An 'Outing' on the Tram

I was born in Bhamdoun, and there I grew up. My soul yearned many a time to make for Beirut, to see the electric car. And how often I dreamed of that wondrous machine that carries passengers from one end of the city to the other, passing through the middle of the broad streets, among the beautiful houses and the well-stocked shops.

Praise be to God! The day came at last when I went down to the enchanting city! And the first thing I did was to wait for the car, which arrived teeming with passengers. I made to climb aboard — but how was I to get in, when every limb of me was trembling with fear and with joy?! And in an instant I saw the machine move off — and leave me behind!..

I cried out from sheer regret, and the tears all but welled up in my eyes. Then I felt my father's hand on my shoulder, and heard him say: Don't fret — the next tram is coming. And I entered that wondrous carrier with my father, all delight, promising myself a splendid outing...

Alas for lost hope! For the first 'pleasure' was a shove from a porter carrying a great basket, followed by a shout: 'Can't you see what's in front of you!..' I turned to answer him — just as an elegant lady passed by, who perhaps wished to draw my attention to her new shoes, for she planted one of them on my foot... After her came the newspaper seller, then the chewing-gum seller; and I felt my breath growing short, and wanted to scream, but there was no time, for I heard shouting and blows: Police! Police! It seems a passenger had not paid his five piasters, the company being foreign 'and it won't go poor over five piasters' — and so a fight 'broke out' between him and the conductor!..

I had been longing for the moment I would board the tram; once aboard it, I began waiting for the moment to get off. And soon enough the car reached the stop where we were to alight, and I left it rejoicing. I glanced back at the tram, and there upon it was written: 'Alight by the front; board by the rear' — they forgot to add: 'and jump by the windows'!...

Saniyya Sulayman Salibi
The Syrian English School and Women Teachers' College