In 2016, I said:
“Your nerd husband’s a big boy now, if you can’t already tell.
Also drawing this spread scared me a little in regards to how much Zey looks like his dad. Not in the same face way! But you can see how Efraim’s hawk-nosed, scruffy scrawniness is starting to take hold in middle age. Guess that means I designed the old man really well HAHA.”
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Rumeli is the Ottoman name for the Balkans (Eastern Europe), referring to the “Land of the Romans”.
↓ Transcript
Putting her book down, Ayse turns to her husband.
“Are you excited for tomorrow?” she asks, placing a hand on top of his.
Zeynel chuckles. “Yes, and no.”
Leaning to kiss Ayse on the forehead, he says, “I’m excited about travelling to a new place, and trading and buying some new designs for the shop… but not too eager about leaving home!”
Safiye idly interrupts this sweet exchange between her guardians. “Well, here’s hoping the Rumeli trip won’t be a flop…”
She shrugs, pushing her lips into an expression of speculative worry. “Who knows what they are like? Are they picky? Imagine going all the way there to come back with nothing.”
Ayse gently reprimands her charge. “Safiye, stop! You’ll make him anxious.”
Safiye blinks. “Just being honest.”
Zeynel sighs and rolls his eyes in amusement. “Aw, Ayse, I think I can take care of myself now. Anyway, it’s all good. I did promise her I’d get her one carpet. She has every right to be worried.”
Ayse squeezes his hand reassuringly. “But you know everything will turn out fine, right? Things always worked out for us in the end.”
Gently, she reminds him, because he has always needed that reminder, “I believe in you.”
Zeynel softly smiles and reaches to touch Safiye’s wrist, wanting to share the reassurance.
He says, “Inshallah. It’ll all work out.”
“Are you excited for tomorrow?” she asks, placing a hand on top of his.
Zeynel chuckles. “Yes, and no.”
Leaning to kiss Ayse on the forehead, he says, “I’m excited about travelling to a new place, and trading and buying some new designs for the shop… but not too eager about leaving home!”
Safiye idly interrupts this sweet exchange between her guardians. “Well, here’s hoping the Rumeli trip won’t be a flop…”
She shrugs, pushing her lips into an expression of speculative worry. “Who knows what they are like? Are they picky? Imagine going all the way there to come back with nothing.”
Ayse gently reprimands her charge. “Safiye, stop! You’ll make him anxious.”
Safiye blinks. “Just being honest.”
Zeynel sighs and rolls his eyes in amusement. “Aw, Ayse, I think I can take care of myself now. Anyway, it’s all good. I did promise her I’d get her one carpet. She has every right to be worried.”
Ayse squeezes his hand reassuringly. “But you know everything will turn out fine, right? Things always worked out for us in the end.”
Gently, she reminds him, because he has always needed that reminder, “I believe in you.”
Zeynel softly smiles and reaches to touch Safiye’s wrist, wanting to share the reassurance.
He says, “Inshallah. It’ll all work out.”
