Friday 27 November 2009

Presentation on Smoking

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. My name is Ibrahim Mohamed and today I’d like to talk about why cigarette advertising should be totally banned in Australia.

My presentation is divided into three parts. Firstly, I will be talking about the effects of smoking on our health. Secondly, I will be talking about passive smoking and how it affects health. Thirdly, I will be talking about how the government is giving a blind eye to what cigarette companies are doing.

Please feel free to ask any questions you may have at the end of my presentation. Now let’s start.

The first part of this presentation is about the effects of smoking on our health. As you know, new research tells us every day that smoking is harmful to health and yet many more people start to smoke. It has been proven without any doubt that smoking cigarettes causes many diseases such as mouth and lung cancer, heart disease, lung disease and many more. In addition to that, it destroys blood vessels.

The second part of my presentation is about passive smoking. This happens when you don’t smoke but share the same room with someone who does. Your health can also be badly affected by the smoke. Sometimes we refer to passive smoking when we say second-hand smoking. They mean the same. Passive smoking is a health hazard. Exposure to passive smoking is a serious health hazard for smokers and non-smokers. People who inhale smoke from others are at increased risk of disease. A recent study By Mayo Clinic in America indicates that

• Non-smokers living with smokers have about a 25 to 30 per cent increase in risk of heart disease and are also more likely to suffer a stroke.

• Exposure to second-hand smoke is especially risky for children and babies and may cause low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma and middle ear infections.

The third part of my presentation is about the role of the Australian Government and how it encourages tobacco companies to destroy the health of millions of Australians. In Australia, 15,000 to 19,000 Australians deaths each year are caused by smoking. Roughly 20% of the Australian population smokes. Aboriginal life expectancy is 17 years less than non-indigenous Australians. Their high smoking rate gets part of the blame. Government officials say they are trying to address the issue.

 Because tobacco companies pay billions of dollars every year to the government in taxes, it allows them to target young non-smokers through advertising and promotions. For example, they pay top dollars to famous film stars to smoke in films. The government says it is investing 10.5 million dollars this year to reduce smoking indigenous rate. On the other hand it is not doing enough to protect millions of young Australians who are the target of tobacco companies’ advertisement campaigns. A recent study conducted in Australia shows that exposure to tobacco advertising and promotion is associated with the likelihood that adolescents will start to smoke.

In short, I would like to assert that cigarette advertismnets should be banned in Australia. Tobacco advertisements are a silent killer to everyone and the government is not doing enough. Thousands of non-smokers start to smoke every day because of cigarette advertismnets. This brings me to the end of this presentation today. Thanks very much for your attention. Now if you have any questions, I will be more than happy to answer them.

Wednesday 25 November 2009

How Students Get Jobs

I came across this web page from the BBC and found it useful to use. Read what people from different countries think is the best way to get a job. Please click here to go to the page.

Wednesday 11 November 2009

Murder in Court

An Egyptian pharmacist went to live in Germany with her husband who was doing a PhD in science a few years ago. One day she took her three-year-old son to a nearby park for an outing in the city of Dresden. A man who happened to be her neighbour wouldn’t allow the boy to use a swing and started an argument with her. He verbally abused her, insulted her religion and called her a terrorist because she was wearing a headscarf.

The thirty-three-year-old woman took him to court and a judge ordered him to pay 750 Euros compensation to the victim. The man was outraged and appealed the ruling. He went to court for the second time. In court the man produced a knife and stabbed her 18 times in front of her husband and three-year-old son. The husband tried to defend her but he got stabbed by the attacker. He was also shot three times by a policeman who thought the husband was the attacker.

The criminal case shocked everyone in the Middle East and attracted much attention. People in the victim’s hometown of Alexandria were angry because the case had very little media coverage in Germany and was never mentioned on TV. They argued that if the attacker had been Muslim, the case would have made headlines around the globe. Senior Egyptian and German officials attended the funeral in Alexandria with thousands of mourners. Police in Germany didn't release the identity of the attacker and only said that he was a Russian immigrant.

The husband was unable to attend the funeral as he was still receiving medical treatment for his wounds in hospital in Germany. He told an Egyptian newspaper that they were due back in Egypt three days after the murder as he had already submitted his PhD thesis and finished his scholarship in Germany.
Fill in the gaps:
ordered - case - for - knife - headlines - called - still
An Egyptian pharmacist went to live in Germany with her husband who was doing a PhD in science a few years ago. One day she took her three-year-old son to a nearby park ............. an outing in the city of Dresden. A man who happened to be her neighbour wouldn’t allow the boy to use a swing and started an argument with her. He verbally abused her, insulted her religion and ............. her a terrorist because she was wearing a headscarf. The thirty-three-year-old woman took him to court and a judge ................ him to pay 750 Euros compensation to the victim. The man was outraged and appealed the ruling. He went to court for the second time. In court the man produced a ............... and stabbed her 18 times in front of her husband and three-year-old son. The husband tried to defend her but he got stabbed by the attacker. He was also shot three times by a policeman who thought the husband was the attacker. The criminal ................ shocked everyone in the Middle East and attracted much attention. People in the victim’s hometown of Alexandria were angry because the case had very little media coverage in Germany and was never mentioned on TV. They argued that if the attacker had been Muslim, the case would have made ................ around the globe. Senior Egyptian and German officials attended the funeral in Alexandria with thousands of mourners. Police in Germany didn't release the identity of the attacker and only said that he was a Russian immigrant. The husband was unable to attend the funeral as he was ............... receiving medical treatment for his wounds in hospital in Germany. He told an Egyptian newspaper that they were due back in Egypt three days after the murder as he had already submitted his PhD thesis and finished his scholarship in Germany.
Answer These Questions:
Why did the Egyptian pharmacist go to Germany?
What happened when she took her son to a nearby park?
What city in Germany did the pair live in?
What did the attacker do to the husband?
What happened when the first judge ordered the man to pay compensation to the woman?
Why did the man go to court for the second time?
What happened during the hearing in court?
Why were people angry in the Middle East?
When were the husband and wife due back in their country?
What happened when the German policeman entered the court room?
Why didn't the husband attend the funeral of his wife and his unborn baby?

Heart Attacks

Nowadays in Australia there is a media campaign to let people know about heart attacks. People need to be educated on what to do if someone suffers from a heart attack at home or anywhere else. Providing quick first aide to a patient is very important while paramedics are on their way to give medical assistance.
People who suffer a heart attack normally feel pain in the centre of the chest or behind the breastbone. This can last for a few minutes before the heart attack. They may feel pain spreading to the shoulders, neck, jaw or arms. Those people can start to sweat and feel short of breath. A person can feel rapid or irregular heartbeats. He or she may also feel dizzy or sick in the stomach.
A person can also suffer from a silent heart attack. In a silent heart attack a person does not feel that there is something wrong. This is common among people who suffer from diabetes.
Heart attacks are common in Australia among people who are overweight or smoke a lot. Those people normally don't lead an active lifestyle. They drink much and have high cholestrerol levels. Living under a lot of stress can increase someone's chances of having a heart attack.
Heart attacks are a big problem in America. There are nearly one million Americans who suffer heart attacks every year. In a heart attack the heart gets blocked suddenly.
When a person suffers a heart attack, he or she must be rushed to hospital straight away. This is normally done by dialling 000 and asking for the ambulance service. When the patient is in hospital doctors do many quick tests to see how much damage was done to the heart. This is called an ECG scan. Doctos also take the patient's blood preasure and perform surgical operations if needed to safe the person's life.
To avoid having a heart attack you should:
- stop smoking

- see your doctor for regular check ups of your blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels

- eat a low fat diet, especially animal fat

- keep to a healthy weight

- take regular moderate exercise, such as walking
Fill in the gaps:
common - chest  - exercise - from - feel - high - attack - can
Nowadays in Australia there is a media campaign to let people know about heart attacks. People need to be educated on what to do if someone suffers ............ a heart attack at home or anywhere else. Providing quick first aide to a patient is very important while paramedics are on their way to give medical assistance. People who suffer a heart attack normally feel pain in the centre of the ............... or behind the breastbone. This can last for a few minutes before the heart attack. They may feel pain spreading to the shoulders, neck, jaw or arms. Those people ............ start to sweat and feel short of breath. A person can feel rapid or irregular heartbeats. He or she may also ............ dizzy or sick in the stomach. A person can also suffer from a silent heart attack. In a silent heart attack a person does not feel that there is something wrong. This is common among people who suffer from diabetes. Heart attacks are .................. in Australia among people who are overweight or smoke a lot. Those people normally don't lead an active lifestyle. They drink much and have ............... cholestrerol levels. Living under a lot of stress can increase someone's chances of having a heart attack. Heart attacks are a big problem in America. There are nearly one million Americans who suffer heart attacks every year. In a heart attack the heart gets blocked suddenly. When a person suffers a heart attack, he or she must be rushed to hospital straight away. This is normally done by dialling 000 and asking for the ambulance service. When the patient is in hospital doctors do many quick tests to see how much damage was done to the heart. This is called an ECG scan. Doctos also take the patient's blood preasure and perform surgical operations if needed to safe the person's life. To avoid having a heart .............. you should: - stop smoking - see your doctor for regular check ups of your blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels - eat a low fat diet, especially animal fat - keep to a healthy weight - take regular moderate .................. , such as walking.

Interview Questions

Why should we hire you?
Because I am a hard-working person. I am a quick learner. I can think on my feet. I can work independantly and under pressure. I also have the qualifications that you ask for. I am totally reliable and I have done the training required for the job. I am also passionate about this job.

What do you know about our company?
It is a rapidly growing company. You have branches overseas in China and Vietnam too. You treat your employees very well and you give them a chance to take initiatives. I am also aware of the range of products that you manufacture.

Why have you applied for this job?
I have got the training to do this job and this is something that I really want to do. I also have to earn a living in Australia.

Do you know anyone who works at our company?
No, unfortunately I don't know anyone here but I would like to make as many friends as I can in the future if I get the job.

What kind of people do you normally like to work with?
I like working with people who are friendly and are willing to share their experiences.

What kind of people do you find it most difficult to work with?
I do't like working with people who are arrogant or those who think that they know everything and others know nothing.

What are some things you'd like to avoid in a job?
I would avoid discussing politics and religion at work.

In your previous job, what kind of pressures did you have?
Meeting deadlines and having to do too much work in a short time. Sometimes it was not humanly possible to do what the boss wanted but we could not argue with him. He was the business owner.

What are some of the things about which you and your supervisor might disagree on?
My boss sometimes asked me to do work that was supposed to be done by another qualified person and refused to pay me for the service. He said I had the training but it was not accredited in Australia and that is why he wouldn't pay me for the work I did. He was using me.

What do you think of your previous supervisor?
He was a good person. He was always sharing his knowledge and showing me things. He was friendly but very strict.

How do you feel your boss rated your work performance?
I think he liked my work very much. I always came to work on time and was punctual. I worked hard and I did all I could to finish all the tasks given to me. I always came up with new ideas and he liked that very much. He knew that I could work independently and in a group and I was alwyas reliable. I think he can tell you more about my work if you ring him.

What were some of the things he indicated you could improve on?
He said that I should work on improving my English and learn more computer skills. He recommened that I go to TAFE and do a course there but I found it difficult because I didn't have a car and I had a family to look after.

What is the most difficult part of your previous job?
Working with people who thought that because I came from another country I was not as smart as they were. They also thought that the education that I had overseas was not good enough. They started to change their minds when they saw me working and coming up with all these new ideas. They were amazed.

How do you handle conflict with co-workers?
By negotiations. The only way to resolve a conflict is to talk to people and try to make them understand what you want to say.

In what area do you think you need to develop yourself to be ready for this position?
I need to learn more about using technology and the internet. This will help me in my work.

What are your salary expectations?
I want to have a fair salary. I don't ask for a big salary. I just want a fair one.

Of all the positions you have held, which did you like the least? Why?
I had three jobs in China when I was living there but I liked my last job most. I had a chance to use my skills and share ideas with other people and we worked like a family. It was good social life too.

Of all the positions you have held, which did you like the most? Why?
My first job was the worst. The people I worked with were unfriendly. They never cared about teaching me anything and all the things I learned on the job I had to learn by myself.

Are you flexible?
Yes, I am totally flexible. I can work overtime if you want me to. I can also work on the weekend any time.

Where do you see yourself in five years’ time from now?
I will be working in your company if I get the job. Maybe in a higher position I hope.

Have you ever been fired or asked to leave your work?
I have never been sacked before. In fact when I left my last job before I came to Australia everyone was sad. We worked in a big team and we were like a family. My boss was very satisfied with my performance at work and he even offered me more money to stay but I decided to immigrate to Australia.

Tell me about the time you had a conflict with your boss. How did you handle it?
I told my boss one day that he shouldn't have given a task to someone to do because that person was not qualified to do it. The boss thought he could save a lot of money by getting someone from the factory to do some electrical wiring and not hire a qualified electrician. The boss was wrong. He put the life of the worker in danger. The boss thought the worker could do the job and he could save the money. I talked to the boss and he finally agreed to hire an electrician after I told him the unqualified worker can damage the expensive machine he was working on.

Will you be able to provide me the names of your supervisors for each of the positions listed on your resume, and will I have your permission to call them?
Yes, of course. The names are provided on my CV and you can call those people any time.

What do you think your friends will tell me about you?
I think they will say that I am honest. I like helping people. I am also a good friend and a nice person.

What else would you like to tell me about yourself that you haven't had a chance to tell me?
I really look forward to working at your company. I can be an assit for your company. I need to get a job to support my family here and share the experience I have with everybody else.

Are you considering going back to study in the near future?
I want to do a TAFE course but I will be studying part-time in the evening. I want to update my computer and work skills.

Sunday 1 November 2009

Shame - 6

Chapter 6 
Three weeks later, there was a small meeting in the evening at the family home. The mother was sitting down with Kamal, Nader and Salwa. Only one person was not there – Moustafa. As usual, he was at the store in the city centre, which was a fair distance from home. Everyone was waiting for him to come for dinner. Kamal was waiting to see his brother more than anyone else. Kamal had some questions for Moustafa to answer and these questions were serious. Kamal kept looking at his watch and checking the time. He looked nervous too but no one could tell why.

A few minutes later, Kamal arrived. He kissed the hand of his mother as a sign of respect, huged his two brothers and joked with his little sister. Now everyone was ready for dinner to be served. Nader took a seat next to his mother. Now Kamal sits in the same chair where the late Haj used to sit. After all, Kamal is the head of the family even though he was not that old. He was only 40 years old. This was also a chance for the family to get on with life.

Nader started talking about his workday. All the family starts a normal conversation the same way they used to while having dinner. Kamal started talking to his brother asking him about the documents that still needed to be signed for the inheritance. Moustafa said every thing was OK and it was a matter of days when the accountant got every thing ready. He asked his brother not to worry much. After all, government documents sometimes took a very long time to be done.

Kamal asked Moustafa if there were any problems with the business finances. Kamal assured him that the money in the bank was increasing day after day thanks to the good planning of the late Haj used. At that moment Kamal seemed to lose his temper a bit. He asked his brother why 5 million dollars were withdrawn from the Haj’s account on the day he died. Now there was sudden silence in the room and everyone’s’ eyes turned toward Kamal who didn’t expect to be asked in such a manner. He looked hesitant and reached out for a glass of water in front of him. Kamal said that only Moustafa could withdraw money from the account because the Haj gave him authority in the bank to do so.

Kamal said that the money was a payment for a big shipment of spices that was on the way from India. It was a matter of days when the shipment arrived and the business made a good profit. Moustafa expressed his discontent at the way Kamal asked the question.

Moustafa started to raise his voice and asked Kamal to come up with the documents about the imported spices. He declared to everyone that something fishy was going on but he didn’t know what it was. Tempers in the dining room were very high at that point. Nader tried to calm everyone down. He asked why Kamal would lie about money. After all they were a very close family and everyone knew exactly how much they were getting.

Mother looked at her children sadly but didn’t understand why things were not clear. Still Kamal wanted clear answers to be given. Moustafa tried to dodge direct questions and reminded everyone he worked hard building the family’s business with the late Haj. Kamal still pressed on with demands that documents be produced to support Moustafa’s statement about the bank account. Everyone could see that Moustafa’s blood was boiling at that stage. Kamal asserted that if Moustafa couldn’t produce such documents, that would prove that he took money from the family’s bank account without any right.

Discussion reached a boiling point and tension in the room was very high. Mother was on the verge of collapsing seeing her children having such a heated discussion. Tension in the room got higher and higher. Kamal and Moustafa kept shouting at each other. Then Moustafa asked Kamal and Nader to come out for some real talk outside the home where he would give them serious answers to the questions going on in their minds. The three brothers left the room ignoring their mother and sister who begged them to stay inside the house and calm down. Moustafa lighted a cigarette and left the room with Kamal and Nader.

Shame - 5

Chapter 5 
A few days after the burial, the family gathered in the dining room to have dinner together. Dinner was the only time when everyone was there. The short leave that everyone got from work ended and they had to go back to work. The family’s shop had to be reopened for business as usual. Moustafa started paying his brothers and sister’s allowances as usual and on time the same way the late Haj used to do. Now he had the big task of filling in the late Haj’s shoes. 

Kamal had to wait for some time before things settled down. He still wanted to buy that apartment. Kamal decided that when he got his rightful inheritance, it would be easy for him to get the apartment. The only problem was that his eldest brother, Moustafa, was always not there to talk to and was drowning to his ears at work. The Haj used to run the business from his office at the big wholesale store normally by phone. He put a lot of trust on Moustafa to run the business with him. Now Moustafa has to make all the decisions and watch the workers carry them out.


Kamal felt sorry for his brother and offered to take a leave from his work for a few weeks to help Moustafa run the business but Moustafa refused. Moustafa said that a government job was totally different from running a business. To run a business, you had to be very careful and very tough sometimes. As for the business accounts, the family’s accountant was doing a good job and keeping records of every cent.

Kamal was a little surprised by his brother’s reaction. He could see that his brother really needed help to run the business. May be he didn’t realize how big the task was or that he wanted to prove to the family that he could run the business the same way it used to be when the Haj was alive. Kamal brushed off any bad thoughts. After all, Moustafa was the late Haj’s most trusted person in running the business. 

Moustafa had always been stubborn and always did what he wanted to do. There was no need to rush him at that critical moment. Close family members never had to put each other under pressure.

Shame - 4

Chapter 4 
At Haj Ali’s home there was a big crowd of people who came to pay respect to the Haj. The three sons received visitors and everyone sat to listen to verses from the Qur’an in complete silence. Women sat separately in different rooms inside the big house and most of them were crying. Haj Ali’s house was on the outskirts of Cairo far away from the noise of the city.

Late at night every thing seemed quieter and many people started to leave. Some of those people came from as far away as 300 kilometers to pay their respect to the dead man. Others who lived overseas rang the family to express their shock at the sudden death of the Haj.

They were all full of praise for his good deeds and charitable work all his life. Not long after that, the door shut quietly behind the last person. The Haj’s wife looked shattered and her four children were next to her. The Haj’s death was especially hard for the daughter who was having her final exams in two weeks’ time in the final year of her university study. She got a lot of emotional support from her fiancĂ© who had to take some days off to be next to her.

It was a hard time for the family especially for Haj Ali’s wife of 45 years. It was equally hard for Kamal’s wife who was expecting to have her baby in a few weeks’ time. She often regarded the late Haj as a kind-hearted father. Every one in the family was shattered by the news of the Haj’s death but they were all determined to try to get over their tragedy. It seemed that only time would heal their wounds.

Kamal decided to leave his small apartment for some time and stay at the big family’s home to be close to his mother to make it easy for her and show family support. The next few days would be very busy for everyone. They would be dealing with lawyers, accountants and other government officials to sort out the inheritance.

It was known exactly how much everyone was getting according to Islamic law. They didn’t have to worry a lot about money issues. They trusted that their eldest brother, Moustafa, would work things out. After all, he was the one who knew where all the money was. It was only a matter of time.

Now that the Haj had been buried, every thing seemed different from what it was like one day earlier. Life suddenly turned miserable and their mother looked many years older in a short time. It was a personal tragedy for everyone.


Shame - 3

Chapter 3
Many cars stopped in the middle of the Desert Road that linked Cairo and Alexandria in Egypt because of a big accident. There were some policemen at the scene and paramedics were racing time trying to save the lives of some people involved in a big car crash. The number of cars that had to stop was increasing by the minute in both directions and the road came to a stand still.

Two cars at the centre of the accident were totally smashed. The two cars involved were a taxi that had four people inside and the other was the late model car that Haj Ali drove. More people gathered and some of them were trying to get the injured out of the cars and help paramedics and police. The accident was horrific and it did not take long for the paramedics to pronounce Haj Ali and the four other people in a car from the opposite direction dead.

The police got some ID cards from the people involved in the accident. They also got the registration numbers of the two cars to start contacting their families. The bodies of the casualties were carried away from the middle of the road. The police wanted to reopen it for traffic as soon as they could. People who saw the accident said that the old man must have slept while driving before his car went to the wrong side of the road hitting the taxi head on.

Haj Ali could not keep his word this time when he said he was coming for dinner with all his children at the family home.

Shame - 2

Chapter 2 
At a big hospital in the heart of Cairo Dr Nader was rushing through the emergency department. He was told that a patient’s life was in danger due to a drug overdose. Doctor Nader was racing time to save the life of the patient who was screaming and refusing to have alife-saving medical treatment. Some male nurses were helping in controlling the drug addict but he was still very violent.

The addict kept kicking and screaming not knowing that his life was in danger. Dr Nader was one of Haj Ali’s sons. Today’s patient is one of the regular ones they saw every now and then at the emergency department. Dr Nader managed to control the drug addict and went out of the ward heading to his office to do some paperwork. He talked to a police officer and started filling in an incident report about the aggressive patient.


Dr. Nader felt sorry for all those foolish young people who used illicit drugs and put their lives in danger. Dr. Nader felt that all drug dealers should be hanged in a public square to pay the price for all the lives lost every day from drug overdoses. He always read stories in the newspapers about families shattered by drug problems and children who ended up in the streets instead of going to schools and having good education. He knew exactly how big the problem really was.


Dr Nader felt angry and frustrated at how easy young people could buy drugs even in poor areas in Egypt. After finishing the paperwork, Dr Nader gave his mother a call telling her he would be on time for dinner. Dr Nader was not married and still lived in the family home with his parents and his little sister. His sister was about to graduate and get married to a policeman whose name was Ahmed. It was clear to everyone how madly in love they were. It was a matter of weeks until she finished her study and then they would have a big wedding. She was planning for the big day for quite some time.


Some members in Ahmed’s family were policemen too. Ahmed’s parents didn’t seem to have much money to cover the costs of the wedding and that was why he accepted more dangerous tasks at work to get more money. Ahmed was very professional and did not discuss his work with his fiancĂ©. He wouldn’t tell her that the sort of work he did. This only meant that his life was in danger in every minute.


Today all the family were having dinner late because Haj Ali was travelling on business driving his own late model car. He even refused to let his own driver drive the car for him saying that the driver was a family man who didn’t spend enough time with his kids and gave him a day off. Moustafa did not travel with Haj Ali who asked him to stay at the shop and take care of the business.

Shame - 1

Chapter One
Kamal was a 40-year-old hard working lawyer. He stopped his car in the city centre in Cairo and headed slowly to one of the biggest shops in the area and walked in. The workers greeted him with big smiles and warm handshakes. He got extra attention from everyone there because it was his father’s shop. The shop always had a good reputation over the years for selling spices at reasonable prices.

The family had been in this business for many years and the shop was handed down from one generation to the next. Today he came for a quick visit to see his father and eldest brother, Moustafa, who helped in running the business Kamal hadn’t seen them for a over 2 weeks. Kamal was always busy and running out of time at work. He found it hard to have a busy professional life and a personal one. His work seemed to take up all his time.

Kamal was greeted by his elder brother Moustafa who was moving from one section in the shop to another giving orders to the workers. To a stranger, it was hard to tell that they were brothers. Moustafa didn’t have much education but was good at running the business and making money from importing and selling spices. Moustafa left school as soon as he finished year 9 because he never liked it and never did well there.

It was surprising that he was the only one in Haj Ali’s four children who didn’t do well at school. There was a younger brother who worked as a doctor. His name was Nader and he treated drug addicts in a public hospital. There was also a young sister who was still studying at university to become an accountant. Kamal went directly to his father’s office at the end of the big shop with his elder brother Moustafa. He had to wait for some time, as his father was not available. He was at the local mosque for the noon prayer.

After a few minutes the father came to the shop and Kamal shook hands with him and kissed his hand. Kissing a parent’s hand is a sign of respect in the Middle East. It was a warm meeting, as Kamal hadn’t seen his father because work was never ending.

Haj Ali was loved by everyone who got to know him. He was known for spending a lot of money on charity and helping the poor. People who were close to him, especially in the same business, knew that he was a God-fearing man who always kept his word. He was a man of his word all the time especially when he did business with other traders. Haj Ali allocated monthly allowances to poor families. He kept this a secret but everyone knew about it because the poor people who got the money told everyone about his generousity.

Although Kamal had a good position, he was not getting much money working in a government position. The only thing that made him feel good about his job was the satisfaction he got every time he managed to convict a criminal and put him in prison. Haj Ali always gave Kamal a monthly allowance of 1000 Egyptian pounds to help with life expenses. After all, his son had a government job that did not pay much. Haj Ali could have given his son more and more money but he chose not to. He wanted his son to learn how to earn a living and not depend on his father's money.  Haj Ali gave monthly allowances to his other two sons and daughter. Haj Ali did so every month but it was not clear how much he used to give Moustafa who was by his father’s side all the time. Haj Ali and Moustafa were always talking about business.

This time Kamal came to ask for a bigger amount of money to buy a bigger apartment. His wife was pregnant and he was hoping to buy the apartment before the baby was born. The amount Kamal was asking for was a big one this time. Haj Ali asked him to wait for some time as the market was down a bit and a lot of money was invested in importing a big shipment of spices from India that was on its way. Kamal was not satisfied with his father’s response but he had no other option but to wait.

It was a short visit and Kamal realized that he had to go to attend an important meeting at work. He said goodbye to his father and brother and headed back to his office. Kamal liked his job because he thought that putting criminals behind bars was the only way to protect society from their evil. He also felt frustrated every time a drug dealer avoided going to jail with the help of corrupt lawyers who let them avoid justice. Kamal’s job was to make sure their evil deeds would never go unpunished.