They were about to leave, so he called her: You did not tell me what is your name, little one?
-Nubia.
-and he?
-Marwan.
He jokingly said: Your name is strange, while his name is not, perhaps he should look for another name.
Marwan: What does he say?
Nubia: He says your name is beautiful, but he is common, while mine is strange.
Marwan: Ask him about his name then.
Nubia: Sir, he asks you, what is your name?
He raised his hand in the air, proudly saying: It is written in front of you on the table, here, Baibars, Baibars’ ice cream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They sat on a park bench, far from the seller.
She almost finished her piece, she looked at him, he wasn’t eating, the ice cream started to melt on his hand, she said: what’s wrong with you?
Marwan: Would you prefer if my name was different from this? As the seller said,” A strange name like yours”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nubia enthusiastically: Yes, what do you think if we choose a name for you that no one knows except you and me, a fictitious, secret name?
His eyes sparkled as he liked the idea: Well, I will have two characters, one with the name of Marwan, and the second with a different name, which only we know, like stories of spies. They laughed with innocent spontaneity until they giggled.
He added: What do you suggest?
Nubia: Wow, super spy, takes care of me, and protects me wherever I go.
She began to think, then the name popped into her head: Baibars, your name will be Baibars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was silent for a moment, then whispered in a low voice: My mother is likewise.
-What is the matter with her?
She has a second personality.
With the enthusiasm and curiosity of children, she said: How!
Marwan: Sometimes I hear her talking to herself, another woman inside her, her name is Hatshepsut.
-Oh, my God! Who is this?
-I once overheard her say, “You ought to have died with my mother, you ought not to have moved in with me.”
She opened her mouth, gulping down her saliva: Zainab, my grandma? Was Hatshepsut with my granny earlier? Does it pose a threat?
-I don’t know, one of them is kind-hearted and very affectionate, and the other is extremely cruel. I don’t know which of them is my mother, and who is Hatshepsut, but I think that Hatshepsut is the cruel one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The girl fell silent, thinking about something\u2026
Innocently she said: I want a second character as well, like you and my grandmother and aunt, how do I get one?
Thinks a little: why would you want a second character? Baibars will protect you, you don’t need her.
She responded with sadness and rage: “What is the objection?!”
She raised her head to the sky: Maybe one-day Baibars will need help, then my second character will be ready.
With enthusiasm, he replied: Well, great, we’ll find another name for you, let’s look for one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He grabbed her hand and ran with her towards the wall of the compound, close to the street. He said: Look, let’s look for a name.
He motioned with his hand to a photograph of a woman with an unique haircut. He said, “What is the name of this store?”
Nubia: Solmaz Ladies Salon. Solmaz means “ageless young woman.”
-Nice, your second character’s name will be Solmaz.
They laughed with the naive spontaneity of children once more, and their eyes were so in tune that their shine shone brightly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Days later, their bond grew stronger.
When they are alone, each of them assumes his alternate identity.
Baibars the wise, strong, and brave.
Solmaz, the spunky, inquisitive, ageless beauty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n