DON?T BE UPSET . . .!

BY: FARIDEH KHERADMAND

TRANSLATED BY: MEHRI SHARAFI

415 words

The woman took a cigarette out of the packet and asked, "don?t be upset . . .? "

The young girl said " No ? no ? not at all!

Bending on the wheel ? she lighted her cigarette.

The rain had got a slow and monotones rhythm on the roof of the car. The woman rolled down the window slightly.

The girl said " on Sunday, he came round to the school again.? I have something to tell you ? he said.

? Let me alone ? I said. ? Just a few words ? he said. Then we went to his car. ? What do you want? ? I asked him. Don?t be upset, but he said: ? I want you! ?

The woman drew heavily on her cigarette, turned to the window and puffed the smoke out of its opening.

" Shame on you." I said.

The woman trembled and rolled up the collar of her raincoat.

" Have you gone crazy? You have everything in your life; an educated, wise woman, two healthy children whom many people long for, what else do you want? "I asked him." Don?t be upset, but he said ? I want you! ?

The woman was staring at the opposite, wet and dark sidewalk. A young couple was walking, holding a seven or eight year old child by the hand.

" Then I?ll escape from you. I?ll leave here. " I said. " Don?t be upset, but he said ? I?ll follow you to the other end of the world!?

A few leaves, still hanging on the branch of a bare tree. Were shining under the light. The woman took another puff at her cigarette.

" Didn?t you tell me that your wife has nervous problems and has been twice in hospital? What if she finds out . . . Don?t be upset, but he said, " Well . . . this is life! "

The woman threw the cigarette end out. As soon as falling on the wet ground, it went out.

"But your children . . ." I said. " Don?t be upset, but he said ? well, they?ll grow up."

It was raining with a more rapid rhythm. The woman stared at the girl. In darkness, she seemed younger and prettier.

" I wanted to hit him in the ear . . .but . . ."

The woman rolled down the window. She couldn?t see the raindrops, but fell their coldness on her face.

"At last I threatened him. I told him ? I?ll tell everything to your wife. ? Don?t be upset but he said: ? so much the better.?

The woman took out a cigarette and said: " Don?t be upset . . .? "

The girl said: " No ?, no not at all. "