The Shepherd's Granddaughter by Anne Laurel Carter

Author:Anne Laurel Carter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: JUV030110
Publisher: Groundwood Books Ltd
Published: 2008-08-05T00:00:00+00:00

Seventeen

“HURRY UP, AMANI!”

Wardeh’s third impatient shout from the driveway found Amani still in the sheep pen. Amani let Survivor suck the last drops of milk from the bottle.

Her historic first day of school was not off to a good start.

Why did Wardeh and Raja’ have to leave so early? The sheep crowded behind Amani as she ran to the gate, accusing her of desertion.

“I’ll be back this afternoon,” Amani said, slipping out and shoving the bolt into place. “Baba’s going to let you graze around the fields while he’s working. I’ll try to take you to the Firdoos again.”

Yesterday she’d fled across the plateau to the path descending through the boulders. It ended abruptly just above the long retaining wall. Ahead, the space between the boulders was filled in with small rocks. Amani climbed out of the path onto the boulder below, helped Survivor, and scrambled down to the wall.

They were back. Safe. She’d be more careful next time. Quiet and quick. She didn’t want to run into that boy with the binoculars.

Hurrying up the mountain to school, Wardeh interrupted Amani’s thoughts.

“Raja’ and I won’t wait for you tomorrow if you take so long.”

Ever since Amani could remember, Raja’ had walked along the village road at dawn to call on Wardeh. Together the two girls had crossed the valley to follow the path above Amani’s house.

Amani tried to imagine the Sheep Girl arriving alone at school. How would she endure a whole day in that building?

“The orphan lamb needs a bottle every morning — ”

“Don’t act like a backward farm girl,” Wardeh scolded. “Nobody cares about sheep.”

Wardeh set such a fast pace, they had to stop talking until the dirt path leveled off at the summit. They were on a concrete sidewalk in front of small apartments and houses. The big sister pep talk wasn’t over.

“Fix your hijab.”

“Don’t speak to boys privately,” Raja’ added.

Why had she said she’d go to school? What a stupid idea.

“And tomorrow morning, be careful where you step. You even smell like a sheep.”

“Baaa.”

“Try to fit in!”

Fit in? She was a shepherd.

As soon as they arrived in the schoolyard, a dozen older girls surrounded Wardeh and Raja’, forming a wall that Amani didn’t know how to penetrate. She felt like an orphan sheep, listening to snippets of the girls’ conversations.

“Is that the Sheep Girl?”

“You got a new iPod!”

“Is your father going to let you apply to university?”

This last question was directed to Wardeh. She glanced furtively at Amani before she whispered her reply.

Amani stared at her cousin’s stiff back, puzzled. For all her bossiness, it was hard to imagine Wardeh defying her father. Did she really want to go to university, or was she trying to impress her friends?

The morning classes of math and science dragged by like a hot day without water. There were fourteen girls in her class and they eyed her cautiously. Amani sat at the back, eagerly answering the teachers’ questions. Sometimes one of the girls turned around and stared at her. The Sheep Girl hoped she was making a good impression.

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