retty Shekure’s husband； the one who never

returned from the war—if you ask me； he’s long since had his hide pierced。

Well　you　see；　that　never…to…return　soldier…husband　also　has　an　eager；　lovesick

brother by the name of Hasan。 So imagine my surprise when I saw that

Shekure’s　letter　wasn’t　meant　for　Hasan；　but　for　someone　else。　What　did　the

letter say？ Esther was mad with curiosity； and in the end； I did succeed in

reading　it。

But　alas；　we　don’t　know　each　other　that　well；　do　we？　To　be　honest；　I　was

overe　with　embarrassment　and　worry。　How　I　read　the　letter　you’ll　never

know。 Maybe you’ll shame and belittle me for my meddling—as if you

yourselves　aren’t　as　nosy　as　barbers。　I’ll　just　relate　to　you　what　I　learned　from

reading　the　letter。　This　is　what　sweet　Shekure　had　written：

41

Black　Effendi；　you’re　a　visitor　to　my　house　thanks　to　your　close　relations　with

my　father。　But　don’t　expect　a　nod　from　me。　Much　has　happened　since　you　left。　I

was　wed；　and　have　two　strong　and　spirited　sons。　One　of　them　is　Orhan；　he’s　the

one　whom　you　saw　just　now　e　to　the　workshop。　While　I’ve　been　awating　the

return　of　my　husband　these　four　years；　little　else　has　entered　my　thoughts。　I　might

feel　lonely；　hopeless　and　weak　living　with　my　two　children　and　an　elderly　father。　I

miss　the　strength　and　protection　of　a　man；　but　let　no　one　assume　he　might　take

advantage　of　my　situation。　Therefore；　it　would　please　me　if　you　ceased　calling　on

us。 You did embarrass me once before； and afterward； I had to endure much

suffering　to　regain　my　honor　in　my　father’s　eyes！　Along　with　this　letter；　I’