Commander

 

The morning was cool, with the sun's first gentle rays just beginning to touch the earth. Ismail and his loyal horse arrived, seeking work from the commander of the Cossack brigade. With his limited Russian, Ismail hoped to negotiate and secure some kind of employment.

 

The corner coffee shop was a bustling hub for Cossacks, early morning workers, chauffeurs, cart drivers, and those looking to hire. Ismail tethered his horse to a tree near a hardened date and coal vendor. The vendor, his hands dark with dust, meticulously wrapped sweet dates in old newspapers, selling only to those with at least one rial. Such customers were not too much.

 

Stepping into the coffee shop, Ismail was met with the thick scent of tobacco. He shrugged, scanning for the brigade commander. The sun's glare briefly shut his eyes. When he reopened them, he spotted a fit young man in a crisp uniform by a steaming samovar. Light-eyed and blond, the man sat calmly, a glass of black tea in one hand, a smouldering cigarette in the other, his gaze thoughtfully fixed on the open window.

 

"This must be him," Ismail thought. Adjusting his coat, he slowly approached the soldier. The commander noticed him but didn't change his posture, asking sharply, "What do you need?"

 

A lump formed in Ismail's throat, which he swallowed with difficulty. Gathering his resolve, he explained his desperate need for work. The commander looked at him, then silently glanced around before returning his gaze to the window. From there, he could see the familiar date seller and, beside him, Ismail's calm horse contentedly chewing hay. Perhaps the horse already sensed it would once again help its master navigate life's challenges.

 

"Yours?" the commander asked, nodding at the horse.

 

"Mine."

 

"You'll help me in the stable."

 

Days passed swiftly, and it turned out the commander also adored horses. Their friendship deepened with each new day. Ismail enjoyed the work, finding it brought him more pleasure than profit.

 

Almost every morning, Ismail met the commander in the stable. Together, they examined, fed, and cared for each animal.