Crossover

[dedalus]

My life is in your hands, she said,

and my first ignoble thought, forgive me,

was why was she saying this?

 

We’d only known each other three weeks

and she was a cute lovely girl and all that

but we hadn’t, umm, you know … done anything?

 

My father comes from the old country, she said,

and he is so strict. My mother, she is worse!

My older brothers, Daoad and Amir,

they always always beat up my boyfriends

and I hate them! But with you I feel good.

 

Me, I wasn’t feeling ecstatic at this news,

for I had had a glimpse of Daoad and Amir,

those hairy gorillas, and could only imagine

what the father was like. Never mind the mother.

 

Ehh, do you have any sisters, says I, to move

this dreadful family saga along. Oh, she dead.

She betrayed my cousin so my uncle kill her.

 

Oh, really?

Yah, my father he must apologise.

Anyway, you kiss me now?

 

My lips for some reason ran dry,

some temporary saliva failing, and I

took a rather quick look around …

 

O God! Is that Daoad (or Amir) outside

looking in the window? No, a shadow.

I’m starting to have feelings about shadows.

 

Look, Zaynab, I really like you a lot …

I know. I am a treasure. Many boys want me.

But you, you don’t only want my body,

you love my mind. I like that in you.

 

Ah, of course. To be sure.

 

I like you, you are Irish boy, Irish boys

are strong and brave, good lovers.

I dart a glance again at the window.

 

O God, that’s him!

doubt without a Daoud,

no, I mean … emm, I need to visit the gents!

 

Of course, my dear. Don’t be long.

Where is the back door? Unseen by me,

Amir arrives, smiles at his sister,

and picks up my half-finished pint of beer.

 

Gone then, is he? O like a puff of wind.

[Tinker]

Chicken! This is funny and a little sad at the same time. Well done Brendan.

 

~~Tink

[dedalus]

Cluck, cluck! Actually, it is not the Western boyfriends who are in any real danger but the young women themselves. http://en.wikipedia....i/Honor_killing

In 2008 a woman was killed in Saudi Arabia by her father for "chatting" to a man on Facebook. The killing became public only when a Saudi cleric referred to the case to criticise Facebook for the strife it caused.

This cultural phenomenon is pretty much under the radar in the US, UK and other countries with large West/ South Asian immigrant communities. But it definitely occurs.

The worst scenario (comparatively speaking) is that of the young women brought up in the West who are forced into arranged marriages with yokels in the home country.

Just be glad you are a free outspoken American woman! All the perceived sexual harrassment (which no doubt exists) is pretty minor compared to the real deal!

[abstrect-christ]

In Canada it gets in the news as soon as it happens usually. Hell there's a judge calling the tradition "barbaric" in the news.

 

Although this is sort of funny in a college humour sort of sense despite it's dark nature.

But I also like dark humour as well -- love black humour.