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Sunday story/ Maraqkat...

2024-06-30 15:23:00, Kulturë Agim Xhafka

Journalist Agim Xhafka

Chamomile in Korça is called maraqka. Until I grew up, that's what I called them too. I connected with them since I was in elementary school. When June came and the summer holidays started, I took an empty jar with me and started collecting maraqkas from the beginning of the stadium to near the cemetery of the French. With his knees on the ground, he plucks it and puts it in the jar and walks two cm. He walks the same way again.

The head lowered and the fingers collected the maraqkas. Yes, the pot was not filled until close to lunch. The sun reddened my neck, heated my head, but I didn't feel it. Because my eyes were on the maraqkas. One here, two there, one more and I almost screamed with joy as I saw the jar fill up. I didn't hang around anymore, I ran from the market, to where the bus agency is now.

A short, fat man was sitting at the door. He weighed the maraqka and gave me 1 new lek. The new banknote, one of the ironed ones, was shooting at me. That's how much the jar filled with junk was valued in those days. I took the money and ran home. I hid them in a book on the sideboard. After an hour I could see it again and slept comfortably at night. The dream with Lek and lip to ear.

- You laughed until the morning, - my grandmother used to tell me.

As soon as I fell asleep, I grabbed the bread with oil and salt, the jar and ran to collect maraqka. The days rolled by. The money was increasing and when school started I had collected 87 banknotes. There seemed to be 87 units, bright paper that made me happy. A big bunch that I tied with twine because it seemed to me that they would fly away when I was not at home. A lot of money for my age. I could buy e.g. two pairs of sneakers, for me and my brother. Or my brother's books, mine and two pairs of socks. I could buy my sister a coat because she was very small. Two shirts and a collar for the father, a dress and two winter coats for the mother. These accounts knocked my socks off. I was not even 10 years old, I got confused in numbers and desires and started to cry. The grandmother was glad.

- Are you sick, does something hurt?

I kept no secrets from her. I told him the problem. I saw that she was not giving a damn.

- Buy something for yourself, - he sealed it.

But for myself, I didn't want to spend the money. I wanted to please everyone. How? I was not finding this because I was not finding it.

Days passed and I was not tarring anything. I was ashamed to ask my father. the mother? She had it on the tip of her tongue, she would tell me, buy an hour of ice cream, get rid of it. Brother? Athletics, it was known. Sister? As soon as she started talking, she could not give me an opinion. Meanwhile, I went to the Lek book two or three times a day. I counted them and counted them. When I was returning to the kitchen from a routine count, I was about to open the door when I heard my mother saying to my grandmother:

- This winter Alajdin, (my father) we must definitely buy a coat. He spent the winter in a pea coat (they were thin coats like cigarette paper but very useful in those years). He has been sick with the lungs and another cold he cannot bear. I have most of the money, I have sewn a lot of decks and mattresses these months. I also made two quilts for Genta's dowry. We need 80 and we will buy them.

- Kismet, - said the grandmother.

That day I understood why my father coughed so often, even though he got tired so quickly. Impulsively, I went to my lek book. I took 80 ALL and ran to my mother.

- I heard you about dad's coat, take it!

When she saw me, she didn't hesitate, she took them. Apparently, I had shown my heart's love for my father on my face. I looked so determined that mother acted instinctively. The three of us were crying and laughing. Mother, grandmother, me. Sister gugu, gigi, could not be understood between gasping and screaming. But I didn't stay like that for long. I broke away from my mother's chest and ran to Jan from the sweet shop.

- A box of Turkish delight and the others candies, - I said and handed over the 7 lek that I had left.

I entered the house with my head held high. I left the package on the table, wished the family, and myself:

- May the father be healthy!

When my winter came, he carried a heavy coat on his shoulders. In those days, thick GUB coats were in fashion. But the father, whenever he was asked, said:

- Mine is called "Palto Maraqka".

And he looked at me. And he laughed. And we both rejoiced...