“Did you ever notice how Arabs always leave something in the serving for
foreigners to have the last bite?”
“Oh! No I never noticed. But if you think I left the last bit of the shared
banana split out of some cultural courtesy, then you’re wrong. I just left it
because I am full. Now finish it – It is your thanksgiving dessert. People are
now coming back from the funeral-cum-manifestation. Never a dull moment
in this country. I remember the time back when we believed, and I can’t
believe that we don’t believe anymore. What shall we do with the slogans
now? What shall we do with the pins? Or the wristbands, or the T-shirts or
the scarves? So many flags waved and so many fears braved, how do we get
rid of them? Where do we bury them? And what if we need them once more?
In case we go back to believing. Yes. Back when we believed, we chanted
and shouted, and talked to strangers, with luster in our eyes, we claimed that
we believed. And now, we believe no more, and wonder how come we once
did, back when we believed, and I can’t believe, that we don’t believe any-
more. Am I repeating myself? Mondays for manifestations, and Tuesdays for
sit-ins, Wednesdays for night shifts, Thursdays and Fridays for anticipation,
and then the weekend begins. I think we eventually got sold, I just hope they
got a good price. But well, for a time at least, it was nice, just to think that we
actually believed. So? Did you finish with the banana split? Good… Let me
ask for the bill. It may be an unorthodox thanksgiving meal with not gravy or
turkey or whatever, but under the circumstances, it was the best thing I could
offer you. And remember that you still did not tell me what you are grateful
for…. The bill please!”