st　now；”　Hayriye　said。　“Your　grandfather　is　in　such

pain　and　disfort　it’s　clear　that　evil　spirits　have　taken　hold　of　him。　The　fever

of　the　illness　has　consumed　him。　Go　to　your　room　so　I　can　prepare　your　bed。”

Hayriye herded them into the room。 As she laid out the mattress and

spread　out　the　sheets　and　quilts；　she　was　going　on　as　if　every　object　she　held

was　a　marvel　unique　to　the　world；　and　muttering　about　how　sleeping　here　in　a

warm　room　between　clean　sheets　and　under　warm　down　quilts　would　be　like

spending　the　night　in　a　sultan’s　palace。

“Hayriye；　tell　us　a　story；”　said　Orhan　as　he　sat　on　his　chamber　pot。

“Once upon a time there was a blue man；” said Hayriye； “and his closest

panion　was　a　jinn。”

“Why　was　the　man　blue？”　said　Orhan。

“For goodness sake； Hayriye；” I said。 “Tonight at least don’t tell a story

about　jinns　and　ghosts。”

“Why shouldn’t she？” said Shevket。 “Mother； after we fall asleep do you

leave　the　bed　and　go　to　be　with　Grandfather？”

“Your　grandfather；　Allah　protect　him；　is　gravely　ill；”　I　said。　“Of　course　I　go　to

his　bedside　at　night　to　look　after　him。　Then；　I　return　to　our　bed；　don’t　I？”

“Have　Hayriye　look　after　Grandfather；”　said　Shevket。　“Doesn’t　Hayriye　look

after　my　grandfather　at　night　anyway？”

“Are　you　finished？”　Hayriye　asked　of　Orhan。　As　she　wiped　Orhan’s　behind