Oh,howwonderfulitistocryalongwiththerestofthem!WhilethemehefuneralofmydearShekure’sfather,thewomen,kithandkin,spousesandfriends,gatheredinthehouseaheirtears,andI,too,beatmychestinmawiththem.Nowwailinginunisonwiththeprettymaidenbesideme,leaningonherandswayingbadforth;ninapletelydifferentframeofmind,Iwasdeeplytouchedbymyownitifullife.IfIcouldcrylikethisjustonceaweek,Ithought,ImightfethowIhadtoroamthestreetsalldayjusttomakee,fetbeingmockedformyweightandmyJewishnessandberebornanevetermouthEsther.

    IlikesocialgatheringsbecauseIeattomyheart’stent,and,atthesametime,fetthatI’mtheblacksheepofthecrowd.Ilovethebaklava,mintdy,marzipanbreadandfruitleatherofholidays;thepilafwithmeataea-cuppastriesofcircumcisionceremonies;drinkingsour-cherrysherbetatcelebrationsheldbytheSultanintheHippodrome;eatihingatweddings;andtossingdownthesesame,honeyorvariouslyflavoreddolencehalvassentbytheneighborsatwakes.

    Iquietlyslippedintothehallutonmyshoesadownstairs.BeforeIturothekit,Igrewcuriousaboutanoddnoiseingthroughthehalf-opendooroftheroomothestable.ItookafewstepsinthatdireandglansidetodiscoverthatShevketandOrhanhadtiedupthesonofohewomenmournersandwereinthemidstofpaintinghisfacewiththeirlategrandfather’spaintsandbrushes.“Ifyoutrytoescape,we’llhityoulikethis,”Shevketsaidandslappedtheboy.

    “Mydearchild,playnidgentlenow,don’thurteachother,allright?”IsaidinavoiceasvelvetyasIuster.

    “Mindyourownaffairs!”Shevketshouted.

    Inoticedthesmall,frightened,blond-hairedsisteroftheboythe