Mr. El-Baz knew how to use his feet. Having relied on them as his main mode of transportation for most of his life, they were the one appendage that had not let him down. Leaving his brother-in-laws brick tenement building, his only directions had been to turn left and go straight until he had seen enough then turn around and retrace his steps. A religious zealot, his brother-in-law had no interest to explore a city so corrupted by sin. Mr. El-Baz wrapped his coat around his thin shoulders, turned left into the bitter wind and headed towards the heart of the city. A light snow began to fall as Mr.El-Baz passed a large green park lined by tall Mulberry trees, freshly dusted in crystalline powder. A few hundred yards away he saw what looked like heavily bundled people flying back and forth and round and round on a big flat pure white stone. Veering off course, Mr. El-Baz approached the flyers and squatted down by the edge of the circle feeling the ice with his ungloved hand. Mothers and fathers straddle frightened toddlers moving slowly, speaking in soothing tones. Young girls and boys joyfully shouted taunts as they pulled each other into their own respective vortexes of fun. Hand in hand, little girls flew by him singing beautiful folk songs. Stepping out on the ice to follow the beautiful sound, Mr. El-Baz soon realized he did not have the special shoes. Sliding towards the center of the rink, his steadfast feet gave way and down he went with a painful thud, knocking the back of his head on the ice. Momentarily dazed, Mr. El-Baz opened his eyes to see an official with a long white beard and thick red suit approach him. Frightened and embarrassed, Mr. El-Baz reached for his papers, not wanting to make any additional trouble. After examining his head, the official led him to the edge of the rink, laughing in a deep voice, and patting Mr. El-Baz on the shoulder. “Merry Christmas” he said as he sailed off. Mr. El-Baz held out his papers, that was not his name.
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2 comments:
Santa Claus and the consternation he provokes are wonderful. I especially love the notion that Mr. El Baz needs his papers because "Merry Christmas" is not his name. You do a great job with the FEET all the way through.
Nicole,
You do a great job defamiliarizing the familiar here; I particularly like the gently comic tone, established by the very first sentence. The idea that Santa Claus in his red uniform might be seen as an "official" is terrific. I love the scene at the end when he presents Santa with his papers (it seems oddly appropriate, given America's capitalistic values). My only suggestion would be to make sure the defamiliarization is consistent: Would Mr. El_Baz be able to identify a Mulberry tree?
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