May 17th, 2006

I make my way out the door of our house - what's left of it at least. The house, not the door. I'm going to the hospital just under a kilometer away. I'm thinking I'd really appreciate it if the guys who are usually there would give me a break this time round. The time is 4 in the am and I've already missed prayer at the mosque - which is 2 kilometers away. That's why I'm going to the hospital. For the water to wash before prayer. I'm not using the sand today to get ready for prayer because I'm sick and tired of lying to my mother about why the water isn't running. I always tell her that I always reach the hopsital - who are supplying us - and they promise me that it is fixed now. Truth is, I don't even go to the hospital. You would know why if you ever come across those guys who are between my house and the hopsital. They are usually the worst after noon prayer. They look really angry at my uncle every time.
Anyway, now I reach them. They're a group of five. Okay two more just came from around the truck. Seven guys all strapped with identical helmets and who, later in the morning, when I make the trip back, usually have the same sunglasses. For some reason, they all have the number 5 - in Arabic - written on the sides of those glasses. Some come with blue lenses, some with silver; I think they're cool. But I never stole from those guys, I only steal from the guys who are behind the mosque. There. I'm pointing to my left now, to tell you where the mosque is. Wait. One of the guys is calling out for me, he's signalling his way. I'm making my way towards him. "Where you off to?" I'm looking to my right, my left, and I look back, I'm not sure if he's talking to me because his helmet is covering his eyes and I can't see where he's looking.
He's leaning down, kneeling to his knee, and I think he's patting my head. I get really nervous, sometimes, I do it in my pants. I hate that when it happens, because I would have to wait for 7asaan at the hospital - he usually goes at night. He runs the water and washes my pants. I also hate it because 7asaan says I have to go again and pray because my prayer the first time will not be accepted. I believe him.
"Hiya son, what's your name?"
I'm shrugging to tell this guy that I really don't know what he's saying. "Ismaq? Ismaq?". I hear laughter, so I turn my head to see across his shoulder and see the guys who are dressed just like him standing on the big truck and laughing. I look down my pants to check if they're laughing at me, but they're not because I haven't done anything. The guy kneeling in front of me is patting on my head "Go on now, go on." As he gets up, I notice the flag on his right hand sleeve. I remember this flag from 3 years ago. A nice man gave me a big one when my mother told him it was my ninth birthday. It has blue, red, and white. I think it looks okay, but I think the Iraqi flag is much nicer.
I am now just crossing the truck. "BO!". I hear louder laughter. I look to my right, I'm still walking, and see this big guy pointing at me and laughing, "did you see that scared little rat? BO!" I am not sure if I am in trouble. Again. Maybe the guys behind the mosque told them I stole a bar of chocolate from the box they had in their truck. I think that's why they look angrily at my uncle everytime. Maybe because they know he doesn't punish me for stealing the chocoalte.
I'm walking, I don't want to run because I'm afraid they will use those guns. Right there, they don't have them out now. Except that one, he has it strapped around his shoulder. I'm afraid of that one, I'm now across the truck. I look back and the guy with the gun on his shoulder is looking at me. I'm waving to him but he doesn't do anything. Maybe he's just making sure I don't get the chocolate bar out of my pocket now. Maybe he knows I stole it and that's why he has the gun, and why they were laughing, and why that big guy said bo.