he simmered down and muttered, "The matter is in God's hands. May God grant me peace from you all." He turned to his son. "What are your plans for the future?"
Realizing that he had survived the worst of the ordeal, Hussain replied, "I hope to find work and I still have my wife's jewelry."
His mother pricked up her ears at the word "jewelry" and she asked, almost automatically, "Did you buy it for her?"
"I gave her some. Her brother bought her the rest." Turning toward his father, he went on: "I'll find work and so will my brother-in-law, Abdu. In any case, he will only be staying with us for a few days."
Mrs. Kirsha made use of the lull after the storm to address her husband: "Come along, then, and meet your son's family."
She winked secretly at her son, and Hussain, with all the awkwardness of one who disliked being friendly or conciliatory, asked, "Would you honor me by meeting my family?"
Kirsha hesitated then said indignantly, "How can you ask me to recognize this marriage to which I didn't give my blessing?"
When he heard no reply, he rose grumbling, and his wife opened the door for him. They all moved into the other room, where introductions were made and Kirsha welcomed his son's wife and her brother. Their faces lit up at the welcome and the courtesies exchanged, their hearts concealing what they each really felt.