Each guest was assigned to one of the Stallions. They cleaned the stall, brushed down the horse, and took a lesson on how to ride. They played around with each other inside the barn. The horses obeyed every single command. The riders though it was their first time seemed to fair well. Besher was the most enthused, he showed he wanted to learn as much as he could. Katti listened to every word Alexa said and it seemed easy enough to just give in and let the horse do all the work. Both Doha and Fadawa were intimidated by the horses but still tried to enjoy the event. Hasson on the other hand he just seemed to think he knew it all right up to the point of falling off the horse.

By mid afternoon they were all tired and hungry. After a shower and feeling refreshed the guys journeyed to the house to find the girl waiting. The ride to the city was enjoyable. Lunch was planned at Alexa's mother's home. After introductions, they all sat down to enjoy Tawook (shisk-ka-bob chicken) homus, salad, grape leaves, fresh pita bread. The conversation was smooth and they found the company entertaining and interesting. A tour of the Arabic section of the city was on the afternoon agenda, then it was back to the ranch for dinner. A few more guest were invited for the evening, some local people from Michigan that also happen to be IRC'ers.

Besher found that during the day he could not take his mind off of Katti, she was so friendly to everyone. She managed the events of the day like she had did them a hundred times. And every turn of the hand Mustafa was there attentive to her. Besher didn't like that ideal at all. He felt he needed to talk to her. Since the arrived the day before, he hadn't had a chance to be alone with her or to say anything to her. She in turn acted like he was not alive. Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew he deserved this treatment, but it was not what he wanted. Because of his shyness he could not find the words to speak up and just say, "I want to talk to you." Further more it bothered him so much that Mustafa was always around. Besher knew this would be his only chance. If he didn't do something this weekend she would be gone and out of his life forever.

Katti, laughed and joked with Mustafa all day long, even in front of his mother he was so sweet and polite in his manor, still she knew he was just helping her through it all. Maybe Alexa asked him to watch her, perhaps it was just his nature, still she was thankful. If Mustafa wasn't there she might not have made it through the day. Many times her eyes connected with Besher's. From across the room she felt him searching her out and staring at her. Just about the time her nerves would take over and her body would start to shake Mustafa showed up with a smile or a gesture to take her mind elsewhere. Still like now when she had a few minutes alone, she thought of Besher and wondered what he was thinking.

Everyone dressed for the evening, to most of them it was the first time getting dressed formally in the evening and staying home for dinner. There were so many people coming in and out of the ranch that evening. Besher thought he recognized little Alex, and maybe James, but there were more. Clothing was being carried into the barn. Lights set up...and the whole Arena was being turned into a showplace.
The banquet hall in the barn was decorated by staff members. At dinner Besher was introduced to more people and family members. At one point a comment went out that all the Hamida girls looked alike and could be mistaken for each other. The music drifted through the house and dinner was very formal served in the dining room on fine china. Staff came in to service the guest and conversation was mostly about IRC and the ideal of love on the internet.

someone spoke out and asked "Besher, what do you think, is it possible to truly fall in love."

Besher blushed a bit before answering "Well why not, you meet someone special and your heart becomes involved. Yes, I think it is very possible."

"I agree" stated Alexa "I have known of such love blossoming from meetings like this. In fact it came so close I could reach out and touch it." she winked at Besher.

Besher knew what she meant. He had called her late one night and in their conversation he told her all about his love for Katti. How he met her, and even what he told her about him being married and why. After all Katti was a divorced woman, a woman with a child. She was sweet and kind, and gentle but she was not what Besher was seeking in life. He was hoping to find a woman like AnAngel (Alexa) that had no ties, no husband, infact no romantic ties at all. Yet AnAngel grew away from him and Katti had grown close. So close that he decided to put up a barrier. One that would help me not to cross to the wrong side. He told Katti he was married with small children. Knowing his customs he felt she would be responsible enough not to want more out of him then he was willing to give. Yet the conversations became a nightly enjoyment. He looked forward to meeting her on the computer. Sometimes they would close everything out and just talk for hours between them. She would ask him about his family, which he would try to avoid by saying they are all well humdallah. In his mind he meant his mother, brothers and sisters, but he let her think it stretched to his fictitious wife and children. Then he would go on with other topics. World peace, global power, child raising. He thought she must be a wonderful mother, after all she was so gentle. He would ask her about her daughter. Katti would go one for long lengths of time, how bright she was, how sweet, how cute. How she was doing so well in class. It would bring pictures of a beautiful little girl to his mind and he found he enjoyed listening to her stories. He even enjoyed hearing how much she was in love. He hoped someday to find such a love. How sad for Katti that she lost her love. To his surprise he woke up one day realized that he loved Katti too. Somewhere in the words, the tears and the dreams his heart went out to hers. He wanted to protect her, wanted to comfort her and see that she never hurt again in her life. He wanted to give her back her joy, her dreams, and he found he dreamed of having children with her.

He could see Katti and the children playing and her gentle voice calling them in for dinner. He could see the gentle way she took care of him and comforted him. Yes he wanted Katti, but in her eyes he was a married man. He tried to tell her and when he couldn't he tried to leave her alone. This drove him half mad. He wanted to scream at himself for being selfish. For thinking he could classify people in categories.
Perhaps this was gods way of punishing him for his sins. And sin he did, time and time again with Katti. All for the sake of honor, and what honor is there in a man that did not speak the truth. NO! he couldn't live with this even loosing her was better than going on in a lie. So one evening he went to tell her. Waiting for her to come for hours no one showed. The next two days the same thing. By now he was sick with fear that something happen to her. He began to send her messages, all day long one after another. He knew if she had come on at anytime the messages she would get. Then it happened she showed up two nights later in their time slot. He was hungry to talk to her, hungry for her to say it's ok. I understand, but that isn't what happen. Katti was angry, hurt, discussed with him and left. Left before he could explain more, before he could get his whole feelings out. The little he did get out sounded so superficial, so routine. Oh god what did he do, he lost her.

For days his mind was a blank. Besher thought of going to Chicago and finding her. After all how hard would that be. He thought of hiring someone to find her. Make sure she was alright. Then he felt silly. Of course she was alright, he was nobody to her just someguy on the IRC. He lied and she had a right to be angry, but it was he in love not her. Not one time did she say she loved him or even more than liked him.
It was his mind like always that put what he wanted to hear there. Now for the first time he came face to face with Katti, she was even more beautiful than he expected. Her voice was music to his ears. Even now in the crowd when she spoke he heard her soft twang over all others. Her eyes had a glow of light in them. He knew her heart was pure and good. Katti had been hurt so much in her life, he did not want to add to it, yet he needed a chance. That is what he told AnAngel. If you are truly an angel you will find a way to help me. Give me once chance and I will make it right for her. I will show her my love. As always Alexa calmed him and agreed with him that love was most precious.

The day he received the invitation he heart leaped. He had wanted to meet Alexa for months. He even offered to travel to Michigan server occasions. Alexa would laugh and tell him soon, very soon. Well here it was. He was sick for days on end. Katti being lost to him made his life tasteless with no color. He did not go on IRC except to search for Katti. So with the invitation his heart leaped with joy. Perhaps he would be able to come out of the slump he was in. Never in his wildest dreams did he think of Katti also being there. Yet Friday when he heard her name he heart almost stopped, the sweat on her forehead must have ran down like running water. Ever moment he had was filled with her, her beauty, her eyes, her voice, even the scent of her was beyond his senses. No he would not let the weekend slip by that he did not find the strength to talk to him.

"Excuse me" he replied at Hasson slapped his shoulder.

"I was saying, would you like to get involved in a game of poker instead of going down to the barn" Hasson repeated.

"I think not, we were invited for the weekend to enjoy the ranch. I like the barn so count me out" he nodded toward the door as he walked out of the room.

All gathered in the banquet hall of the barn....the lights were dim and seats were set up like in a theater. Large comfortable seats. The arena lights went dim and the speakers came on to announce the start of the Alexandra's Arabians Horse Spectacular. Besher was fascinated at the excitement in the room. The glass wall before them lit up the dark arena and the lights came on....and into the center of the ring came a little girl on horseback.

{Ahhhhh little Alex} he thought and was right as the announcer spoke out.

The first rider of the night is Alexandra.....a 12 year old from Michigan, Olympic bound.