Free Rose of Sarajevo by Ayse Kulin Page A

Serbs in the strongest possible terms not to use military force. So the Serbs have retreated, at least for the moment.”
    Fiko ran over and turned on the TV so that they wouldn’t miss the news. The entire family, with the exception of Hana, eagerly waited for the broadcast to start.
    “Mom, since you already know what’s going to be on the news, why do you have to watch it again?” Hana asked.
    There was no answer.
    “Mom. Mom! Why aren’t you presenting the news anymore? You used to be so good at it.”
    “Because your mother wants to be at home with her family in the evening,” her father said.
    “But I love watching Mom on TV.”
    “Stop it, Hana!” Fiko said. “Shut up so we can hear the news.”
    “You think you’re so special just because you got tall of a sudden,” Hana said. She lifted the cat off her lap and tossed him at Fiko.
    “Whoever got you a ca t . . . You kids don’t know what it is to love animals!” Raziyanım scolded.
    “Please be quiet while the news is on!”
    They held their breaths and watched.
    Afterward, Nimeta said, “Actually, Milošević doesn’t favor the army using armed force. Unlike the generals, he wants to carve up Yugoslavia, not unite it. The Serbs want to break away. That’s why he informed Kučan that he wouldn’t object if Slovenia declared its independence.”
    “He couldn’t care less what Slovenia does,” Burhan weighed in. “There’s no Serbian minority in Slovenia!”
    “They’ve reached an understanding. If Slovenia is allowed to go its own way, Kučan will vote the way Milošević wants him to on Croatia.”
    “And why not? Kučan’s not interested in Croatia’s internal affairs. He’s only interested in saving his own republic.”
    “But Tudjman’s gone berserk,” Nimeta said. “Because Milošević and Kučan are cutting deals without bothering to consult him.”
    “Dad, can you explain what’s going on? I don’t get it.”
    Fiko always asked for a personal summary of the day’s news. Hana thought him a bit thick. The beanpole! He was always asking silly questions.
    “Serbs are the majority in Knin and Krajina, which are both regions in Croatia,” Burhan explained. “If Tudjman demands autonomy for Croatia, he’ll have to sacrifice those two regions. Milošević has been hatching plans for a Serbian Republic for years now.”
    “And that’s why he’s prepared to reach an agreement with Kučan. You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.”
    Hana was fed up with all this talk of Croatia and the Croatians. Dinner was no fun anymore. When was the last time they’d laughed and talked about anything she was interested in? They wouldn’t even let her sing any of her new songs.
    “Come on, talk to me too,” Hana said, tugging on Fiko’s arm.
    “You’re too young to understand.”
    “No, I’m not. I understand everything. Go on.”
    “Kučan’s bargaining with Milošević in order to save his own ass,” Fiko said. “Do you understand?”
    “Go to your room this instant!” Burhan shouted. “Is that any way to talk in front of your elders? What kind of example are you setting for your little sister?”
    Fiko flushed. Raziyanım shook her head in resignation, as though to say, Let the boy be . But Hana decided to fan the flames with an impromptu chorus of, “Kučan’s as s . . . Kučan’s ass.”
    “If I catch you using that word again, I’ll rub red pepper on your mouth,” Nimeta said. “Off to your room. Both of you get out of my sight.”
    “And take your insolent cat with you,” Raziyanım called after the two children as they scuffled out of the room. “Pss t . . . pss t . . . Get away from my feet. I’ve already got a run in my stockings, thanks to you.”
    Burhan stifled his laughter. “This house’s cat is as ill-mannered as its children,” he said.
    “It’s only natural for children whose mothers work outside the house to grow up without any manners,” said Raziyanım.
    Nimeta bit her lip.