Is This Okay?

Chapter 2

"Uzair! Honey, dinner's ready!"

~

It is impossible to not constantly look at Father and see if he is still mad at him. If he is, he doesn't show.

"Bro, what's wrong?", Usama nudges his brother.

"Nothing", he replies and takes a sip of water.

Eventually, dinner ends, and Usama goes to his room. As Uzair is getting up to leave though, Father rests his hand on his shoulder and says,

"Son, I want to talk to you."

What Uzair feels in his heart is indescribable. "Yeah, sure."

He follows Father to the parents' room and stands near the dresser. Father locks the door and sits down on the edge of the bed.

"I'm sorry if I was too harsh on you"

"No, I'm sorry", Uzair says because it doesn't feel right to receive an apology from a parent. He leans against the wall.

"But Uzzi, I am worried about you. Those boys you have started to hang out with, they are not good people. They are drug addicts, son. I don't want you getting influenced". 'Uzzi' was his nickname started by Usama when they both were five and seven years old.

"Father, I am seventeen, I know what to avoid."

"But, the thing about starting friendships with the wrong people is that you don't realize when you have stepped on the wrong path. And when you do realize, it is too late."

Uzair looks out the window at the bright yellow streetlight shining down on parked cars. He can not answer to that because he knows, he knows deep inside that Father is right. Azhar, Yasin, and Abdullah, the guys he now hung out with, discussed in front of him the bar they would go to in the evening, the party they had to attend on a particular night, the weed they had to collect from a particular person. So far, he hadn't been invited to smoke weed with them, attend a party or to anywhere they were planning on going. So far, he could convince himself that he wouldn't get influenced by their habits.

But the thing that annoyed and scared him right now, was the fact that he knew it was too late. He was too involved with the guys now, it wouldn't be too late until they started inviting him out with them, and he wouldn't be able to deny the offers. He knew Father was right.

He couldn't step back now. Because he knew the drug dealers they dealt with, and these people wouldn't let him go so easily if he knew one of their most important secrets. And, because they were interesting. It was fun to hang out with them and listen to their theories, their plans. They knew how to live.

It didn't surprise Uzair to realize that he wanted a life like theirs.

"Uzair?", Father's voice interrupts his thoughts.

"Yes, I'm listening."

"What are you thinking?"

"Nothing, Father, go on."

Father looks at him with a perplexed look, shocked that Uzair wants him to continue. Truth is, Uzair wants to get this over with.

"Anyway, the only thing I ask of you son, is to please think about this. Before you get too involved, please think this through."

"Okay Father", Uzair turns towards him.

Father stands up and pulls Uzair in a hug before ruffling his hair as he exits the room.