Egypt's central bank hosts Iraqi delegation to boost cooperation on fintech, supervision    Egypt's FM, Palestinian PM visit Rafah crossing to review Gaza aid    EGP edges lower against USD in early Monday trade    Egypt delivers over 30 million health services through public hospitals in H1 2025    Egypt joins Geneva negotiations on Global Plastics Treaty, calls for urgent agreement    Egypt, Japan discuss economic ties, preparations for TICAD conference    Egypt's PM tells Palestinian PM that Rafah crossing is working 24/7 for aid    Real Estate Developers urge flexible land pricing, streamlined licensing, and dollar-based transactions    Madinet Masr in talks for three land plots in Riyadh as part of Saudi expansion    Escalation in Gaza, West Bank as Israeli strikes continue amid mounting international criticism    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt, UNDP discuss outcomes of joint projects, future environmental cooperation    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    After Putin summit, Trump says peace deal is best way to end Ukraine war    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt's govt. issues licensing controls for used cooking oil activities    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Egypt's Sisi: Egypt is gateway for aid to Gaza, not displacement    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



‘Tomorrow is the Feast'
Published in The Egyptian Gazette on 05 - 02 - 2010

"TOMORROW is the Feast," which has been named as one of the ten most famous short stories in the Egypt and the Middle East, has been translated into Italian.
Critic Maria Luisa Albano, a literature professor at Rome University, added my story to her book "Il Cavallo", which was shown at the prestigious Turin book fair.
Professor Albano said that "Tomorrow is the Feast" highlighted the fact Egypt has creative writers, who deserve the highest ranks.
Now I would like to tell you my story, which goes a little something like this:
"Tomorrow is the feast... God. My brothers and I will go and play in the gardens. We will eat ice cream. We will play football, and take some pictures. We will ride the swings .. I will wear my new clothes.
Have you seen my new clothes, which my father bought for me yesterday? They are great. Wait until I put them on.
"I ran quickly to the wall closet. I grabbed a shirt and a pair of trousers. No, these are not mine. They belong to my brother, Omar. This is my sister Fatima's dress. Ah, here they are.
These are my clothes. I will put them on now. "My mother came into the room and shouted at me: You have made a mess! Put everything back in its place!
"I did as I was told. I jumped into my bed and I slept. I was dreaming of my new clothes. I was anxiously waiting for the morning.
"In the morning, we prayed at the mosque. When we returned home, the door bell rang. My sister Fatima ran to the door. She opened it. Uncle Nasser, she joyfully cried.
"Uncle Nasser stumbled because we all ran to hug him at the same time. He smiled at us and said: Take it easy kids. I will listen to you all.
"No one talked. We ran back to the wall closet. We returned to him again. Each one of us were carrying the new clothes.
"Uncle Nasser looked at the clothes with admiration and said: Beautiful. Put them on and let us go out together.
"We cried with joy in one voice. Shall we ride the swings? Shall we take photos. Shall we do this? Shall we do that?
"Yes, Yes, he said. We will do all that. Please hurry up and get dressed.
"We raced back to our bedroom. We were in a race against
time to put on our new clothes.
"Meanwhile, my father, mother and uncle Nasser sat together. My father asked Uncle Nasser: Will you take the three children with you?
Uncle Nasser answered him back with astonishment: Of course. I will take all of them.
"We came back. We are ready to go out with you uncle Nasser.
"But while we were ready to go, we heard my father saying:
They are too many. They will get lost in the crowd. Then, he talked directly to my uncle: Take Fatima and Omar only.
There is no need to take Ahmed with you. "My heart skipped a beat. Uncle Nasser told me to stay with my father and mother. "They will take you out and you will enjoy being with them more than going out with me," he said.
"I saw uncle Nasser opening the door and taking Omar and Fatima with him. He told me that I was a polite boy because I did not cry or shout. It was painful to see the three of them go out and leave me behind. My father was indifferent to what had happened. But my mother, saw the sparkling tears in my eyes and took me into her arms. I began sobbing aloud.
"My father said: stop it. We will take you out. Stop this noise. My mother kept soothing me. She was telling me: Do not cry my love. Do not cry.
"Inside my chest, there was a burning question: "Why cangrown ups not appreciate young people's feelings and emotions?" Abdel-Fattah is an Egyptian writer for children
[email protected]


Clic here to read the story from its source.