West of the Jordan by Laila Halaby

Author:Laila Halaby
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Beacon Press
Published: 2011-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

This one’s a happy-ending story, for a change. I remember when it happened, and I remember how Ma held my hand extra tight when we went to the mall, or other public places. But just like everything, after a while, the kick in the story goes far enough away that you go back to your normal life.

16 KHADIJA Social Studies

Finally I have something to write in my diary.

I have a new friend. Her name is Patricia, but she likes to be called Patsy.

I told Ma about her and she keeps saying, “Batzy, Batzy.”

She is in my Social Studies class. Sometimes we would say hi to each other, but she seemed snobby. She has thick whitish-blond hair. It’s always smooth and fluffy and she is constantly playing with it. Sometimes she lifts it up and when it falls it’s like water cascading down her back.

I sit behind her if she takes the front-row seat that I like, and when she plays with her hair, some falls on my desk. Her hairs are so shiny, like plastic, and if you make a double knot, you can tie pencils together with them.

The first time I really talked to her was today. Mr. Napolitano was reviewing for our test on world capitals.

“Jordan, DJ?”

“Amman, Mr. Napolitano.”

“Good. Of course, that was an easy one for you.”

“Burkina Faso, Pat-a-cake?”

Patricia didn’t move and I knew she didn’t know the answer because she doesn’t even know the European capitals.

“Patricia?”

I leaned forward and whispered, “Ouagadougou.”

“Wagdoogoo.”

“Very good, Pat-a-cake. I can see you have been studying.”

When class was over, Patsy turned around and thanked me. “Do you want to eat together?”

“Sure,” I said.

We talked awhile and she’s nice. Her eyes are so blue.

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