“Are you allowed to work in Canada?” the owner asks.
“Well, not exactly.”
He points to a sample taxi cab license on the wall. He explains the paperwork and requirements for Adel to work as a cab driver. Adel shakes his head amazed at Canada’s strict rules and regulations.
The owner is straightforward. He’s been in the business long enough to know that it is difficult to get anywhere without the proper papers. There was no way in hell he was going to risk his business to help out some guy he didn’t even know.
“Sorry, you need to have permanent residency status or a working visa. Then you need to get a Class 4 driver’s license. Without these, there is nothing I can do for you.”
Adel thanks him for his time and leaves.
On the weekend, Kamil sits at the dining table working on his homework assignments. Adel sits beside him looking through the newspaper. On the couch, Kamil's wife and his mother-in-law are preparing string beans in big baskets on their laps. Ayca’s father sits beside them. Their eyes are glued to the Turkish soap opera on the TV set.
Adel leans forward to Kamil and says in a fake whisper, “What? Zenaib is secretly married to Milan, the servant's son?”
Ayca’s face turns red. She snaps at Adel. “Shush, Adel! I'm trying to pay attention!” Ayca’s mother turns and shushes them.
Ayca’s father says angrily, “What is this? Can’t you see that your mother is trying to watch her favourite soap opera?”
Ayca rolls her eyes and giggles. “You mean, you are trying to watch YOUR favourite soap opera dad.”
Ayca’s father raises his eyebrows and shakes his head. Adel and Kamil laugh to themselves.
Kamil lowers his voice. “Ayca and her parents are watching four Turkish soaps at the same time. I don't know why they watch them so religiously.”
Adel smiles. “You know everyone back in Turkey is addicted to these soaps. Admit it, Kamil, you watch them too.”
Kamil shakes his head feigning shock but then smiles. “How can I resist? People in love with people other than their husbands or wives? Gangsters working with the rich crooked politicians to steal from other rich crooked people. And the poor work for these people and live their lives through them. What’s not to love watching this kind of drama?”
Adel nods his head in agreement. “I have to admit, I watch them too when your wife thinks I’m sitting in the living room reading my books. Just don’t let her know!” They slap each other on the back and laugh. Kamil’s father-in-law cries out asking Allah why his daughter’s husband and his ungrateful friend will not let him enjoy a moment of peace in his own home.
* * *
Adel sits alone at the dining table looking through the newspaper at the classified advertisements. He finds an apartment for rent in the downtown area. He calls to find out how much it would cost for him to rent.
“Six hundred dollars a month for a bachelor suite?” Adel asks. He pauses, “Okay. Yes. Thank you.” Adel crosses out another ad in the paper. The newspaper is covered with dark red lines from all the ads he has already crossed out.
The next day, Adel meets with an immigration lawyer. Adel is surprised. The lawyer looks like he just graduated from college. The advertisement in the newspaper says he gives thirty minutes free legal advice for those seeking to immigrate.
“Although it is possible to apply for permanent residency, you’ll need to apply from Turkey. And it could take months or even years.” He fidgets with his pen as he waits for Adel’s response.
When he sees that Adel is not responding, he says, “There is also the Canadian Experience Class for people who have recent Canada work experience or have graduated and recently worked in Canada within two years of applying.”
“And how much it costs for you to help me with the application?”Adel asks.
The lawyer replies, “Well our rates are two hundred dollars an hour, not including expenses and application fees.”
Adel is shocked. “I should have known! Thank God, the first half hour is free! Two hundred dollars an hour? Your country won’t let me work here so how do you expect me to pay you two hundred dollars an hour?” Adel gets up to leave.
The junior immigration lawyer softens his voice. “Sir, you can always fill out the application yourself. There are other resources out there such as immigration assistance services available for those who cannot afford to hire a lawyer. I’ll have our secretary give you some leaflets with the information.”
Adel realizes that he was only trying to be helpful. “Thank you. I appreciate that. I am sorry for ... for earlier.”
The immigration lawyer nods his head. “I understand. This happens all the time.”
Chapter 15
Questions that need answers
Kamil and Adel are walking through the streets of downtown Vancouver.
Adel is rambling. “You know if I could go back to LA, I'd get my money in Mirwan's apartment. I'd get my van...”
Kamil starts to say something which he soon regrets. “You might not need to go to LA.”
Adel stops and turns to Kamil. He says, “What do you mean?”
Kamil clears his throat. “Well, I heard that he is here in BC. He's visiting his sister, my cousin, about five hours away. She just had a baby and their parents, brothers and sisters are all coming.”
Adel says, “Is he staying at his sister's house?”
Kamil frowns. “Come on, Adel. I really shouldn't be telling you this. He is my cousin.”
Adel scowls. “Your cousin backstabbed me. Am I not like your brother?”
Kamil says, “Yes, you are right. You are closer to me than my own brothers. And I have no respect for Mirwan. Never did. He was always hanging with the wrong crowd. But you know that Mirwan is still my cousin.”
“Come on, man. You know I wouldn't do anything.... I just need to talk to him.”
Kamil is silent.
Adel persists. “Please Kamil. I can't let this go until I talk to him.”
Kamil finally nods his head. “Okay but I don't want anyone to know that I told you where he is. He is staying at his friend's place which is a few minutes from his sister's home.”
Adel quickly adds, “I need you to come with me.”
Kamil shakes his head. He couldn’t believe Adel’s nerve. “No. I won't do it. “
Adel becomes exasperated. “Come on, man…”
Kamil turns and walks ahead. “You can ask Mehmet from the restaurant to go with you.”
The next day, after a long drive to Kelowna, Adel and Mehmet finally arrive in front of Mirwan’s friend's house.
Adel turns to Mehmet. “Stay here. I won't be long.” Mehmet nods his head. He was not one to argue too much. He admired Adel’s confidence and stubbornness.
Adel looks at the address on the paper. He walks up to the house and rings the doorbell. Mirwan opens the door.
“Surprised to see me?” Adel’s blood is boiling.
Mirwan tries to hide his nervousness. “What do you mean? I heard you were deported in LA.”
Adel leans into his face. “And you had nothing to do with that?”
Mirwan shakes his head. “No, no… What do you mean?”
Adel grabs his shirt and pulls him towards him yelling in his face, “You traitor. Coward!” They struggle. “What happened to my van?!” Adel shakes Mirwan back and forth.
”Stop! I sold it! I didn’t know if you were coming back. Stop!”
Adel shakes him harder. “Sold it? And my money... where is my money that was in your apartment?”
Mirwan feigns innocence. “What money? I don't know what you are talking about.”
Adel points his finger in his face. “You ass...You knew about the money. You went through all my things. I knew it, you snake. Just answer me this... why? Why? Why did you do this to me? I was doing well with my business. I had plans. Why did you get me deported?”
Mi
rwan, the chicken that he really was, begins blubbering. “Because.. because I was jealous. It took me years to get to where I am. And you come here... with your smooth talk and white skin, blue eyes... If you were dark like me, you wouldn't have gotten to where you were... You were there because of me, you remember that, you son of a bitch.”
Adel punches Mirwan in the jaw.
The front door opens and two men, possible friends of Mirwan’s, come rushing in. They pull Adel off of Mirwan. They hold his arms back and Mirwan gets up from the ground and starts punching Adel in the gut. Adel struggles. Using all his energy, he head butts the man holding him and frees himself. He runs outside the door into the street.
One of the men pulls out a knife. “Get him!!”
Adel keeps running to the waiting car. Mehmet’s eyes widen when he sees him.
Adel yells, “Let’s go!” He jumps into the passenger side of the car. Mehmet sees the men running towards them. He changes the gear and presses the gas pedal to the ground. Wow, this was just like a scene from his favourite Turkish TV series. This may indeed be the most excitement he has had in his entire life. They speed down the street, leaving Mirwan and his two friends standing there swearing and shaking their fists at them.
“What was that all about?” Mehmet asks.
Adel, still shaky from the fights, says, “Never mind, just get us home… fast.”
Hours later, Mehmet drops Adel off at Kamil's place. It is late at night and they are whispering so as not to wake Kamil’s wife and parents. Kamil says, “What happened?” He sees the bruises on Adel’s face.
“It was Mirwan.”
Kamil is surprised. “Mirwan? You fought?”
“When I saw him,” Adel says, “I just wanted to hurt him. Hurt him as much as he did to me.”
Kamil shakes his head. “I can’t believe Mirwan could put those bruises on you. You and I know what a coward he is.”
Adel nods his head. “No, these aren’t from Mirwan. They are from his friends.”
Kamil’s face grows dark. “You could have been killed. Those ‘friends’ of his are criminals.”
“I know. I know… Thank God, I was able to escape.”
Kamil still can’t believe how stupid Adel was. “Now what?” he asks.
Adel pauses for a moment. “I wanted to get my money back from him.”
“Why? For a couple hundred dollars?”
Adel shakes his head. “Not for a couple hundred… more like ten thousand dollars.”
Kamil’s eyes widen. Adel continues. “I worked hard for this money and there’s no way I was going to leave it behind. I need it more than ever to start my life. Vancouver is so expensive to live here. There are no jobs for me. I can’t use my degree to get a job because Canada does not recognize it.”
Kamil pats him on the knee. “Okay, okay. I have another solution. Have you thought about my father-in-law’s restaurant? I can get you a job there with me.”
Adel shakes his head. “No, thanks. The last thing I want to do is work in that greasy hell hole.” He folds his arms to stress his point.
Chapter 16
Greasy hell hole
The next morning, Adel is standing at the counter of Ayca’s father’s fast food restaurant in the food court of the mall. Covering his head is a hairnet and over his T-shirt and jeans is a white apron. If you could describe the look on his face, the word miserable would be an understatement. Robotically, he serves food to the never ending line up of customers. The restaurant is greasy and there is no room for him to move without bumping into Mehmet or Kamil. On top of the smell of burning oil, the escalating noise of people chattering in the mall is deafening.
Kamil’s father-in-law is shaking his head and telling Adel loudly, “You are going too slow. Don’t let me remind you that we have to meet the quota especially during the lunch period.”
Adel nods his head and asks the next customer, “Yes, can I help you?”
The customer starts to order and then stops and changes his mind. Adel’s patience is getting shorter and shorter.
“Sir, can you please tell me what you want to order?”
The man gives him a dirty look, “Hold your horses, buddy.” He turns back to talk to his friends.
The line-up is getting longer and people are yelling, “Hey, hurry up! I gotta get back to work, dude!” A couple of women are yelling, “Yeah, what’s going on? Let’s go!”
Adel takes a deep breath. “Sir, please, if you are not ready, let me help the gentleman behind you.”
The man behind the customer says, “Thanks!” and moves in front.
The man yells, “Hey!” He pushes the other man aside and yells at Adel. “Where’s your manager?”
“What?”
The man says, “Can you understand English? I wanna talk to your manager!”
Adel tries to remain calm. “I understand English but I don’t understand Pig-lish you big fat cow dung!”
The man raises his eyebrows in shock. “Cow what? Hey! You ASSHOLE!”
Adel sees red and jumps over the counter and shoves the man down. They start wrestling and rolling around. Customers are screaming and yelling. A huge commotion breaks out around them. Soon two security guards come running and pull each of them apart.
Kamil’s father-in-law is running up to Adel. He yells. “How can you do this in my restaurant?” He pulls the sides of his hairs with his hands. “Enough! You are fired!”
Adel glares at him and rips off his hair net and apron. “No, you can’t fire me because I QUIT!” Adel turns and walks angrily away.
Kamil runs after him. “Adel, please stop.” He runs beside Adel.
Adel says angrily under his breath, “I am moving out of your apartment right now.”
Kamil can’t believe how awful this was turning out to be. “No, don’t, Adel. You have no place to go.”
Adel turns to him. “I can’t live like this anymore. Thank you, I know you mean well but I have to move out.”
“Where will you go?” Kamil asks.
Adel snaps. “I don’t know yet but I’ll be okay.”
Kamil slows down and looks back at his very angry father-in-law. “I have to go back,” he says.
Adel gives a sarcastic smile. “Yes, it’s okay. Go back.” What a coward. Adel disappears into the crowd.
Chapter 17
A king for a day
Adel packs his bags and moves out of Kamil’s apartment. Luckily, Ayca and her mother were not home to give him the Spanish inquisition. He walks aimlessly down the street finally understanding that he has no place to stay. Adel walks by an expensive hotel. As he looks inside, he sees nicely dressed business men in suits and attractive ladies chatting with each other in the lobby. He pictures himself as one of them. Finally he decides that he was going in. He enters the hotel lobby and is greeted by a bell hop. The bell hop helps him with his bags. Adel smiles as he walks up to the check-in counter. He asks the pretty blonde hotel clerk for a room.
The hotel clerk does not raise her eyes. “We have a single room available.”
Adel smiles at her. “How much?”
She continues typing on her keyboard. “Two hundred dollars a night.”
Adel winces but looks around and sees how fancy the hotel is. “Yes. Good.”
The hotel clerk looks up. Adel did not look like their hotel’s typical clientele. “Will you be paying with Visa, Mastercard or Amex?”
Adel says proudly, “Cash. I have cash.”
The hotel clerk nods her head slowly. “We also need a credit card to hold as a deposit.”
Adel shakes his head. “I don’t have credit card.”
The clerk looks surprised. “I’m sorry, sir, but we do need a credit card.”
Adel can’t believe it. “I have cash. I pay for room now. Okay?” He slams his hand on the counter.
The clerk pauses and then walks away to talk to her super
visor.
The supervisor, a chic well-dressed man, comes up to the counter with a well-rehearsed smile. “Sir, we do need a credit card even if you are paying cash just as a protection in case there is any room damage or if you do not pay for the mini bar or services.”
Adel pulls out his wallet and hands him ten one hundred dollar bills. “Is this enough for a deposit?”
The supervisor’s eyebrows go up for a brief second. Then he puts on a cool smile. “Yes, sir. That is more than enough. We will keep this in our safe and return it to you when you check out.” He turns to the clerk who is rolling her eyes and tapping her foot. “Please give this gentleman the deluxe suite.” He smiles at Adel as the clerk gives him the keycard. “The bellhop will help you to your room.” Adel enjoys the moment, nods and follows the bellhop to the elevators.
* * *
In his new luxurious suite, Adel takes photos with his cell phone so he can email them to his brothers back home. The room is large enough to fit his family and Kamil’s family combined. He wanders around to inspect all the expensive furniture and paintings. After an hour of lounging around, he picks up his phone and tries to call Kamil’s cell number. After a few rings, he reaches his voice mail message. Reluctantly, he calls Kamil’s home.
Thankfully Kamil answers. “Where are you?” Kamil asks after recognizing his voice.
“At the Sheraton Plaza. I have a suite for a night. Come over.”
Kamil had just come home from work. He was still wearing his hairnet and dirty work clothes. His father-in-law and his wife are seated on the opposite couch giving him the evil eye. He barks on the phone so as to impress his wife and father-in-law.
“What? That is very expensive I can imagine.” His father-in-law nods his head in approval.
Adel replies, “It is just one night. I deserve one night to have a good night’s sleep. Come over and we can act like tourists. Okay?”
Kamil turns away from his wife and father-in-law to hide his smile. It was just like old times. “Okay, yes we can be tourists for a day.” He glances back and sees Ayca’s sour face and her father’s grim expression. “But you know my wife and her family are going to never forgive me.”
“Hey, it will be worth it. At least you will have something to remember the next time your wife make you sleep on the sofa.”
“Okay, sounds good.” Kamil turns and smiles to himself. He almost forgot how much fun they used to have before he became a married man. He hangs up the phone.