Salma Joins the Team by Danny Ramadan

Author:Danny Ramadan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Annick Press
Published: 2024-02-02T15:50:57+00:00

Chapter 7

After parting ways with Riya on their walk home, Salma daydreams about meeting Yusra Mardini. What would Yusra say to her? Would they have much to talk about? Salma would ask if it was hard for Yusra to adjust to her new life as a refugee, the way Mama and Baba struggled—or even the way Salma struggled. Did she also have to deal with people who did not support her dream? Did she feel uncomfortable in her swimsuit, too? How did she go through this journey and make all of these decisions on her own?

Salma climbs the stairs to her home and slips into the apartment. She can’t wait to tell her parents the good news. She spots Mama in the living room, but pauses before Mama sees her. Mama’s eyes are red, and her tears fall like a waterfall down her cheeks. What’s going on?

“Mama, are you okay?” Salma rushes toward her. Mama quickly dries her tears with a tissue. “Is Baba okay? Did something happen to Nora?”

“Oh, it’s nothing to worry about, Salma.” Mama’s voice is a bit broken, as if she has been crying for a while. “Everyone is all right. I just got some onion tears.”

Salma can tell that Mama is hiding something. There are no onions anywhere. She wraps her arms around her mama’s waist. “Mama, tell me the truth,” Salma says. “What happened?”

Mama leans down, squeezes Salma in, and kisses her on the forehead.

“When did my daughter become the sweetest child in the world?” Mama smiles softly. “You’re right that I’m upset, but I promise you it’s a grown-up thing. Everything will be okay.”

Salma nods, still worried. Mama clears her throat then asks Salma about her day. Remembering her good news, Salma jumps away and stands in the middle of the room. She proudly announces that she qualified for the swim team.

“That’s such wonderful news, Salma! I’m so proud of you,” Mama says. “I can’t wait to see Baba’s reaction. Help me clean up while we wait for him to come home.”

When he finally arrives, Baba is also excited for Salma. “I knew all of your training would pay off, Salma,” he tells her. “You are a determined girl, and nothing can stand in your way.”

Salma feels a bit shy. She holds her hands behind her back and sways as she listens to her father’s encouraging words.

The evening passes, and Salma almost forgets about Mama’s tears. But as she heads to the living room to say goodnight, Salma can’t help but overhear her parents’ conversation.

“They are all talking about us at the mosque,” Mama whispers. “They are saying we don’t know how to raise our daughter.”

“Let them say what they want to say.” Baba’s voice is angry, but reassuring. “They are ignorant and gossipy. Those are not the values of our religion or our culture anyway.”

Salma’s anger gathers in her throat like a fireball inside of a dragon’s mouth. She is so mad that these women made her mama cry.

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