Pareen. A creature she referred to as a fairy, but I came to realize was a Jinni, like genies of old tales and the hoofed-foot mischief maker of folklore. Pareen had a strong interest in the affairs of humans.
I felt it, then. I was being followed. I turned quickly and saw a stone creature amble towards me. This time it wasn’t trying to hide. Not until a motorcycle roared in the distance and the creature was spooked off. I walked towards where I last saw it. Slowly, trying not to frighten it. But the motorcycle was louder and louder. Until it stopped. Next to me.
"What are you up to?" the rider asked.
I was about to tell him to mind his own business, but took a good look at him first. His unshaved beard, well, the little of it he had managed to grow at his age, casual clothes, and white and black scarf pegged him as a member of the morality police. I tensed with apprehension as he approached. I’d heard stories about these guys and though I wasn't frightened, I just didn't want trouble. Anyway, I was wearing a brand new designer dress shirt that I really didn't want to get dirty.
The boy eyed me warily and I remained expressionless. It would be more convenient if I didn't have to beat him up.
"What is going on here?" He spoke Persian in a rough village accent that made me cringe.
"Nothing is going on, sir. I simply couldn't sleep so I am taking a walk."
"Are you coming home from a party?"
"No, I’m wandering. I like Tehran, it is a nice city to visit and I wanted to experience it at night. Is what I’m doing illegal?"
"Where are you visiting from?"
"Canada."
"Show me your passport."
"My passport is being held by my hotel, of course."
I couldn't tell if my answers satisfied the young man.
As if nervous about something, he looked around to make sure no one was watching. He spoke to me in a barely decipherable English. "Amreeka is a great land for opportunity, but they are very, very bad people, yes?"
"Everywhere has its share of good and bad people."
"Yes, but here we do something about the bad people. I work hard to guide my fellow citizen to be moral. In Amreeka no one guides the people. It is very sad." The man took a handful of sunflower seeds out of his pocket and popped one into his mouth. He spat out the shell before continuing to talk. "I wish to go to Amreeka one day. You stay safe and have a nice night, my friend."
He hopped on his motorcycle, gave me one last searching look and sped off.
That didn't exactly go as I’d expected. Hopefully the paranormal encounters I wished for tonight would also be easier than expected.
I couldn't feel the presence anymore, however, so I continued walking. I went along for several street blocks before I felt it again. When I turned, I saw it. Again, he didn’t hide. He wanted me to see him. He wasn't exactly a dog. More like a small stone griffin, the likes of which one would find in the ruins of Persepolis. I knelt down and gently stuck my palm out, inviting him towards me. I was trying to attract him like a timid dog. He lowered his head and pawed closer. Once he got close enough that I could touch him, he shifted into a beautiful greyhound. Someone had created a Gargoyle out of a dog. The dog nodded his head southward a few times and I understood it wanted me to follow it. I chuckled to myself. No doubt tonight would be interesting.
For the next few hours, the dog led me through the city. He knew exactly where he wanted me to go and I followed. After a long walk, we entered Jinn territory in south Tehran. The deeper in I went, the more the very air around me was filled with desolation. This wasn't a place for humans. Even creatures like me felt too human, here. The dog shifted back into its griffin form just before we rounded a corner. The sun started to rise, illuminating the street with golden hues. There, only one home's garden wall remained completely intact. It suited the neighborhood, with its unkempt look, mostly made out of stone. Some
I felt it, then. I was being followed. I turned quickly and saw a stone creature amble towards me. This time it wasn’t trying to hide. Not until a motorcycle roared in the distance and the creature was spooked off. I walked towards where I last saw it. Slowly, trying not to frighten it. But the motorcycle was louder and louder. Until it stopped. Next to me.
"What are you up to?" the rider asked.
I was about to tell him to mind his own business, but took a good look at him first. His unshaved beard, well, the little of it he had managed to grow at his age, casual clothes, and white and black scarf pegged him as a member of the morality police. I tensed with apprehension as he approached. I’d heard stories about these guys and though I wasn't frightened, I just didn't want trouble. Anyway, I was wearing a brand new designer dress shirt that I really didn't want to get dirty.
The boy eyed me warily and I remained expressionless. It would be more convenient if I didn't have to beat him up.
"What is going on here?" He spoke Persian in a rough village accent that made me cringe.
"Nothing is going on, sir. I simply couldn't sleep so I am taking a walk."
"Are you coming home from a party?"
"No, I’m wandering. I like Tehran, it is a nice city to visit and I wanted to experience it at night. Is what I’m doing illegal?"
"Where are you visiting from?"
"Canada."
"Show me your passport."
"My passport is being held by my hotel, of course."
I couldn't tell if my answers satisfied the young man.
As if nervous about something, he looked around to make sure no one was watching. He spoke to me in a barely decipherable English. "Amreeka is a great land for opportunity, but they are very, very bad people, yes?"
"Everywhere has its share of good and bad people."
"Yes, but here we do something about the bad people. I work hard to guide my fellow citizen to be moral. In Amreeka no one guides the people. It is very sad." The man took a handful of sunflower seeds out of his pocket and popped one into his mouth. He spat out the shell before continuing to talk. "I wish to go to Amreeka one day. You stay safe and have a nice night, my friend."
He hopped on his motorcycle, gave me one last searching look and sped off.
That didn't exactly go as I’d expected. Hopefully the paranormal encounters I wished for tonight would also be easier than expected.
I couldn't feel the presence anymore, however, so I continued walking. I went along for several street blocks before I felt it again. When I turned, I saw it. Again, he didn’t hide. He wanted me to see him. He wasn't exactly a dog. More like a small stone griffin, the likes of which one would find in the ruins of Persepolis. I knelt down and gently stuck my palm out, inviting him towards me. I was trying to attract him like a timid dog. He lowered his head and pawed closer. Once he got close enough that I could touch him, he shifted into a beautiful greyhound. Someone had created a Gargoyle out of a dog. The dog nodded his head southward a few times and I understood it wanted me to follow it. I chuckled to myself. No doubt tonight would be interesting.
For the next few hours, the dog led me through the city. He knew exactly where he wanted me to go and I followed. After a long walk, we entered Jinn territory in south Tehran. The deeper in I went, the more the very air around me was filled with desolation. This wasn't a place for humans. Even creatures like me felt too human, here. The dog shifted back into its griffin form just before we rounded a corner. The sun started to rise, illuminating the street with golden hues. There, only one home's garden wall remained completely intact. It suited the neighborhood, with its unkempt look, mostly made out of stone. Some
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