Target store is a long walk
It has been several nights now of rocket and mortar attacks, each occurring at roughly the same time. Last night they were about an hour off schedule. Capt. Chase jokingly remarked that "he" was late and was becoming "pathetic." I think I must be superstitious because I felt a hesitation to mock him, or them, just yet.
We have an Internet cafe on our FOB run by a small group of Iraqi nationals. The cafe has heavy wooden beams and is reinforced, covered in sand bags, and filled with the chain smoke of fearless young men who have not yet embraced the worth of life after 50. The Iraqis have a good business with the cafe since Internet on our FOB is very limited and we have no PX.
As a result, they also sell various things such as movies, speakers, pillows, memory sticks, backup hard drives, glass hookahs and Kit Kat bars. And if you want something else, they can probably get it for you, given ample time and an agreed upon price. Everything in the place is dusty and little or no attempt at cleanliness or presentation is made. If you buy it, you can clean it yourself. The logic, I suppose, being that Target is a long walk off.
I typically go in there at least once a day when I am on the FOB. Amad is a pleasant man in his mid-20s who tends to be manning the cafe when I go in. He and I always shake hands, per the Western custom, then place our right hands across our hearts, per the Iraqi custom. "Good morning, Leonard," he will say with the L-e-o pronounced like Leo the Lion. I accept his spin on my name as charming, since, after all, he always cuts me deals on both movies and my time on the computer.
"Good morning, Amad. How are you this morning?" I ask while we shake hands.
"Oh, very good, Leonard. How about you?" he asks in reply.
"I'm good. A little cold outside, though. But at least it's not raining," I answer, to make conversation.
"Yes, yes it is cold." He furrows his brow, lifts his shoulders in a shiver move and turns toward the space heater glowing by his feet behind the counter where he sits. He holds his hands out as if to warm them, but for dramatic effect primarily, then sits back in his chair, relaxed, turning back toward me.
"The days have been pretty nice lately though, once it warms up, don't you think?" I ask.
"Yes, but I wish that fookar would stop shooting mortars at us."
"We'll kill him eventually, Amad," I reply. "Or he'll run out of things to shoot at us."
"You think so, Leonard?" he asks.
"Oh, yes. They will get him eventually."
He nods and holds his eyes on mine for a few seconds, then changes the topic. "The computers are running a little bit slow today."
"Slow? Okay," I say and smile as I walk toward the computers, turning back with a hand up to him as I walk off.
Comments
Amad sounds like a good person to know. When he says, "shoot mortars at us"... is he within the walls of your base? Or does he just feel he's with you because you're the clientele that allows him to feed his family?
A minor thing: do you buy things in Dinars or Dollars? Is there somewhere on base to change money, or is that unnecessary?
Posted by: ScottM | February 2, 2007 7:34 PM
Amad is a good person to know, although I must admit you never fully trust any of the civilian workers. They live with us, although in seperate areas of the FOB. They typically do not leave the FOB except for periodic vacations. If someone like him were to live in the local community and work here, it would likely just be a matter of time until he was killed. It is a big risk for Iraqis to work for us. And yes the American dollar is the currency.
Posted by: Jeff Leonard | February 4, 2007 9:18 AM
Love your writing! I see another career in your future. Sorry you had to leave your wife and babies but how great to be able to connect with you. Sharom H emailed me about your column. How'd you get this gig I wonder and will you return to Kings or move on? A man with many talents and huge light force such as yourself has options. This posting is personal, is that okay? Luck vibing your way from No. CA
Posted by: Clare Vettes | February 7, 2007 10:04 PM