AYAD

Chapter 7

A few weeks had passed by since Gracie had moved into the Ayad house. She had gotten into a regular flow of living, but found herself feeling home sick. Saheed slept all day and partied all night, so it seemed. The only people Gracie really ever spoke to was Raamatu, for brief and fleeting moments, due to fear of getting in trouble. Sarai was usually away for college, but the times she was home, she and Gracie enjoyed reality tv together.

Other than those two...oddly enough, Dabir.

There were many nights where he would come home from work late when Gracie could not sleep, and in those times they would talk about the day and life at large. They even developed a new tradition of Dabir trying a new one of Gracie's recipes every Friday night. They'd eat, chat and then he would go to the gym.

To Gracie, he felt safe, he was comforting to be around. To Dabir, she felt like peace, in his hectic business life it felt good speaking to someone who was calming to the soul. A peculiar friendship but a true one nonetheless.

They had just finished up the miniature carrot cake and in-depth discussion over what his childhood was like before he came to the US. The two were saying their routine good night, because Dabir was getting ready to go to the gym.

Saheed stumbled through the front door, almost deliriously. When he regained balance, he drunkenly stormed over to where Gracie was. With fist balled up, he hollered out "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!"

"Wha–" Gracie was at a loss for words, she just looked at his sloppy movement with confusion written all over her face.

"I SAW YOU! YOU WERE THERE! YOU WERE ALL OVER HIM!"

"What are you talking about!? I've been here all day." Gracie responded, feeling panicked. She didn't understand what was going on or what he was talking about. All she knew is that she could smell the alcohol on him as he advanced towards her. "What's wrong with you?!"

"OH, NOW I'M CRAZY?! I'M ALL OF THE SUDDEN SEEING THINGS?!" Saheed yelled as he quickly advanced towards Gracie. "I SAW YOU! I SAW YOU W-"

"Aht-aht-aht, stay over there! Don't walk up on me like that, Saheed!"

"SHUT UP!" Saheed yelled at the top of his lungs, scaring Gracie and waking up his parents upstairs.

He took a big step towards Gracie but was stopped by Dabir's one hand pushing him backwards. He stumbled to the ground.

Dabir began to speak to him in Arabic, he wasn't raising his voice, but his tone showed that he was chewing Saheed out. Saheed stood there, breathing hard and fast, taking in every word his brother sent his way.

Gracie was confused and concerned, and so were the parents who were now downstairs with worried looks, dressed in their matching silk pajamas. Mr. Ayad raised his arms, "What's going on?!?"

Saheed's eyes were watery and red, he turned to his parents and began speaking a mile a minute. Dabir began as well, looking straight at his father. Gracie had no clue as to what they were talking about, but after a few moments of him speaking, Mr. Ayad looked at Saheed and began to shout at him. "WHY CAN'T YOU GET IT TOGETHER?! YOU ARE A WASTE OF A MAN!"

Mrs. Ayad tearfully looked at Saheed, then scowled at her husband. She opened her arms to Saheed, "Don't yell at my son! Saheed, yalla! Yalla!"

She turned and left, hand-in-hand with Saheed. Mr. Ayad was frustrated, taking deep breaths with his hands on his hips. "Uhh, Gracie. Go sleep, okay? We will talk to him in the morning, don't worry, it's just too much alcohol, you know?"

"Yeah..." Gracie looked down, she felt so uncomfortable that she did not even want to be in her own skin.

Mr. Ayad turned his attention to Dabir. "....And Dabir, my son, adhhab 'iilaa alfirash."