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After the border towns, Tehran

became the bombers’ main target.Together with the other people in ourbuilding, we turned the basement intoa shelter. Every time the siren rangout, everyone would run downstairs…

Put your cigarette out. They say that the glow ofa cigarette is the easiest thing to see from the sky.

but we’re in the basement here!

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Well? Well?

No one’sanswering !

I’m fine!

Oh those poor people!Lucky nothinghappened to you !

Hewants to talk to you !

After the bombs and the instinctive fear of death, you’dthink of the victims and another kind of anxiety seized you.

And once it was over…

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It wasn’t just the basements. The interiors of homes also

changed. But it wasn’t only because of the Iraqi planes .

Mom, what’re you doing?

The masking tape is to protectagainst flying glass during abombing and the black curtains areto protect us from our neighbors .

Whatneighbors?

Across the street. They’retotally devoted to the newregime. A glimpse of what goeson in ourhousewould be enoughfor them to denounce us!

You knowTinoosh’sdad?

Tinoosh, yeah.Whatabout him?

The other night , two Guardiansof the Revolution patrols paid thema visit.

Someone told usyou were planninga party. You knowthat it’s strictlyforbidden!

…They found records and video-cassettes at their place. A deckof cards, a chess set. In otherwords, everything that's banned.

Get your assinthe car.Move!

Excuse me, sir.

Shut up ,slut !

…It earned him seventy-five lashes . His wife cried so much

that they finally lether off with a heftyfine. But he can’t walkanymore…now you seewhy I’m putting upthe curtains . Withthe parties we haveon Thursdays and thecard games on Mondays,we have to be careful .

Um…

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In spite of all the dangers , the parties went on. “Without them it wouldn’t be

psychologically bearable ,” some said. “Without parties , we might as well just bury ourselvesnow,” added theothers. My uncle invited us to his house to celebrate the birth of my cousin .Everyone was there . Even grandma was dancing.

Awww! No more music!

Don’t worry about it !I’ll go get the zarb.

A zarb is a kind of drum. My fatherplayed it very well. Like a pro .

We had everything. Well,everything that wasforbidden .Even alcohol, gallons of it.

My uncle was the vintner.He had built a genuine wine-making lab in his basement.

Mrs. Nasrine, who was alsohis cleaning lady, crushedthe grapes .

Godforgive me!

Godforgive me!

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Suddenly, sirens started to wail… …and my Aunt did too.

It’s alright, stay calm!

I found myself with the newborn baby wehad been celebrating in my arms .

Her mother had already abandoned her .

Since that day, I’ve had doubts about theso-called “maternal instinct.”

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After the alert, we went home .

She’s completely nuts! Did yousee how she dropped the baby?That was pretty incredible!

My poorbrother

isn’t exactlyspoiled .

Halt !Halt !

open the door andget out !

ID , registration anddriver’s license .

OK . OK .

Go Ahhh .

Ahh…

Been drinking,have we!!?!!

No,absolutely not!

You think I’m stupid ?!!!…I can tell by your tie! Pieceof westernized trash !

I won't takethat from you.For twentyyears I’veworked forthiscountry andyou dare to talkto me like that?

Forgive him .

Shut up !

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Forgive hi

m. Lis

ten, I c

ould

be your mother . How oldare you? Sixteen ?…My daughter is twelve…forgive him…

You’re lucky to have thiswoman for yourwife , other-wise you’dalready be in hell!

Thanks,Thanksso much!

You say you haven’t beendrinking. We’re going tosee what you have at home .

grandma! Marji! When we’rehome, get out first. I’ll try tostall him. Flush all the alcoholdown the toilet.

Buthow?

Don’t worrydear. I'm usedto it. When yourfather was alive,I was alwayshiding his tracts.

they followed us all the way home.

must you reallycome upstairs?our eldery neighborhas a heart condition.If he's frightenedby the noise, it couldkill him .

where doyou twothink you'regoing ?

hurry up!

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I have diabetes, my boy.If I don't drink a little syrup,I'm going to faint.

diabetes , just likemymother!

so you understandit's urgent!

go ahead.

It was a miracle.

hurry up ! I don't knowhow much longer yourfather can stall them!

hurry!hurry!

And the final touch .

Herethey come !

where’stheguy?

where indeed! Their faithhas nothing to do withideology! A few billswere all he neededto forget thewhole thing!!

Hey, you didn’tthrow it all out?

Yep

Nomore?

Nope

My God !…I needa pick-me-up…

click !