He sighs. “You do not understand. All my life, I feel helpless. My father is a good man but he is weak. His father who was head of the family died when my father was a child. His Uncle, my Grand Uncle, became head and from that day on, he treat my dad like he is nobody. To this day, my father’s inheritance has not been given to him. Grand Uncle always saying he has to wait because of one reason or another. But then my family live like very poor people while my Grand Uncle and his children and children’s children are living like kings and queens.”
She nods her head. “I see.”
He continues. “At my age being the oldest, I should have already my own land to build my house so that I can prepare for marriage. But no, my cousins all have their land and houses while my father does nothing to fight for what is rightfully ours. I see my mother working so hard to feed all eight of us while my father brings home his pay cheque is not enough for a family of three. We live in a two bedroom suite in the first floor of my Grand Uncle’s house.”
He shakes his head. Just thinking about it makes him angry. “His married daughters live on their own floors above us with my Grand Uncle and his wife on the top floor. And then there are three new houses beside us where his sons and sons of his sons live. We live with my father’s side of the family but they treat us as strangers. We do not play with them and they do not see us.”
Nora frowns. “That sounds very strange. You live all together on the same property. You would think that your family would be much closer.”
Adel shrugs. “They do not talk to my mother. My mother who is the kindest nicest woman in the world but they treat her like she is not existing.” Adel struggles to find the English words to explain. “And my father… what does he do? Absolutely nothing. Just smokes and smokes in front of the TV set watching his football and news while the world passes us by.”
She nods her head. “So are you the one who keeps the family together? You help your mom with your brothers and sisters, I am guessing…”
He nods. “Yes, and I always have part time job when I was school age and I always give my mother money to help out. Even now, I send money home to her because it is my family and I need to help them.”
Nora is amazed. “Gosh, guys here only care about themselves. I doubt if any of them would send money home to their parents. Half of them are still living at home, unemployed, lazy moochers.”
He frowns. “Moochers?”
She laughs. “Like a leech. They just keep taking and taking without giving anything in return.”
He nods. “Ahhh… I see.” He wonders why he has told this perfect stranger so much about his life. He has never lowered his guard to anyone much less someone he had just known for a few hours. He trusted her and she seemed honestly interested in learning more about him. They continue talking as the planes take off and land in the distance. Overall, it has been an interesting day.
Later in the evening, Adel drives Nora to her father’s home. He helps her out of the van and brings her bags to the door.
“Well, good night and thank you.” She smiles. She stretches out her hand to him.
He grasps her hand with both of his. “Can we do this again sometime? I really enjoyed this evening.”
She nods her head, smiling. “Yes, I would love that.” She pulls out a pen and a scrap piece of paper from her purse and writes down her phone and puts it in his pocket. Moved by the moment, he touches her cheek and they kiss… a sweet long kiss. Her heart is beating hard and she wonders if he can hear it. All he is thinking is how velvety her lips feel against his.
After what seems an eternity, they finally pull away, smiling dreamily at each other. She puts her keys in the door. Before opening the door, she turns back to him.
Adel stares, her silhouette under the porch light is surreal.
She waves and blows him a kiss.
He smiles and waves back at her. Then he turns and gets back into the van. He puts the keys into the ignition. Before he starts the engine, he pulls out the photo from his pocket and looks at it. Smiling back at him is the group of Japanese tourists. He focuses his attention on the image of himself with his arm wrapped around Nora. He folds the picture so that only he and Nora are visible. He slips the photo into his wallet.
The radio crackles with the dispatcher’s voice filling the van. He needs to get back to work. He quickly puts the photo back into his pocket, turns the engine on and drives away.
Chapter 7
Mirwan
Mirwan and Adel are getting ready to leave for work. Adel is whistling and humming. Mirwan glares at him. How can this FOB, this fresh off the boat, bum come here with absolutely nothing and then be able to make his business a success in only a few months?
As for himself, just immigrating to America from Istanbul was a feat. He, like most of his family, was employed by Adel’s Grand Uncle. Although technically, Adel’s Grand Uncle wasn’t related to Mirwan, he and everyone he knew also addressed him as Grand Uncle out of respect. He was a rich and powerful man and was known in their hometown as the Izmir Grand Uncle (which is almost like the Sicilian Godfather).
During his teens, Mirwan had the honour of being the Grand Uncle’s errand boy. Unknown to his family though, he was really employed to do the Grand Uncle’s dirty work.
In his early twenties, when he decided to move to Los Angeles, the Grand Uncle helped finance the trip and his accommodations. But like most things, nothing comes for free. The Grand Uncle made sure that he knew that he still was the boss. He struggled to establish his shuttle business for many years. The Grand Uncle helped him financially by assigning him to do special “jobs” in America for him.
His latest assignment is to take care of Adel and make sure to report everything about him back to Istanbul. So now one of his top priorities is babysitting Adel, the Grand Uncle’s golden boy. If it were up to him, he would have left Adel on the street.
Adel stands in front of the mirror in the living room to comb his hair. He straightens his tie and his shirt. The sight of him makes Mirwan’s eyes burn. Who does he think he is? Adel pulls out some money from his wallet and counts it in front of him, still humming to himself. Kamil patiently waits for Adel on the couch.
Mirwan says in a sarcastic tone, “Better not spend it all in one place, Adel. You never know when your luck might run out.”
Although Adel can’t stand Mirwan, he is in too good of a mood to let him get under his skin. “I think you deserve a new shirt. You have been wearing the same three shirts since we come here to LA.” He hands Mirwan a twenty dollar bill.
Mirwan makes a face. “You came here with nothing and now you think you are somebody.”
Adel flashes him a disarming smile. “That’s where you’re wrong, my friend. I was somebody before I came here.” He turns to the mirror again and runs his fingers through his hair one last time.
Mirwan sneers in disgust, turns around and walks out of the apartment, slamming the door behind him.
Adel shakes his head and gives Kamil a look. He really needs to discuss with him about finding a new place to move into. But for now, he had another goal. He counts out one thousand US dollars.
Adel brags, “Don’t worry Kamil. I can make this thousand dollars easy in one day of work.”
Kamil is not convinced. “Are you sure, Adel? Shouldn’t we save this in case we need it in the future?”
Adel is not concerned. “Let’s enjoy what our hard work has brought us. Come on, I know you were looking at the D&G sunglasses when we were at Beverly Hills Shopping mall.”
Kamil shakes his head but pleased that Adel remembered. “No, no... that is much too expensive. They cost four hundred dollars. You can’t possibly spend that kind of money for sunglasses.”
Adel laughs. “Come on, Kamil... You worry too much. But I understand. I know you won’t sleep at night if you owned sunglasses that cost more than your car back home. We’ll get you ones that are really good knock-offs.” Adel’s
excitement has now rubbed off on Kamil. He grabs his jacket. “Come on, let’s go.”
At the Beverly Hills shopping mall, Adel and Kamil are here not to window shop but with a mission to spend some big bucks. The first stop is the Gucci store. Ten minutes later, Adel is sporting a new Gucci watch on his wrist. Other shoppers are smiling at him, his happiness so infectious.
Adel proudly shows off his new watch to Kamil.
“Come on, Kamil. Ask me what time is it.”
Kamil cannot stop himself from saying, “Three hundred dollars for a watch? That could feed a whole village for a month in Istanbul. Really, it could.”
Adel laughs and punches him on the arm. He runs ahead towards another store.
When Kamil catches up to him, he sees Adel trying on a suit that reminds him of what he sees pimps in Hollywood wear. Adel seems pleased at what he sees as he admires himself in the mirror. Kamil peeks at the price tag. Three hundred dollars. Now why would that shock him?
Dressed in his new pimp suit, Adel walks through the mall. He hears 50 Cent’s P.I.M.P rap song in his head as he struts past each store. His eyes light up when he sees something in the display window of a men’s shoe store. He walks inside and beelines straight to the counter. A short soft-spoken shoe salesman comes out to greet him. He eyes Adel up and down and compliments him on his attire.
Adel smiles broadly. “Bring me the cowboy boots that I see in your display window in size European 43, young man.” The salesman nods. He hurries to the back of the store to find the boots.
Meanwhile, Kamil wanders around looking at the different styles of shoes. He hears the salesman return. He sees him holding shiny brown snakeskin cowboy boots. Oh my goodness!
“Just like Clint Eastwood.” Adel says to Kamil.
Kamil looks at the price on the box. “But they cost two hundred fifty dollars!”
“Well, it is a good deal. This gentleman here says it is made of real African snake skin.” The salesman smiles shyly. Kamil shakes his head watching Adel as he struts around him in his new cowboy boots.
Chapter 8
All going so well
Adel sits in his shuttle van admiring his new dark tan brief case. He spins the gold combination lock and caresses the leather. Adel remembers when he was six years old. He would sit by the stairs outside his home watching as his Grand Uncle came home from work carrying a briefcase just like the one he now owned. Adel used to gaze longingly at the briefcase wondering what important papers were inside. A man with a briefcase was a man who was worth something.
He suddenly remembered standing in the same spot by the stairs and seeing his father returning home from work. A truck would pull up outside with all the workers piled in the back. His father would wave good-bye to his coworkers and then come up to the house. He would be filthy from working on a construction job site all day. In his hand he would carry a worn cloth bag used to carry his lunch. Adel remembers feeling embarrassed as he watched his father remove his shoes and dust his feet in the doorway of their home. How can he ever be proud of his father? What has he accomplished? He vowed to himself that he will never be like his father. He will achieve more than what his status in life has to offer him.
In the apartment, Adel and Kamil are getting ready for work. Adel reaches for his brief case and he notices that it is unlocked. Mirwan’s face comes into his mind and he pictures him sifting through his papers. His face hardens. “Mirwan, that dog!”
Kamil looks up. “What?”
Adel turns around. “Kamil, we have to find our own place.” His face is red with anger.
Kamil takes a deep breath. He has been dreading having to tell his good friend of his own news. “No, I want to tell you before but...” He pauses.
Adel interrupts. “But what?”
Kamil continues. “I am going to Canada at the end of the month.”
Adel is stunned. “What? Why Kamil? We are doing so well here.”
Kamil can’t believe Adel’s ignorance. He shakes his head. “No, you are doing well. I am not. I hate driving the van. This life is not for me.” He gathers his keys and wallet from his drawer. “I have family in Vancouver, Canada. They have a friend who has a daughter who they want to arrange for us to be married.” He stops to look at Adel who is speechless. “I do not see a future here.”
Adel slowly nods his head as the information sinks in. “It’s okay, Kamil. I understand. You’re my best friend. I just can’t believe you are leaving.” He comes over to Kamil. “You are like a brother to me. If you are happy, then that is all that matters.” He gives him a hug.
Kamil’s eyes lighten up. “You can come with me. We can take the English program at the university together. I really think there is no future here in LA for me and for you.”
Adel shakes his head. “No, I will stay. I have my business now and I cannot just leave it to go to Canada.”
Kamil's smile leaves his face. “I know you will say this. If you change your mind later, my home is your home.” They have always done things together since they were children. Adel could not imagine not having him around. Although he is disappointed, he smiles and hugs his good friend again.
Chapter 9
Shut up, Ahab
It has been a few days since Kamil has left for Canada. It felt so strange to not have him nearby. Since he was a child, he couldn’t remember when he was not a phone call away.
Adel is parked in his usual spot outside the airport. He thought about Nora many times. He almost called her number but he wasn’t in the mood to go on a date.
Suddenly there is a knock on his window. Startled, he looks up to see two uniformed men standing outside his door.
The larger of the two is massive, probably an ex-marine, with blond hair cropped in a military style crew cut and the build of a sumo wrestler.
“Get out of the car now with your hands up!”
“What did I do wrong, Officer?” Adel asks calmly.
The shorter officer reminds him of Eric Estrada, his favourite American actor from the TV series called “C.H.i.P.s”. Older American TV series such as C.H.i.P.s, Knight Rider, were very popular to watch when he was a child growing up in Istanbul.
Officer Estrada yells at him. “Shut up. You are coming with us.” He opens his door and both officers flash their badges at him.
“Was I parked illegally?” Adel asks, trying to make sense of it all.
The larger officer smirks. “I.C.E. We’re from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. You are under arrest for working and residing in the United States illegally.”
They shove him into the side of the van and handcuff him. Passersby stop and stare at the commotion the officers are causing. Other shuttle van drivers who he considered friends whisper to each other when they recognize Adel. The two I.C.E. officers drag Adel to their car and push him inside and lock the door. More I.C.E. officers surround his van and start searching through it. The officer resembling Eric Estrada climbs inside the vehicle.
“Where are you taking me? What’s going to happen to my van?” Adel asks.
The officer looks back at him disgustedly. “Shut up, Ahab. We ask the questions around here.” He starts the car and begins to drive.
Adel watches helplessly as they drive past his shuttle van. One I.C.E. officer is carrying out his briefcase from the van. Another is going through the back of the van.
He had imagined this scene in his head a hundred times when he first started his shuttle business but over the months, he had grown complacent convinced that he and Kamil would never be caught. What is going to happen to me now?
Chapter 10
Detained, dejected and disillusioned
Adel sits on the bottom of a bunk bed in the immigration detention center. The orange prison jumpsuit feels rough against his skin. Beside him in the other bunk is an older man named Moe who is originally from Iran. Moe tells him that he has been in the detention for years.
Not knowing whom to turn to, Adel makes a phone call to Mirwan for help. Mirwan tells him that he spoke with an immigration lawyer. The lawyer told him that Adel can try to appeal and perhaps claim asylum but since Turkey is considered an ally of the US, the chances of winning are slim. The other option is for Adel to ask to be deported back to Turkey. Otherwise, he will have to stay locked up indefinitely.
Moe tells him about others that have been there for years waiting to appeal. He reveals to Adel how living in the USA was not a rosy haven for most of the illegal aliens. Many had resorted to working as slave labourers.
“I have been here for fifteen years and Chun has been here for ten.” He nods towards a short skinny Asian man playing cards with four other men. “Others have been here for five years or less.”
Adel can’t comprehend anyone wanting to stay for years in this place. “Why would you stay so long here?”
“I have no choice. If I go back to my country, I would be tried for my political beliefs and then sentenced to death,” Moe says in a matter of fact tone.
Adel’s eyes widen. “That is awful.”
“If I could go back home, I would. I miss my family and my friends. Are you also running from your country?” Moe asks.
“No... not at all. I have no worries about going back home to Turkey.” Adel’s only worry was facing his friends and family. It would be so humiliating to return so shamefully. But losing your pride and losing your life were two completely different things to face. He would rush home in a heartbeat if that were his only choice.
Moe says quietly, “Then the answer for you is simple.”
Adel nods his head slowly. “Yes, it is simple.”
Chapter 11
Deportation
A few weeks later, Adel is standing in front of the judge in a small courtroom. He had been waiting for hours outside in the holding cell with others like himself. He had met the lawyer Mirwan had hired only for a few minutes before seeing the judge. It was so confusing and chaotic that he wasn’t sure what the outcome would be.