Felâtun Bey and Râkim Efendi

by Ahmet Mithat Efendi

  RKIM (gratefully): We’d be honored.

  BRUNETTE LADY: This is my offer! Take it or leave it.

  This brunette lady’s name was Josephine. Madame Josephine’s promise made not only Râkım, but also everyone assembled there, happy.

  JOSEPHINE: But look, there is one condition. I want an excellent piano. I won’t have my fingers touch any old average piano. You should be prepared to sacrifice at least eight hundred francs to buy a good one.

  EVERYBODY: Of course!

  RKIM: I wouldn’t want your fingers to touch any average piano either. However, I don’t know how to choose a quality piano. Tell me which one you like, and I’ll go and get it immediately.

  JOSEPHINE: We’ll go and choose one together.

  Râkım was grateful for Josephine’s kindness. Although Josephine explained that she was doing this more for Janan’s sake than Râkım’s, we know the real story. The female slaves at —— Bey’s house couldn’t learn anything because they were so frivolous. Janan, on the other hand, picked things up quickly. Josephine could use this to her advantage in the future. If —— Bey brought a suit against her for not being able to teach, she could say, “I gave this poor girl the same lessons. She learned very well but these girls didn’t because they didn’t practice.” That’s really why she agreed to help Râkım. But we digress. The point is that Râkım needed a lady instructor and found a really good one. What’s more, she was willing to teach for free.

  After leaving Mathieu’s house, they went into a store in Kulekapı that sold musical instruments. There, Josephine picked out an excellent piano and Râkım bought it for seven hundred francs. Râkım paid four hundred in cash, and, upon Josephine’s recommendation, requested a one-month extension for the rest. He had a porter carry the piano to his house.

  Imagine Janan’s delight! She almost went out of her mind! In the other room, she hugged and kissed her nanny! Râkım was touched by this scene. My, what an emotional man, this Râkım! His eyes filled with tears upon seeing Janan so happy. He sincerely expressed his gratitude towards the merciful God for granting her such pleasure.

  Their house had three bedrooms, which they divided amongst themselves, and they furnished the living room to create some space for hosting guests. Since we’ve started talking about their house, come, let’s cast glance at the inside:

  The little house had only two stories. On the ground floor there was a kitchen, a pantry, and a woodshed; climbing upstairs one would reach a foyer and face a glass door that led onto the living room. To the right of the living room, facing the street, were two bedrooms, and across from the glass door was the third bedroom, and to its left, a bathroom. In the past, all of the rooms opened directly onto the living room, but with the renovations, Râkım had a wall of wood slats and plaster built to a create an L-shaped, one-meter-wide corridor to separate the bedrooms from the living room. This way all the rooms opened onto the corridor, which then connected onto the living room from a door on the right. The left side of the living room had three windows, and the one in the middle was sort of like what we call a French window, which resembled a glass door and faced the door giving onto the corridor on the right side of the living room. These windows opened to an approximately 230 square meter little garden, which was higher than the street, and one could easily go from the French window three steps down into this garden.

  Now you understand the shape and division of the house! Paint the inside nicely, cover the walls with paper, put some nice rugs on the floor, place a small couch in the living room, add a mirror and a sideboard, and hang a fine painting on either side of the mirror. There, now you’ve formed an image of Râkım’s living room in your mind. How nice this little living room will look with a piano across from the stairway entrance!

  Râkım’s room was the first of the two rooms on the right side. As you enter his room, you face the windows. On the right was his library. On the left was the bed. On both sides, there was also a cupboard containing antiques and odds and ends.

  The room next to his was allocated to Janan. Actually, Râkım hadn’t wanted to be her next-door neighbor but his nanny preferred the third room with a built-in wardrobe, so it became Janan’s. As you enter the room, you see a bedstead on the left, and on the right a small dresser with a nice mirror and two vases, and a dresser set near the door. In front of the windows was a little table with some sewing accessories.

  Let us also remind you that Râkım carried out his morning preparations in Janan’s room because the only washbasin in the house was located there.

  Now, about his nanny’s room, which was located on the other side of the corridor, across from the stairway. Fedayi’s room had no windows and was poorly lit from a window down the corridor facing the garden. It resembled those old-fashioned rooms with built-in wardrobes, and since the nanny didn’t sleep on a bedstead, she would keep her alaturka bedding set in the built-in wardrobe. This room was also used as a general storage space. Both Râkım and Janan’s clothing chests were stored in the lower sections of the built-in wardrobes.

  Josephine arranged her lessons to take place on Thursdays. Râkım Efendi was home when she arrived the first Thursday afternoon. As soon as Janan saw her teacher at the door, she hugged her and expressed her pleasure in half-Circassian, half-Turkish. Josephine didn’t understand a word of Turkish, so she hugged Janan back and told Râkım, “Monsieur Râkım! I don’t understand this girl’s language! But her eyes, stance and attitude all tell me what she’s trying to say.” Râkım felt content and grateful for Josephine’s fondness toward Janan, and urged Josephine to consider this poor little girl more of a sister than a student.

  Josephine found Râkım’s living room pleasing. She particularly enjoyed looking at the trim and flourishing little garden from the living room window:

  JOSEPHINE: Monsieur Râkım! I really like your house. You have such good taste! Honestly, your living room is cute and cozy. I’d like to see the other rooms as well.

  RKIM: Madame, the rest of the house is just bedrooms.

  JOSEPHINE: Don’t be such a child! Aren’t we going to be friends? Bedrooms or not, I still want to see them. You unmarried men all think this way, don’t you!

  Following this conversation, Râkım showed Madame Josephine the bedrooms. We don’t have to explain Janan’s natural talents at length, do we? Josephine found the rooms spotlessly clean. Everything was very orderly and in its place. She was so delighted that she repeatedly exclaimed: “How blissful to possess such a house and such a slave.” Râkım introduced her to Fedayi, who, he explained, was like a second mother to him. Josephine overwhelmed her with compliments.

  It had been three months since Janan first came to Râkım Efendi’s house and one month since Josephine has last seen Janan. During this time, Janan’s education and care continued; her face took on new color and liveliness, and she grew increasingly beautiful. After finishing the lesson with Janan in half an hour, Josephine felt it necessary to have the following conversation with Râkım:

  JOSEPHINE: Come on now, Monsieur Râkım! Your slave is very pretty, very smart, and very perceptive!

  RKIM: Give her some time and she will open up even more, Madame.

  JOSEPHINE: That’s not what I am trying to say. You are young, and so is she! Two young people in one place! Not bad, eh?

  RKIM: No, there you have the wrong idea.

  JOSEPHINE: Why? As if it’s something inappropriate?

  RKIM: How could there be anything inappropriate? She’s my private slave.

  JOSEPHINE: Meaning what?

  RKIM: But . . . I’ll be much happier if I consider her like a sister.

  JOSEPHINE: Wait a minute. Is she supposed to like you as a brother?

  RKIM: If I treat her only with brotherly affection, how else could she feel? Surely she’ll like me as a brother.

  JOSEPHINE: You’re just saying that for now, my dear. Let’s wait and see, let’s give it some time. Do you really think you are an angel? Have you sworn not to mak
e the most of having a beautiful girl?

  RKIM: No! I’d give a lot for such an opportunity but I wouldn’t want to have that relationship with Janan.

  JOSEPHINE: Oh well, whatever. Congratulations. That’s all I’ll say.

  As Josephine said these last words, the clock indicated late afternoon, so she said goodbye to Râkım, Janan, and Fedayi, and took her leave.

  Do you still remember why Janan was purchased in the first place? She was supposedly bought to help Fedayi, right? Poor Fedayi still found herself confined to the kitchen. Janan’s assistance was limited to cleaning the house and doing the laundry once a week. She spent the rest of her time studying and sewing. Especially after starting the piano lessons, she didn’t have any free time. When she was bored with studying, she would play the piano; when she was bored with the piano, she would start sewing, and loyal Fedayi was always gratified whenever she saw the little girl amusing herself.

  Are you surprised that Fedayi didn’t feel jealous of this girl? You shouldn’t be! For she’d certainly put Janan in Râkım’s arms if she had the chance. She’d sigh thinking, “Isn’t my master an angel? He has a fairy in front of him and the idea of taking her doesn’t even cross his mind.” Whenever Fedayi came across a beautiful fabric, she would get Râkım to purchase it by saying, “Janan is young, she should dress up and look neat in your presence.” She would then take it right away to a seamstress, implore her to cut it according to the latest fashion, whereupon she’d give it to Janan to sew into a dress for herself. After a while Janan didn’t need anyone to cut the cloth for her! She would take a dress that fit her well, unstitch it to use as a template for the uncut cloth, and then sew and resew both dresses. The poor girl was already beautiful and enjoyed a fine figure, so whatever she wore fit her like a glove.

  If there are any readers who think that Râkım doesn’t deserve so many good things, we would like to remind them that they are being unfair. What merit would there be in education and knowledge if a man doesn’t at least attain these rewards after performing eye-straining work day and night for seven or eight years and endeavoring to refine himself?

  In terms of their education, the English girls were progressing as quickly as Janan. The girls would ask their teacher for forty to fifty new words every week, record them in their notebooks, and memorize them; they even started speaking Turkish bit by bit. Their reading and writing skills showed particular improvement; they learned more in this short period than others could have in an entire year.

  Due to the fondness and friendship this family showed him, Râkım started staying at their household for dinner. One Sunday, they were pleased to have Râkım accompany them to Kağıthane. In fact, there’s more to come regarding their intimacy and friendship. Just like Râkım, Mister Ziklas also had a passion for the sea. He bought a nice, long skiff and entrusted it to Râkım’s care in the Salıpazarı port. On certain Sundays Râkım would bring the boat to the harbor at Tophane, meet the English family there, and set sail for Kadıköy and the Princes’ Islands. However, this boat cruise deserves further description, so let us indulge in a couple more lines.

  It was customary for Jan and Margaret to put on their sailor outfits whenever they went on a boat ride. As part of their outfits, they had sailors’ caps encircled by blue ribbons and another blue ribbon that tied under their chins. Their hair was brushed tightly into ponytails and fell over onto their shoulders. They also sported white, European shirts with blue sleeves and blue collars that had a little white anchor on them. On top of the shirts were sleeveless, short raincoats that they used only as necessary. They wore knee-length white skirts with suspenders made from the same blue ribbon, white socks that reached up to their thighs, and blue boots on their feet. They tied blue woolen sashes around their waists. And finally blue taffeta neckerchiefs completed their costumes.

  When these two sailors sat on the rowing benches, Mr. Ziklas took the helm and Râkım sat across from Mrs. Ziklas. The two young girls furled and unfurled the sails. They always enjoyed a variety of snacks and the finest English beer. Râkım never tired of these pleasurable outings. In bad weather, when it became necessary to row, Mrs. Ziklas would take the helm, Margaret would sit on the forward bench, Râkım on the second, the older sister on the third, and their father on the backbench. As you know, while rowing, the English bend and pull their full weight on the oars until they are leaning back and a little to the side of the person sitting behind them. Râkım found himself resting against the elder sister, and the younger sister resting against him. This gave Râkım more delight than anything else. Yet, do you suppose he gave their parents any cause for concern?

  Well! So . . . Râkım had such urges too, eh!

  Why shouldn’t he? Did we introduce Râkım to you as someone who doesn’t understand appetites, masculinity, and femininity? Besides, the pleasure he felt was totally emotional and conscientious, and since he never thought of turning these desires into reality, he engendered no mistrust.

  Talking about a boat trip, we just remembered the one Felâtun Bey took with the Ziklas family. It was a particularly windy day and they faced some sizeable waves off the coast of the Princes’ Islands. As they started rocking up and down, the English took pleasure from watching the sea raise the boat and knock it down like a watermelon, whereas Felâtun Bey began shaking in his shoes and shouting, “Mummy! Mummy!” every time they rocked up and down. The English didn’t understand anything he said but understood how scared and terrified he must have been from his appearance and have laughed about it a few times since then. They even told Râkım about it.

  Have we started talking about Felâtun Bey again?

  If so, there are a few other things we’d like to tell you about, so let’s get to them.

  Chapter 4

  AS WINTER APPROACHED and the days grew shorter, Râkım Efendi moved the lessons and started teaching the English girls for an hour and a half in the evening right after dinner. Just like the English, Râkım was very punctual and always arrived a couple minutes before the lesson to ensure that he began on time. Both the daughters and their parents urged him many times to come an hour or so earlier in order to join them for dinner. One evening Râkım felt obliged to accept this offer and left home in time to join them for dinner at their house in Beyoğlu.

  That evening, on his way from Tophane to Taksim by way of Boğazkesen Street in Firuzağa, he ran into Felâtun Bey, who was storming into a boza shop smeared below his waist with something that looked like a creamy drink . . . perhaps boza or sahleb? Seeing him in this state, Râkım inquired:

  RKIM: Oh, dear Sir! What happened? I’d ask if you spilled some boza on your clothes, but you are just entering the boza shop!

  FELTUN: Don’t even ask! I was passing by the food shop over there. Some idiot had placed a huge plate of fish with mayonnaise sauce on the windowsill. Somehow I stumbled and when I tried to grab the windowsill, I managed to pull the whole plate down onto myself.

  RKIM: Gosh! Thank God you didn’t get cut!

  FELTUN: Exactly! What brings you to Beyoğlu tonight?

  RKIM: I am expected at Mr. Ziklas’s house.

  FELTUN: God bless you, brother, God bless you! You’ve really developed an intimacy with them.

  RKIM: What can I do? One has to work!

  FELTUN (mockingly): Right, one has to work! I am talking about the mademoiselles. They talk about you all the time! You have a knack for getting the ladies’ attention. How do you do it for God’s sake? Whatever I do, I can’t curry favor with them! That’s just the way it is.

  RKIM: In that case let me give you some advice.

  FELTUN: If you’d be so kind . . .

  RKIM: Ladies like me because I never try to win their sympathy. If you do the same, you should be able to have more success.

  FELTUN: You are just saying that, do you think you can fool me? Don’t I know that you play your cards close to your chest?

  RKIM: I don’t know what you mean. Do me a favor and explain exactly
how I do that.

  FELTUN: Whatever! We’ll see each other another time. With your permission, I’ll go and get myself cleaned up. I walked here in this state.

  Râkım also needed to hurry as he was expected to be at the English household in half an hour, so they stopped talking and went their separate ways. However, Râkım still couldn’t make sense of how Felâtun managed to get the sauce all over himself at the food shop. He arrived at the English household at last and found the family waiting for him to start dinner, so quickly seated himself at the table. As soon as they finished the soup course, Mr. Ziklas ordered the cook, who was assisting the servant girl at the dinner service, to bring over the mayonnaise sauce and said, “Oh! Today our servant bought a Turkish trout, and I very much like fish dressed with mayonnaise sauce, so I ordered the cook to prepare it that way. You like it too Râkım Efendi, don’t you?”

  The servant girl hesitated. When Mr. Ziklas repeated his order, her face froze. When Mr. Ziklas insisted again, the panic on her face intensified, and, embarrassed, she stutteringly informed them that the sauce had spilled. Mr. Ziklas was furious! Râkım was surprised! Mr. Ziklas asked, “My dear, if it was spilled, shouldn’t you have prepared a new one?” The cook felt even more embarrassed and informed him that the mayonnaise had just been spilled, leaving no time to go buy fresh eggs and lemon for a new batch.

  MR. ZIKLAS: Thank goodness Felâtun Bey didn’t come tonight! He is not like Râkım Efendi. We consider him a guest, and we would have been so embarrassed!

  RKIM (curiously): Oh! Was Felâtun Bey also supposed to be coming?

  MR. ZIKLAS: Yes! I saw him today. I asked him to come. He promised saying, “I’ll certainly try my best.” It got dark, night came and he still hadn’t arrived, so we proceeded to sit down to dinner.

  RKIM (surprised and with a smile): Since he hasn’t shown up yet, it probably means that he’s not coming.