One cold coffee and two hot chocolates with whipped vanilla cream," Ema ordered. School's been chaotic these past months, and it's Khadija's last summer vacation in Morocco before she moves to New York for further studies. Ema is also heading off to visit her grandparents. And guess who's stuck in Fes? Not me. (Okay, definitely me.)
[Zainab waves goodbye to Ema and Khadija, then goes home, her face full of disappointment.]
"What's with the long face?" Ammi asked.
"Ammi, everyone's going on vacation, and here I am, stuck at home for two whole months. I just want to explore, have adventures, and see the real world before I start worrying about degrees and careers."
"I know, sweetie. Life's been tough lately, and we're struggling just to buy groceries. Inshallah, we'll go next year."
[Salama heads to the kitchen, and Zainab follows, only to be interrupted by Mohammed.]
"Ammi, I'm not asking you and Abbu to pay for our trip," I insist.
"Yes, exactly!" Mohammed interrupts winking at me from the side. "We've got our savings ready; you just need to convince Abbu." (Deep down, I know Mohammed doesn't have even one dirham saved. The guy's got guts to lie like that.)
"Well, since you two are so confident and clearly wealthy..." Mohammed spits out a mouthful of water, sputtering. "Ew, gross!" I exclaim. I start climbing the stairs when Ammi shouts after me, "Listen to me before you start packing! You still need to get Abbu's permission!"
"Okay, Maa!" Amara yells down from the third floor. (She got some sharp hearing skills.) Who cares? I think, strutting around like a celebrity, until I slip on the stairs but I recover quickly. Crisis averted.
[Later, Salama and Jameel decide to send them to Baghdad for the vacation.]
Waking up early during vacation feels like a crime, but there's Ammi, calling my name for the fifteenth time. (I wonder why her voice isn't cracking yet.)
I drag myself downstairs. "Assalamualaikum, everyone!" I say cheerfully. Everyone stares at me, shocked, as if I'm an alien who's just landed in their living room. After two minutes of silence, Mohammed breaks it with a triumphant shout; "We're going to Baghdad for two months!"
I jump out of excitement and spill over my cup of tea. (Why do you do this to yourself, Zainab, you dumbhead?) I quickly clean up the mess and rush to my room to start making a list of all the things I want to take with me to Baghdad.
YOU ARE READING
Fate's caravan
RomanceZainab's journey from Morocco to Baghdad takes her far beyond the borders of land and love. In a city rich with history, she encounters love and loss that alters her destiny. When life leads her to the quiet village of Musayib, she finds herself dra...
