Zara's Rules for Living Your Best Life by Hena Khan

Author:Hena Khan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Salaam Reads / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published: 2023-03-21T00:00:00+00:00

“They’re beautiful!” I say, admiring my creative friends’ handiwork. “Thank you!”

I hurry home for tacos, and to get the paletas into the freezer before they melt. One for me and another for Zayd. They’ll be the perfect end to the meal, and to the day.

Chapter 11

The next morning, before we leave for Naano’s, Mama searches through her closet and pulls out a mint-green dress with a million ruffles.

“How’s this?” she asks me. It’s about my size.

“Where did you get that?” I ask.

“I was saving it for a special occasion,” Mama says. “What do you think?”

“Ummm.” I examine the clean white leggings and blue T-shirt with strawberries on it that I’m wearing. “But I’m already dressed.” My outfit seems perfect for Naano’s tea party.

“You don’t like the dress?” Mama’s face droops.

“It’s okay,” I quickly say. “It just doesn’t look very comfy.”

“Oh, you’ll be fine.” Mama is instantly cheerful again. “You can change out of it after the tea.”

“Are you coming?”

“I wish I could, love, but I have to be at that training.”

“Do we really have to dress up that much?” I protest.

“Naano wants it to be special. She called me this morning to make sure you and Zayd remembered to wear nice clothes.”

“Fine.” I take the dress and stuff it into my suitcase.

“Add these, too,” Mama says, handing me a clip-on bow tie and a button-down shirt for Zayd.

When we arrive, Nana Abu opens the door for us, and he’s wearing a nice shirt and pants. Naano’s in the kitchen shredding a pile of chicken.

“Salaam, Naano,” Zayd says. “We brought dress-up clothes.”

“Good boy,” Naano says. “You two, have some cereal.” I guess she didn’t have time to make us breakfast.

“You’re going to be extra good, Zayd, right?” I whisper to him as I get out some bowls for us. “This is important to Naano.”

“I know,” Zayd says, nodding his head. “I’m ready.”

While we’re eating, Naano walks to her china cabinet and takes out a carved silver tea set that’s blackish, a bottle of polish, and some cotton balls.

“This is for you to clean, Zayd, if you’re done eating,” she says, setting him up to polish the set at the counter.

“I know, I know,” Zayd moans as he climbs onto a stool. But after a while he yells, “This is cool!” He holds up a blackened cotton ball. “Check out all this black stuff coming off!”

Next, Naano and I make the butter cookie dough. I roll the dough into balls and flatten them onto a cookie sheet. When Zayd’s done polishing, he gets to drop a spoonful of strawberry jam into the middle of each.

Nana Abu shuffles into the kitchen while Naano and I are making the filling for tea sandwiches. It’s the shredded chicken mixed with tiny pieces of celery and mayonnaise.

“Want to help us, Nana Abu?” I ask, ignoring Naano’s glare. If she’s letting Zayd help in here, there’s no reason not to let her husband join in too.

“Sure,” Nana Abu agrees. He settles into the chair next to me. “What should I do?”

“Cut the crust off this bread,” Naano grunts.

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