MARIEL

2~ Basketball and The Angel-Demon ~

Ever since his father's surprise visit, the next week went painfully slow for Ahdam. To increase the pace of the days, Ahdam committed to the study activities that Adela provided for him. Throughout the days, Adela visited him often, giving him English lines to study and then testing him by speaking the words to him whenever she had the opportunity. Steadily, the effects of the studies molded within Ahdam's mind. He found himself more able to understand the White Coats and connect words, as well as some sentences. For the most part, the words were boring. The little that he understood was in relation to basic human necessities and experiences. Hunger. Fatigue. Work. Play. He was determined to learn more so that he could understand things that the White Coats said about him.

In addition to studying the English language, Adela had provided him a global map of the world, highlighting where he'd lived and where he was currently located in the United States. Often times, Ahdam found himself staring longingly at the red dot Adela had placed for his home in Khan Al-Ahmar. He'd rest his finger next to it and think about the happy times he remembered with his family. His mother, Dina. His father, Haleef... the man that Ahdam had thought he'd known. For the last week, Ahdam had wrestled with the idea that his father was from the United States, and that he'd been modified to be a better skilled human. Ahdam felt fascinated, but mostly neutral to the idea. However, he certainly had the desire to know more about Haleef's history. The boy also wondered if the genetic modification had given him the gift of environment control. He supposed he'd find that out later, and now was not the time to think about it. In the presence of White Coats, he could not think about his father.

Things were becoming easier. Ahdam felt a new sense of clarity and peace, and he thanked Allah and his father for that. He smiled a lot, acknowledged the White Coats, and did as they asked without question. It pleased him to see that his improved attitude angered Diane, who completed her duties with a scowl on her face. Surprisingly, Diane hadn't bothered him since showing him the picture of the dead man, but Ahdam could tell that she still despised him for it.

Finally, Ahdam did not care. He'd discovered a way to strike her nerves and, for now, he felt content.

Because of his phenomenal attitude, the White Coats allowed him more privileges. As long as he had accompaniment, Ahdam could now walk the different levels of the building. He often explored the upper levels, specifically the mid-level area where the building contained a cafe, restaurant, gift shop. He explored the bottom level as well, which contained his favorite: the gymnasium. He enjoyed watching the facility employees run on the suspended track, play ball, swim in the pool. At first, Ahdam had watched the ball games with great curiosity, as he'd never seen such activities before.

"Would you like to learn about different sports?" Adela had asked him, when she had seen the fascinated expression on his face.

Eagerly, Ahdam had nodded, expressing his strongest interest in the game where a player bounced and then threw the orange ball into a net. He liked watching the players bounce the ball, he liked watching them jump, and he really liked the sound it made when the ball swished through the net. He could see how frustrated the players became during these sports, especially when the ball bounced against the metal rim and did not swish into the net.

"You really like basketball," Adela had confirmed, smiling as she observed the videos with him. "If you are good, perhaps we can go to the court and you can play."

Ahdam was ecstatic. However, he felt a little surprised that the White Coats were allowing him this treatment. If the White Coats believed that Haleef had killed Mr. Donovan's son, Ahdam thought that they, or Mr. Donovan, might make his life as miserable as possible. Diane certainly wanted to do so, but she clearly had no power over the boy's living situation.