Читать книгу Deborah Kerbel's YA Fiction 3-Book Bundle - Deborah Kerbel - Страница 20

Nasir pulled his last clean shirt down over his head then ran a hand through his tousled hair. He’d been saving the shirt for work tomorrow, but now tonight’s date was way more important.

A date! he thought. I’m going on my first date!

His stomach churned with nerves as he thought about the night ahead. He’d never done anything like this before. Would he hold her hand? Would he touch her cheek again? Would they kiss?

Nasir grabbed on to the edge of the sink to steady himself. He’d never kissed a girl before and his stomach felt like it was being turned inside-out just thinking about it. Maybe he and Mackenzie would just talk instead. But what would they talk about? Would they have enough to talk about? She might not know about soccer, he thought. What sport do they play in Canada? Isn’t it ice hockey?

With shaking hands, he dabbed on a small splash of cologne from a bottle he’d borrowed from the store. After making sure the lid was screwed back on tight, he glanced around the tiny bathroom for a place to hide it. After a minute, he lifted the top of the toilet tank and carefully deposited the bottle inside. Nasir knew it wasn’t the best place for cologne, but with no room of his own, he didn’t have much choice. With one last careful look in the mirror, he hurried out of the bathroom. He was worried if he spent too much time getting ready his parents might become suspicious.

Dinner was over. Amar and Sameera were in bed and Rana had just fallen asleep in the rhythmic rocking of Mama’s arms. Baba was sitting on the couch, crunching watermelon seeds and watching his favourite Lebanese news program. Nasir knew this was his chance to leave without attracting too many questions.

“I’m going to meet some friends — won’t be out too late,” he said. Avoiding the usual kiss, Nasir made a hasty exit out the door in the hopes his parents wouldn’t detect the scent of his cologne. He felt a pang of guilt as he made his way down the stairs — but it wasn’t enough to make him change his mind. There was no way he could tell his parents the truth about what he was doing. Sneaking out to meet a girl was bad enough … but the fact that she was a Western girl made it all that much worse. Mama and Baba would never, ever approve.

This wasn’t the first time Nasir had ever lied to them. He loved his parents very much and he wanted them to think that he honoured the Islamic ethical code of being a truthful and honest person, but he didn’t want to live the life they were planning for him. He didn’t want to carry on praying five times a day, every day, for the rest of his life. And he definitely didn’t want to be forced to marry a Muslim girl that he didn’t know and didn’t love. He didn’t even want to stay in the Middle East. His friends at school were full of idealism for the Palestinian future. But Nasir was more of a realist than them. He wanted to live in a place where there was a promise of a better tomorrow. He want his son to grow up with a room of his own, not a lumpy couch for a bed. He wanted him to hold a soccer ball in his hand, not a shovel. He wanted to follow Ziyad’s example. He wanted to choose his own future. And he wanted it to be with someone like Mackenzie.

Just the thought of her brought a silly grin to his face. He’d been so relieved to see her today. He really hadn’t known just how much he’d missed seeing her until she walked back into the store.

He arrived at Aroma a few minutes early. He knew he would probably attract too much attention if he tried to wait right in front. They’ll think I’m a suicide bomber or something, he thought, shaking his head. Already he could see the security guard posted at the door checking him out as a possible threat. Tonight, of all nights, he wasn’t looking for trouble, so he walked a safe distance away, squatted on the curb, and watched the crowds of people pass around him as he searched the faces for Mackenzie.