Alassia in Copperland 3

Alassia in Copperland: "The Forest",
by Panikos Stavrou, Page 3

army.

I forgot to mention that last night, while we were out and about in a night club, Mutlu got together with a woman. Not just any woman, but non other than Eva, the beautiful daughter of the Norwegian ambassador who was in Cyprus on vacation visiting her parents. Actually we both competed for her affection, but it was not a fair contest. Mutlu's charm was hard to beat. Besides, he spoke better English than me.

I saw his beaming face emerge out of the trees. He walked his Casanova walk that always amused me. Not this time though. As he approached and saw my gloomy face he got serious. "What's wrong," he said. I told him of the news about my transfer. A stone cold silence followed. We kept looking at each other, shaking our heads. We both knew this would be the end of a great friendship. We could not write, call or see each other even though we'd only be a few miles apart. Nothing ever made sense about this green line dividing us, even more so now.

Mutlu stood up. "OK," he said. Let's make this a night to remember. Let's go meet Eva and have a blast." I shook my head and said I couldn't go. I had to report to the camp tonight where they would prepare all the transfer paperwork. "Well, I'll go by

myself and have fun with Eva for both of us," he said. "Mutlu, that would be very risky," I replied. "You don't speak Greek and I won't be with you. If something happens and they find out who you are, you're screwed." We stared into oblivion for what seemed to be an eternity. "You know," he said, "sometimes when I'm in this forest for a few hours I forget where I really am. I think this army thing is a dream. More like a long nightmare. And when I exit the forest I expect to find a bustling city full of people, regular people, coming from work, going to work, shopping, smiling. " "I know," I said "I sometimes feel the same way too." "But unfortunately instead of a smiling faces all I see when I come out is the same old sad faces of the other soldiers, counting the days left until their discharge." Another long silence ensued. Finally, I stood up and said "I have to go." "Why," he said, "you still have time." I can't take this awkwardness any longer," I said. We hugged and I picked up my military gear, ready to leave. "Don't worry," he said, "we'll meet again, someday, somewhere else. Or even back here, in this forest, when the Cyprus problem is solved. I know we'll meet again." "I hope so," I said, and walked away with a huge lump in my throat. I thought to myself, "Sure, Mutlu," we'll meet again when hell freezes over or when war starts making sense. Whichever comes first."

Memories From The Past:
"Doctor" by Atai Tulunoglu

My mother used to tell me;
I opened my eyes to world among bombs 
On  June of 1955. 
The first person I saw in the world 
It was a strange coincidence but, 
Was not my mother 
Was the Greek Cypriot doctor. 
That was a coincidence peculiar to my  
country 
 
It was a difficult birth. 
I was so close to death 
During the two days in oxygen tent. 
The doctor whom I owe my life 
Had shown great effort to save my life. 

At my age of childhood 
They made me enemy to my people. 
They made people recite poems,speeches

For the doctors who saved my life 
Saying,one thousand heads of them do not   
pay for one hatred. 
Nevertheless, the feeling of gratefulness did     
not disappear within  myself.              

Now I have come to my age of youth 
The respect of mine to my doctor 
Burning the depths of my heart 
To see him 
To embrace him 
To thank him from within. 
 
But they put obstacles between oueselves 
To make me cold(distant) to my doctor 
To make me not to reach my hand to his. 
How can I forget the past? 
How can I forget the hand of friend 
That embraced me 
And showed me the world and realities.

Alassia in Copperland: "The Forest",by Panikos Stavrou, Page 3

Alassia in Copperland: "The Forest",
by Panikos Stavrou, Page 3