"Yes, how did you know that?" "No, I didn't know for sure-I simply had a hunch." "You guessed correctly. Just think! In my dream, it was morning as I got out of bed and came into my living room. There sat my brother, as real as I am standing here. He smiled at me and said: 'I have come, and I want to see if I should remain.' In pure joy, I woke up. Now tell me, is that a phenomenon, or not?" "A miracle? No, to me it is something more like a completely natural occurrence." "After our conversation yesterday, I too felt comfortable about all of this. Yet in today's awakening, instantly after the dream, a thought came to me-almost as if this thought itself were to be the continuation of the dream. Do you know what my brother said to me in the previous dream I described to you?" "That he would send you a sign of his forgiveness." "Now then, do you recall the name of the child whom you met yesterday, the girl whom my son constantly talks about?" "Schamah, the Forgiveness!" My wife swiftly joined in: "Yes, that's true! That's exactly right! It might be-" Imitating Old Jew Eppstein, I quickly interrupted: "Pssst! Still! Pssst! Don't try to force some kind of mystery from all this. Although 'Schamah' means 'forgiveness,' at the same time, it's also a girl's name." Mustafa interjected: "But as Thar told me, the girl's mother comes from the region of Al Karak, and that place is in East Jordan, where my brother went." In order to divert him from this subject, I asked him: "So, did you and Thar talk about her today?"
"It was yesterday evening that we talked. Today, he was up early, but he said practically nothing. Whenever his thoughts are focused on his mother, he acts this way. It always keeps him preoccupied as he looks for some kind of gift he can give or a good deed that he can perform for someone. Off he went without having anything to eat or drink for breakfast. "Does he know that you are here with us?" "I don't think so. If he knew that he could visit you as often as he wanted, he would stay beside you for the entire day. I must confess that his heart dearly loves both of you. Ever since yesterday, I've seen changes in him. The young girl seems to have made an impression on him, and that baffles me." "Surely such a riddle is not a bad one?" "Oh no, it's especially very pleasant and welcome. Compared to ordinary times, I too have changed. Yesterday was a festival; yet for me, it's as if the celebration is just now happening. I feel the same joy that I felt in my boyhood-when something long-desired finally promises to come true. Isn't that strange? Isn't that laughable?"