don’t live in the middle ages anymore and a girl should be able to make up her own mind about the men she goes out with. At least, being Turkish, Ferhan does not regard the British as being our enemies. How I wished my father and brothers would give up all this nonsense about
enosis
! Then we could all get on with our lives without being afraid that someone might find out what they were doing. And perhaps they wouldn’t mind me seeing Stephen. Perhaps.
CHAPTER 2
On the Monday after Stephen’s visit, I couldn’t stop thinking about him and wondering if he might be waiting outside the school gates again. The last lesson was English and I could see into the street from the classroom window. Mr Durrell reprimanded me twice for inattention because I kept gazing outside. Then, suddenly, he was there, just like before! I knew I couldn’t talk to him in front of all the others when we came out of school, so I told Mr Durrell that I was feeling unwell and asked to be excused. Of course, he thought that was why I hadn’t been paying attention earlier and he was quite concerned. I felt bad about lying to him but he let me go and a few minutes later I was outside. I jumped into the jeep beside Stephen and told him to drive away quickly so that we couldn’t be seen from the school. He drove round the corner and stopped in a quiet side street.
He said, ‘I’m so glad to see you. How did you manage to get away before all the others?’
I told him how I had lied to my teacher and he looked at me with those wonderful blue eyes and smiled that smile that makes me feel as though I have just stepped off a cliff into thin air.
‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘Thank you for doing that, so we can have a chance to talk.’ Then he put his hand on mine and I thought I was going to faint with pleasure.
He went on, ‘I think you must guess how I feel about you. I can’t get you out of my mind. But I know it is not possible for me to ask you to come out with me, as I would an English girl. I understand that things are done differently here. I wanted to ask you, would it be acceptable for me to speak to your father? If Iasked him, would he let me take you to the cinema one evening?’
I felt panic gripping my throat. ‘No! No, you mustn’t do that! I couldn’t … he wouldn’t allow it. No girl can go out alone with a man unless they are engaged to be married.’
‘Then can I come and ask him for your hand in marriage?’
I could hardly breathe. ‘But we hardly know each other.’
‘No, not yet. So what happens in your society? If I’m not allowed to be with you until we are engaged, how can we get to know each other? What do other couples do?’
‘If … if the parents on both sides approve, then the boy comes to call on the girl and in the evening they go walking together – but with the girl’s parents as well. Then, later, sometimes they might be allowed to sit together for a while alone.’
‘Then can I come calling?’
‘You come already, every Sunday.’
‘But I never have a chance to talk to you alone – or to walk out with you. If I explain to your father that my intentions are honourable …’
‘No! If you tell him that you are interested in me he will forbid you to come to the house any more.’
‘But why?’
‘Because … because you are English. Don’t you understand? The people here resent the British occupiers. If anyone saw us together my whole family would be dishonoured.’
‘Then what can we do?’
‘Nothing. There is nothing we can do.’
‘Do you mean that?’
Our eyes met and I knew that I had to find some way to be with him.
‘When are you off duty next?’
‘On Thursday, from midday onwards.’
‘I will meet you then. But don’t come to the school. Wait for me in the square by the Selimiye Mosque.’
‘What will you tell the school?’
‘I shall tell them I am ill.’ I was surprised how easily the liecame to me. I opened the door of the jeep. ‘I must go now. Wait for