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It was the local market day, and because it was one of the year's hottest days, Yusuf and Nicolò decided to jump from rooftop to rooftop because it was faster. And as usual, Yusuf wanted to turn the rooftop jumping into a competition between them.
"Ok," Yusuf said after their fourth rooftop jump. "Let's compete for a prize. That will make things more interesting."
"I don't know," Nicolò replied. "You have a habit of cheating."
"Me?" Yusuf asked while pointing at himself, pretending to be hurt. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Yeah, you," Nicolò replied. "As sure as the sun sets in the West, just as sure am I about you cheating."
"Fair enough, I admit it. I cheat sometimes," Yusuf replied. "But today, I play fair or else..."
Nicolò raised an eyebrow. He was very interested in how Yusuf would end that sentence.
"Someone will punish me or something," Yusuf said. "Why don't you let me choose the prize? That way, there's less of a chance of me cheating."
"Let me hear the prize first," Nicolò replied. "And then I'll tell you my decision."
Yusuf thought for a moment.
"The winner who lands on his legs the most times before reaching the last rooftop," Yusuf said. "Gets to sleep in while the other takes care of the horses."
Nicolò laughed.
"What?" Yusuf asked. "Don't you like the prize?"
"Yeah, I do," Nicolò replied. "I'm just questioning your motives behind the prize because we both know you use any excuse to keep me in bed naked as long as possible so that you can make drawings of my naked ass."
"Your naked ass does look best in daylight," Yusuf admitted. "But what do you say to the prize?"
"Fine," Nicolò replied. "We jump at the same time."
They kissed before they carried on jumping. It went fine for the next two jumps, but when Nicolò landed on the rooftop, he noticed Yusuf was missing. Nicolò walked over to the rooftop's edge and saw Yusuf cling to a ledge just under a closed window.
"Yusuf," Nicolò asked. "What are you doing?"
"Oh, just studying the local architecture," Yusuf replied. "Some help, please."
"Since it's you who is asking," Nicolò replied. "Hang in there."
"Ever so funny," Yusuf replied. "Please hurry. I don't fancy falling four floors down."
Nicolò started to examine his options to help Yusuf and noticed a door. While Nicolò was trying to find a way in, the window was open, and a half-naked woman screamed when she saw Yusuf.
"Good Lady," Yusuf said as he turned his head away. "Trust me when I say I have no interest in you at all."
The half-naked woman returned with a broom, and three of her friends, who also screamed when they saw Yusuf, while the half-naked woman started hitting Yusuf with the broom. Yusuf found it harder and harder to hold onto the ledge because he was trying to get the broom out of the way.
"Instead of beating me outside," Yusuf begged. "Could you not do it inside?"
The women looked at each other before arguing whether it was a good idea or not to pull Yusuf inside.
"Ladies," Yusuf shouted as his fingers started to cramp. "Some help, please."
Just as Yusuf's hands let go of the ledge, the women pulled him inside. Yusuf got a moment to gather himself before the half-naked woman started hitting him with the broom again while the other women shouted at him, saying that they didn't give away free shows. It was there Yusuf realized he might be inside a brothel.
"Ladies," Yusuf said. "Could I be allowed to explain?"
Before the women could answer Yusuf, it knocked on the door. One of the women went over to open the door and found Nicolò standing outside.
"Good morning, Ladies," Nicolò said while looking up at the ceiling. "I'm looking for an young student of the fine arts. He has a nasty habit of getting himself into trouble. Have you seen him?"
"Are you referring to that man who tried to get a free show?" One of the women asked as she pointed at Yusuf, who was still being hit with the broom. "Is he a student of the fine art?"
Nicolò looked over at Yusuf while trying not to laugh at Yusuf, who was trying to duck the broom.
"Sadly yes, his father has paid me a great sum of money to keep his son out of trouble," Nicolò replied. "And I'm failing in that endeavour because he is still getting into trouble."
"I suggest you use a broom," The half-naked lady said. "And if that doesn't keep him out of trouble, tell his mother."
The half-naked woman hit Yusuf again.
"I will remember your suggestion," Nicolò replied. "But I had another lesson in mind. This young whippersnapper is not alone studying the local architecture, he is also an excellent artist. So, what do you all say to get your portrait painted as compensation for all the disturbance he has coursed?"
The women discussed Nicolò's offer.
"We agree to your offer," The half-naked woman said. "Just let's make us pretty first."
"Ladies," Nicolò said. "You're just as pretty as the stars at night."
Nicolò was glad he had learned a bit from hearing Yusuf recite poetry because it made the women giggle.
"You could learn a thing or two from your guard," The half-naked woman said as she hit Yusuf with the broom again. "About manners and how to address women."
"I think he has learned a lesson or two," Nicolò replied. "What are your names, Ladies?"
"The red-hair girl is from Greece and is Anja, then there's Zahra with the freckles, and the small one is Babette," The half-naked woman replied. "And my name is Hadja."
"Nice meeting you all," Nicolò said. "I'm Nicolò, and the young man over there is Yusuf."
Half an hour later, Zahra was ready to have her drawing made, and Yusuf sat down with papers. Hadja made sure that there was brought food and wine up.
"If you want, or both of you," Hadja offered. "You can have a night here for free."
"I thank you for your kind offer," Nicolò replied. "But I'm married to someone who is very special to me, and I couldn't betray that person. And Yusuf there is only days from entering his own marriage."
Yusuf smiled over Nicolò's words. It warmed his heart.
"I understand; I just wish there were more men like you both out there who would settle with the woman they are married to," Hadja said. "Yeah, I know. A prostitute who dreams."
Nicolò placed a friendly hand on Hadja's hand.
"Our dreams are our own," Nicolò said. "No one can take them away from you, Hadja or your friends."
"Thanks," Hadja replied. "Now tell me about the one you're married to. Have you been blessed with children?"
"Sadly no," Nicolò replied. He and Yusuf exchanged a look between them because they both wanted children, but it wasn't meant for them in their life. "Instead, we settle on helping those who need it."
"It makes an old woman very happy that someone is helping those who need it," Hadja replied. "Yusuf, please learn a thing or two from your guard. It will only make you wiser."
"I already have," Yusuf replied. It was the truth because Nicolò had been Yusuf's biggest teacher in life. "Hadja, it's your turn."
Hadja sat down on the chair next to the window. While Yusuf was drawing Hadja, the other women showed Nicolò their drawings. As usual, Yusuf made great art and captured the women's beauty on paper. A couple of hours later, Hadja told Yusuf and Nicolò it was time to leave because they had to work.
"You can have the broom, Nicolò," Hadja said as she handed Nicolò the broom. "In case someone needs to be taught some manners."
"Thank you, Hadja," Nicolò replied as he took the broom. "It will become handy. I have no doubts about it."
"And you, young man," Hadja said as she looked at Yusuf. "If you want to study the local architecture in the future, ask instead of climbing on walls. If it hadn't been for your guard, we would have called the police."
"Lesson learned," Yusuf replied. "And I promise to ask in the future."
Yusuf and Nicolò left through the backdoor and walked down the alleyway.
"Since I won our little competition," Nicolò said. "I get to sleep in for the next week."
"Wait a moment," Yusuf replied. "We didn't finish our competition to begin with."
"Yeah, we did," Nicolò replied. "I landed on my feet one more time than you did, and I also saved you from a group of angry women. I would say I earned two weeks of sleeping in."
Yusuf grunted.
"Fair enough," Yusuf replied. "You won, and thanks for saving my life."
"You're welcome," Nicolò replied as he started to swing the broom. "I understand why Hadja decided to use it as her weapon."
Yusuf ducked his head in time.
"Nicolò," Yusuf said. "You don't plan on using it on me, aren't you?"
Nicolò gave Yusuf a mischievous smile as he turned a corner.
"Nicolò," Yusuf said. "That's not an answer."
Nicolò laughed as he turned out on the main street that now was almost empty. As usual, Nicolò would let Yusuf beg a bit before telling him he wouldn't. That was Nicolò's way of having fun, and Yusuf knew it. They both knew that by the time they reached their bed, all was good between them again because they had the rule of not going to bed in anger. And when Yusuf lay down, Nicolò would kiss his head and ask if it hurt to be hit by the broom. Yusuf would complain a bit, but it was soon forgotten when they made love because they both were still alive and had each other.