He was asked to name fruits
with their native colors.
He did not know what to say.
He tried to deny the unexpected request
but they insisted.
He was assured many times there was nothing to fear.
It was just a regular test he had to pass to be qualified.
He hesitantly agreed.
They quickly brought a translucent bowl of fruit.
A colorless rainbow suddenly refracted over his face.
He closed his eyes.
After a few moments of silence,
he started to feel the colors.
Peacefully he called the bananas blue,
the grapes brown,
the strawberries beige,
and the oranges white.
He opened his eyes,
looked at them and smiled.
He has been confined for twenty years.
Every year he takes the test
and every time he is asked to reconsider.
He looks at them and smiles.
© 2009 Khaled KE Mahmoud
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