24 Restless Hours

24 Restless Hours
If I were to write everything that happened to me in Tehran, it
would take several volumes and perhaps be dull. Therefore I will
recount only the last twenty-four hours which shouldn't be so
tiresome. Of course I must also tell you how it happened that
my father and I came to Tehran.
DEAR READERS
I didn't write the story "24 Restless Hours" to set an example
for you. My purpose is rather that you become better
acquainted with your fellow children and think about a
solution to their problems.
Samad Behrangi
My father had been out of work for several months. Finally he
and I left my mother, sister and brothers at home and went to
Tehran in hope of finding others from our hometown who had
been able to find work there. One acquaintance had an ice
stand. Another bought and sold used clothing, and a third was
an orange vendor.
My father also managed to obtain a hand cart and become a
vendor. He hawked onions, potatoes, cucumbers and other vegetables,
earning enough to provide us with a bit of food and send
something home to my mother as well. Sometimes I accompanied
my father on his rounds, and sometimes I hung around the
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