(The bean Trees and The Kite Runner)
All I could wonder was what was going to happen next... but knowing me I never knew the answer to that. My name is Taylor Greer. I am alone with a child I named Turtle, who happened to join me in the midst of my travels to the South. I have yet to find out more about her and why this woman just gave her up to me on the side of a gas station. I woke up to another dreary day in Tucson, Arizona as usual, but this time was different. I had a mission to get my life back on track and assure myself I can do whatever it is without worrying about making mistakes and having regrets.
Thankfully, I happened to pass by this “Jesus is Lord Used Tires” place and decided to finally fix the beat-down car I have been driving with no air in the tires. Coming out to help me was this Afghani-looking man who was maybe in his 30’s. I could tell by the look on his face he was eager to help me out. “Come to fix those flat tires of yours?” He says. I told him yes and he quickly went to work. He introduced himself as Amir and said he was only working there for a certain amount of time until he could get enough money to help raise his son. Since it only took about twenty minutes with the help of his fellow worker and owner of the place, Mattie, we had time to talk with one another.
“What’s her name?” Amir asked, pointing in the direction of Turtle. Turtle, I said. She’s actually not mine and it was a “being in the right place at the right time” kind of moment, which is why I ended up with her. I feel like I’ve had her forever. “Reminds me of my son.” He says. So why in the world are you in Tucson Arizona, in the middle of nowhere?” He replied by telling me a long and very informative story about how there was a lot happening in Afghanistan right now which is where he lives. He told me that he needed to find a quiet place where he can help get away from all of the madness happening in Afghanistan and since he’s been here, he actually met his wife, Soraya. He told me that she wasn’t able to have kids, so they ended up adopting one and they both decided to stay here in America to bring up their adopted son with no risks. Amir explained to me everything from how the Russians invaded, to how one of his best friends got shot to death along with his friend’s wife. “It was too much for myself to handle and I knew the best decision was to escape it all and maybe go back one day when my son grows older and everything calms down.” He even said how his dad, Baba, died of cancer.
“I could not even imagine going through what you went through”, I said to him. I told him he was the strongest person I knew, besides myself, that is. He told me that even though he had just met me he wanted to spill all of that information out to someone. I’m glad that that someone decided to be me because not only did I hear a great story that I will remember till the day I leave Earth, but I will always fight for myself and the people I love.
It was then time for me to continue my travels and leave this wonderful Afghani man, Amir who I met along the way. So far I am not regretting this decision to go off and do my own thing because in the end I am gaining more for myself. As we said our goodbyes I promised myself I was able to do anything I put my mind to.
