The Size of our hearts

14

I woke up and stretched out my back, sleeping on a wall was not comfortable. I rolled my head around to loosen up the bones in my neck then opened my eyes to see that Hamid was gone, and standing in front of me was the school Janitor. 

He looked at me then hissed and walked out of the closet, dragging along his mop bucket. 

I stood up slowly and grabbed my bag. I placed my palms on my lower back and flinched as a sharp pain flew up my spinal cord. I made my way downstairs and walked into the nearest restroom.

My eyes flew open as I met Hamid standing there about to take of his trousers. I covered my eyes and apologized. "All the other restrooms are locked so you might as well" He said as he unzipped his bag.

I opened my eyes. He was facing the wall, he pulled a black vest over his head before turning to face me. I looked in the opposite direction and walked over to the sink. I poured water over my face. I dried my face with a hand towel then leaned on the sink. "So you just carry around extra clothes in your bag?" I asked as he was now wearing joggers and a sweatshirt. "Do you enjoy asking questions that I won't answer" He shot back before grabbing his bag and walking out of the toilet. 

I rolled my eyes and walked out after him, I walked out the door with my tired legs and wondered how I would walk home. I stepped out of the gate to see Hamid getting in a taxi. 

"Hey, do you think you could drop me at home," I asked while still trying to maintain my pride. He looked over at me, before slowly turning back to the driver. "Straight on please," He said as he smirked slightly without looking at me. I watched as the taxi drove off. I scoffed and shook my head before looking down at my phone. 

It was Saturday so my Dad wouldn't be going out 'till two in the afternoon. I texted him to come pick me up. Then I sat down on the pavement and thought about the previous day.

*****

We stopped in front of the supermarket, my Dad gave me his credit card and told me to go buy some milk. I stepped into the supermarket and headed for the fridges, I heard a familiar voice I spun around quickly to see the old woman from yesterday sitting at the cash register. 'she works here? '  I thought to myself.  I ducked behind the chicken stall as she turned around to get change for a customer. 

After she gave out change to the next customer, she called someone to fill in her seat, then she walked down the aisle, passed my stall and entered the closet. I ran up to the door as she closed it behind her. I heard the dialing of a keypad, and desperately kept my breaths quiet. I had a feeling I wouldn't understand her language so I quickly pulled out my phone and clicked on the voice record button. 

"aaref ayn iaish hamid" she said quickly. I heard Hamid's name and quickly put my phone to the door, I didn't even know why I was helping that Jerk. 

"mette al-aradh al-khassa beck adi seyd" She asked as a muffled voice replied "saes al-sadisah". She muttered a few words before hanging up. I pulled myself away from the door and ran back up to the milk stall. I paid into the DIY payment machines as to avoid her noticing me. 

Then ran out of the store and back into my Dad's car, I was greeted by the calming feeling of the cool air from the air conditioning on my face. I dropped the cartons of milk in the back seat. "What were you doing in there?, that took awfully long" 

"sorry" I smiled as I put on my seatbelt. "It's okay, I've got a surprise for you today" He said as he smiled and beat his fingers on the steering wheel.

"What are you talking about" I said questionably and glared over at him playfully. 

"Don't worry" He said as he revved the engine and pulled out of the car park. 

***** 

"Dad, I'll be right back, I'm going for a jog" I shouted as I made my way out the front door. I shut the door and ran down the steps. I needed to get this to Hamid. I got on the first bus and stopped in front of the bus stop opposite the road to Hamid's house. 

I stopped in front of the front door and knocked.  After a long second Hamid opened the door, he had his left hand on the door knob and his right arm braced against the front door, his eyes were tired and his voice hoarse. "Ugh, what a pleasant surprise" He muttered sarcastically. I scoffed and ducked underneath his arm and walked into the room. 

"I met your Grandma again today" I said as I struggled to pull my phone out of my pocket. He rubbed his eyes and turned slowly to face me. "What are you talking about Neveah" He sighed. "Remember the old stalker woman". He dropped his hand and looked over at me, his face growing a little more serious as the seconds passed us by. 

"What happened" He said as his eyebrows dropped to form a line between his eyes. "Listen to this voice message, I have no idea what she's saying" I held out my hand and he quickly grabbed the phone from me. He pressed play and put the phone to his ear.  A minute passed before he gave me back my phone. 

He lifted up his mattress and pulled out a duffel bag. I watched him as he paced up and down, picking up stuff and placing them in the bag. He emptied his drawers and threw away all his cutlery. He came back inside and grabbed the duffel bag and his school bag. He looked over at me and told me to go home. 

"Wait what's going on" I stammered. "Let's go come on" He said sternly as his tone lost all emotion. "I'm not going anywhere with you, not again" He looked over at me as a wave of confusion washed over his eyes. "I mean let's get out of my house, you can go home" He said as he walked out of the door. I felt a tinge if sadness but refused to let it show

I walked out after him. "and where are you going" I asked as I paced up. He didn't answer, He crossed the road and walked over to the bus stop. I reached the bus stop and sat down beside him. There was a long silence before Hamid broke it. "Why are you doing this." He asked as he stared down at his sneakers.

"I don't know" I said as I twirled the wires of my earphones around my fingers. "You don't have to help me" I looked over at him, puzzled "What would you do, if someone was in danger and you could help them?" I asked.

"Mind my business, I have my own problems I can't deal with any one else's" I nodded my head and looked down at the ground. "What did that woman say?" 

"She knows where I live, they're coming to take me back at 6" 

"they?"

"Yes they" He said as he gathered his bags as the bus stopped in front of us" 

*****

"This is my stop" Hamid said as he looked over at me. "Ok, wait Hamid" He stopped and looked back at me. "Do you perhaps have Jafaar's number?" 

He stood still and looked at me for a second, I couldn't quite understand what he was thinking but I suddenly felt uncomfortable. He averted his gaze to the sidewalk before he dug in his front pocket and pulled out an old black wallet. He took a folded piece of paper out and handed it to me. He walked into the bus. I opened up the paper to see Jafaar's name and number. 

I smiled and put it in my pocket and when I looked up again he was gone.