Miles Apart

5,820 Miles Away

Chelyabinsk, RUSSIA

Nothing to do, nowhere to go. I'm bored out of my mind! If there was a contest for Most Boring Country it would be Russia most definitely. I live in a not so big, not so small city with my parents and two younger siblings. I wish I could go back home to my beloved Palestine again. Soon, I thought to myself.

My father is an ophthalmologist, which is an okay job. I wouldn't do it, but he wants me to study into the medical field. My mother is a housewife of course. And then there's I, in the 10th class (10th grade).

I kept playing games on my S3 until my father came home in which my sister, Safiya, would yell out, "Привет папа!" [Hello papa] same goes to Ali. I rolled my eyes as my dad kissed each one of them, then sternly gave me his look,

"Hello, son."

"Hello."

"Have you been on that piece of trash this whole day?"

Before I could even answer, both Ali and Safiya yell out in a unison 'да папа!' [Yes papa!]. He obviously gives me an angry look, then shakes his head, and goes in my parents' room to change.

When he comes out, my mother has set dinner on the table and joins him on his right side. I join his left side and quietly eat. In the midst of quietness, he clears his throat. My mother raises her eyebrows quickly, making myself realize it was intended for me. I look at him blankly, ready to hear something unimportant,

"Ahmad, I expect you to reply and say 'Yes father' at all times. You are a man now and must be mature." This time, he said it in Arabic. He was going to be serious today. My father is Palestinian, and in the 90s, he came to Russia to study in medical school, in which later on he met my mother and went on and got married. So I know obviously more Russian than Arabic, but my Arabic is good too,

"Hader aby." [Okay father]

"Alright then. Aaliyah & Ahmad, I have some good news for you both. The office is letting me bring you two along in three weeks to Umra [Pilgrimage to Mecca] this year! And we could leave the kids at their grandparents!"

My mother squealed from excitement. She too wanted to travel as well. I wanted to dance! I'm leaving the country! And I could possibly see my two favorite cousins who live in Saudi Arabia, Omar and Malik,

"Will we see Malik and Omar?" I asked, hoping he'd say yes,

"I'll have to call Uncle Kareem." He replied with a smile.

I couldn't believe it. It was going to be a perfect Summer after all.

---

Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA

"Leave me alone, Omar!" I yelled at him for the thousandth time, "Nananana!" Omar slapped my back again and ran away. That little bastard. I loved him so much, my adorable cousin, but he really annoyed me sometimes.

"Omar! Leave your older cousin alone. You don't want them Americans beating you up." My aunt jokingly yelled out. I rolled my eyes at the remark. Apparently when you're a "Amrikiya" [female version of an American girl in Arabic], you are a spoiled, know-it-all brat. So that technically was one of my nicknames in Saudi Arabia, where I transitioned from sleeping over at my Uncle Kareem's to my Aunt Maria's. I loved both of them equally, each house has a fun environment of their own.

I walked to the family room at my uncle's house and sat on my phone, scrolling away through Instagram. Uncle Kareem entered, speaking on the phone with Malik following him. Malik, being a year younger than me, had a tendency of wanting to be the 'man of the house', so he would always involve himself in his dad's matters with people,

"Baba [dad], ask him if he's bringing Ahmad!" He whispered loudly. His father nodded,

"Yeah that's great! We should definitely send Malik and Omar with you in Mecca!" I could tell he was joking,

"Malik, Uncle Noah said he's bringing Ahmad with him." Malik got up and started belly dancing. I laughed uncontrollably, while recording him. I had no idea who Uncle Noah and Ahmad were. My other cousin, Sara, came in and shook her head at me. She was two years younger, but was very mature for her age, "Tsk tsk, behave girl!" My grandmother scolded me as she managed to walk inside, "Americans..." Sara face palmed herself,

"Saudis..." I imitated her.

"You take that back! How dare you say anything about Saudis!" She acted as if she was offended,

"Whatever, loser."

"Hey, everyone, listen! Noah is coming with his wife and Ahmad for two weeks." My uncle ended his call, telling everyone. Everyone being the adults; my mother, her brother, my grandmother & my uncle's wife. All of them were glad, my mom especially. I still had no clue who these people were. I grabbed Sara's hand and ran to her bedroom. I shut the door and we both sat cross-legged on her bed,

"What happened Eileen?!" She yelled out, "Nothing you habla [stupid female version],"I have a question. Who's Uncle Noah and Ahmad?" Sara looked at me like there was blood all over my face, "You don't know them? That's strange... Well Uncle Noah is more related to your mom and my dad, I think they're cousins. And Ahmad is his son. He's been super close with Malik and Omar ever since we went to Palestine last Summer." I sadly didn't get to go to Palestine last year and stayed in California. I imagined Ahmad as a normal boy, maybe hasn't hit puberty yet, "Helloooooo! Eileen!" I zoned out,

"Huh. Oh sorry."

"You have yet to meet them then."

Yeah, I guess I did. I didn't care much, but I guess I did.

-

Hi readers! This story won't be in point of view form at all, just this one part. Sorry if you didn't like it, but that would be such a cliché, boring story right? I only did this one part so you all could get an idea of both main characters.

Yes, there are so many characters in this story, which is why I'm creating a characters list shortly. Hopefully you all enjoyed this story!

Spasibo!

Shukraan!

Thank you!