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Open Poetry #38
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I was traded for camels
| Open Poetry #38 |
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I was traded for camels |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia 
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The setting, the cast: early 70's in the Middle East real live spitting camels an expensive camera two adventurous souls and some nomadic Bedouins We were camped in the desert by the Red Sea, a small multi-national tribe of volunteer workers touring the shifting sands of the Sinai. My Dutch friend Tony spoke seven languages fluently enough to get us into trouble every day of the week. Tony and I decided to visit our nearest neighbors the illusive Bedouins camped at the dunes next door. We sat down on blankets and rugs on the floor in a circle sharing a hookah and bizarre conversations. I grasped bits and pieces of sentences fronts and ends, occasional phrases but could not yoke enough together to comprehend. But Tony sure did. Time passed quickly in furtive glances, windmill gestures flew in the smoke and as Tony and I did take a toke, he casually began to plan his bizarre joke. My Dutch friend bantered and bartered easily. It seems no language barriers could stop his nefarious schemes. When I nudged him gently it was time to go, he shook his head, not yes, but no! I stood up to leave but was grabbed by a sleeve, pulled to nomadic ground amidst grinning faces all around. Tony headed quickly for the exit flap and shruggingly shaking his head he said, "Hey, they offered me 12 camels for you, what else could I do?" I complained loud and long, told him he was as good as dead unless he traded me back. But the Bedouins said it was a done deal, got mad and looked ready to smack Tony, then made Tony throw in his beloved Leica camera along with those 12 camelbacks to get me back. The flap opened up and we were allowed to escape. We moved our camp to a dune far, far away. That night poor Tony sang his "I miss my Leica" tune. And while I secretly plotted revenge, I grinned, for 12 camels had been a good price in those wild nomadic lands of the Sinai. |
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| © Copyright 2006 Kathleen Kacy Stafford - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Ella Blue Junior Member
since 2006-05-26
Posts 47 |
This is so cute! I've heard this has truly happened to several married couples, with them offering several good sturdy camels in exchange for the wife...I wonder how many wives never come back from the dessert  |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
  desert vs dessert? intentional?It's basically what happened to me. Tony was such a rascal, but not my husband. Nope, my husband at the time was...er, rather PO'd when we got back to camp. That is another story, but I won't say what happened. |
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Ella Blue Junior Member
since 2006-05-26
Posts 47 |
...laughing No the incorrect spelling was not intentional, but just a slip o' the wrong finger, and as for the rest of your story, it sounds like you may have a little Romancing the Stone in your blood. I bet that's a smashing tale! |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
lol, thanks Ella love that reply  |
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Magnus
since 2001-10-10
Posts 14135South Carolina, USA |
For me, they would be giving them away.... trying to keep me away... 12 camels? Not bad... |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
chuckling here, Barry |
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icebox Member Elite
since 2003-05-03
Posts 4383in the shadows |
Wow, good story...12 Camels, eh...and I would have held out for two cartons of Luckies, at least. |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
icebox, what a card you can be. MUAH for reading me.Lucky Strikes...dang, I remember my dad smoking those things...or rolling his own from that litle drawstring bag (Duram?) |
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The Lady Member Rara Avis
since 2005-12-26
Posts 7634The Southwest |
What a delightful tale Kacy. Of course I'd love to hear the other too.  Poor Tony's Leica. |
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