The Light At The Very End Of The Tunnel

Proper Lineage

Even as I sat on the sofa and stared at the two women in front of me, I still couldn't believe Mama had removed my scarf. They looked at me like I was a new specimen that was just recently discovered by a bunch of brainy scientists. They looked at me as though they wanted to count the number of pores on my whole skin. I was getting a little unnerved and very much annoyed. They kept scrutinizing my whole body. And what ticked me most was that they did it so unabashedly. I maintained a cool facade and played with fingers on my lap.

'Stand up' the older woman said.  She was pretty old but her whole body was poised. Like she was a model in her younger days. Why she could be like sixty.

'Excuse me?'  I asked incredulously.

Mama glared at me and I obeyed. The younger of the two was pretty. She had a chubby face with blue welcoming eyes. I couldn't help but like her already. She smiled at me and two adorable dimples appeared on each cheek. The older woman on the other hand stopped staring at me and now focused on our house. She looked as though something rotten was smelling. I didn't need a degree in psychology to know that she thought our house was way below her standard. The two ladies were dressed immaculately in dark gowns made of silk. Their scarves looked as though they were hand woven. Soft and perfect.

'You are very beautiful Menna.' The younger woman stated. 

'Thank you' I smiled

'Nadeen' The older woman said with warning in her voice.

'The girl has no proper lineage'
I sucked in a breath as her insult hit me. My family might be poor. But our lineage was fine. My family's name has never had shame smeared across it. We were poor yes. But our name was immaculate. I longed to throw that at her face but Mama sensing danger glared at me again.

'Look at her eyes Mama. She's so beautiful' Nadeen said. So this was her mother.

'She'd make perfect little grand kids', She said clapping her hands under her chin. Misty eyed.

'Nadeen. Beauty isn't everything. What about status and lineage and proper... ' There was that word again. If she says it one more time I'm going to.

'Mama! ' Nadeen said, interrupting her mother.

'There is nothing wrong with this Family. I've made up my mind. ' she said defiantly.

'Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you.' She stood up clutching her perfect designer bag.

'I'll be in the car. I can't stand this wretchedness ' She said and exited the door.

'Never mind my mother' She began.

'I'm very much satisfied. I will contact you about the date. Thank you, Dina' she said as she air kissed my mother on both cheeks.

Mama walked her to their car. I shifted the curtains ever so lightly to peep through. I've never even seen a car as new as this near my house. It was big, shiny and very executive. As Mama turned around to enter into the house something clicked. It was as though someone dropped a brick on my head. Mama was selling me off. Panick consumed me like fire on fuel. I began to hyperventilate. I had asthma and my last inhaler finished months ago. I couldn't breathe.