DON'T BUY A HOUSE, BUY A NEIGHBOR
“Our
elders used to say, ‘A neighbor needs even his neighbor’s ashes.’”
Human beings are created to live in harmony with social life. That’s why houses
are built side by side. Neighbors are our greatest support—both materially and
spiritually. When you leave the neighborhood you’ve lived in for years,
everything comes back to you like a movie reel. It feels as if you’ve left a piece of yourself behind.
Makbule
Hanım didn’t quite know how to feel either. Because of her husband’s job, they
had to move to a new city every five years. Everyone at home had gotten used to
this nomadic life. It was as if they carried their home on their backs like
turtles.
The
youngest son, Kerem, was the only one who never complained. For him, a new city
meant new friends—different food cultures, ancient sites to visit, new
libraries to explore…
The
preparations had begun once again. Boxes were being taped up and carefully
labeled. Each box held its own memories. Rasim Bey, in particular, took great
care with his encyclopedias. He would strictly warn the movers to place the
book boxes down gently.
While
emptying the kitchen shelves, Makbule Hanım drifted off into her thoughts.
Memories from the past five years flashed before her eyes like scenes from a
film. Every Sunday morning, she would gather her children at the breakfast
table. While waiting for them to sleep in a little longer, the scent of her
cheese pastries would fill the house. Kerem would follow the smell and sneak
pastries from under the cloth.
“Kerem,
you’ll burn your mouth, my boy!”
“But
they smell so good, Mom!”
“You’ll
blister your tongue; you won’t be able to eat for three days.”
“It’s
okay! I’ll just put on some of your healing St. John’s wort oil, and I’ll be
fine.”
“Enough
chatter! Take these plates and share the pastries with our neighbors.”
“You’re
like a soup kitchen, Mom! You always have to share our food.”
“Don’t
say that, son. The smell will reach them, and they’ll crave it. Besides, when I
gave birth, our neighbors cooked meals for us. They decorated the house for
your circumcision feast. During the holidays, they rolled grape leaves and made
pastries.”
“So
you’re saying it’s all about the neighbors, huh Mom?”
“Of course, my dear. You can never repay a neighbor’s kindness. Haven’t you
heard the saying: ‘Don’t buy a house, buy a neighbor’?”
Unable
to resist, İrem joined the conversation too:
“Mom,
your son is too easygoing. Everywhere we go, he finds new friends and neighbors
and forgets the old ones. He’ll never understand how much you value neighborly
bonds.”
Makbule
Hanım’s eyes filled with tears. With every box she sealed, she was packing away
another memory.
“Now,
a new city awaits us—with new neighbors and a new life,” she thought to herself.
“But will I be able to build the same kind of friendships there as I did
here?”
Just
as she sighed at the thought, Rasim Bey’s voice snapped her out of her
daydream.
“Makbule
Hanım, let’s pack some of those delicious pastries for the road.”
“Oh Rasim Bey, I’ve already prepared the picnic basket! But are you really
going to take us past Susurluk without stopping for toast and ayran?”
“Of course not! You’re my companion on this road—how could I deny you toast
and ayran?”
“Come on then, let’s say goodbye to our neighbors and slowly hit the road.”
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Yahya Hamurcu
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