“Okay.”
Behind me, I heard the door open and a new customer walk in. Nasir reacted with a startled jump and then immediately turned away and began fiddling with the cash register. I hurried out of the store, not daring to say goodbye. I spent the entire walk home wondering how on earth I was going to get Dad to agree to this.
It wasn’t until I got to the apartment that I noticed I’d completely forgotten to buy any gum.
Chapter 15
Nasir pulled his last clean shirt down over his head then ran a hand through his tousled hair. He’d been saving the shirt for work tomorrow, but now tonight’s date was way more important.
A date! he thought. I’m going on my first date!
His stomach churned with nerves as he thought about the night ahead. He’d never done anything like this before. Would he hold her hand? Would he touch her cheek again? Would they kiss?
Nasir grabbed on to the edge of the sink to steady himself. He’d never kissed a girl before and his stomach felt like it was being turned inside-out just thinking about it. Maybe he and Mackenzie would just talk instead. But what would they talk about? Would they have enough to talk about? She might not know about soccer, he thought. What sport do they play in Canada? Isn’t it ice hockey?
With shaking hands, he dabbed on a small splash of cologne from a bottle he’d borrowed from the store. After making sure the lid was screwed back on tight, he glanced around the tiny bathroom for a place to hide it. After a minute, he lifted the top of the toilet tank and carefully deposited the bottle inside. Nasir knew it wasn’t the best place for cologne, but with no room of his own, he didn’t have much choice. With one last careful look in the mirror, he hurried out of the bathroom. He was worried if he spent too much time getting ready his parents might become suspicious.
Dinner was over. Amar and Sameera were in bed and Rana had just fallen asleep in the rhythmic rocking of Mama’s arms. Baba was sitting on the couch, crunching watermelon seeds and watching his favourite Lebanese news program. Nasir knew this was his chance to leave without attracting too many questions.
“I’m going to meet some friends — won’t be out too late,” he said. Avoiding the usual kiss, Nasir made a hasty exit out the door in the hopes his parents wouldn’t detect the scent of his cologne. He felt a pang of guilt as he made his way down the stairs — but it wasn’t enough to make him change his mind. There was no way he could tell his parents the truth about what he was doing. Sneaking out to meet a girl was bad enough … but the fact that she was a Western girl made it all that much worse. Mama and Baba would never, ever approve.
This wasn’t the first time Nasir had ever lied to them. He loved his parents very much and he wanted them to think that he honoured the Islamic ethical code of being a truthful and honest person, but he didn’t want to live the life they were planning for him. He didn’t want to carry on praying five times a day, every day, for the rest of his life. And he definitely didn’t want to be forced to marry a Muslim girl that he didn’t know and didn’t love. He didn’t even want to stay in the Middle East. His friends at school were full of idealism for the Palestinian future. But Nasir was more of a realist than them. He wanted to live in a place where there was a promise of a better tomorrow. He want his son to grow up with a room of his own, not a lumpy couch for a bed. He wanted him to hold a soccer ball in his hand, not a shovel. He wanted to follow Ziyad’s example. He wanted to choose his own future. And he wanted it to be with someone like Mackenzie.
Just the thought of her brought a silly grin to his face. He’d been so relieved to see her today. He really hadn’t known just how much he’d missed seeing her until she walked back into the store.
He arrived at Aroma a few minutes early. He knew he would probably attract too much attention if he tried to wait right in front. They’ll think I’m a suicide bomber or something, he thought, shaking his head. Already he could see the security guard posted at the door checking him out as a possible threat. Tonight, of all nights, he wasn’t looking for trouble, so he walked a safe distance away, squatted on the curb, and watched the crowds of people pass around him as he searched the faces for Mackenzie.
Chapter 16
“You’re going where?” Marla practically screamed over the phone. “With who?”
“Shhhh … keep your voice down,” I pleaded. She was so loud I was worried that Dad might hear her through the walls. “I’m meeting Nasir at Emek Refaim,” I whispered, hoping she would get the hint and follow suit. “I told Einstein that I was going to your house. I need you to cover for me in case he calls.”
“But I thought he didn’t let you out at night,” she said, sounding suspicious. “Isn’t seven o’clock your curfew?”
“Yeah, normally it is, but I whined and complained that I haven’t seen you in three weeks. I think he felt badly, because he gave in pretty quickly.”
“I don’t know — I don’t like this at all,” she clucked in my ear.
“Thanks for your concern, Marla, but I already have one overprotective parent. I don’t need another.”
“Fine, but you and Nasir are both going to get hurt,” she warned. “You do realize that this can only end badly, right?”
I couldn’t believe she was giving me such a hard time about one lousy favour.
“Fine, whatever,” I snapped. “But will you cover for me?”
There was an unnaturally long sigh on the other end of the phone, followed by a pause, and then finally a small, reluctant “Okay.”
“Thanks Mar! I owe you!” I chirped, hanging up the phone and running to get dressed. I had no idea if this qualified as an actual date or not, but I wanted to look amazing anyway, just in case Nasir had any doubts about how much he liked me. Digging through my closet and dresser, I scrambled to find something that he hadn’t already seen me wear. But, considering how often I’d been in his store over the past three months, that was next to impossible. So in the end, I finally settled on my favourite blue T-shirt — the one I was wearing that day he touched my face.
I was hoping it would be lucky for me again tonight.
“Bye, Dad!” I called out over my shoulder as I ran out the door.
“Goodbye, Mack,” he replied, his voice following me down the hallway. “Be back by ten! No later!”
Nasir was waiting for me on the curb in front of Aroma, just like he said he would be. It was so bizarre to see him out in the real world that it took me a couple of seconds to recognize him. I could tell he had made an extra effort to look nice. He had on a fresh shirt and he smelled faintly of cologne — which made his usual scent of laundry and toothpaste even better.
“Hi,” he said.
“Hi,” I squeaked, so nervous I sounded just like a munchkin from The Wizard of Oz. “What a beautiful night,” I added, clearing my throat and hoping he’d never seen that movie before.
If he had, he didn’t mention anything. He just smiled awkwardly and started walking. We walked up and down the street for what seemed like miles. It was so nice to be out at night. The air was fresh, the heat of the day was gone, and the neighbourhood seemed to come alive after dark. The shops and patios were open, the sidewalks were crowded, and the cafés were jam-packed with people.
We talked the entire time. Now that we were away from the store, Nasir seemed like a different person — more confident and definitely more relaxed. He told me that he was sixteen, he lived with his parents and three sisters, and he went to a mostly Arab high school in East Jerusalem. He told me how passionate he was about soccer and how he’d once considered