[ short story writing experiment. 3 parts written simultaneously from 3 different perspectives. ]
PART 1
It’s Christmas eve at eleven fifteen
p.m.
near Brea’s Best, the 7-11 was still
open.
Right across Brea Boulevard
sat an empty parking lot
and a half-lit sign pulsating
Regency Inn.
Issa sold me a half-gallon of milk,
a half-gallon of egg nog.
in exchange for a ten dollar bill as i
wished him a very merry holiday season.
Before i left, we started talking and he
mentioned his friend,
Hamadi,
who owned the Regency Inn.
Issa continued to express how
Hamadi was always depressed
on this night
every year.
He couldn’t understand it
because he was blinded
by all the cash
in his register.
My only response, my only thought:
Hamadi could use a visit.
i bought a 3-pack of candy canes
as a tool to tell him about Jesus.
I jaywalked across — looking
both ways — politely waving
at the big-ass SUV between Ash
Avenue and Elm Street.
Right away i noticed an old Buick.
the only car in the lot
parked
in the labeled “Manager” spot.
The VACANCY sign flickered
but attracted
no business
that night.
The front door lobby greeted me
with a chime and
i returned the welcome by softly saying,
“Hamadi? it’s Christmastime.”
He said, “Hello sir” through his long gray
beard with an accent -don’t know- middle eastern?
He looked through a tired and scraggily
yellowish curtain.
I asked,
“How’s business?”
He looked
puzzled.
I felt dumb, but it broke the ice.
I told him i wasn’t a salesman
but that i was just
being nice.
“Verywell then sir”
speaking of patrons, he
mentioned a mother and her
two daughters
were staying at the Inn. But
i reminded him the parking lot
was only occupied by leaves
blowing in the wind.
Then i questioned,
“is that Buick theirs?”
“No, it’s mine… would
you like a room for the night?”
I had suddenly forgotten about
sharing Jesus and the candy canes.
when i looked across the atrium
the clock had passed into the next day.
Displayed was room one one one
on the placard, well illuminated.
The shadows in the window
had me fascinated
and my head
filled with
so many questions
about the situation.
Hamadi was polite enough to
point out that my jaw
had dropped
to the floor.
I apologized
and excused myself
as i walked out
the front door.
I couldn’t believe my eyes.
I could have written
a book
about the feelings i had inside.
Arms stretched out wide like an angel,
the woman was standing on the bed.
Like Peter Pan, all three
in their night gowns.
Both girls were hanging ornaments on her
as she twirled around.
I could see the joy, even though
i could not hear a sound.
Their silhouette’s i watched as if it
were a puppet show.
I bet i would get along with them.
i would! I just know.
But i’m aware of how weird
and creepy that seems, so
i continued to watch this
wonderful christmas story.
The girls played patty cake,
patty cake
as mother disappeared into the
restroom.
Returning as the baker’s man
with two face-towel-wrapped
gifts.
One in each hand.
The girls took turns and watched
one another peel back
the terry cloth
wrapping.
From my view, each girl
received the same doll, but
from the inside, came
a light brightening the hall.
That night. There
in that room. There
was agape love,
stars shining bright
from up over head
afar a life gone
right and
the wind picked up, i was
cold. I started crying
realizing
there’s things i had to know.
I approached the door.
it was a silent holy night.
I knocked.
Then vanished.
as i left
the 3-pack
of red and white
stripes.
PART 2
I was supposed to close at eleven
p.m.
But i didn’t. I was late for some
reason.
I was cleaning as
a bug-eyed
gentleman entered my
store smiling.
His smile was unusual
for customers at that
time
of night.
He possessed confidence
as he passed
the clear-door refrigerator
beer-filled aisle.
He found satisfaction
in the furthest section
comparing expirations
on top of the milk cartons.
He continued to smile so
we talked for a while.
No wallet. Just a ten
in his pocket.
Then, i opened my big mouth.
Muhammad, forgive me.
I spilled the beans about
my dear friend, Hamadi.
As he left with the discounted
candy cane 3-pack, egg nog and milk,
i quickly phoned my friend
giving him a cordial alert.
Hamadi never picked up.
I prayed to Allah. I hope he’d be
alright from this intruder,
this Jesus-discipling trawler.
I took my name tag off
and chuckled to myself.
I was wearing Issa’s tag. I said,
“silly Ishaq” in a soft voice.
The clock passed twelve. My
cleaning was done. But my
friend—a clear timebomb. Hamadi
called and could barely speak.
He said he witnessed something
he’s never ever seen.
He told me some man
had walked in and talked to him.
I was frightened inside
until i heard what he
told me and i couldn’t help
but to smile.
A first in so many years.
He laughed and smiled in my ear.
2009’s Christmas eve.
A night he couldn’t believe.
I was a bit confused. But i kind of knew
Hamadi had a newfound glory seeping through.
I packed up and left feeling good
with this new Christmas attitude.
He doesn’t know this
but i was also inspired.
A four-fold was in
order.
So i left 3 tens and 4
fives
under the man’s windshield
wiper.
PART 3
Hello, my name is Hamadi.
I’m sixty-three.
my life changed this year
on Christmas eve.
My wife
passed of cancer
in 1997. And with her, salvation
was uncertain.
I’m still mourning and i’m
overflowing with uncertainty
too. Since her death, i haven’t moved
the Buick.
Was it just because?
Americans celebrating a birth.
I wondered who this fellow
Jesus really was.
You see, my friend Ishaq
never understood me.
His business. His life.
They’re both much different.
We meet in salat
on fridays.
But only because
he is my ride.
Anyways, i don’t like to drive
ever since my wife died.
But i called him last night.
just after midnight
after my encounter with
a man who was mesmerized
by my only client
that night.
This man, a friendly chap,
we carried good conversation.
He even paid $50 cash for the girls
in room one eleven.
The man just vanished
off into the night. and
in the morning
the woman thanked me
for some candy canes
that she thought i had left.
As she continued to tell
me stories about Jesus.
That morning i was
introduced to
a new way of life.
Confirmation that my heart
was right.
So this friday im skipping
salat
and i’m going to take
Ishaq and his family
out
in the Buick.
