Conscripted

The cars swerved and zipped, tailed behind one another like an intricate game of Tetris. The blurry lights filled the compact streets with the inaudible chatter that hung in the air. Dust swished past the grooved sidewalks as feet stomped over the cemented grime. A date palm dangled over Sahed's wind-whipped, dark hair as he gazed with an indiscriminate look.

"We don't go out like we used to do, do we?" he remarked, his cadence was difficult. "You're pretty busy nowadays." More people started filtering, pushing past the two in the chaos.

Rainah tied her arm around her older brother's and shuffled in her sand-swept shoes, waiting for an opening. And it seems like you aren't busy enough, she thought. He had a way of stating the obvious. "I need to be if I want a better life."

Sahed absentmindedly fiddled with the topmost button on his flannel with his left hand. The cars slowed down after enough people collected at the crosswalk. "Rainah, you're still in high school; you've got plenty of time ahead of you," he paused, "are you really set on this?"

Rainah replied matter-of-factly, "Doctors make a lot of money."

She saw Sahed start moving forward and clasped her free hand on her purse buckle.

"Watch your step, let's go quick," he cautioned.

The rest of the cross was completed without interruption. Sahed looked both ways for any oncoming stragglers. Rainah kept her eyes glued to the ground and others by her until they reached the island. The waiting game began again.

"Okay, enough about school then," he said, "anything fun happen?"

"I did have a meetup with Nora the other day at the cafe for the wifi," she began recalling, her eyes wandering to the sky, "and she's still trying to convince me to join her in practice. I can't imagine myself on a stage."

His hand dropped and a smile escaped his lips, "Oh yeah? You could discover a hidden talent for acting." He pulled her arm in close enough to elbow her, "and I could be playing music for you guys."

Some more people pushed past the pair as a minibus pulled to the curb. A father held the door open for his kids as they filed in behind their mother.

"I highly doubt that but it could still be a fun way to pass time," she added, and then, as an afterthought, continued, "and you won't be here for that anyways."

He shot a glare, quick enough that no one else would notice. He pulled his head away and looked back at the road, the cars had slowed their tempo. Sahed unhooked his arm from Rainah and grabbed her wrist. "Come."

Her eyes squinted as she focused on looking completely forward. They and the blur of people rushed to the other side, revealing the night kaleidoscope of neon lights coming from the sweets shop. Rainah stumbled over a poorly placed roadside verge with plants that twisted and exploded from their confinement.

Walking up to the shop, Sahed let go of his grip and reached for the slick metal handle of the robust doors. He propped the door ajar as Rainah preceded him, holding the handlebar as he entered behind.

***

The sharp ring of the clanging bell broke through the confab behind the counter. The man with a kurta faced the brother and sister duo with a grin as the woman walked to the back. The heavy door swung and pushed itself past Sahed, dulling the outside noise. The counterfeit marble flooring gave the empty sweet shop an uncommon industrial air, especially so when paired with the black reflective countertops. The warm light, akin to a sunset, glowed from behind the countertop as it filled the back. Little decorative Bowie table lamps reflected the light with draped teardrops all around the rim.

Sahed pulled himself and Rainah to the counter, "Hello Ami, how're the children? Your wife?" He reached into his back pocket and grasped for his wallet while Rainah walked back to the store-front windows.

"Sahed! Good, everyone's good. How's your mother and siblings?" he asked, clearing off the counter from the clutter. The little teardrops chimed against each other from his heavy footsteps.

"All good but Rainah's getting old enough to sass me," he quipped.

Rainah pulled a mirror from her purse and began pushing her hair back under her hijab cap. She glanced over at the mention of her name and stuffed the mirror bag in her purse.

She walked over and stood next to Sahed, hanging her hand at the edge of the counter, "So the birthday boy wants what now?"

He glanced over at the sign above Ami, "Kunafa and baklava, small." He reverently took the 50E£ and placed it on the counter for Ami. Rainah reached for the phone in her purse to pass the time.

Ami aptly flipped around the cardboard fashioning a small cardboard box. He spun a second and began fitting in the square-shaped treats neatly. He stacked the two and reached for two velvety black ribbons, meticulously tying them around each package as if they were delicate gift boxes.

"How old are you now?" he asked as he set down the two boxes. He slid the 5E£ over to his side and fiddled with the register.

Sahed crossed his arms and dropped them to the counter as he hunched over. He looked up and said, "19."

"Ah, have you registered a military service card?" he asked as he headed towards the back.

"I'm going to the police station again tomorrow," Sahed then added, "I know it'll happen anyways, no point in stalling."

"Alright, give me a second. The register is acting up again."

Rainah, who had been silent until now, turned her gaze up at her brother. Waiting until Ami disappeared behind the door frame, she said, "You could have postponed it if you went to university."

He looked over and furrowed his brow, "And do something I don't wanna?"

"You're selfish," she finished off as Ami walked back.

Ami put a small, boxed present in front of Sahed. "Sorry 'bout the wait, happy birthday."

The wrapped paper was black like the gift boxes of bigger orders with a gold-lined ribbon looped around the cube frame. The card displayed Sahed's name with a blank section on the order.

He inspected the card and looked back up. "Thanks, I'll make sure to come back and order two-fold."

***

The bell echoed behind them again as Rainah led Sahed and held the door open for him. He carried the boxes outside to one of the tables at the big decorated window and gently set the decorated cardboard box adorned with the same vibrant colors radiating from the signs above them.

Rainah unfolded the cardboard and pulled out the chair from behind her. She unbuckled her purse and grasped for a tissue. "Take it," she said with the tissue in her hand.

"Nah, I'm good," he said as he sat down, "let's just eat." He pulled out his Redmi from his pocket and set it on the dark, grooved table. He grabbed a treat and seemed to search for something on his phone.

Rainah watched him scroll through his phone for a moment and said, "Mom isn't getting any younger you know."

He ignored her and kept staring at his phone.

"Why couldn't have you picked something else to do? You won't be exempt and you'll leave us," she paused and then dug harder, "so that's what you want?"

He clenched his jaw and finally declared, "Enough I can't do this shit right now. I know you aren't stupid."

Sahed shifted over to reach in his side pocket for the pack of Gauloises. He folded it open and took the last remaining cigarette, dropping the empty pack onto the table. Sahed stood up and turned about-face, deftly manipulating the BIC as flames flicked over the burning cigarette.