Station Pier
George A. Salib
Copyright 2011
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This novel is the work of fiction. All characters, names,
incidences, organisations, corporations, religious affiliation and places are used fictitiously.
Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead,
events or localities is purely coincidental.
Prologue
Australia was, and remains, the lucky country and the most sought after destination for people seeking refuge from the ravages of war, from religious persecution or simply wealth seekers drawn in by the prospect of making a good fortune.
Most migrants, who came to Australia during the gold rush or after World War II, arrived by sea and those who wished to settle in the State of Victoria, disembarked at Station Pier.
Station Pier holds a special meaning in the hearts of those migrants who landed there years ago. For them, Station Pier is the place to go to recaptivate their romantic moments. It may be a husband and wife who met as bride and groom at the wharf, or parents who met their children after a long and agonising wait. Most migrants, who make the pilgrimage to Station Pier nowadays, take the whole family for a cuppa at the modern Station Pier cafe to mull over their memories and chitchat about the dangerous sea voyage. Those memories will remain with their children and great-grandchildren who will talk about it among their peers.
The majority of migrants who chose Victoria to be their new home integrated very well into society, succeeded in most aspects of their lives and became the backbone of the nation. However, some migrants isolated themselves and lived in closed neighbourhoods resisting any attempt to integrate fearing they would end up assimilated and lose their identity. Others were not so lucky and were destined to fall through the social net.
Kamal and his wife chose Victoria to be their new home, but will they succeed or will it be the start of a tumultuous journey? The answer to that question remains to be seen.
Chapter 1
It was a sultry Monday afternoon when the Angelina Lauro docked at Station Pier. Her passengers hurriedly disembarked, setting their feet for the first time on the soil of their new homeland. From the deck, Kamal, his wife Zahra and their son Sam were watching people on the wharf waving and calling the names of people whom they had come to meet. Someone met almost every one of the Angelina Lauro’s passengers, whether as a wife joining her husband who came long before her to establish himself, or parents reuniting with their children.
Suddenly, to the tune of ‘Here comes the Bride', everyone applauded, and a young woman dressed in bridal wear appeared on the top of the gangplank ready to meet her future husband. Her bridegroom, handsomely dressed in a black suit and bow tie, arrived with his best man in a white limousine. A second limousine carrying the remainder of the bridal party followed, and a group of men, women and children began to dance and chant bridal songs, celebrating the arrival of the long awaited bride.
Kamal and his wife remained on the ship until the bridal party dispersed. They walked along the deck until they came to a point where they had a good view of the wharf. From there they searched for their friend, Ameer, who had promised to meet them, but they couldn't find him amongst the crowd.
All the passengers who had been met by someone else had already left. The remaining few people were talking casually and didn’t seem to be in a hurry to go home. "I hope he didn't forget about meeting us," Kamal remarked.
"I don't think so dear, he assured us in his last letter that he'd be waiting for us no matter what! Perhaps something unexpected happened that might have delayed him," Zahra replied.
Kamal appeared restless. He put his hands into his pockets and paced aimlessly wondering. What could've kept him? We don't know anyone else in this country. If he doesn't turn up, we could be in big trouble. Then he became conscious of his wife’s apprehension and went back to reassure her.
"Maybe his features have changed and we can't recognise him from this far. Let's go down to the wharf and wait for him there."
"I can't imagine Ameer wouldn't come to meet us. If something happened to prevent him from coming, he would send one of his friends. Don't worry dear, he won't leave us stranded," Zahra assured her husband.
Kamal was troubled by Ameer's delay and became distressed, fearing the worst, but he refused to admit it openly. However, he managed to compose himself and remain calm in the face of what he considered a minor crisis.
Zahra read the anguish in her husband's eyes and was in no doubt that he was indeed worried. She held his hand firmly and moved closer to him as she put her arm around Sam's shoulder and pulled him close to her.
Kamal interpreted his wife’s action as a natural move by a mother to protect her family in the face of looming danger. She looked anxious and distressed. Sam seemed enthusiastic, but kept nagging his mother to hurry and leave the ship for the safety of the ground. Kamal wasn't sure what to do and didn't want to show it, but he felt that his duty as the head of the family was to guarantee the safety of his wife and child. The least he could do now was to reassure them that they were not in any immediate danger and that he would protect them. He tightened his grip on his wife's hand in an attempt to comfort her.
"Don't worry dear – put a smile on your lovely face and be optimistic. This is our first step in a long journey to our new, bright and exciting future. I believe it is the right step in the right direction. I have a feeling that things will turn in our favour. For the time being, let's go down and wait for him. I'm sure he'll come soon."
Zahra agreed. She held Sam with one hand and Kamal with the other and walked downstairs with firm and steady steps, fearing a slip on the stairs at this moment could add to their trouble.
As they took their first steps on the wharf, Kamal sighed heavily and tightened his grip on Zahra's hand for reassurance. They strolled along the wharf until they reached the main gate.
"Let's sit on this bench and wait for him. He has to come through this gate and we will be watching for him," Kamal suggested.
Zahra and Sam sat on the bench, while Kamal chose to keep standing to get a better view. He began scanning with an eagle’s eye every person walking in or out, fixing his gaze on every face, hoping to spot Ameer. The thoughts in his head moved so fast that he couldn't stop to consider his next move. He felt helpless and unable to fulfil his role as the head of the family. However, when he was probing around, he spotted out of the corner of his eye a phone booth at the far corner of the coffee shop, and asked his wife for Ameer's phone number.
"I'm going to ring him up, just in case he has forgotten."
"Good idea, we should've thought of this before."
Kamal went to the phone booth and inserted the right coins, dialled and waited. He heard a buzzing sound, then a message. Kamal was confused and couldn't comprehend it. He dialled again and after the third time he understood it. We regret that your call could not be connected, please check the number and try again. He tried repeatedly, to no avail.
I don't believe my ears, he muttered to himself. There is a missing link here and I have to figure out how to solve this puzzle. Kamal left the phone booth unable to think clearly. His mind became cloudy and ambiguous, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't figure it out. As he was walking back, a wall of darkness fell on him and it felt like he was the only man on this planet forced to cross the valley of shadows on a dark moonless night.
"Did you talk to him?" Zahra interrupted his thoughts.
"No!"
"Why not?"
"Maybe he gave us a wrong phone number."
"What makes you think so?
“His phone number is incorrect.”
“Did you dial the right numbers?"
"I dialled more than once and I made sure to dial the numbers correctly, but I kept getting the same message."
"What message?" Zahra exclaimed.
Kamal shrugged. "I don't remember the exact words, but in brief it means that the number I've dialled was incorrect."
"Stay with Sam," Zahra ordered. "I'm going to ring him up." She took the address book and went to the phone booth. She inserted a phone token, grabbed the receiver and dialled. Her fingers were shaking and, with difficulty, she managed to dial the correct numbers. Finally, the line engaged and she heard static, then a distant ringing. After many rings, a message came through. She tried repeatedly only to get the same message. She hung up the receiver and felt a lump stuck in her throat and pain in her chest. She gasped for air as she felt the pain of betrayal ripping through her like a blunt knife. Ameer has given us a wrong phone number and has failed to honour his promises. The thought of betrayal fell hard on her and she felt the urge to scream. She experienced a choking sensation and tears started rolling down her sunburnt cheeks. She wiped her tears with the back of her hand and drifted away feeling the heavy responsibility upon her shoulders. I was the driving force behind this silly adventure, and I'm the one to be blamed if anything happens to my family. She assumed if this is the beginning, then the future in this new country could be bleak. In a few seconds, her life flashed before her eyes as if she was watching a film of a great drama that she couldn't escape. The reverie was frightening and alarming. She closed her eyes and started praying:
"O God …
Help me to see my way, as the darkness overshadowed my path.
Guide me to lead my family out of this darkness to the safety of your light.
Give me the knowledge and the wisdom to choose the right path, so I can live in dignity, in graciousness and in happiness."
Kamal, holding Sam by his hand and knocking on the door of the phone booth, shook Zahra from her thoughts.
"What's wrong with you? Were you daydreaming?" he asked impatiently.
"Nothing's wrong dear, I was just leaving." She lowered her head to avoid eye contact with her husband, and walked out feeling defeated. "You're right," she said, "he may have given us a wrong phone number."
Kamal and his family were stranded at the main gate of Station Pier. All their hopes and dreams of meeting their friend Ameer had vanished into thin air. They were alone in a country they knew nothing about except the name. Zahra felt scared, confused and vulnerable. Sam was worn out and irritated. He was affected by the hot weather and lack of sleep. Kamal was traumatised with feelings of helplessness. His good judgment and logical thinking were overshadowed as he anticipated the most horrible thing that could happen to them.
"We've been waiting here for too long. I think Ameer has either forgotten to meet us, or God forbid something bad has happened to him," Kamal acknowledged.
"What will we do? I just don't know! It's my fault isn't it?" Zahra responded.
Kamal sensed the anguish in his wife's voice and held her hand tight. "It is not your fault," he said in a calm tone. "We shared the decision to come here. It's not a mistake and no one is to blame for what's happening; I believe wholeheartedly that we made the right decision and we'll be all right."
Sam became difficult and agitated. He was sweating and begun to cry, "Mum, I’m thirsty."
Zahra responded to her son's request seeing a window of opportunity to free her mind at least for a while. "Of course it’s hot. I can feel it too. Let's have a soft drink."
They walked to the coffee shop and the moment they arrived Kamal stared at the man behind the counter and froze. He was unable to place his order, fearing his distinctive accent may sound funny and people would laugh at him. He stood motionlessly gazing at the man behind the counter, a chunky man in his mid-forties, with broad shoulders and large hands. He had a pointed nose and dark, straight, black hair with bushy eyebrows and a badly trimmed moustache. His round belly moved up and down the counter with every heavy breath, and as he breathed, you could hear a grunting sound similar to the sound of a stone crusher at the village quarry.
This image sent a chill through Kamal's spine. He felt threatened and decided not to ask for a drink anymore. However, as he was on the verge of leaving, the shopkeeper spoke. "Yes sir," he said with a heavy, distinctive accent.
This sound echoed in Kamal's ears with a familiar note. He changed his mind and stared at the shopkeeper expecting to see a smile on his face, a welcoming gesture or a sign of friendly service. However, the shopkeeper's sharp look meant that his only concern was to serve the customers in the quickest possible time. He seemed as if he was in a race and didn't have much time to waste on uncertain customers.
Kamal lingered for few seconds trying to find a way out of this situation, but as he stood in a state of uncertainty, he heard the same voice again "yes sir," but this time it was louder and more assertive. The shopkeeper's attitude made Kamal more nervous and without thinking he raised his hand showing three fingers. “Coca-Cola please," he said and gave him a ten dollar note. The shopkeeper gave him three cans and some change that Kamal put in his pocket, unchecked. He walked ahead of his wife looking for an empty table close to the main entrance.
As they took their seats, Zahra noticed a man at the adjacent table drinking coffee on his own and observing them intently. He was a well-built tall man in his early thirties with dark curly hair and olive green eyes. He wore conservative dark shorts, knee-high white socks, and a white short-sleeved shirt with a black tie. He was undeniably handsome and bright and this had caught her attention. However, as their two gazes fused for a moment, she felt uncomfortable and lowered her gaze, while he continued observing her closely. Zahra was in her late twenties, of medium height, slender, attractive and well rounded, with hazel eyes that always gawked around staring at everything. She dressed conservatively and wore her dark hair tied back in a ponytail. She was a high aspiring achiever with a grasping attitude that sometimes clouded her judgment and often landed her in trouble.
Zahra was suspicious of the shopkeeper and watched him with curiosity when he was serving. She had noticed the change he gave to her husband and felt something was amiss. "Let me have a look at the change he gave you," she demanded.
"What for?" Kamal asked.
"I think he did not give you enough change," quipped Zahra who, although she had studied English for years, still made mistakes when she was flustered.
"How do you know?" he protested.
"It is a simple mathematical equation. He gave you three cans at forty cents each; that makes it one dollar twenty but what he gave you did not look to me like eight dollars eighty."
Kamal put his hand in his pocket, grabbed hold of all that was there and put it on the table. "That's all that he gave me, it’s all there. Count it, yourself."
Zahra started to count. Three one dollar notes, five twenty cent pieces and ten ten cent pieces. "See! I was right. This is five dollars only. He overcharged you three dollars eighty. We should go and ask him to give it back."
"Who’s going to believe us? It’s my word against his and there was no witness. Let's forget it and concentrate on our problem," Kamal suggested.
"Why should we forget it?" Zahra asked. "It is our lawful right, and we should demand to be reimbursed for what is supposed to be ours."
"Lower your voice Zahra. Everyone can hear you. We don't want to start any trouble now," Kamal insisted.
Zahra was furious and thought it was her right to be reimbursed. She grabbed the money from the table. "If you don’t want to fight for what is rightfully yours, I am going to fight your battle," she said as she rose to her feet.
"Don't do it," Kamal ordered his wife. "We don't want to cause trouble for anybody. We're new in this country, and we don't want to offend him in any way."
Zahra was adamant. She insisted that she should face him with the fact that he had ripped them off, but as she begun to proceed, the man at the adjacent table approached.
"My name is Michael Zareef. I couldn't help overhearing you talking in Arabic about being short-changed. I believe you were, and I can help you."
Kamal resented Michael's direct imposition in his affairs, but he felt obliged to introduce himself. "I am Kamal Bedwani and this is my wife Zahra and son Sam." He waited for Michael's response.
Michael looked at Kamal and saw a face that held some soberness. He was about thirty-two years old, handsome, with black, straight, short hair and a neatly trimmed moustache. He wore conservative clothes; dark trousers, a white short-sleeved shirt and a striped red tie. He was thin but looked fit, rather sad and distant. Sam was about four or five years old, a gorgeous, calm, chubby boy with a pointed nose, blue eyes and short, dark, curly hair. He was holding the Coca-Cola can between the palms of his hands and sucking on the straw relentlessly – never stopping once to enjoy the taste.
Michael greeted them with a friendly smile. "Is this your first visit to Victoria?"
"This is our first day. We just arrived on this ship, and we don't know anybody here," Kamal responded with openness.
"So, you’re new migrants?" Michael asked.
“Yes we are.”
"Where are you staying?"
Kamal was relieved and happy to have met someone who spoke his language and stood expressionless for a few seconds, staring at Michael. "We don't know! We are stranded here because our friend, who sponsored us to come to Australia, has not come yet to meet us as he promised."
"Your friend knew you were coming today and didn't come to meet you?" Michael asked curiously.
"Yes he knew… I sent him a letter with all the details of our journey including the date and the time of arrival, and he replied reassuring us that he will be waiting for us right here on the wharf."
"Maybe he misplaced your letter, and forgot all about it. Since you have his address, why don't you go and surprise him?"
"Ameer is not neglectful," Zahra cut in. "We know him well. He's a man who keeps his word. After all, he is our good neighbour and our sponsor. He even wrote back to his mother and reassured her that he'll be waiting for us right here."
"Let's have a look at his address. He may be living somewhere nearby," Michael suggested.
Kamal gave him the address and waited. Michael looked at the address briefly, and then stared at Kamal, as if he was trying to read his thoughts. He could see the despair, the hopelessness and the disappointment on his face. Kamal became uncomfortable, since Michael was observing him silently. He felt as if he was in front of a judge waiting for him to pronounce his sentence. Even so, Michael's attitude changed to curiosity. "Welcome to the real world. Your friend lives not far from my place." He paused for a few seconds then added, "If you want, I’ll drive you there."
"Thank you sir. It’s nice of you to offer, but we do not wish to trouble you. We will be grateful if you call us a taxi."
"I do not have to call for a taxi. I can drive you. I am a taxi driver, and that taxi over there is mine."
Kamal was relieved to know that Michael was willing to take them to their friend. "Thank you very much. We will pay you whatever you ask."
"We’ll talk about the fare later, but now let's see what the shopkeeper has to say."
"I suppose we should let it go. We are new and we don't want to get involved," Kamal suggested.
"Don't be embarrassed," Michael responded. Kareem is one of our expatriates. I know him well, and I think he ripped you off as he has many other unsuspecting customers."
Kamal stood unmoved for a while. His pride was slightly hurt. I should tell him to mind his own business. However, Zahra was quick to point out the difference and insisted that they should confront the shopkeeper and ask him to refund the difference.
"This is what I thought," Michael responded. He overcharged you three dollars eighty, and he will pay you back."
Kamal objected to the idea citing the three dollars eighty as a small amount not worthy of the trouble, but his wife insisted and Michael approved.
Before Michael had a chance to say a word, Kareem eyed him suspiciously and continued serving. He seemed agitated and was trying to ignore them, but Michael was quick to point out to him, “My friend wants to have a word with you.”
Kareem lifted his head warily. "It is nice to see you Michael. Do you know this gentleman from before?"
"No. However, I am honoured to have met him a few minutes ago, but I'm ashamed of knowing you. You've become accustomed to cheating people. Aren't you ashamed of overcharging our guests?"
Kareem gave Michael a hostile look, then continued serving customers.
Michael wasn't happy with the way Kareem ignored his request, and thought I should have renounced this man a long time ago. People like him are a disgrace to this good country of ours. Then he stared at Kareem, and with a more directive tone he said, "Be a good guy, give him his money back and apologise. It's time that you do something right in your life, at least for us to remember you by."
Kareem didn't want his customers to hear that others were accusing him of cheating. He called on the female attendant to fill-in for him and ushered them to the side of the counter. He looked upset. His face was red and his lips were trembling. He pointed his finger until it nearly reached Michael’s nose and said, "People like you shouldn't interfere in other people's business. It's none of your concern."
Michael replied with a more directive tone. “Open up the till and give him back his three dollars eighty. You've lived all your life with this bad habit and you'll die before you even think of getting rid of it."
Kareem didn't like the way Michael was talking to him and thought. This is free trade. I can charge the price that suits my business and no one has the right to put conditions on the way I run my business. Then, he stared at Michael for a few seconds and said, "You pretend to know what's right and what's wrong, but let me tell you, if you were smart, you wouldn't be driving a cab for much longer. Look at you; you don't even have clean pants on your backside." Then he took a deep breath, put his two hands on the counter and continued. "Listen mate, you charge your customers what suits you, and let me charge mine the rate that suits me."
Kareem seemed like he had run out of breath. He paused for a while thinking, we run this shop for sixteen hours a day. We call every customer ‘sir' whether we like them or not, and the price is not controlled. I can sell at any price that will guarantee me the profit I deserve. "I'm not going to sit here and allow you to interfere in the way I manage this business."
Kamal was annoyed and detested this argument. This was his first day in this country and he did not want trouble. At this moment, this was the last thing he needed. He had his own trouble to take care of. He leaned forward and said, "I want him to charge us whatever he likes. He is one of us as you mentioned, and we prefer to give him the money to become rich. We're proud of our generous, wealthy people. There is no need to fight among us. We must help each other and be united if we want to succeed."
Michael was aggravated by Kareem's words and thought there was no point arguing with him further. He's always trying to make the quickest buck in the shortest time and in the foxiest way like other swindlers of his type. Therefore, there's no point lecturing him about immorality and unethical practices. Since Michael couldn't see the logic behind that inept argument, he put his hand on top of Kareem's and pressed it hard and replied with a soft but determined tone.
"Don't you dare lecture me on business matters. A fair rate of profit is the right of every service provider, but to get money by extortion and deception is a crime you should be punished for. Give the man back his money and apologise."
Kareem's eyes danced in different directions. He was breathing heavily. He pulled his hand out from under Michael's heavy grip, opened the cash register, gave Kamal his money and gazed at him with a plastic smile on his face, trying to hide his disappointment.
"Take my advice," Kareem said, "and don't listen to him. I want you to mark my words. In a few years, you will find that I was right, and when you do so, remember my motto: To be a successful trader you're required to be a smart one who knows from which side his bread is buttered. If you aren't smart, capable and sharp, customers like our friend will rip you apart…"
Kareem paused briefly, and then continued. "Perhaps we'll meet again one day, and you'll see me commanding the respect of everyone. People will envy me. In front of my door you will see them queuing to seek donations. My social status will always command respect and my seat will always be at the head of every table."
He seemed to run short of breath again. He stopped for a few seconds to regain his strength, then turned left to face Michael and pointed his finger at him.
"You'll see our preacher remaining as poor as he is now. He will continue to drive his cab wishing someone will hire his services, and if he’s lucky, he might manage to have a roof over his head. Then you'll know that I was right, because if you don't look like wolves and act like wolves, the wolves will eat you mate!"
Michael knew that Kamal was wasting his time by being nice to this greedy man and wanted to put an end to this useless conversation. He motioned to Kamal and proceeded to leave.
"Don't preach to the greedy and don't value the worthless. These people believe that money can buy anything in life. Their hobby is to collect money regardless of the means, and they will justify anything to get hold of it and keep it. You'll see in the end, they're the losers."
Kareem pressed his lips together and shot Michael an angry look, “I’ll be much happier if I don’t see you again.”
Michael smiled as he waved him goodbye, then he turned back and called out, “Remember this motto my friend: “good customer service coupled with happy and satisfied customers generates good business.”
Chapter 2
Kamal sat in the front seat silently, trying to make sense of the day’s events. He did not believe that Ameer's failure to meet them was intentional. There was a possibility that he wouldn’t be home for an unknown reason, something had gone drastically wrong, or he could be ill with a life threatening sickness. This thought sent a shiver down his spine, but he managed to dismiss it quickly and started to gaze through the window as the taxi zigzagged its way through the winding, narrow streets of an old suburb. Kamal was bewildered to see attached and semi-attached old houses on both sides of the streets. He couldn't tell them apart, one house from another, since the dwellings were similar in size, shape and colour, as if the architect who designed and built them had drawn up one plan and photocopied the rest.
The streets were almost deserted and the few people who dared to venture out in the heat, wore clothes that drastically matched the houses they lived in. However, once they entered King's Parade, Michael tried to break the silence by describing the beauty of the Jacaranda trees on both sides of the Parade and pointing to the warmth of the flowering trees forming a triumphal arch above the passing cars.
Kamal was absentminded and did not show any interest in listening to Michael. He was preoccupied with his own thoughts, and the beauty of the new country did not have a place in his troubled mind, as he was struggling to hide his bitterness and disappointment.
Zahra was also concerned about Ameer, and was lost in thought, trying to find an excuse rather than anticipating a dreadful outcome. However, since they were driving for longer than she was expecting, she became impatient and asked Michael a direct question.
"We've been driving for almost twenty minutes. How far are we from Winterhill?"
"Don't worry! I know this area like the back of my hand. Your friend lives far away from the city. We will be there before sunset."
"And where do you live Michael?"
"Not far from here, in the next suburb, five kilometres from the next traffic light. This area is popular with our people, and if you live with Ameer you may have to come here to do your shopping."
Zahra had a lot on her mind, and shopping at this moment was not a part of her priorities. Her mind was troubled by the events of the day. Ameer didn't come to meet them, and he was not answering his phone. She didn't respond to Michael's suggestion as she was drifting in her thoughts, anticipating a dim future. Her attention was brought back to her by the sound of heavy breathing from her son who was sweating heavily whilst sleeping on her lap.
"Why is it so hot? Are we in summer?" she asked.
"No, we're in the middle of spring. The weather this year is a bit unpredictable and waves of unseasonal heat are coming from the north. It won't last too long, only for a couple of days, and then we’ll return to the good spring weather and the occasional cold, wintry day. The weather here is unstable, like the politics back home. Here it isn't unusual to have four seasons in one day." Michael paused for a moment and then continued, "Make sure you carry your brolly wherever you go."
Michael continued driving for the next ten minutes without any attempt to resume the conversation then he announced, "We're almost there! Be ready to meet your old friend. I am sure he'll be happy to see you." Then, he turned right into Aroma Street and slowed down searching for unit two, number sixty-six. After going about a hundred meters, he stopped his cab.
“This is your lucky day mate. Look at that sign, it reads unit for lease – you might finish up living next door to your friend."
Kamal couldn't wait. He opened the taxi door, but before he climbed out, Michael gestured with his hand. "Stay here mate, I'll go and surprise your friend with the good news."
As Michael went up the stairs, Zahra gazed at her husband. "We'll be lucky to live next to our friend. That'll help us settle in."
"Who knows? I may not be able to get a job close by, and we may have to live in another suburb."
"Be hopeful, you always complicate matters. Ameer is a successful businessperson, and he knows many influential people around here. He will use his influence to find us a job nearby."
"Do you think you'll be able to work all day, then come home, prepare the food and take care of house duties? Where are you going to find the time and the energy? Soon your health will start to deteriorate and that will put so much pressure on the family and..."
"Look Michael has come back alone," Zahra cut in.
Kamal lifted his head and saw Michael coming towards them. His features had changed, as if he had seen a ghost. Kamal sensed that something was wrong. His instinct drove him to ask, "What's wrong Michael? Didn't you see Ameer?"
"No! I did not, but there's nothing to worry about," Michael replied. "I just want to make sure we're at the right address. Please give me the paper on which the address is written."
Zahra picked up her handbag in a hurry, took out an envelope and gave it to Michael. "This is the letter we received from him. This is his address in his own handwriting."
Michael checked the address carefully, and got a book from the glove box. "This is the street directory. I'm going to make sure that we're at the right address," he said as he started thumbing through it. He then opened the glove box again and took out a magnifying glass, then embarked on viewing the street names. Michael started to move his finger on the page horizontally and vertically as if he was trying to find the point of contact on this coloured page. His action raised Kamal's suspicion. He thought that Michael had come to the wrong address and did not want to admit it. He pretended ignorance and asked Michael, "How can a person be sure that he is at the right address by using this book?"
"This is simple my friend," Michael replied and pointed to the suburb's name on the page of the street directory. "This is the name of the suburb as written in your note, and this is the name of the street. According to the address you gave me, the block number is sixty-six and the unit number is two. That's why I am sure we're at the correct address. Alas, your friend isn't here. I've knocked on the door several times, but there was no answer," replied Michael.
Kamal put his hand on his forehead and pressed with his fingers trying to regain his concentration. Zahra felt his anguish and tried to resume the conversation.
"If Ameer is not there, then perhaps we can ask one of the neighbours. They may know the time he'll be returning home."
"There was no one in the next two units. It looks like everyone’s still at work, and may not come home until late in the evening."
Michael was shocked and confused. The unit, which Ameer was supposed to be living in, was vacant. He didn't want to tell them right now and decided to have more time to think it over. Maybe he could find a better way to tell them so the impact would be less. He could understand their bitterness and frustration when they would discover that their friend was not living at that address anymore. They were strangers in a new land, and the only person they could trust was not there.
Zahra was on the verge of tears despite her attempt to cover it up. The only thing Michael could do now was to try to make them feel safe. Thus, he put his hand on Kamal's shoulder and said in a soft, warm voice.
"Don't you worry pal. Everything is going to be fine. Trust me."
Zahra raised her head and through her teary eyes stared at Michael. "You have to work and we don't want to take up anymore of your time, but what are we going to do now?"
"I'm happy that I've met you, and I'm going to call it a day. Let's go to my place and have something to eat and a bit of a rest. There's no rush, we'll worry about finding your friend later."
Chapter 3
Michael seemed disturbed. He was driving without checking the rear mirror. His eyes were fixed on the road ahead, avoiding eye contact with Kamal and not uttering a word. This was his second encounter with strangers being stranded with nowhere to go. His first experience was similar to this one. A family of three were left high and dry on the railway station. He accommodated them for a night, but when he came home in the morning, the unit had been ransacked. Now he was wondering if this family would do the same.
Kamal noticed the change in Michael's driving, and felt that the change in his features spelled problems. He became concerned wanting to know the reason behind this sudden change in Michael's behaviour without raising his suspicion. He turned to the back seat, asked his wife to pass him the notebook and then addressed Michael.
"I've noted down Ameer's phone number. We tried to ring him up when we were waiting at the wharf, but every time we tried, we got a recorded message telling us that our call could not be connected. We're not sure if we used the phone correctly. Maybe by the time we arrive at your place, Ameer could've returned home. I wonder if you could give him a ring and ask him to come and pick us up?"
"There's no need for the phone number right now. I don't think we can reach him tonight."
The change in Michael's behaviour and the seriousness in his tone made Kamal more concerned. He looked at Michael. "Excuse me sir,” he said, “Why can't we reach him tonight?"
Michael realised that his behaviour worried Kamal, so he tried to calm the situation. "Don't sir me," he said jokingly. "We're friends and there's no need for such formalities. Let's be realistic, no one can tell when he'll be coming home. It depends on his work. He could be working overtime and come home in the morning, or he might be working with a company where they sent him interstate and he'll come home next month, who knows?"
"I think he has his own business in trade or something like that. All we know is what we've heard from his mother. She said he is a well known businessman," Zahra responded.
"There's no need to worry right now; shortly we'll be home. You’ll stay with me tonight, and we'll look for your friend in the morning. I'm going to do everything I can to make you as comfortable as possible. For the time being, I don't want you to worry about anything.
"You speak as if you're foreseeing trouble. Do you know something we don't? Alternatively, is there a problem you don't want us to know about?" Kamal asked.
Michael smiled. "No my friend, there's no need to anticipate anything unnecessarily. If you see me troubled, that doesn't mean there's a problem. However, as I told you before, if we can't contact your friend today, I want you to honour me by staying at my home tonight. I have a three bedroom unit that can comfortably accommodate us all, and the next day will take care of itself."
Zahra felt waves of anxiety shaking her body to the bones. Considering the circumstances, there was nothing she could do but be polite to her host. "We're grateful for your offer, and we thank you very much, but we feel that we're intruding and maybe stopping you from your work. If you don't mind we'll be grateful if you can take us to a nearby hotel, so we can stay the night."
"You're not staying at a hotel. You'll be my guests for tonight, tomorrow and for the next month too. I have many questions to ask about my old hometown. You can refresh my memory, and it is great to remember the bad and rough times as well as the good and happy times,” Michael replied cheerily. He then started to drive droopily, pretending to be at ease. Zahra felt down in the dumps and cuddled her son, who was still asleep in her lap, as if she was seeking reassurance from him. Kamal felt the need to say something as the conversation had stopped and the atmosphere needed to be invigorated. The first thing that came to his mind was to acknowledge Michael's offer at least with a nice reply.
"We're grateful and we'll be honoured to be your guest for tonight, but we don't want to burden your family. As my wife suggested, if you would kindly find a hotel..."
"Don't worry mate! I am still in the market searching for a wife, probably one day you can help me find the right one," Michael cut in.
Kamal was not expecting a humourous reply but felt obliged to respond in kind. "I'll do my best," he said.
Zahra thought there was nothing wrong if they could introduce a moment of humour in such a stressful situation. "If I were you, I wouldn't take his words so seriously."
"Why not?" Michael asked.
"He had trouble finding one for himself, and without his mother's help, he would still be in the market searching for a bride up to the present moment."
They all laughed as Michael pulled the cab into the driveway of a two-storey red brick building and inched up to a stop. "Here we are, home sweet home."
Michael got out, opened the boot of the cab, grabbed two bags and ran upstairs.
Before Kamal had time to remove the rest of their luggage, Michael was back enthusiastically and carried one bag while Kamal took care of the remaining. Before he reached the stairs, he called on Sam.
"Come on champ! Let's race upstairs."
Sam responded to Michael's request enthusiastically and ran in front of him, while Michael encouraged him saying, "The one who arrives first will win an icy pole…"
Sam reached the top of the stairs and screamed triumphantly, "I won! I won!"
"Ok. Champion, I give up … you win."
They sat around in the lounge room gazing at each other in silence. No one tried to break this quietened moment. Kamal and his wife were shocked by the day’s events, and were astounded by Michael’s hospitality – a stranger who had come to their aid without hesitation. The atmosphere became tense, and Michael sought a way out by commenting on the state of his unit.
"Excuse the mess. I'll never be a house-trained person. I got into the habit of having everything I need within arm’s reach." He opened the fridge, grabbed three stubbies and gave Zahra and Kamal one each. He raised his bottle, while Sam was sucking relentlessly on his icy pole.
"Let's drink to your health and your happiness in this great country of ours."
Kamal raised his bottle and Zahra joined in. "To your health and thank you wholeheartedly for everything you've done for us."
Michael replied in kind, put the bottle to his mouth and returned it half-empty. "I am terribly hungry, and we're going to get the best pizza in town."
"Don't worry… It's too hot, and we're not really hungry," Kamal replied.
"I’m not going far. The pizza parlour downstairs belongs to Dave Fares. He is one of our mob. Actually, the pizza parlour, the Three Stars Handy Store and the whole block belong to him. He has the lot – health, wealth and happiness. You will get to know him; he is a nice person. Make yourself comfortable, I won't be long."
Michael was relieved to break away and have some free time to be able to think clearly. He thought of talking to Dave and seeking his advice. As he entered the pizza parlour, he was surprised to see Jeannine – Dave's wife –and halted at the door briefly.
Jeannine noticed his hesitation. "I am not going to sell you another pizza Michael, you eat too much junk food," then she lowered her voice to a whisper, "Look at you, you are getting fatter by the day."
"How come you're manning the pizza parlour?
"Peter took the afternoon off, and I'm filling in for him until eight o'clock."
"How's that? Every time I come for a pizza, he's off for one reason or another?"
"Poor Peter. Since he took over the management of this pizza parlour, his wife has become ill, and he has to help her with the children."
"I feel sorry for him, he's such a nice man," then with a wide smile on his face, "As a matter of fact, I'm not going to ask you for one pizza only, I want you to make me three special family size pizzas. How's that?"
"You never stop amusing me, you're joking right?"
"I mean it."
"Why three? Are you catering for the whole neighbourhood?"
"I've picked up a family from the wharf. They've just arrived from overseas, and they're staying with me."
"Are they relatives of yours?" she asked.
"No … It's a long story. I'll tell you later."
"Why later… Are you hiding something you little devil?"
"No, I'm not hiding anything. Where's Dave."
"Don't try to change the subject. I know! Your imported bride has arrived, hasn't she?"
"This time you didn't hit the target Jeannine. Tell me where Dave is?"
"He's at the grocery shop. The cashier got sick and he had to take her place. He'll be coming here after eight."
"As soon as he arrives, I want to talk to him."
"Your secret is safer with me than with him. You know Dave – he has never kept a secret."
"I know that, but this is not a secret. It’s more of a consultation."
"I don't trust you Michael; as soon as Peter comes back I'm going to invite myself up for a cuppa, and then I'll find out."
"You're going to have the tastiest cup of coffee from Zahra's hand", he whispered and chuckled with his usual trademark laugh.
"You're a son of a gun! I had a feeling you're hiding something from me. Is she a nice girl? Tell me Michael?"
"Give me the pizzas Jeannine. I'm going to feed her first, because she needs to put on a few more kilos, and your pizza is the best recipe."
"If you think my pizza does make you fat, why do you keep returning for more?"
"I'm addicted to it; it tastes delicious. Bless your hands; you're the best pizza maker in town."
He gave her another one of his cracking laughs. "Don't forget to come by, otherwise you'll miss the surprise," then he carried the pizzas and bolted upstairs.
Michael walked in carrying three boxes of pizzas. He set the kitchen table and invited them to eat. "This is my favourite food," he said, "I hope you like it." Then he turned to Sam, gave him a plate and a piece of a pizza. "Come on mate; let's see how strong you are?"
"Say thank you to Michael," Zahra responded.
"Would you like a glass of beer?" Michael asked.
"Thank you, I'd rather have a Coke, and I'll share it with Sam," Zahra responded
"How about you Kamal?"
"I think I'll have a beer with you."
Michael gave Zahra a can of Coke and Kamal a stubby. "To your happiness, good health and success," he stated then he put the bottle in his mouth and returned it to the table half full. "Bloody good stuff," he remarked.
Everyone laughed. They ate and talked. Michael tried hard to crack a few jokes that did not go down well with Kamal and Zahra. Although they pretended to have an occasional laugh, Michael could see the agony on their faces, and Zahra's tear filled eyes told the whole story. Michael understood their agony and distress. They must have been under tremendous pressure and felt such a great disappointment. Michael knew this as he had been through this before.
Despite Michael's efforts to make them feel comfortable, the atmosphere was still tense. Every time a conversation stopped, no one seemed to be able to start it again, and an awkward silence overtook the room.
This uncomfortable silence filled the room again, but Michael was quick to call on his years’ of experience driving a cab. All his passengers were strangers, and he had never had trouble starting a meaningful conversation with them regardless of their social background, so as usual, he proceeded to chatter. However, he was interrupted by the doorbell. Michael was not surprised to see Jeannine at the door.
"I knew you couldn't refuse my invitation. Come in," he said as he introduced her. "Mrs. Jeannine Fares, this is Kamal, his wife Zahra and their son Sam."
"Happy to meet you all," Jeannine replied, and then she approached Kamal, gave him a hug and a brisk kiss. "You're most welcome. I wish you a happy and successful life." Then she hugged Zahra, gave her three kisses. "I didn’t forget the three kisses tradition, I hope you have a happy life, and if you ever need anything, please call on me."
"Thank you Mrs Jeannine. I am very grateful."
"Don't mention it. I do mean every word of it," she replied. She moved slowly towards Sam and said, "and you young man, give me a warm hug." She bent down and held him high, "you're gonna be a handsome man." Then she sat on the sofa and put him on her lap.
Zahra scanned Jeannine instantly from the top of her head to the black and white running shoes. Jeannine was short with broad shoulders, a flattened chest for a woman of her size, short black, straight hair and heavily rounded buttocks. She had a pointed nose and rounded dark brown eyes. Zahra was suspicious of her.
Sam blushed and was on the verge of crying. This was his first encounter with such a friendly stranger and did not know how to react, but Michael was quick to notice the shyness on Sam's face and came to his aid.
"Sam is very tired now. He had a long and tiring day, but I'm sure tomorrow you'll hear a lot from him."
Zahra also felt that her son needed her help and stood up. "Come to mummy." She took Sam from Jeannine and put him on her lap. "Go to sleep now and tomorrow morning you'll tell Aunty Jeannine everything about your journey."
Jeannine realised that the mood was not right for her to stay any longer. Kamal seemed bewildered and Zahra did not seem friendly and the whole atmosphere seemed on edge. She decided to leave, but was determined to find out what was going on. Michael had never spoken to her about this family before, and now he was telling her that these people had arrived today. These things didn't add up. If they were family, he wouldn't use the term 'I was lucky to pick them up'. He must be hiding something from her, and she was anxious to find out tonight, so she hoisted herself off the couch.
"You're looking tired, have an early night’s sleep, and I'll see you tomorrow."
"What about your coffee?" Michael asked.
"Don't worry, I'll have it tomorrow," and before she closed the door behind her, she turned back, "Oh, before I forget. Dave had to return to the grocery shop to fill-in for the shelf stocker and he would like you to go later and help him if you can."
"Of course I will. You know I won't let him down especially when he's short-staffed. I'll be going soon."
Kamal felt embarrassed. He didn't want to be a burden on Michael. "If your friend is in need of help, I'm willing to go and help him too."
"You're not going anywhere tonight. It's now nine o'clock. Please come with me and I'll show you to your rooms."
Michael took Kamal and his wife and showed them the bedrooms, the toilet and the bathroom.
"This is my humble place; I hope you'll have a comfortable night." Then he took a pen and a paper and wrote down Dave's phone number.
"I'm available tonight on this number, if you need anything, just call any time."
He left the paper on the kitchen table, wished them a good night’s sleep, closed the door behind him and left.
As soon as Michael left, Zahra got up, tucked Sam into bed, came back and sat next to her husband. "I don't know why, but my heart tells me not to trust that woman."
"Why not? She seems to be quite an amicable lady."
"Couldn't you see the look on her face? From the gaze in her eyes you could tell how nosey and curious she was. Couldn't you see how her eyes were darting around, examining each one of us suspiciously?"
"Well, this is a typical reaction from any person unexpectedly meeting people from their country. Perhaps her curiosity is restricted only to knowing where we come from. We could be neighbours to some close relatives of hers. Why do you always interpret every incident with such suspicion?"
"It takes a woman to know a woman's heart. Mark my words; she is a very dubious woman."
"I'm tired, let's go to bed, and tomorrow you'll change your mind."
Chapter 4
"You're a son of a gun… I did not think you'd come tonight!"
"How could I not respond to your request for help? Your wife insisted, and I thought I would kill two birds with one stone.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ll help you with stocking shelves, and you help me find an answer to my problem.”
The sudden shrieking of the front door caught Dave’s attention. He looked around and was baffled to see his wife. He thought she must have been up to something, as she never came to the grocery shop at this time of the night. "Look behind you Michael, she's walking through the door right now."
"Hello Jeannine. It didn't take you long. If I knew you were coming here to help Dave, I wouldn't have come," Michael remarked.
"I thought you two might need an extra hand," Jeannine replied.
Dave turned his back and kept stocking.
"Why did you come here for? I didn't ask you to come. I'm capable of doing this work on my own."
"I didn't come to help you, and I didn't miss you either. I've come here to ask how this son of a bitch could bring his relatives to Australia to stay with him without telling us. We've leased him this unit to live in it, not to use it as transit free accommodation."
"What are you talking about?" Dave interrupted.
"Didn't he tell you yet?"
"He just walked in. Why don't you spill the beans?"
Jeannine gazed straight into Michael’s eyes and poked her finger into his shoulder.
"Tell me Michael. Who are they? Your brother, your sister, or just someone you picked up at the wharf as you pretended?"
"It's not what you think Jeannine."
"Don't you tell me what I think."
"Why don't you keep quiet and let the man tell you who the hell are they?" Dave snapped.
"Keep your nose out of it and let me do the talking," she retorted.
"You know what your problem is Jeannine? You have a sticky nose, and you talk too much," Dave fired back.
"How about you? You wag like a dog's tail. Don't you think I know what's going on between you and that ugly cashier?"
"Give me a break. If you think Elizabeth is ugly, then take a good look at yourself in the mirror."
Jeannine's face blushed; her lips quivered and her shoulders sagged as if she was ready to attack. She gazed at her husband. "Enjoy the last couple of days with her, because she's getting the boot."
"Don't you dare fire her."
"Too late. I already made up my mind."
"You never stop amusing me Jeannine. Your jealousy will ruin you and your business, and I don't know how long I can put up with you."
"What's stopping you, you can leave now."
"Why don't you two stop fighting and let's sit down and talk it over," Michael cut in. "I came here to talk about my problem. However, I have to listen to you two fighting like two little kids." Michael turned to face Jeannine, "If you want to know who they are, then take a deep breath and listen to me."
Jeannine remembered why she had come. She felt that if she carried on arguing with her husband, Michael might leave, and she couldn't wait until tomorrow to find out. After all, Michael was ready to talk, so why waste the opportunity. She turned to Michael and gave him one of her wry smiles.
"I don't mean it," she said. "I was trying to have him for breakfast before he had me for lunch. Dave is an extremely jealous boy, but he doesn't like to admit it."
"Look who's talking?" Dave fired back. "Do you think I'm jealous because I fear someone will compete with me? I’m ready to help anyone blind enough to run off with you at any time."
"Stop fighting. You've been doing this since I met you," Michael replied.
"He can fight as much as he wants. I know he's not ready to leave me; he has to stick with me hoping I'll go before him, so he can enjoy my money with a younger chick, but I can assure you he has to wait for a very long time!"
"Enough of your nonsense, let's see what's troubling Michael."
"That's right Michael. Who are these people?" Jeannine asked.
Michael gazed at Jeannine, as if he was trying to measure her reaction to his response, and then turned to Dave. "I don't know them."
"You don't know them and you dared to bring them to your unit. How about if they are criminals? I think we should inform the police."
"Take it easy Jeanine," Dave exhorted. "You don't judge people before you know their circumstances." Then he turned to Michael. "Where did you pick them up from?"