Qabihah Says I Am Beautiful But Deadly --- Like The Oleander
Dear Readers,
I was the most beautiful girl in Cairo decades ago --- many, many decades ago in the past century before the Great War, even before the British came to Egypt. My reputation spread far and wide, though I was clad in a black abaya like all young girls and did not appear in public. My father was wealthy, so I received countless suitors who vied with each other for my hand in marriage.
My father decided I was to marry a rich banker who already had three wives and join his harem. I was to be the youngest and the most nubile. But I thought he was hideous. I glimpsed him when I sneaked out of my room and peeked down through the latticework at him as he talked to my father in the garden in the atrium of our house. So when I was introduced to him at dinner and then was left alone in the garden with him and his roving hands fondled me and pinched me, I decided I would not marry him.
I went to my father and told him of my resolve. He barked at me and told me I would marry the man he chose. I saw how it was, so I would have to resist the marriage on my own. I walked in our garden alone for three whole afternoons before a pink flower blew down in my path and caught my attention. I looked up and beheld the tallest oleander bush on our property.
I looked down at the fragile pink blossom and saw power, power to assert my will. I pretended to go along with my father's decision to marry the rich old banker. But the next time I was left alone with him I let him kiss me. I made sure he brushed his lips against my right cheek.
The next day my father came to me in tears. He announced the death of the banker. The marriage was off. I had freed myself with the use of nerium, or oleander.
I will tell you more stories about myself and how my power grew as I learned the possibilities of that most poisonous of all plants of the Mediterranean.
Sincerely yours,
Qabihah, Witch of Cairo
P.S. Read about me in Dora, Lady Ware's, memoir entitled Hitler's Daughter.
I was the most beautiful girl in Cairo decades ago --- many, many decades ago in the past century before the Great War, even before the British came to Egypt. My reputation spread far and wide, though I was clad in a black abaya like all young girls and did not appear in public. My father was wealthy, so I received countless suitors who vied with each other for my hand in marriage.
My father decided I was to marry a rich banker who already had three wives and join his harem. I was to be the youngest and the most nubile. But I thought he was hideous. I glimpsed him when I sneaked out of my room and peeked down through the latticework at him as he talked to my father in the garden in the atrium of our house. So when I was introduced to him at dinner and then was left alone in the garden with him and his roving hands fondled me and pinched me, I decided I would not marry him.
I went to my father and told him of my resolve. He barked at me and told me I would marry the man he chose. I saw how it was, so I would have to resist the marriage on my own. I walked in our garden alone for three whole afternoons before a pink flower blew down in my path and caught my attention. I looked up and beheld the tallest oleander bush on our property.
I looked down at the fragile pink blossom and saw power, power to assert my will. I pretended to go along with my father's decision to marry the rich old banker. But the next time I was left alone with him I let him kiss me. I made sure he brushed his lips against my right cheek.
The next day my father came to me in tears. He announced the death of the banker. The marriage was off. I had freed myself with the use of nerium, or oleander.
I will tell you more stories about myself and how my power grew as I learned the possibilities of that most poisonous of all plants of the Mediterranean.
Sincerely yours,
Qabihah, Witch of Cairo
P.S. Read about me in Dora, Lady Ware's, memoir entitled Hitler's Daughter.
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