Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Trapped

I was getting ready for work when the doorbell rang. 10 minutes to eight. This has happened before, though normally a somewhat sane hour like 9. Um Tareq has some rude friends, who think nothing of dropping in at 8 or 9am, before calling ahead, and then act surprised that we're asleep. Actually, most of her friends aren't like that, but Um Ra'id is. She's come before early. I figured if I just ignored her she would go away. Um Tareq was sleeping and I really didn't want to let this woman in to wake her up. Time passed. She didn't leave, just reminded us of her prescence every four minutes by ringing the bell again. After 15 minutes, it was pretty clear she wasn't going to leave anytime soon. The bells woke Um Tareq up eventually and we stood in the courtyard whispering.
"God she is so annoying," said Um Tareq.
"Why don't you just tell her not to come, you are sleeping?"
"I've told her daughter-in-law to not let her come this early."
"Why don't you tell her?"
"Eib!"

It got to the point where I had to leave for work, but Um Ra'id wasn't budging. "I have to get going."
"Wait, wait!"
"I could tell her you are sleeping."
"It doesn't matter, she'll come in. If only she had come later in the day, you could tell her I wasn't here, but now it's too early for me to be gone"
I was trapped. Another 10 minutes and I really should be going, so Um Tareq acquiesed.

I thought Um Tareq should go lie down so at least the woman would feel bad about waking her, but instead she went and opened the door. Um Ra'id came in, saying, "i've been waiting for a long time? Where were you"
"Sleeping"
"Sleeping!"