Brahim

Many of our visitors lived outside of Skelbieh and there was usually no advance knowledge that our friendly callers would be coming. Fawaz had one particular friend who lived in a small farming community between Skelbieh and Hama. His name was Brahim and we had visited him and his family on numerous occasions. There were caves in the hills that surrounded his village and Brahim still enjoyed the comfort that they afforded him when visiting his family who occupied one of them. He was a charming and hospitable host. Whenever we visited him there would be a feast of delicious food laid out on the sinees(trays) for our consumption. His wife and daughters would cook for hours and happily serve us. His demeanor was typical of a Syrian male. He was the head of his household and he was in charge, although gentle in spirit and kind in his attitude towards his family. His wife and children were delighted to cook for their visitors. He had been married for over twenty years and like himself, his wife was a compassionate soul and dedicated in her duty towards her family.

You can imagine my surprise when he came to visit us one day with a young very attractive woman sitting astride and holding onto him on his trusty and sturdy Lambretta. He had brought his second wife to Skelbieh to introduce her to us. I felt sadness for his first wife who I later found out was still living in the same household with his new partner.

Apparently, she was very upset that Brahim had chosen a second wife.

I made our visitors feel welcome whilst at the same time trying to imagine how I would feel if Fawaz had acted in the same manner and remarried whilst I was still married to him and living in Syria. There was no forewarning of Brahim's intended nuptuals. His marriage was legal.

The Skelbieh folk could not divorce in the strict Greek Orthodox Church, let alone remarry.

Fawaz, however, could marry many wives and there would be an ongoing joke that was carried out in front of me by his Christian friends concerning the possibility of Fawaz having more wives. They wanted to see my reaction but I showed them that even the possibility of such an occurrence in our marriage was out of the question.

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