Chapter 1
The day was hot as I trudged home from school. I let my feet drag across the sandy street , kicking up swirls of dust along with them. It was one of those incredibly hot days where you just didn’t feel like doing anything. We had a lot of those here in Bashim. Bashim, a small town just a few miles west of Aden, was sweltering hot during the summer time. I suppose its like that everywhere in Yemen. Of course, I wouldn’t know.
My mood this morning(which surprisingly started out wonderfully) plummeted at my parents’ mention that they were leaving once again for Berlin, Germany after only being home for two days. My parents are architects. They travel all over the world and build beautiful buildings for rich people, while leaving their daughter(me) home with whatever nanny they hire. I must’ve had at least twelve over my lifetime(all of which quit, thanks to wonderful behavior). Not like I got upset over my parents’ leaving anymore, just annoyed. After all, who cared about seeing the world? I am just a small town Yemen girl who will probably remain that way till I die.
Eventually my feet managed to drag me to my front steps, inside my home, and down the hall to my bedroom. I shut the door and flopped down on my bed. There was only three days of school left and although I was glad to see junior year go, I couldn’t bring myself to be as joyous as my classmates. The quickly approaching summer meant school(and homework) free days of nonscheduled fun with their closest friends. But not for me. Every year my best friend Pauli leaves for Egypt with her parents for the whole summer to visit family. I was all by myself this summer. Whoop-de-doo.
I shut my eyes against the bright sun that came in through my open window and thought about Pauli. I mentioned her trip this summer once yesterday, and her reaction didn’t go unnoticed by me.
“Hey, Pauli!” I shouted across the small campus full of noisy kids. She spotted me and ran over by my side.
“Hey Niki.” She greeted me, pulling her long raven hair into a ponytail.
We started to walk together to our first period, history.
“Hey Pauli…” I started. She turned her head towards me to let me know she was listening. “I was thinking…can I maybe join your family this summer to Egypt? I mean my parents leaving and everything…” I trailed off, looking at her face for a reaction.
Her answer was tense, and unsure. “Well, Niki, I don’t think so. I wouldn’t want my uncle to think I’m imposing by bringing you. You know?” She wouldn’t look me in the eyes.
“But Pauli. I’ve been with you to other places of Yemen to visit other family members. What’s so different about your uncle?” I retorted.
By this time we’d made it to our classroom, and sat down in our seats.
“Niki my uncle just likes to keep to himself. He doesn’t like outsiders.” I noticed the slight pause before the word ‘outsiders’. “Just drop it.” And then the bell rang. Discussion over. Pauli ran out the door at the end of class before I could say anything.
I sighed as I opened my eyes again. No way. She can’t just leave me here this summer. I had to convince her somehow. I just had to. I heard the door open, then shut. Sounds like my new nanny has arrived. I stood up to go wash up for dinner. Seems like I have my work cut out for me.