Snakes
Sitting in the far corner of the living room, to be able to remain where she is, and watching television without the disturbance of anyone. But her staying did not take long, since she is not use to remain in one place throughout her day. She was so homesick to return to her home, and to her neighbors. She was not to leave the big house, but was forced to by the construction going on there on foot and leg. She was waiting for him, as if setting on hotter than a burning charcoal; ask about his returning time every minute. She was not to calm down, if not for the far distance, body sickness, and the absence of whom to take her wherever she wanted! He came back with sunset from his work, and after he has his dinner, she started waving her web around him. Trying to soften his heart, with her sweet tongue, sneaky ways and requesting help.

But she is his mother, so he could not resist or avoid her, even with his many attempts to prevent her determination. Presenting her with one excuse after another, starting with the far distance, the difficulty of climbing the staircase, and her health status. But those attempts of his have failed, and did not deter her from her intention. Even she has increased her determination, and accompanied that with her comments: It has been to long since my friend gave birth, and I did not go to see her. My physical illness will never end, and I will go to her even crawling!

She has tried to put the pressure on his wife, as usual, to ensure a round trip transportation. But she did not succeed this time, and her attempts returned back unrewarded, due to his wife's strong refusal not to go. So, he asked his wife, surprised by her refraining from a companying his mother, despite the success of the previous attempts of blackmails, why do not you want to go with her?!
The question has come back to him with a counter question,
- Did you know those whom your mother is going to?!
- Of course not, who are they?!
- Do you like to know?!

With her question, she has ignited his desire for knowledge, and love to discover; and could not avoid answering?! So, she went on narrating a story, he has already forgotten, due to long overdue since its occurrence. Do you remember that night and after its mid time, we were attacked by great concern because our son's late to come back home?! So we were taken by the different ideas left and right, trying to guess what has happened to him!? As if we were on a ship, caught in the middle of a flood, thrown by the waves from one shore to another.

He went back by his memory, remembering the struggle that took place between him and his son at the police station, in the wake of this incident. He said: I recall that, your son had called saying: Father, I have been arrested by the police, please come to save me?!

She continued her story saying: You were screaming - thundering - and threatening! And when I asked you why all this impulse?! You replied: Your son is under arrest at the police station, because of a quarrel with a neighborhood young man, and wants me to go to bail him out! You have decided to leave him at the hands of the authorities, to learn a lesson he will not forget. A lesson to learn from, how to deal with others, and how to choose his friends. But your heart did not obey, after he has told you - trembling like a palm tree branch, been kicked around by the air in a stormy day, in panic and fear of the consequences of implementing your decision -
- Father, if I am not released, it may affect my work, and perhaps my superiors due to it, might
dismiss me if the news of my arrest, reaches them!

He cut her off, wondering about their connection to the young man, and to that incident?!
So, she said: They are his ants! And they had pushed him to file a complaint against our son, despite his unwillingness!

He was so much astonished saying: How did they do that, we are neighbors, and mother is so close to them and a friend?! He added: How mother's friendship did not help my son in front of them?! But it was the prize of Om Amer's savior, after saving, feeding, and sheltering her! But they have crossed the boundaries of courtesy and good manners, overridden the rights of neighbors and friendship, and even the wisdom of the wise. Normally, sensible people at the time of such crisis, reason to their brains and to the practiced norms first. From those norms, is talking to the wrong doer's family, trying to reach a compromise solution satisfactory and easy to both parties, and giving them an opportunity to think and review. If this procedure did not do any good, and they did not respond to the call of reason and conscience! Prominent persons who are able to solve and resolve, known to both parties and acceptable to them, have to intervene, all of this is to be done, before heading to the official circles and disturb them. That if it is worthwhile, and the mater requires speed and severity in treatment. But what had happened; does not worth all this trouble, and all of this hardship!

Then he has asked her, whether she has asked, "Why did not they tell us first, before going directly to the police?!
She said with anger showing on her face: I did not miss that! If I was not sure that my son was not at fault, I did wish not to proceed with such step. They have wounded my heart, and bleeded my soul. They had answered me with all their arrogance, bragging, and superiority: Your son is a devilish Satan, and he has to be disciplined!
They are like snakes, fine and soft their touch, fascinate and attract the sight their colors, turn around and fluctuate so they can overcome their prey, cash it with their jaws, so death and destruction will be its end.

Asking her whether his mother has known, what has happened to his son because of them?!
Shy replied saying: She knew that, but her love and closeness to them prevented her from boycotting them! You known her famous wise remark "Whom has done wrong to you do good to, and God of the sky will reward you"!
Written by: Hussein Noah Mashamea – Qatif - Saudi Arabia