Zeynep The Famous

My name is Zeynep. I live in Bursa, a green city at the far, far western end of the Silk Road. It's a cool place to live. 

Way back when, around February of this year I met a strange, funny kind man in my restaurant. My grandfather owns the joint and my mom works there helping people and collecting money. It's in a great location and sees lots of traffic. Foot traffic from a nearby shopping center, schools and small businesses.

Anyway, one cold winter day this guy shows up to eat some delicious food like spinich, pasta, green salads with fresh tomatoes and other things and he says hello to me. I'm a little shy because...well, just the beginning stuff you know being a kid meeting strangers. Most of the people here know me and say hello and pat me on the head like some wild animal or pinch my cheek like some kind of weird affectionate gesture but they never really engage me or spark my interest or curiosity.

So, as I well remember that first day, he said hello in some strange language, which, as I was to learn, was English. He was friendly and smiled at me. He pointed to an empty chair across form him and said, "Here, you can sit down with me." I didn't know English but I understood him. If you get my meaning.

Then he reached into his green bag and pulled out a black Moleskine notebook and four colored pens; red, green, black and blue. I was curious and wandered closer to have a look-see. My grandfather, who was dishing up food for starving tribal people, and getting hotter than a kitchen on fire saw this and started yelling at me, "Don't bother the man!" and so I backed away. Somehow the man understood what my grandfather said and told him, "Don't worry, it's ok, she'd not bothering me. It's fine," and then he started drawing in his book.

Well, I took the risk, sat down and studied his colors, lines, forms, dashes, slashes and playful art. He pushed the pens toward me and said, "Here, you can make something," so I picked up a pen and copied a line, then just kept going. We did some art together and this was a brand new experience for me. It's been like that ever since and we became best friends. 

Later he taught me the alphabet, songs, numbers and all kinds of cool stuff. My English got really good. Hey, I'm only five! Whenever he came to eat we would sit together, talk, draw, sing and play. It was wonderful and we were happy together. The other adults thought we were either crazy or just plain silly. We didn't care because together we were free to create our own special relationship.

Then, one day this summer he came in and said to me, "You know Zeynep, I am a traveling teacher and my work and play here in Bursa is finished. It is time for me to leave and return east. I will be with many children in the future, like you, helping them play, learn and have fun. Sharing beauty, truth and art. I just wanted to tell you that you are my best friend in Turkey and I will always remember you with love in my heart."

I understood this and yet I was a little confused because I never expected him to leave. I felt sad and cried. He also cried. Then we shared a long hug and waved. "See you later! Take care of yourself!"

I could write some more about my feelings and how special our relationship was, is and will be, speaking of memory, however this is enough and I am happy to share it with you.

I am the star of my little show and here's my picture to prove it. My friend took it and I hope you like it. You can see a photo of me and my grandfather in an image gallery called July's Memory #4. 

Peace.