Almost a Turkish Soap Opera

by Anne-Rae Vasquez

  The judge removes his glasses and looks at Adel up and down. Finally, he clears his throat. “Well, you really do not look like you belong here. I think the best option for you is to return to Turkey.”

  Adel bites his lip and looks at the lawyer who whispers to him. “This is the best thing for you to do. Otherwise you could be waiting here for years with the same conclusion in the end.”

  Adel cannot see himself losing years of his life in this hell hole. Moe had given him the best advice.

  He tells the judge, “Please Your Honour. Send me home as soon as possible.”

  The judge nods his head and hits the gavel on the stone. “You will be deported to Turkey tomorrow. And my advice is to make sure that if you decide to return to the United States, you better have your paperwork in order. The next time will not be so easy.”

   

  The next day Adel walks through the LAX airport. The immigration officers have him handcuffed and dragged like a sheep to the slaughter house. Having been stationed at the LAX airport for the past six months, he had come to know a lot of airport staff. Some of them he even called his friends. But today he had no friends. The airport personnel, other shuttle drivers and the travelers stare at him as if he were a criminal. This does not crush Adel’s will. He walks with his head held high. He had done nothing wrong. He was only trying to survive.

  When they come closer to the gate, a young family who is standing at the counter let Adel and the immigration officer step ahead of them in the line-up. The father grabs his children close to him. His wife, in a low voice, tells him to move back to their seats.

  Adel stares at the airplanes outside the window. The immigration officer chats with the pretty blonde stewardess at the counter. When the paperwork is taken care of, both officers escort him onto the plane. On the plane, Officer Estrada leads him to his seat. Everyone on the plane stares at him. When he is seated, the immigration officer removes the handcuffs.

  He says, “Now you be a good Ahab and don’t cause me any grief.”

  Adel turns and looks out the window. He pictures Kamil when they first flew to the USA. Kamil could not contain his excitement. He loved having the beautiful stewardesses waiting on him. He was constantly pressing the call button to ask them to bring him more bags of nuts or cans of cola. No matter how annoying he was becoming, the stewardesses always came with a pleasant smile on their face. He used the opportunity to charm them with jokes when they came by. By the end of the trip, at least two of them had scribbled their phone numbers on a cocktail napkin. Kamil kept the napkin as a souvenir.

  Today the flight is nothing like the first time. He sits in silence for most of the flight. His thoughts race as he tries to think of the events that had happened in the last year. Halfway through the flight, when the officer finally falls asleep, Adel pulls out the Polaroid picture of himself and Nora from his wallet. In the picture, his arm is draped around Nora’s shoulder. Her face is beaming, her smile lighting up the picture. He can smell her perfume as he closes his eyes. He can hear her sweet voice in his ear. These are the thoughts that finally help Adel fall into a deep sleep.

  After many hours in the air, the plane lands in Istanbul, Turkey. The immigration officer snaps the handcuffs back on him as they wait for everyone to leave the plane. He feels numb and cannot wait to go home and have a bath.

  When they walk off the airplane, there is a tall, large Turkish immigration officer with a bushy moustache waiting for them at the bottom of the stairs. The shorter officer marches up to the Turkish officer. He turns to Adel and snaps, “Stay right there, Ahab.”

  The Turkish immigration officer tells the American officer to hand over Adel’s passport. The officer hesitates before giving the passport to him.

  The Turkish officer looks at the passport. “Remove his handcuffs!” After which, he hands Adel his passport, shakes his hand and says in English so that the American immigration officer can hear, “Welcome back home, son.” Adel takes his passport and puts it in his pocket. He thanks the Turkish officer in Turkish and turns and walks onto the tarmac. He is back on his Turkish soil—his homeland. His thoughts and emotions are racing in his mind. As he walks by the American immigration officer, the only thought ringing in his head is—How am I going to get back to Los Angeles?

  Chapter 12

  Homeward bound

  Adel is back home in Istanbul. His mother and brothers and sisters are bustling around very happy to have him home. In the background, he can hear the TV set playing a Turkish soap opera. Everything here seems to have stood still in time. His head is spinning. His mother tells him about how his father had not been paid for the past month. Many people at his job have been laid off. She and her sisters are trying to prepare healthy meals for the family but they are running low on the basic staple foods. She says even his father has not smoked as much as he used to. He gathers the cigarette butts and puffs on them when he craves to smoke more.

  Later, she prepares for him a bowl of lentil soup and he eats it like a man who has been starved for days. He doesn’t feel like socializing with his family right now. He decides to get cleaned up. He goes into the bathroom to have a shower. He stares at himself in the mirror. He has not shaven in days and his face is covered with a light beard. His eyes are red and his hair is long and greasy. He washes his face and then starts to shave. He can hear his brothers and sisters whispering outside the door.

  Zenaib, his youngest sister, is now speaking in sentences. She knocks on the door and cries out, “Adel, big brother. Come carry me. I miss you!”

  He misses her too, he tells her through the door. He smiles as he shaves off the last bit of hair on his chin. He goes into the shower stall and takes a long hot shower. The water soothes his sore muscles and relaxes his thoughts. What is he going to say to his father when he gets home? Probably nothing. What is there to say?

  Late in the afternoon, his father comes home from work dressed in the same clothes he wore the day Adel left for America. His father is shocked to see him. Apparently his mother wanted it to be a surprise. Thanks, Ma. They both stare at each other for some time before Adel’s father walks by him to his room. Adel’s mother comes around and gives Adel a reassuring pat on the shoulder. It has only been ten hours since he arrived from the airport and already he feels suffocated.

  He gets up and brings the phone to his old room. In his room, Adel is holding his address book. He dials Kamil’s phone number in Canada. A woman answers the phone in English.

  Adel says, “Hello, please I want to speak to Kamil.” He hears the woman yell, “Kamil! Phone call for you!” There is some rustling and hushed conversation between Kamil and his wife on the phone. Adel waits and then he hears Kamil’s familiar voice.

  “Hello?”

  “Kamil, it’s me.”

  Kamil’s voice lightens up. “Adel! How are you? How is LA?”

  Adel pauses. “I am home in Istanbul.”

  Kamil sounds puzzled. “Visiting the family?”

  Adel sighs. “No, I was arrested last month and was in the detention for the past thirty days. Finally I got to see the judge who told me that there was no reason for me to be there if I did not want to apply for asylum. I was deported yesterday.”

  Kamil is silent for a few seconds. “Wow, why would you be arrested? How would anyone know you are in the US illegally?”

  Adel nods his head slowly. “Yes, I have been thinking this for the past few weeks. The only ones who know is you and Mirwan. The officers were waiting for me at the airport and they got me when I was inside my shuttle van. They knew when I would be there I think. So Kamil, I ask you… do you think Mirwan would do such a thing?”

  Kamil pauses to think and then says, “You know Adel…anything is possible. I hate to think my cousin would do this. It is a disgusting thing for him to do this to you.”

  “I want to go back,” Adel says. “My business is there. My van, my things, my money is in Mirwan’s place
.”

  Kamil is shocked. “Why risk going back? The US immigration might arrest you again and you will go to the detention. I do not think that the judge will be easier on you the second time. And if Mirwan is behind this, he might have taken all your things already.”

  Adel can’t believe what he is hearing. “He won’t know about the money I hid. And I need my van. This is not fair!”

  Kamil softens his tone. “Adel, I understand. But the risk is too high. It’s not worth it. Why not come to Canada? It is very beautiful here, the people are nicer. You can stay with my wife and me and her family, until you find a place. Come here and study English with me. The university has a great atmosphere and you can meet lots of people. At least come for vacation and decide later if you want to stay.”

  Adel thinks for a moment. “Kamil, you may have a point. Canada is not my first choice but I do need to get out of here. Can you send me some money? I will pay you back, I promise.”

  “Don’t worry about that. I will send it to you in the morning. I can’t wait to see you again, dear friend.”

  Chapter 13

  Oh Canada

  Adel arrives at the Vancouver International Airport in Canada. As he passes through customs, he sees Kamil waiting for him on the other side of the sliding doors. Adel didn’t realize how happy he would be to see his friend again. When the glass doors slide open, he and Kamil run up and give each other a big hug. Kamil’s hair is short and his face is clean shaven. He looks very well fed and most importantly he seems very happy.

  They load his bags into Kamil’s brown minivan. It is an older Toyota Sienna but in fairly good condition. Adel remembers the last time he had sat in his own shuttle van, the day the immigration officers grabbed him.

  “Nice van, dude,” Adel says as he gets into the passenger seat.

  Kamil laughs. “Thanks. It actually belongs to my father-in-law. He has a Lexus and this van. He usually drives the Lexus and let’s Ayca and me use this one.” Kamil pulls out of the parking lot.

  “That’s right. How is married life?”

  Kamil gives him a stiff smile. Ayca is a distant cousin who he had only known when he was a young boy. She had always been sweet to him as a child. She and her family immigrated to Canada when she was ten years old and he never saw her until his wedding day. He tells Adel how being married to Ayca was the best thing that happened to him. She feeds him well and takes good care of him. His father-in-law gave him a job at the family owned fast food restaurant in a busy mall in Vancouver so he is making a living. He studies English at the university during the day and works at the mall weeknights and on the weekends. Of course he has to say this. How could he tell Adel that he felt trapped and smothered by his annoying and anxious wife?

  “That’s great, brother. You deserve a good life and a good woman.” Adel pats Kamil in the stomach. “You weren’t kidding when you said she feeds you well.” They both laugh.

  Kamil drives Adel around Vancouver. “Hey, the skills you learned as a shuttle driver comes in handy. You are one of the best shuttle tour guides around…well except for me, of course,” Adel says.

  Kamil replies, “Well, I learned from the best.”

  As they drive through the city, Adel is astounded at the breathtaking scenery and most of all how clean the streets are. “You weren’t kidding when you said Vancouver is beautiful. I have never seen such a green place before with so many beautiful trees and green grass everywhere. No wonder you love it here.”

  “YOU will love it here too, my brother,” Kamil says. He was so happy to have his best friend staying with him again.

  “We will soon see.” Adel nods his head and smiles.

  Kamil’s wife’s parents live in an older style six storey apartment building in the heart of South East Vancouver.

  “This place is owned by my wife’s parents. It’s not that big but it is a home for us,” he says as they ride up the elevator. The elevator creaks as it climbs up to the third floor. The smell reminds him of wet shoes.

  When they enter the apartment, Adel is greeted with the smells of delicious food cooking on the stove. The living room is cozy with décor similar to his own home in Istanbul. He hears a familiar sound and turns to see the TV set which is playing his mother’s favourite soap opera Fatmagülün Suçu Ne (What is Fatmagul’s Fault?).

  “So you watch Turkish soap operas here in Canada?” Adel asks.

  Kamil laughs. “You must have heard of satellite TV before. Come on now.” Adel laughs too.

  All of a sudden there is some chatter coming from the hallway and they are greeted by Kamil’s wife, Ayca, a short plump dark haired woman dressed in a red long-sleeved sweater and a jean skirt that hangs just below her knees. Following behind her is Kamil’s mother-in-law who, Adel notes, is an exact older version of Ayca.

  A few minutes later, as if to make a grand entrance, Kamil’s father-in-law enters the room. He eyes Adel suspiciously. His bushy grey uni-brow hangs over his eyes so Adel is unsure if he is frowning or if his eyebrow is in need of a good trim. Dressed in a brown button sweater and faded khaki pants and old leather slippers, it was clear how unimportant Adel’s arrival was to him.

  Ayca rushes over to Adel nearly toppling Kamil over the chair. “Welcome, Kamil has told us so much about you! How long will you be staying? Are you hungry? My mother and I cooked a big meal. Please, please come, come, sit.” She pauses only to turn to Kamil—who is standing right behind her. At the top of her lungs she yells, “Kamil! Put Adel's bags behind the couch!”

  Like a dutiful husband, Kamil politely smiles and picks up Adel’s luggage and brings them behind the couch. Little does Adel know that this was where he was going to be sleeping.

  Ayca bustles them inside.

 

  Later at dinner, everyone is gathered at the dining table. Ayca and her mother have cooked a traditional meal and repeatedly remind Adel how lucky he is to be eating a home cooked meal. Adel is grateful to be welcomed to their table but he feels uncomfortable with Kamil’s father-in-law’s disapproving glare.

  Kamil’s wife is leading the conversation. “So you’re not married yet? But why not? You are not getting any younger. You’re so thin. You need a good woman to fatten your bones.”

  Kamil shakes his head. “Ayca, please stop. Adel has just arrived. You must not ask so many questions.”

  Adel smiles politely. He knows it is going to be a long night.

  Kamil’s father-in-law clears his throat. “Kamil says that you were in America before coming here to Canada. Why did you leave?”

  Kamil looks over at Adel nervously. Adel smiles and pats him on the knee. “I missed Kamil too much.”

  Kamil’s eyes widen but he turns to Ayca’s father and tries to smile.

  Ayca’s father’s face grows dark and he and his wife look at each other briefly. He shakes his head and continues. “We know your parents in Istanbul. They are very good people. We expect you to honour them even though you are here in Canada.”

  Adel replies quickly. “I always honour my parents.”

  Kamil leans over to his wife. “Ayca, why don’t you go get the sweets that you made this morning?”

  Ayca’s face lightens up. “Oh, Ma helped too. A wife who cannot cook for her husband is not a good wife.”

  Adel smirks giving Kamil a look. Kamil smiles at his wife, elbowing Adel to behave. Ayca gets up and disappears into the kitchen to get the sweets.

  Ayca’s father leans forward and says to Adel, “You are a guest in my home but we expect you to help out around here. This is NOT a hotel!” He wags his finger at him.

  Kamil and Adel look at each other. Before Adel can open his mouth to respond, Ayca returns with a big plate of baked goodies which she proudly places on the coffee table in front of them. Kamil offers a pastry first to Adel and then to his father-in-law who waves his hand impatiently to say no. Kamil takes a pastry for himself and he and Kamil take a big bite savouring the delicious
flavor. They nod appreciatively at Ayca and her parents. Ayca’s father rolls his eyes and sighs deeply.

  Chapter 14

  Not so easy

  Adel finds it difficult to cope with life only after a few weeks at Kamil’s home. The cramped size of the two bedroom apartment makes it difficult for him to find any privacy. The only moment he has for himself is when everyone goes to bed at night. That is the time when he pulls out the sofa bed in the living room and enjoys watching his favourite Turkish soap opera “Ezel”. Even with the volume up, he can hear Ayca’s father’s snores from down the hall.

  In the mornings, Kamil would get up early to attend his English classes at the university. Ayca’s father leaves with him to open his restaurant. Adel has the day to go out and look for things to do or stay at the apartment with Kamil’s wife and mother-in-law. Since staying usually meant he had to hear Ayca’s annoying yattering for the whole day, he usually made every effort to stay out of the apartment as much as he can. He tries exploring the city and uses the opportunity to find out what job opportunities are available for a man with his business skills.

  Adel first tries the airport asking about how he can start his own shuttle van business. No one at the airport seems to know what he is talking about.

  Adel finds the address of a local taxi cab company. Although he doesn’t have an appointment, he shows up and looks for the owner in person rather than phoning the office. When he arrives, he speaks to the receptionist, an older woman probably in her sixties. He charms her to find out when the owner will be in the office. She explains that he will be back after lunch and that he is more than welcome to sit in the reception area until he arrives. Adel accepts the invitation and sits down waiting. One hour passes, then another. Finally it is almost four o’clock when a tall thin dark man comes through the door. The receptionist motions to Adel with her head that the man who just walked by was in fact the owner. Adel quickly jumps up and follows him out the door.

  “Excuse me sir.”

  The owner stops and looks at Adel.

  “I’m sorry to bother you but I was wondering if I could apply for a job as a taxi cab driver? I owned and operated my own shuttle van business in Los Angeles for the past year.”