I Can Wear My Hijab

Chapter 20

"Who you plotting against this time eh?" Rob shouted across the hallway as I was hurrying to maths, his bullying was getting worse than ever lately and we still had a week left to finish the project. I didn't even want to think about after school today working on the project with Rob. I sighed to myself and continued walking on.

"So you guys coming after school right? For the project?" Megan confirmed at lunch time.

"Yeah," Jedayel and I nodded in unison.

"But I just have to call my mom and tell her that, because I forgot in the morning," I said taking out my phone.

"Sure thing," Megan nodded lightly.

I went out of the cafeteria into the empty hallway and dialed my mom's number.

"Hello?"

"Hey mama it's me," I said into the phone.

"Oh hey Ameerah, everything ok?" She asked.

"Yeah, I just wanted to let you know I'm going to Megan's house for the project after school,"

"Oh ok, the project with Rob?"

"Mhmm, he's not going to leave the terrorist jokes even for a second," I muttered angrily.

"Sometime people behave in a certain manner because of certain evironments they may experiance," My mom said.

I went deep into thought on that and forgot I was on the phone.

"Ameerah?"

"Yeah, bye mama, see you at home," I said pulling myself out of deep thoughts.

"You're not gonna blow up this supermarket are you?" Rob jeered at Megan;s house after school.

I rolled my eyes, "Aren't you getting tired of the same old joke?"

"Aren't you getting tired of the same old crime?" 

"You shut up ok?! I don't know what the hell your problem is but no one gives a damn so go sort yourself out!" Jedayel fumed clenching his jaw tightly.

"I think we're done for today," Megan said softly.

As I was leaving her house, my mom's words replayed in my head  "Sometime people behave in a certain manner because of certain evironments they may experiance," 

"You coming?" Jedayel asked heading for the buss stop.

"You go, I got to get some groceries for my mom,"  I lied, knowing that if i told the truth he wouldn't let me do my crazy plan.

"Ok, he said, and I saw Rob taking the first turn. 

I waited until Jedayel was completely out of sight before following Rob.. Yup, I was going to see exactly what his problem was. Luckily he didn't live too far from Megan's house because it was late Novmber and my hands were freezing. I saw him open the front door to his house and put the light on, I hid behind a bush, my heart thumping, wondering what I was going to see. The curtains were kind of see through and I saw Rob's father holding a large bottle of something, judging by the way he was walking I guessed he was drunk and then I saw him smack Rob against the face.

I gasped covering my mouth with my hand to stop me making any noise. Rob came out of his house, the left side of his face was badly bruised. Unfortunately, I hadn't chosen my hiding place too well and when Rob came out into the drive way he could clearly see me despite the darkness of the night.

"What are you doind here?" He hissed.

"I-"

"Come on," He said dragging me, making sure he was out of sight of his house before talking.

"What is wrong with you?" He demanded.

"I just wanted to.. Know what your home environment was like," I shrugged.

"To find out why I'm such a jerk." He said smuggly.

"What's with your dad?" I asked softly.

"He's a drunkard," Rob said heavily walking past the blocks slowly, "You want to know the truth Ameerah?"

"What's the truth?"

"I'm a coward, so I take my anger and frustration of that out on you.. And every one else in school."

"A coward?" I asked kind of confused.

"My dad is drunk all the time, he beats me up and my mom sticks up for me, to stop him from even laying a finger on me, so he beats her up instead.. And I do nothing.."

"There's not much you can do," I said softly trying not to hurt his feelings.

"Ameerah this stays just between us ok?" He said sharply.

"But I you need to get help!" I exclaimed surprised at myself.

"No, all these social workers come and check out our place and my dad puts on his angel act and their conclusion is that everything is just fine, they end up making the situation worst than before."

"Fine, but can I at least tell my mom?" I said, scheming out my plan in my head.

"What?" He asked looking baffled.

"Can I tell my mom?"

"Uhmm ok," He said scratching the back of his head.

"Cool, see you tomorow," I smiled.

"Yeah, see ya," He said still looking confused.

My plan was going to be awesome!!