TE23 Double Feature

Selim Özdo ğan

52 Factory Lane

‘It’s your fault I’m so fat.’ Fuat stares at her, amazed that she’s suddenly answering back. He’s even more amazed by her accusation, which he’s never heard before. Before he can come up with a response, Gül tells him: ‘It was you who came along with the pill, “Here you go, I’ve got something for you, so we don’t have to be careful any more.” Without me going to see a doctor. It’s those pills that have made me swell up, those hormones or whatever they are. Who knows where you got them. And anyway, maybe you don’t like fat women, maybe you do want a slim blonde wife. But shall I tell you something for a change? I like men with hair on their heads, not baldies. You can’t always pick and choose what you get. You hear me? Men with a full head of hair!’ Fuat jerks his glass upwards, but he doesn’t pull back to hit her. Gül stands in front of him and looks him in the eye, and before the defeat she sees there turns into disaster, she leaves the room. Later that evening, Yılmaz will say to Fuat: ‘That’s how I like it; you’re learning to drink now, my friend, just savouring it in 208

peace, not getting louder with every sip you take.’ And Saniye will say to Gül: ‘It’s better, honest. The old one drank and beat me, and this one just drinks. God forbid, but if I ever marry again, perhaps the Lord will send me a husband who doesn’t do either. But who knows what flaws he’d have then? A man like Serter who’s lost his marbles isn’t what you’d want either. Your lahmacun is delicious by the way – may your hands always be healthy.’ Fuat will never say anything about Gül’s figure again. Nor Gül about his bald head. Women might pose in front of the mirror to inspect their new clothes or put on makeup, but it’s men who are made vulnerable by vanity. ‘That’s not a telephone,’ Ceyda says, ‘Where are the numbers?’ ‘This one doesn’t have numbers,’ Fuat replies. ‘What? None at all? So you can only get calls from other people?’ ‘Who’s your dede going to call anyway?’ Gül asks. ‘Who else here has a telephone?’ 209