Break Of Dawn

4.

Turns out my dad told my mom about me wanting to be a Muslim,
because he knew I would never have had the courage to.

My mom was furious, and they had had their worst argument yet.

My mother's words echoed in my head,

"You still want to be with them even after what they did to your father?"

I tried explaining to her, but she wouldn't hear any of it.

In normal circumstances,
when mom was upset it was Joshua who calmed her down but
yester-night, even Joshua could not appease her anger.

"Eva if you want  peace , you better come back to your senses."
She had said.

Just before leaving , she  asked me,

"How did you even learn about those people? "

I answered eagerly thinking that maybe she would change her mind, and become more receptive.

" I read from books, the
Internet "

looking at my mom earnestly.

" Yeah, there are books about Islam, "
my dad had seconded me when he noticed my mom looking at me doubtfully.

Then she huffed angrily,

" Arrrgghh, you two and your stupid books, "
jabbing her index finger towards me and dad.

She had locked out dad out of their room, and he ended up sleeping in the study.

At breakfast the next morning, there was an uncomfortable silence that hovered over the table,

no one talked to the other and everybody avoided looking  mom in the eyes.

As mom was about to pour me a cup,
Tracie decided to break the silence with the stupidest question ever,

"So Eva, what will be your new name? "

everybody stilled.

I tried sending her a warning look, but my silly baby sister wasn't  even looking at me.

" I like Hamisi, it's a good name. You should take it....
Or maybe......, "
she wrinkled her nose
in thought.

"The other  names I know are boy names, just take Hamisi,
it suits you,"

Tracie was becoming excited and animated with every passing second.

Joshua cleared his throat, she didn't hear,

dad tried whispering her name she didn't notice,

I tried warning her with my eyes she didn't stop.

It was only when mom,

banged the flat of her palms on the table loudly and left the table angrily,

that Tracie realized what she had done.

"Um... Yeah,... I'll shut up
now, "she pursed her lips and raised her hands up in
mock surrender.

Mom left the table angrily and I heard the door to my parents room bang shut.

I looked at Tracie and,
" Thank you very much,"
sarcastically.

We both stood up and cleared the table,

and in the kitchen Tracie kept up the 'Hamisi-is-a-good-name-it-suits-you' conversation.

"Wow, I can't wait for school to open, so I can tell all my friends that... "

she went on and on with her excited banter,