«No hard feelings,» he smiled.
High time I went home. It was already very late. Our conversation took us two hours! Quite a lot of time.
«So,» I said, «see you tomorrow! Mum’s waiting for me!»
«See you!» he smiled. «Good night, my dear!»
But he didn’t go at once. I stood up and was about to leave. But suddenly, he came up to me, took my arm and drew me close to himself. And then… then, he kissed me!
He had been kissing me for about one minute. It was the first kiss in my life. I wouldn’t forget it. Yes, I’d never ever forget it.
It seemed like I was going to have a sleepless night again, thinking about what’d just happened.
His lips were warm enough.
When he let me out, he said:
«I’m the king, and you’re my queen!»
What nice words!
«So, Janet, I must go now. My…» there, he stuttered, and then said, «my family’s waiting for me too. You know, my mother and my father. They both need care.»
«I understand you very well, Mohammed. So, good night!»
When I got up to my room, Mum said:
«Janet, what’s up with you? You look like having drunk some bad stuff in the bar!»
«No, Ma, just being exhausted.»
«I didn’t know one can be exhausted while on holiday!» she answered.
«Yes, they can,» I replied.
«Okay. I tired too. Good night, Janet! And don’t forget to lock the toilet door when you’re finished. You can’t sleep very well with that vent making noise!»
«Sure, Ma.»
When Mum fell asleep, I began thinking again.
First of all, why did he kiss me? Second, why didn’t he care about Mum’s being against our meetings? Well, maybe he just thought when, for example, we married one another, he wouldn’t see her? Maybe. Sometimes, they live away from parents as well.
And third. I absolutely had to buy the tickets to Morocco to come to him myself. No other way.
I needed to earn money somehow. Somewhere.
Oh, how I want to live and be served like a real king! I want to visit someone and have a hundred cakes and a thousand cups of tea! By, the way, it’s not food that matters, it’s the hosts’ warmth that has a real meaning.
I often wonder why only famous people – such as actors or singers – are welcomed heartily and treated like that. I wish I were one of them. But no! I must study – and now work too, for me to get here every weekend! Study, and study, and study. Work, and work, and work. What’s it all for..? So unfair it is! Those actors haven’t got any education, but still, they’re so rich and prosperous! They’re respected. And, of course, they’ll laugh me off if they just see me!
Well, I don’t understand one thing. It seems like I must even work for them. Work and live, live and work. How crazy!
10.
1 August 1972
Agadir, Morocco
My God! I had only a week left to stay here! It was awful! I wouldn’t see Mohammed any more after I left Agadir!
Stop, stop! No panic! I was going to find a way to earn money to come here again anyway!
Mum got tanned very well. She was sunbathing by the pool in the afternoon, when I was with her, and in the evening on the beach, when I was home (getting ready for meeting Mohammed in the hall).
This time, I put on another T-shirt. It suited me too. A nice one. I thought we were going to have a beautiful date.
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».
Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.
Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.