Blue-Haired Muslim

Chapter 5: Family

  

      "We're going to her house for tea? Are we British, dad?" Sam asked in confusion. 

     "Listen, Sam. Tea is a glorious thing. It subtly reminds you that you have a truck load of work to do while also reminding you that you need cookies with your tea," Max explained sagely.

     "That's what coffee does too," Sam sighed before shaking his head. His father seemed excited about having tea. It was peculiar to see him so worked up about something as plain as having tea with an old friend. Sam narrowed his eyes a little as he looked at his father. There must have been something else the elder Jameson wasn't telling Sam about, some ulterior reason for his happiness. Still, it was refreshing to see his father actually being excited by something new, rather than his usual routine of work, mosque, home, work. 

     "Coffee doesn't do anything subtly. It screams in your face that you have work to do and then leaves you in the fetal position right next to said work," Max scoffed before following the SUV in front of him. 

     "So, tell me about this Rana Hashemi lady. How did she only have you as a friend, dad? You weren't exactly Mr. Popular in high school, according to mom," Sam smirked, but immediately regretted his words once Max playfully smacked him. 

     "I'll have you know, I was the most popular science nerd there was at Santiago," Max defended himself.

     "You were the ONLY science nerd there," Sam laughed.

     "Too true. Rana was unique. She was the quiet girl in the corner who did everything she could to have solid grades, but always had a problem at home. She never really got into what was going on in her home, but you could tell that something was always bothering her. I only knew her for about two and a half years. The day she turned sixteen, she was disappeared. I remember because she once spoke of how birthdays were pointless. The only birthday that mattered for her was her little brother's. Being the loyal friend that I was, I brought her a cupcake on her sixteenth birthday, her sweet sixteen. I wanted her to see that sometimes birthdays could be awesome. Luck would have it that I'd never see her again, until today" Max sighed as he tapped on his steering wheel with his fingertips. 

     "You haven't seen her in like, decades, right? Does she look the same?" Sam asked in intrigue.

     "Still as beautiful as ever. The only difference is that, she now practices hijab," Max replied with a  fond smile. 

     "Did you have a crush on her? Like when you were in high school?" Sam asked quickly, wondering why Max seemed so happy to see Rana. 

     "Nope. I can say that with confidence. She was a dear friend, but I never transgressed into the realm of "liking" her because she was very upfront about that. She let me know, early on, that she didn't date and simply came to study because it was required by law," Max explained and cleared his throat once the SUV in front of them stopped. 

     They had arrived at a house of epic proportions. Sam let out a low whistle as he took in the house in front of him. What would be the best way to describe the house? A humble mansion? Yep, that was it. It gave off an aura of wealth without being too obnoxious. Sam watched as Ahmed parked the car and helped Khadijah out from her car seat. Rana stepped out of the SUV, regally, and brushed off her pants before turning to look at their car.

     "Just park anywhere," Rana called out while gesturing towards the driveway. Max nodded and pulled up beside the SUV before parking and turning the car off. Sam ran his hand over his hair once before inhaling deeply and hopping out of the car.

     "You never told me your friend was rich," Sam called out to Max.

     "I'm not. My little brother is," Rana replied with a smile as she made her way over with Khadijah in her arms.