Edited:

Published: Wednesday, September 23 2015 1:53 am

Ayah:
August 21st

          "See, over there to the right is the cafeteria, the library with any type of book you can think of with a coffee shop to your left."

       I nodded.

       "Cafeteria right, library/coffee shop left."

       We've only been to a peice of the school but it's all seeming so confusing to me. The school is bigger than I thought. With all the different types of kids, classes and such, it's like a school from a teen movie. There aren't any cliques like your cliche, annoying movies, but you still have the typical people who are skeptical of you.

       I'm used to it though. Being Muslim and having people stare at you because they don't like you has become a regular. Yeah, I live in a small town where everyone knows the next person, but that doesn't mean that those people approve or like us. Of course there weren't any real threats like us getting attacked or whatever, but the looks? The thoughts that some didn't discreetly gossip to each other, staring at us?

        That will always be embedded into my mind. So being here, the center of attention is nothing new. One Muslim would be nice.

       "This is it," Lee sighed. She adjusted her black leather blazer before pointing to a wooden double door, the whole while smiling. "I have to go assist in reviewing papers for errors. Yay."

       After Lee left, I took a deep breath before opening the doors. I came to the front of a mahogany desk, a woman with a tight chignon bun typing furiously on her computer. The office is nothing compared to the glass wall I'm looking through that leads to another office. The office looked more like I was being interviewed for a CEO position, not an assistant position. Every desk is glass, the floor a blood red color and the walls light gray. A bunch of pictures are hung on the wall, mainly abstract art.

        It's all so different.

       "Do you have an appointment?"

       I stopped my gawking at the magnificent office to give my full attention to the woman--Taylor, in front of me. She must be the one I spoke with.

       "Yes, I believe we spoke on the phone. Ayah Ibrahim."

       "Ah, yes," She scrunched her eyebrows together and started typing again at a speed I didn't know existed. She was silent for a minute, reading over a form before passing it to me.

        "Ms. Cunnigham is in a meeting right now, but you can go in and have a seat at the empty desk."

       I smiled and grabbed the form. "Thank you."

        If I thought looking through the glass was like walking on the moon, walking through the office is a whole other thing. I really need to stop acting like I've never seen the world before.

       As soon as I got to the desk, I put my bag on the ground and sat in the very comfortable looking chair. And what do you know, it is. It's like sitting on a fluffy cloud. Okay, I really need to stop.

       "Salaam, sister."

       I opened my eyes that I didn't know I closed and started looking around for the voice of the person.

      "Right here."

I whipped my head around, getting a headache in the process, I found a girl with dark hair smiling at me from where she sat at another desk.

       "Um...hi?"

        She laughed at my poor excuse at covering up my surprise and waved me off.

        "No, it's fine. You don't have to say salaam back."

       "Sorry. Uh, salaam," I began to say but stopped when I realized she was laughing. I'm definitely making a good impression today.

      "It's okay. Since I don't cover, you wouldn't think I was Muslim at first glance."

       I tilted my head to the side to get a better look at her. She's a thin, pretty girl with brown hair, tan skin and sparkling brown eyes. At first sight, you would see that she's a talkative, sweet girl, but I know she must be different. There's something...different about her.

       "So where did you come from?"

       "Florida. You?"

       She sighed and shrugged.

       "All around, really. But my current residence is here in this school. I didn't know it was going to be like this though."

       "What do you mean?"

       "Like college. I'm only seventeen, yet I'm here. It's better than going back home though."

        I was about to ask why when the door to the main office opened and a bunch of people in suits came out. But the lady that came last is the one who caught my attention.

       "Elizabeth Cunnigham, senior editor."

        She held out her hand for me to shake, her smile wide. I offered a smile and extended my arm.

       "Ayah Ibrahim."

       "My new assistant," She smiled and I nodded. Suddenly her smile disappeared. "Okay, enough with the nice routine. You are my twelfth assistant in the last month and could very well be my thirteenth. Well, thats depending on how bad you piss me off. Nadia?"

        The girl I was talking to looked up at Elizabeth Cunnigham and raised an eyebrow.

      "Have you re-written the chapter?"

       "Yes," Nadia nodded. "I rewrote it in Finn's point of view set in Paris, but it doesn't fit his personality. He's not a city of love type of guy."

      "What is his personality?" Elizabeth Cunningham asked.

       Nadia thought for a moment before raising her finger in an I-got-an-idea motion.

       "In my story, all he wants to do is prove himself to his father--find his daughter, all while trying to win back his childhood sweetheart. He's not a bad boy cliche, but more of a good guy trying to do right by himself and the people he loves."

      Wow...

       "Very good, Nadia," Elizabeth Cunnigham praised with a slight grin. She then turned to me. "Now you, this is your desk, and these," She passed me a folder full of files. "Are love stories the students made for a contest."

       "What do you want me to do with them?"

       She smiled.

       "You can look for errors, then when you're done, you can grab yourself and I a coffee."

      She then turned around to leave but I called after her.

      "Yes?"

       "I thought I was just an assistant, not an editor. Why am I doing this?"

      She gave me another rather creepy smile.

      "Well, Ibrahim. That's why you're getting coffee."

-*-

      ...Lauren shielded herself from the blast of the car, wondering when and how she would get through this. She has, well had Axel to get her through this, but she hasn't seen him. She's a poor girl for being like this. Pregnant and alone.

      Done!

      I just finished the last story from a contest titled "Long lost love." The contest was a week ago, and the final say in the winner is later today. Sixty-four short stories, a rather rude barista and two salaah breaks later, I'm now stood outside the academy waiting for Lee. I don't have a key to the apartment yet, so I have to wait for Lee to get done with whatever she's doing. I've only known her for a day and a half, but I can already tell she's a busy one.

      Since today is my first day, Elizabeth gave me a half of day. I couldn't be more grateful. Instead of waiting for her to show up, I decided to walk around for a minute.

      Aunty is being stubborn, Ayah. She is refusing to go to the doctors- Safeer

      I was afraid this was going to happen. Leaving Mama home alone like that, and now it's backfiring.

      Please try to make her go. She's not going to listen to soft talk- Ayah

      My parents tried. She is refusing to go for some reason, she's not doing good. The neighbors noticed unusual behavior at the house. -Safeer

      That's not good. The last time something like this happened, I was too young to help. It was one of the the worst things I've witnessed.

      I may have to come back. If she's not going to listen to you all, I have to push her- Ayah

      No! This is your time to be someone you've always wanted to become. I'll handle it. -Safeer

      I couldn't help but smile. It's not anything new that Safeer would help us with something like this. He's like the brother I never had, and the son she never got.

      Thank you so much! How's Annie doing? We haven't talked in forever...-Ayah

      Well, actually, we're expecting our first baby-Safeer

       Congratulations!!! You're going to be the best father. How excited is Annie?- Ayah

      I put my phone away to cross the street to a shopping strip. All of the shops are high end with shoppers all over the place. Nothing was from your usual retail store. Not only were there stores, but business buildings and car lots--Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Fiat, stuff like that. It's not like any I've seen before.

      Very hormonal, but I'm not complaining- Safeer

      "Excuse me, sister, would you like a flyer?" A beautiful Muslim girl, maybe in her teens asked me as I got to the end of the sidewalk.

     "What's this for?"

       "The Islamic center that we're trying to get built. We're looking for builders, donations and members. Would you be interested?"

      "Yes," I smiled. "Where you do meet up if there isn't a center?"

       She smiled and reached for a peiece of paper in her notebook before writing something down.

        "We meet here at the Masjid, there's a small conference room and a tent set up outside. Here is the address, and I hope you can attend."

      "Me, too."

-*-

       After my walk around the town, I made it back to my shared apartment right before Maghrib.

      "We need to get you a key," Lee stated once she opened the door. I nodded and came inside, carrying the bags of groceries I got. "We can always order take out." Lee laughed.

      I shrugged and put the few groceries on the counter.

       "I don't eat takeout more than, like, once a month at most. I cook."

       "My bad," Lee raised her hands in a surrender motion. "I forgot that you're married. You have to keep a hot meal on the table. Speaking of which, where is the lucky man?"

      I pursed my lips and calmed myself down before answering.

      "He's not here, obviously. I'm about to make some quick pasta, want some?"

      For a moment she looked shocked before she blinked it away.

       "I don't know the last time I had a home cooked meal. It's always fast food."

       I tilted my head and raised my eyebrows.

     "And yet you're so skinny."

       "As if," She scoffed. "But you go ahead and cook that pasta and I'll be your taste dummy."

      I smiled. "I will in a minute. I have to...do something."

        I left back into my room to put my bag up and make salaah. I took my phone out of my bag, put it in the charger and went to the bathroom to make a wudhu. When I got back in the room to make salaah, I got a text.

       So much for saying goodbye. Where have you been in my life?!- Jamila

      I smiled and got ready to type a response.

       Sorry! Life's been hectic, how have you and your situation been? -Ayah

      I've been well, Alhamdulillah. I haven't chosen anyone yet, but it's all good...I guess.-Jamila

      That's good. Listen, I have to make salaah, I'll talk to you soon.-Ayah

       Wait! It's important. I got myself into something I can't get out of, not to mention I'm hated by my family-Jamila

      Like...?-Ayah

       They found out :( I need someone on my side-Jamila

        It's come down to this. I took her news better than expected, but her family won't be the same, they're about honor and modesty.

      I'll call you in about an hour and a half. Hang in there, Habibti- Ayah

    (Sighs deeply) I'll try- Jamila

-*-

THIS IS YOUR EID PRESENT!!!!!!

PLEASE:

VOTE

COMMENT

FOLLOW

SHARE