ress and

spread　out　the　sheets　and　quilts；　she　was　going　on　as　if　every　object　she　held

was　a　marvel　unique　to　the　world；　and　muttering　about　how　sleeping　here　in　a

warm　room　between　clean　sheets　and　under　warm　down　quilts　would　be　like

spending　the　night　in　a　sultan’s　palace。

“Hayriye；　tell　us　a　story；”　said　Orhan　as　he　sat　on　his　chamber　pot。

“Once upon a time there was a blue man；” said Hayriye； “and his closest

panion　was　a　jinn。”

“Why　was　the　man　blue？”　said　Orhan。

“For goodness sake； Hayriye；” I said。 “Tonight at least don’t tell a story

about　jinns　and　ghosts。”

“Why shouldn’t she？” said Shevket。 “Mother； after we fall asleep do you

leave　the　bed　and　go　to　be　with　Grandfather？”

“Your　grandfather；　Allah　protect　him；　is　gravely　ill；”　I　said。　“Of　course　I　go　to

his　bedside　at　night　to　look　after　him。　Then；　I　return　to　our　bed；　don’t　I？”

“Have　Hayriye　look　after　Grandfather；”　said　Shevket。　“Doesn’t　Hayriye　look

after　my　grandfather　at　night　anyway？”

“Are　you　finished？”　Hayriye　asked　of　Orhan。　As　she　wiped　Orhan’s　behind

with　a　wet　rag；　his　face　was　overe　with　a　sweet　lethargy。　She　glanced　into

the　pot　and　wrinkled　up　her　face；　not　due　to　the　smell；　but　as　if　what　she　saw

wasn’t　sufficient。

“Hayriye；”　I　said。　“Empty　the　chamber　pot　and　bring　it　back。　I　don’t　want

Shevket　to　leave　the　room　in　the　middle　of　the　night。”

“Why　shouldn’t　I　leave　the　room？”　asked　Shevket。　“Why　shouldn’t　Hayriye

tell　us　a　story　about　jinns　and　fairies？”

227

“Because　there　are　jinns　in　the　house；　you　idiot；”　Orhan　said；　not　so　much

out of fear； but with the dumb opt