Page 8 - Issue 55

ELITE VOL.1, Issue 55, May 2023
ELITE
VOL.1, Issue 55, May 2023

Saving a pen

Prof. Hanan M. Aly, FEPS Vice dean for students' affairs and Education
Translated by: Mariam Ismail

On a cold winter's night, lightning flashed, thunder Faculty of Medicine, and a beautiful ball for Hani, then
roared, rain fell, and the wind blew. he looked at me with a smile: I know that you always
In our apartment, my mother was preparing food, my lose your pens in school, so I brought you a pen
older brother, Hisham, was studying his lessons, and attached to a long chain..
my younger brother, Hani, was sitting in front of an I grabbed it and hung it around my neck: What a
aquarium of ornamental fishes, contemplating their beautiful pen.. It will not be lost from me anymore..
colours and following their movements. And here my mother said: Come on for dinner.. So
As for me, I was standing behind the window.. I Hisham and I started carrying the dishes from the
shivered from the severity of the cold.. I shook from kitchen to the dining room, so I grabbed the plate of
the sound of thunder.. I was terrified of the flash of pies that I love.
lightning.. Before I put it down, I heard the sounds of glasses
My gaze was aimed at the locked door of the breaking in the kitchen. People around us were
building.. waiting for the key to turn in it.. and for a screaming as if their loved ones had died.
handsome man of great stature.. a strong build.. my And it was only a moment until Hani came running, his
beloved father..to come home clothes wet, and he screamed trembling: “the fish tank
I have long missed him.. He will arrive today after an swayed.. the water spilled.. the fish jumped.. and his
absence of several months to spend a short vacation shouts came out: it is the work of the evil witch..”
with us, then return to work again, and so on.. As for Hisham, his eyes bulged out, and his lips
Time passed heavy, and I waited for a long time.. trembled: “Look.. Books are falling from the desk.. It is
until the expected moment came, so my eyes widened, the storm that is shaking the building..”
my heart danced, and I thanked my Lord.. and I My mother came out of the kitchen, her face turned
shouted at the top of my voice: My father has come.. pale, and her body shook: “the building was
Come on, get ready.. collapsing.”
So we all lined up at the entrance to the apartment, My father stood up, his eyes dimmed: “An earthquake..
eager for his return. Follow me.. We will go down to the street.. Do not use
And after he embraced all of us, and was assured of the elevator.. Go down the stairs..”
our conditions, he opened his bag and took out a And as soon as he opened the door and put his foot
bottle of perfume that my mother preferred, a outside it, we heard a huge bang and saw thick dust.
stethoscope for Hisham who just got accepted at the

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