A Touch of Spice Page #2

After the circumcision cere-

mony, I'll bring him over.

What do you want to be

when you grow up?

- A doctor...

- An army officer.

Both are fine but I reckon

Mustafa will be an army doctor.

- What can I give you?

- Oysters...

I've invited many diplomats

from Ankara for the ceremony.

Not to worry, Osman Bay.

Just make sure they are

kind of big oysters.

You do know,

I trust you a lot...

The diplomatic meeting is

of great importance to me.

Are things looking

bad, Osman Bay?

There is a new crisis

with Athens...

Let's see what will be

discussed in the meeting.

Relationships without arguments

are like weddings without music.

We praise Allah when we eat,

what about you?

You are not allowed

to go there, son.

You... stir thing up at every

meal telling stories...

What can we do? That's how

it was laid out for us.

Time went by and while clouds

covered the adults' faces...

mine was full of light...

because I was in love

with Saime...

the daughter of Mrs. Aise,

my mom's best friend.

Go play with Fanis.

- What are we having today?

- Meatballs...

And what will you put inside?

Mince, bread crumbs, garlic,

salt and pepper...

- That won't be tasty.

- Why is that?

Meatballs require something

extra so as to be tastier.

- What?

- It's a secret spice.

Tell me...

- And what will you do for me?

- I'll cook for you.

I know how to cook too.

What do you want me to do?

Dance for me...

The secret for

tasty meatballs is...

Really?

Carnations grow in Myceane...

Roses, in Delphi...

Oregano, in the Acropolis...

Geography is magical and the place

to learn it best is near a lighthouse.

By the lighthouse, the compass

spins wildly...

and the air magnetises

both the mind and the eyes.

My teacher in issues of love

was uncle Emilios, a captain.

He was the one that brought

the latest products from abroad.

He was the one that brought us a

"doudouklou", a pressure cooker...

This card is from

the Acropolis...

this one from San Paolo

and this one from Hamburg.

In Athens women cut onions like

this. In Hamburg like that...

But if a woman makes you sauted mussels,

it means she is in love with you.

I met one

on this trip...

Her name was Zozo, she made the

best mussels in all of Piraeus.

- Why don't you marry her?

- She only cooks mussels!

Savva quick, something's

wrong with the "doudouklou"!

- To hell with the pressure cooker!

- Stay still, uncle...

From the shock, aunt Elpiniki

was cured of her Parkinson's.

Mussels always remind me

of the hammam.

Whenever uncle Emilios would return

from a journey, we'd go there.

I'd hear the elders open their

souls, as mussels do when steamed.

How do things look, Emilio?

There are problems in Cyprus and they

say something is "cooking" in Athens.

They always say that

and nothing ever happens.

I realised then that other things

can be "cooked" besides food.

The other day Osman Bey came

by and he smelled of garlic.

If a diplomat smells of

garlic, trouble is stirring.

Also Aidin Bey came by and

said something I didn't like.

"Things aren't well,

Mr. Michalis..."

"You must be very

careful."

"lsn't your son-in-law

a Greek citizen?"

Shh... the child...

For as long as I can remember

they keep saying the same thing.

The Turks will deport you,

Turks will do this and that...

They talk and talk, but

we are fine, aren't we?

Emilie you were sailing during

the September 1955 atrocities.

You weren't here to see my

shop being burned to the ground.

I'm selling everything and going

to Greece. I need peace of mind.

The thought of leaving

brings on a pain here...

I saw Thrasyvoulos in Athens.

Send him some x-rays to look at.

We went out one night, while

in Athens and talked...

about lnstabul and

the old times...

Wouldn't it be better if they

could talk about these things here?

My dear departed wife said that

when you leave some place...

you should talk about

the place you are going...

not the place you are

leaving behind.

I'm that kind

of person too.

"To leave" means to go elsewhere,

which for us meant to Greece.

Initially I thought Greece

was in America.

Soon however, geography

brought me down.

ALL GREEK ClTlZENS

TO BE DEPORTED:

This is Radio lnstabul,

with the latest news.

Further tension between

Greece and Turkey...

as a result of recent

riots in Cyprus.

In the meantime, the deported

Greek citizens...

are being informed of the con-

fiscation of their properties.

You are listening

to Radio lnstabul.

Appetizers are similar to stories

which tell of faraway journeys.

Flavours and aromas

seduce your senses...

and prepare you for

an adventurous journey.

That's why the Greek word for"return"

conceals within it the word "turn"...

which, conceals within it

the word for "food".

- Mr. Savvas lakovidis?

- Yes...

We are from lmmigration.

Can we speak to you?

Please, come in...

Take a seat...

Mr. Iakovidis, I'm afraid

I have bad news.

Your residence permit

cannot be renewed.

But why?

What have I done?

You haven't done anything,

it's not your fault.

Makarios is to blame

for everything.

Our Turkish brothers there, are

suffering more each day.

Your father-in-law

and your wife can stay.

They are Turkish citizens...

But you will have to leave.

Then, a week from today we'll

be waiting at your doorstep.

Bring only your

personal belongings.

You'll tell us your

desired means of transport...

and we will

escort you there.

Attention please. The train

for Athens is leaving in 5'.

All passengers are kindly

requested to board immediately.

Don't cry...

Remember what we said?

In two months I'll

come to find you...

and we will live

together in Greece.

I'll bring Saime along so you

can look at the stars from there.

If I'm late, remember to look

at the stars wherever you are.

Up in the sky, there are

things we can see...

but there are also

things we can't see.

Always talk about the things

that others can't see.

People like hearing stories

of things they can't see.

Same with food. Do you care if you can't

see the salt if the food is tasty?

Of course not.

The essence is in the salt.

I'm giving you this so

you will remember me.

When I come to Greece, you will

cook and I'll dance for you.

I am afraid of

people in uniform.

Police, military, transport

police, firefighters...

but most of all,

immigration officials.

The day we left Constantinople,

those people in uniform...

"wounded" all our meager

possessions with chalk marks.

They resembled the marks of

every deportee.

As the Turks sent us

away as "Greeks"...

while the Greeks received

us as "Turks".

Good morning!

Hi...

May l?

There you are...

So?...

When we learned he

was ill yesterday...

I remember I had received

an x-ray with a note attached...

Wait... Here it is.

"Dear Thrasyvoule,

I'm sending this x-ray"...

"so that when we meet again

I can have your opinion".

"Don't tell my relatives.

If I do not come...

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