Open: 6:00 AM. A dark room,
two floors above a gradually bustling street. Alarm clock sounds. Outside light
pours in through a small crack
between blinds.
Mustafa: (Arising from his
sturdy slumber)
Another day. Oh boy, that felt like a 10 minute nap.
Damn the cat snuck in again last night. (Stares absentmindedly at the hole
in the windowsill, evidence of clawing at his previous inadequate patch job). Well first things first. Have to keep the critters
out.
(Fixes windowsill, then
makes his way to the shower, singing loudly in a classical Turkish baritone.
Steps out of the shower and addresses his audience, butt naked.)
Thanks for
joining me on my routine today. It’s nice to have a little something to change
up the usual rhythm. Let me throw some clothes on and I’ll show you the ropes!
First things first, I must
give thanks to Allah through a morning prayer ritual. My routine is a
combination of techniques my father and grandfather taught me. But I have incorporated
some of my own as well. I won’t go into too much detail here, but basically the
prayer routine is a series of kneels, prostrations and postures that honor the
one, true God. Through them I become thankful, clear minded and can go through
my day with purpose and strength.
(Proceeds to perform
rituals. A peaceful calm overtakes the room, the man has found himself.)
(He soon after leads us
downstairs)
Purpose… it is what gives my
life meaning. From an early age I knew my purpose would be to take ownership of
my father’s Doner restaurant with my brother Can. We have run the store
together for the last 13 years and I am happy knowing I am carrying on the hard
work of my father. My brother lives three blocks away and will be here in 10
minutes to help me prepare the food for the day. My cousin Bugra will also
arrive soon, with a fresh batch of vegetables.
(Over the course of the
next two hours, the three prepare the food for the day, then command their
posts behind the counter)
Ah my friends, this is the
part that really matters. There are thousands of little shops just like ours in
Istanbul. But where we separate ourselves is through greeting people and
spreading cheer in a city that needs to smile more. So everyday my brother and
I stand behind the counter and smile at people. It’s amazing how much a smile
can do! Our father taught us early on that kindness is the glue that holds
relationships together. Our goal is to serve our customers well with the best
Doner in Istanbul, but also to get to know them personally. We want to be
friends with our customers! And through that, we hope they will come back for
more!
Ahh here comes some Koc
university students. How can I tell? Well that’s easy. This huge kid with the
long hair and big nose…. Obviously not Turkish… they can be our best customers
when they realize how cheap our food is
(He gives a sly wink.)
(To the students): My friends! How are you? Good to see you again. (The
students smile at the two men… but eventually pass them by)
Oh well, no matter. One of
them eats here often. I’m sure the big one will be back soon. He must eat a
lot! (Another wink)
My brother Can and I are best
friends. Our father made it clear at a young age that we would take over the
shop. So instead of being competitive like most brothers, we learned to work
together at a young age. And now it helps us run the family business well. Can
is responsible for the money in the business and I, the food. He keeps stock of
how much we are selling and how much we make everyday. I prepare the food for
each customer and work my magic smile to make them happy! One second… (To customers) Hosgeldinez! Evet… Evet.. Tomam. Bir Tavuklu Doner,
kanki.Nasilsin?
(He embarks on his endless
quest to build rapport with his customers, engaging in stimulated dialogue
throughout the entire food preparation process. It is clear that his hands have
grown so used to the preparations, they work independently of his mind, which
he can dedicate fully to the conversation at hand.) Hadi
Gurusuruz! Gule Gule!
How do I stay happy with my
work, you ask? Hmmm I guess it is the duty I have to it. I find my happiness
through hard work. Everyone around me works hard as well, so it is easy to do
once you get the hang of it. I think we each grow by working hard, and if Allah
wills it, I will be successful. Also, I get to stare at these fun people all
day! What’s not to love!
(He points out a hobbling
old man, relying almost entirely on his cane. His glasses have slid all the way
down his face so that drool has collected on the lenses. But he seems so
preoccupied with walking that he hardly notices.) Allah bless him!
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