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Thorns Never Last Without Roses
Thorns Never Last Without Roses
Thorns Never Last Without Roses
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Thorns Never Last Without Roses

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Saron is a young woman who grew up with her father Alazar, in the village of Dinki. The village is located a few kilometers north of Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital.
Her father‘s dream is that Saron should be educated and become independent, unlike what happens to other girls in the village of Dinki, where the young girls are forced to marry against their will. Saron’s main desire is to make her father’s life easier; her father who lives a hard life as a farmer. In order to fulfill this dream, she travels to Saudi Arabia to work and earn money in a short period of time.
Her employer Aziz Al Saud, who is married to Meshael Alayban, is a man who does not understand the meaning of love and he has no interest in understanding what love means. His primary concern is to satisfy his own needs by exploiting women and their bodies.
His wife, Meshael Alayban, who lives with a man who doesn’t show love and affection to her, had a lady brought in by him to help with domestic chores, which is not something she desires. She feels helpless and she turns her anger against Saron.
Meshael Alayban treats Saron as a slave, but after a while, she revealed that even she lives as a prisoner in her own home and country.

Thorns never last without roses, is a book about two women and their
struggle against men‘s oppression and violence. It is a book about love,
violence, hatred, and forgiveness
LanguageEnglish
Release dateMar 24, 2017
ISBN9789175696508
Thorns Never Last Without Roses

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    Thorns Never Last Without Roses - Mamo Thomas

    17

    Chapter 1

    Early in the morning, there was little darkness in the village of Dinki, which was located a few kilometers north of Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital. The village sits on top of the hill. The only light that shines in the village comes from the half-moon in the sky. As soon as the sun begins to shine in the morning, the first thing anyone would see was a church, St. Selassie Church which was built on top of the mountain and has a white background color and also painted with green, yellow and red bands around the building. Regardless of the location one stands, one could see the church because of its location on the top of the mountain. For the villagers, the church was a symbol of community where everyone belongs together and felt at home.

    The year was 2008, and Saron had just turned sixteen. She lived almost her entire life with her father. She has no memory of her mother who died when she was a child. To grow up only with her father made her to be a self-rule girl. Her father's encouragement and advice may have helped her to be strong and mange herself with most things.

    Early in this morning, Saron rose up gently from the bed and looked around the room. She took few steps and suddenly she stopped. Whenever she woke up, she was very careful not to collide with the large pillar which stood next to her bed. The house is supported by five pillars, four in the corner and the fifth in the middle. She did collide with the fifth pillar so many times when she was little, but the older she grew, the more she became aware of it. Sometimes, whenever she was sitting in her bed and looks at the fifth pillar in the middle, she always imagined how effective the fifth pillar was in supporting the building. Without it, the house would collapse. Sometimes, she compares the fifth pillar in the middle with her father. He is the safety that holds the family together. What would happen without him? She wondered, while looked at the fifth pillar.

    She walked by the fifth pillar and the first thing she did was to wash her face and then dry it with a cloth that hung on the wall. On the wall, she also has a shelf which she uses to place her important tools. The three important tools that she has on the shelf are a comb, face oil and half a broken mirror; a broken mirror that she had found on the ground when she was on her way to school. She did not know who it belongs to. If someone had dropped it or thrown it away because it is broken, she wasn’t quite sure, but for her it is the most valuable tools. The first day she had found it, she was just ten years old. She remembered the first time she saw herself in the mirror. She could not stop smiling every time she looked in the mirror. She felt it was embarrassing to see herself which she is not used to. She was happy to see her short cut hair, big eyes, big lips and round-shaped face. It was then that she could see almost the whole of her face in the broken mirror. But now that she is older, she could only see half of her face, mostly, she has to move the mirror to the right and to the left to see all her face.

    Every morning, her first routine was to prepare a lunch box for her father, whose name is Alazar. He was tall and had a width axis. His hard work by farming had shaped him with a well-built body. He was forty-five, his body build was proportionate with his age, but the appearance did not match his age. He looked much older. It could be a combination of morning chill and hard work. His lunch box which she used to prepare every morning was very simple. It consists of a traditional bread, Injera and vegetable stew.

    In the thin bread, she puts a vegetable stew and then she rolls it and put it in a plastic box. Then she wraps the plastic box with a cloth which has canvas, together with rose. This part is the most important part of her mission. His mother bought it sometimes ago in the market. Before Grandma passed away, she gave him the cloth.

    He was a bit surprised as to why he got the cloth. He could not question her because when she gave him, she was sick and tired. She looked at him, and understood what he was wondering.

    My son, to see life is like looking at a rose. Two people can see a rose, yet they can experience two totally different experiences. One can see the rose and experience a beauty and the other can see only the thorns and experience suffering.

    He liked it a lot, the cloth with a canvas together with rose. He wanted his lunch to be wrapped in it; every time he ate lunch and opened it, the first thing he saw was the rose. Every time he saw the rose, he heard his mother's voice; the same meaning and the same voice.

    The life of the family, Alazar does not differ much from any other family in the village. All lived much the same way. Men are involved agriculture; boys either help their father or go to school, or both. Women and girls engage in household works and very few girls go to school. Her father believed that she was one of the few girls who should go to school. Most girls helped at home. It’s very common that many parents simply send their boys to school and not the girls. Their explanation was sooner or later, the girls will still get married, then it makes no sense to send girls to school, but her father decided that she would go to school and learn as much as boys. To prevent that, she would not be treated as a girl on the feminine personality of her hair, which her father had decided to cut short so that she would look like other boys, a girl who is short-haired. The teacher thought it was strange for a girl to look like a boy, but they knew it was for a purpose. The most important thing was that his daughter went to school and got as much education as boys

    Saron and Alazar had shared their duties. Saron cooks after school and her father brings water, firewood and everything needed for cooking. Saron likes to go to school a lot. Her dream was to become a teacher. Her desire was that many girls in her village go to school. Her other dream was that she wanted to make sure her father moved to Addis Ababa and she wanted to get him a dignified life. Addis Ababa was the city where she wants to study teaching profession. But for Alazar, it was a long way to make it happen, for his girl to achieve her dream. He knew that he must protect her and encourage her so she would succeed in life. He took it as his main mission in life. He also had it included in his routine, how he would raise her to achieve her dream.

    Every night as they sat in front of the fire, she reads the same book. It was what he wanted her to read for him, a book about the Empress Taitu. An empress who lived at the end of the 19th century to the early 20th century, an empress who was very famous for her wisdom and deep involvement in the battle of Adowa (a city in northern Ethiopia).

    Ethiopia was brought to the world's attention in 1896 when an African country without industry of weapons and with mostly barefoot soldiers, defeated Italy, a modern European country, at the battle of Adowa. Behind the success of the war is the heroine, Taitu. Battle of Adowa was a global historical event. The presence of Taitu in the middle of the army lifted their morale and further motivated them to die for the sovereignty of the nation and for freedom. It was a fight that ended colonial aggression of Europeans in Africa. It was a fight that taught unforgettable lessons to Europeans. She made sure she also collected 10 – 12 000 women and organized them to help the troops. Some collected buckets of water to carry for men in battle. Others remained in the camp to take care of the wounded. In this victory of Adowa, women had a gigantic role. The heroine, Taitu was the architect in the battle with her wise, courageous and patriotic leadership, together with her husband, Emperor Menelik.

    By reading the book every night, Alazar desired that the heroine, Taitu would be his daughter’s role model. Besides that, Alazar told her with his own advice what tools she should use to get by in life. He repeated some of the important tools every night.

    My beloved Saron... humans’ greatest enemy is fear and the opposite of fear is love. Everything you do will always come out from love. You should never be afraid of anyone or anything. The first step that you show to the world is that you are full of confidence. We humans are very quick to judge other people without even knowing who the person is. We are terrible at asking questions first, but we are always quick to point the finger at someone else. When you go, always stretch up your back and look up to. When people talk, look at them straight in the eyes. If there is anything you don't understand or unsure of about what someone says, you should always ask at once. If you get enough response, it is okay, if you don't get a response, it is also okay. The most important thing is that you've asked and that you will not regret afterwards that you didn’t ask. If you're going to say No, say it and if you are going to say Yes, say it too. You should always do your best as much as you can cope. You should never judge yourself; whether you have failed or not done enough, and you should never judge others, but you should always try to understand yourself and others.

    Saron was one of those few girls who attended school and a girl who is forever confident and argues against adults, in particular against teachers, that she had become a problem for many teachers. She dared to ask questions that no one else did. She said no when it was expected that she would say Yes or vice versa. She looked straight into the eyes of a teacher when he talked to her. All these behaviors had been regarded by the teacher as disrespectful. So many times, her father was called by school management, but her father always defended her that she was right. Children have the right to ask questions. Children have the right to speak to an adult if he or she is doing wrong. The saying that An adult is always right is just a myth. All people make mistakes, regardless of being adults or children. Alazar always tell them.

    It wasn't just Saron who was unpopular at school, but also her father.

    Saron had not only become matured in her age, but also in her body, which men in the village began to put their attention to. She had a short cut hair as a boy, but this did not prevent them from focusing their attention on her. Men could not resist seeing her big eyes, lips and well-shaped body, and they started to mention their interests to her father. Her father was not surprised by all the interests, which had started to stream in. He had anticipated this.

    Every Sunday, people gathered in the Church to listen to the word of God. It was almost like an obligation to go to church. There is no excuse not to be there. Everybody watched each other to know those present and those who are not. This systematic coverage had the priest created in order to have full control on the inhabitants of the village. The village Dinki had 200 inhabitants and almost everybody knew each other. One particular person who knew almost everyone was indubitably the priest. He felt like a supervisor over the village and above all as a guide to the whole village. Sometimes when he stood outside the church and looked down on the village, he could feel the power as a bubble around him. He feels powerful, as powerful as a king or president. He liked this powerful feeling.

    There were no rules on where to sit in the Church, but always ended that men sat next to each other, and women and girls did the same; they sat on the same side, but except Saron who sat next to her father. She held his hand when she was in the church. This gave her safety to sit next to the one who loved her very much. The men, the women and the girls who saw Saron did not understand why she sat next to her father in the middle on the men's side. No one thought that it was okay, even when there is no regulation that one must sit in a particular place. Saron often noticed the evil glances she got from women when she came in to the church or when she went out of the church, but regardless of their evil glances, she refused to sit in any other place than beside her father. She did not care what others think.

    As long as what you do or say will not affect someone else, then you have the right to do or say it. It's called self-freedom. Her father used to say. After the Church, usually the priest used to be invited for lunch with someone, but today, he and other men went to visit The Alazar's without their prior knowledge. Alazar was surprised at the unexpected visit of a number of people. When Alazar saw that there was a priest, a father and a son, he had no difficulty in putting the puzzle together. He knew that this was about Saron.

    The first person who stepped into the house was the priest. As soon as he stepped in, he took out from his pocket, a ten-centimeter long silver cross and directed the cross against different angle to bless the home. Then the other guests stepped in as well and sat. Saron sat next to her father and saw the intense look on the faces of the new visitors. The priest was a tall and handsome man in his fifties. He wore a black round hat, white clothes with black coat. The major things which made him more elegant were his long white beard and white teeth. Now his eyes directed to Alazar.

    Ato (Mr) Alazar, we are sorry that we had to come to your house without informing you of an unexpected visit. The major reason is that we do not want to wait because this matter is very urgent.

    The priest now began to direct his eyes against Saron.

    Everyone sees that the girl has become mature and she's ready to build a family, which is the will of God, that when she is ready, she will follow the will of God ... and that is to give a child. I am sure that many have already expressed their interest in her, but I think as a priest who knows everyone better than anyone else in our society; I know who is good for her.

    He turns to the right and pointed to a young man of about thirty-five years.

    It's this man. He is a good person and I know the family well.

    The thirty-five year old man who has a rectangular formed face, bald and his incisors had gaps between each other, began to look and smile to Saron.

    Saron did not like his smile

    Are you kidding? You...my God...Why are you smiling at me? You fool! You don`t even know me...do you think I am a sheep or a goat, like you just pick me up and go home...you...crazy old man...I will study...and become a teacher....you hear me...nobody can take away my dream...no body...stop smiling now. Please, it’s embarrassing...Jesus!

    As soon as the man smiled at her, she holds her father's hand as she always did. Her father had understood her concern and to reassure her, he squeezed a little more on her hand.

    Then the priest continues with his talk.

    Yes, what do you say? I know ...I know ... You don't have to thank me for this ... it is my duty as a priest in order to create love between people ... right...and...If I may?...

    Her father stretched his back while his hand still holds Saron.

    The answer is no, he said briefly

    The priest looked desperately but spontaneously, he asked Alazar

    Okay then ... Am I missing something? Did she make a promise someone else? Who is he if I may ask? Or is there....

    No one Replied her father, and repeated again ... No one... She will not marry him or anyone else ... She will continue her school and when she is done with that, then she is the only one who will choose her husband...The one she loves ... that is it ... I don't have anything more to add... said Alazar

    The priest looked like he was very confused. He turned to the other two to see their reactions. They looked just as confused as he. The priest turns again and looked to Alazar.

    It feels very uncomfortable to hear this. I've never heard anyone talk this way. Not in our village or anywhere else. What you are saying is against the will of God ... it's just that ...the.....

    What is the will of God? asked Alazar.

    In this case, is that a girl should serve her husband when she is mature which she is, your daughter. replied the priest, while he looked intensively at Saron.

    In my interpretation, it is only love that is God's will. Everything you do should be done with love and nothing else he replied firmly.

    My son ... you cannot create your own interpretation of the will of God ... This is against the will of God ... I am very disappointed in you ... not only that you refused our proposal, but also that you are analyzing God’s work so wrong. I would not let a person like you in my church, said the priest and then he stood up while he looked the other two. As soon he did, they stood up as well.

    Now was Saron’s turn to smile at the rectangle face man who wants to marry her, while he was staring at her with an angry look. He was very sure everything will go well like he planned. This was something he had planned and wished for a long time. Now he was very disappointed and angry.

    I told you...you’ve come to the wrong house and dealing with the wrong person....My father will not let it happen as others wish....we do as we wish and as we want........goodbye...go now and stop steering me.....

    The villagers went to the church, not only to listen to the word of God, but also to show the same affiliation with other people. Everyone who lived in the village acted like a big family. No one wants to be outside of it, and concerned that everybody could do as everyone else and, above all, as the priest wanted to. It was a statute in the village. Alazar had two choices. He is going to live as everyone else, and be controlled by the church and others, or listen to his inner voice. He knew himself that he will pay a high price for not obeying the priest, but to the girl he loves, he knows he can sacrifice everything.

    Suddenly, he rose up as well.

    Thank you, gentlemen for your interest, but I have said what I want to say….I have nothing more to say….even if it costs me a great deal. I'll take the risk. Said Alazar.

    You're going to regret it much later. We are very disappointed with you, said the priest while he went out with other two.

    Alazar did not say anything while they went out. Now Alazar looked to Saron while he still held her hands. He looked at her with a sharp eye.

    Regardless of what others do or say, I will never let you live like other girls, as housewives with no education .... Never.... You will go to school and graduate. You are going to live a completely different life than many others girls in this village.

    Thank you father she said, and then she hugs him.

    Rumor of Alazar’s responses to the priest spread fast throughout the village. People wanted to show their sympathy for the priest, by ignoring and counteract Alazar and his daughter. Alazar did not bother about how others behave towards him. He focused only on his work, which was growing various vegetables and selling in the village's market. The money he earned was used to purchase, sugar, salt and other food supplies. He took the vegetable that was left home.

    The only time that Alazar and Saron felt a little bit weak and reluctant was on Sunday morning when the whole village was in the Church. But nothing could prevent Alazar to be near God this morning. He thought that God can not only be in the house they called the church. God is everywhere and in all of us. He said in his mind.

    On this Sunday morning, Alazar asked Saron to read a paragraph from the New Testament. She did read one piece to her father. They did exactly the same as the Church did. They had built their own church in their home.

    To live a life outside of society and not to be with Sunday Church wasn't Alcazar’s primary concern. His primary concern was Saron's safety.

    Women and young girls' everyday works include bringing water and wood down from the mountain. Often, the women or the girl has a female companion. The company was not just to have someone to chat with, but it was also for safety. It had happened

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