Nafas

---

In the Name of God

For My Father

This is me.

Our house is near Valad Abad in Karaj.

On a field without water or electricity.

My father has built a half-finished house.

Nothing in it is right!

We don't have a bathroom and

the loo is in the yard.

Our yard doesn't have tiles.

My granny always curses dad because

he's brought us here to a ruined place.

Granny is not dad's real mother.

She is his stepmother.

My dad did it because the doctor told him.

My dad has asthma.

Doctor told him he must live

somewhere with good weather.

We all have a name when we fight.

My big brother is called Chambalghooz!

And the other is Mooshkamal!

And they call me Shelakhteh,

meaning tousled.

And sometimes Cotton Field

for my dishevelled hair!

Chaghaleh Badoom is the tell-tale!

My late mother gave birth

to us one after another...

...because she was Yazd.

Yazdi people want to have

more and more children.

BREATH:

- I'll tell granny!

- What you'll tell?

Go away!

Shelakhteh!

Take it!

You are nuts! You talk to yourself.

My God!

I didn't do anything.

Chambalghooz started it.

May God kill you!

Your father will come and sort you out!

Tidy up!

What should I do with you?

Where did you go? Wait!

Granny! Chambalghooz started it.

My God!

What should I do with you?

Wait!

A little further away behind our house,

there are pear, cherry, and apple groves.

There are groves as far

as the end of the sky!

They reach Valad Abad too.

Our school is there.

Granny says our school is 100 leagues away!

She means it is far.

She's told my father he must

take us there and bring back.

My father is a driver

of Bella Shoes factory.

- Dad, when you will take us to the sea?

- I will, darling.

This time we go on pilgrimage

to Imam Reza's shrine,

I'll take you from the sea

road and you'll see the sea.

- Close the door.

- Bye, dad!

My dad always coughs.

He's been to many doctors

but didn't get well.

- Look at that car!

- It is our car.

He's been to a herbal doctor too. To

all doctors, but didn't get well.

My auntie and her family have come to

Karaj because Habib's cousin has died.

They live in Yazd.

My aunt's name is Bisakin.

Habib is her husband,

and Taher is their son.

- How is Seyyed Morteza?

- Fine.

Thank God. Did their cow give birth?

Yes.

Welcome.

Get up. Change your chador.

It is ominous for a woman to wear

black chador near her delivery.

What can I do? I have to.

Come on!

Run!

Those with asthma mustn't smell flowers,

or wear perfume.

I never wear perfume.

But you eat fried food. You

can't stop your gluttony!

- What happened to Ghafoor?

- It is nothing.

He'll be like this

whenever he isn't careful.

Take it away! I'm dying!

I want to cast away the evil eye.

Bring the spray, darling.

Put it into my mouth.

Husky voice!

- Why are you late?

- I went to drink water.

Give Noroozi a big hand.

She got 20 in dictation.

Clap for Iraj Partovi too.

He got 20 in dictation.

Don't!

OK, pick it. You can't!

Stand back!

Wow! Animation!

Sit back.

It isn't good for the eye.

- Wow!

- Quiet!

He is 8 years old.

The next drawing was done

by Parviz, 9 years old.

This man is a voyeur! He

is leering all the time!

Who?

In there!

This?

He doesn't see us!

He doesn't? He does!

- He's staring right into my eyes!

- No, he doesn't see you.

Now kids! Send us your

drawings at this address.

Why did you turn it off?

I wanted to write the address

to send a drawing to the TV.

That is enough. The battery will run out.

Go to your studies.

Must be off, the damn thing!

It shows singing and dancing

and you don't know...

...where your father has brought it from.

The Alien's house!

I don't know why you hate the poor people?

You call them Alien all the time.

When I was homeless in the

streets, they helped me.

When I was a coolie's help, they

took me home and gave me food.

You must answer for that

in the other world.

You worked for them 100 times more instead.

You did everything for them.

You love Aliens!

I am your stepmother with

a foot in the grave,

but look after your children.

Have the jerks ever asked how you

were doing since your wife died?

Give me the spray.

When you were a coolie's help, I

wasn't your father's wife yet.

What are you saying?

Shelakhteh!

Comb your dishevelled hair every

morning so I won't be hurt so much!

Granny is right. My hair

is always dishevelled.

My classmate has straight hair.

Just like in films.

He surely hates dishevelled girls.

What the heck! My grades are good!

I don't have time to comb my hair

because I must only study...

...to become an asthma doctor

and treat my father's asthma.

Besides, I already know all

alphabet to the end of the book.

Our third top student is Ali Mirza.

His GPA is 18.5.

Clap for him!

The second top student is Iraj Partovi.

No problem, you had a little

mistake in dictation.

Work harder for the next exam.

Clap for him!

He is much disciplined too.

Who is our top student?

Bahar Noroozi! Give her a big hand!

Well done!

Granny!

Granny!

What? You got me worried!

I became the top student!

Damn girl! I didn't understand what I did!

I came out before washing myself!

I thought something's happened!

May God give you some brain!

Right then, the loyal dog of the house

that was sitting outside started to bark.

Watch your foot!

Read slowly! I missed it.

I'm not your maid! Write faster!

Look, dad!

Quiet!

Don't be rude!

Learn from her.

Her grade is lower than you and

she's telling your dictation.

Write, damn you!

I gave a bowl of eggs to your

teacher yesterday to pass you.

If only I get you somewhere!

I'll thrash you!

- Dad!

- Quiet!

If I get up, I'll make you black and blue!

I must take from these kids and myself and

give to the teachers to give you the mark.

- Write!

- I don't want to!

Get up!

Get up, kid!

Bring my jacket.

Wait.

You are the top student?

Why do you fight your brother?

This is your prize.

A boat?

It is for boys!

In the past things were

only for boys or girls.

What boats we had! Magnificent!

You pour paraffin oil in it, light

its wig, and it moves on water.

I love you!

Listen, mother. See if it is good.

We'll come to Yazd in Muharram.

I mean you will, not me.

Afsar says to save some

pomegranate paste for us.

Hyacinth, daffodil, and

clover Forget me not forever!

Is it good?

Dad, put your pencil behind

your ear like the carpenters!

It doesn't go there. I'll put it in my ear!

Good?

- What is it?

- A boat.

I know. I have a better one.

- Put it in front of your bike.

- I'm not nuts.

It's no use to me.

Miss? It is yours.

What is it?

A boat. My dad's bought it for me.

How pretty!

But you mustn't give a

present to someone else.

Keep it. Well done, darling.

I have a good present for you.

Don't give it to anybody.

You must wear them to school.

Thank God! She's come to!

My dear girl!

I love you!

Drink! Don't fear.

Drink, dear.

- Our plots are behind the brook.

- Where?

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