Chapter 6: Changes

Who he was, where he was and what he was doing had not fully dawned on him. For a moment, he thought perhaps he was dead again, for inside Solomon's mansion looked like heaven. The stars shimmered above them, the moon shone brightly too and although they were all artificial, its effects had been quite startling. They were having grilled chicken, potato fries and green salad for dinner. Simon licked his spoon savoring the tastiness of the food. For so long he had not tasted anything this good. The table was made of glossy ceramic which was shimmering with golden glitters scattered all around it like tiny grains of sand. Simone watched in awe as her brother ate ravishingly. 

"That's unlike you," Simone said. "You don't eat meat!"

Simon paused, assimilating the information and then said, "Why?"

"You're a vegetarian," Simone replied in shock. 

Simon scoffed, "Yeah right. Well I'm not any longer. Starting today I will eat meat."

Simone smiled at her brother silently questioning what was the matter with him. She dug into her brother's bowl of salad and groaned depressingly. She had vowed to start eating right but it was as difficult as climbing a tree was for a fish. Suddenly, the phone somewhere down the corridor erupted with a sharp ring. Simon was again startled. What was a landline doing in a house like this? Everyone had a private android phone. 

"Don't worry I'll answer it," Simone said, rising. On her way she patted her brother on the shoulder. 

She reached the phone and picked up the call. 

"Hello," Simone said softly.

"Aāllō," Hello, a deep intoned voice said in Arabic. "Kayfa hālik?" How are you?

"Sorry, this is a wrong number," said Simone as she hung up. 

As she approached the table Simon turned to her and said, "Who was that?"

"Dunno, just somebody who was speaking ara-"

The phone rang violently and Simone swore under her breath. She did not know Simon had followed behind her. As she was about to receive the call in a furry Simon placed a palm over hers and took the receiver from her. 

"Aāllō, kayfa hālak?" the voice repeated. 

"Fine," Simon said. "Asālam alaykum." Peace be upon you. Simone recoiled in shock. Did her brother learn to do certain things during the coma? How was he speaking Arabic?

"Wa' alaykum as-salām." And also with you said the voice on the other end of the receiver. Simone, eager to hear the discussion, pressed herself to her brother's side. 

"Tallama Inglezi?" Do you speak English? said Simon. 

"Yes I speak that," the man replied. "What is your name?"

"Ismee Simon," Simon said, stroking his sister's hair. 

"Great!" the voice boomed enthusiastically. "Just the person I needed to speak with."

"Speak with me about?" Simon asked, surprised. "What is your name?"

"Peter Brooklyn," the man said, sounding like he was revealing a top secret. "I have urgent news for you but I sense that you're not alone. We should meet at the Breakfast and Bed restaurant on Pearl Street tomorrow morning. The Egyptian man sent me to you."

Simon's eyes widened and he said rapidly, "Takalam bel' Arabia le kay la yafhamo." Speak in Arabic so they don't understand. 

"There's no need. However you mustn't reveal what the Egyptian said to anyone," Peter Brooklyn said and the line went dead. 

Simon stood transfixed for a moment

 Simone waved her hands in his face and said, "Hello?"

"Yeah sorry I, I was just wondering about something," he said as he walked back to the dining room. 

"When did you learn to speak Arabic and who is the Egyptian man?" Simone asked as she sat down. 

"I was learning before I had my accident," Simon lied. "The Egyptian? Oh I wouldn't worry about him. He is just some old man I'm helping out after teaching me Arabic."

"Right," Simone said. "Guess what? Nevermind you suck at guessing anyways. I saw this hot man in the Breakfast and Bed restaurant the night you came out of your coma."

"Really? Tell me about him."

"He's hot, okay I've mentioned that. I don't know much but he said his name is Kane. He was at our party although I don't recall seeing him. I think I have a crush on him. I'll follow you tomorrow to the restaurant, maybe he will have breakfast there too. I'm dying to see him again."

"I share in your delight dear sister but please I want to meet with Peter in private as requested. So are you planning on asking him out?"

"Well I think he has someone," Simone said with a resigned sigh. "She's really beautiful by the way."

"So why are you going after someone who already has somebody?" Simon said, pouring himself a glass of soda.

"As ladies, some of us have an impeccable taste in men, and when we don't have what we crave, we just can't settle for less. She's just not craving him I can tell."

"I see," Simon said. "We could check in on Kane in the evening. If it's his habit to eat at the restaurant there are more chances of seeing him at night."

"Okay," Simone replied, stealing the glass of fruit juice Simon had poured for himself. She downed its content with guilty pleasure. 

Simon laid in his bedroom thinking about Peter Brooklyn. He wondered if any of it was real? He had a hard time distinguishing reality from dreams. Had he really awoken from his coma? He wondered. He shook his head and pinched himself feeling every bit of the pain. Right, so it was real. Then how come somebody else knew about his dream on the island. He recognized himself but part of him felt like he was somebody else. How could he speak a language other than English? How was he able to eat meat? He knew he should not eat it but he was overcome with a feeling of desire. When he ate it it tasted like magic.