Chapter 2-

     The sun collapsed and the moon rose casting millions of diamonds in the sky. Then again, that was our cue. The place we were staying at was this very old yet big mazra3a. The boys had a side to sleep in and the girls had another side to sleep in. I strode towards that particular empty place we were going to sleep in. I grabbed the dooshak (mattress) and put it on top of my head; I started walking around aimlessly. Looking at the kids running around, screaming and laughing; I let out a slight chuckle. Once my friends accumulated together we decided to take a spot. I quickly waited in the line to get into the bathroom and change. I looked at my square shaped digital, rubber watch; it was only 9:00pm. As soon as it was my turn I got in and slipped my pyjamas on. I stood in front of the small fractured mirror and I ran my fingers through my blonde hair.

(Note from the Narrator: My dad actually had blonde hair when he was young, I do not know how. It was blonde, blonde. Emphasis on the two blonde’s. That’s why my sister’s and I have streaks of blonde hair)

 I started brushing my teeth with the minty flavored toothpaste. I washed my hand and splashed water on my hair. Making it form in a messy way. I headed out and jumped on my mattress that neatly lay on the floor with a small blanket and a pillow. I rested my head and stared at the ceiling, which had cracks in them. I turned to my right and saw my friends laughing at some sort of thing. I didn’t bother to go and hear their lame jokes. I closed my eyes and drifted off to deep sleep.

I woke up to the noise of the chickens clucking, I got up and sat up straight. I rubbed my eyes a number of times and I looked around. No one was awake just yet. I slipped my na3al el bait (house slippers) and headed out to where the animals were. I stuck my face on the animal fence and intertwined my hands on the holes in them. I looked at the chickens sticking their heads on the grass looking for food. I walked over to the other side passing by the camels and the deer. I stopped mid-way when I noticed someone swinging on the swings. I walked over there to take a closer look. It was that girl from the other day. She was wearing a red dress that reached below her knees, with puffed short sleeves. I sat on the mari7ana (swing) next to her and I started swinging high.

“Inti matroomeen itsaween a3la 3anyy” I said as I stuck out a tongue.

She chuckled and said “Chathab aroom a9lan ana asawee a3la shay f kel el 3ALAAAAM”

“Yalla inchoof” I replied.

“Batchoof” She said sticking her tongue out.

She swang higher and higher but she couldn’t reach me she kept swinging and laughing. I laughed alone as I said

“CHFTII GLTLCH. Ana aroom angz ba3ad min el mari7ana inti matroomeen” I said vigorously.

“Arooom oo n9.” She said

“ANA AROOM OO KAMEL.” I said as I rolled my eyes.

She swung and she jumped landing on her feet. I swung and I jumped but even much higher. I laughed and I stuck my tongue out on her. She crossed her arms and shrugged while saying “3adi may59ni” I snickered while saying “Enti shsmch?”

“Esmi Shaikha” She replied and scurried off to her friends.

I noticed that I was still wearing my cartoon pyjamas. I went inside and I changed my clothes.

*2 years later*

I came home from school grasping on my report card with a grin on my face. I reached our 1-floored house and I pushed the doors open. I screamed “ANA W9LT” The usual saying I say when I get home.

I went to my mum and kissed her forehead while saying “sha5bar umayah el 7elwa?”

“B5air sh3ndk 5al9nii?” She said thinking I might want something from her.

“Umayah 3a6oona el shahadat! Ybt 99.9%” I grinned

“Mashalla 3alaik ya wlaiidy ta3al aboosk” She said and kissed my forehead.

Yes, I was the nerd in class. Not typically a nerd just the person who got high grades, because of my photographic memories. I was so happy about my marks. Oh and just so you guys know I haven’t seen Shaikha ever since the day in the mazra3a.

I woke up the next day and wore my uniform. I reached school and started playing football fel sa7a until the bell rang and we were told to get in class. The teacher was late so I decided on doing something. I gathered my friends and we decided to do what I told them. We took off the screws of the door and kept the door facing straight. We waited outside of the classroom till the teacher came. He asked us in a loud tone “Laish into bara3?!” I replied “Estath 3aib indsh gabel el estath, tfa’6al” I said snickering in a low tone. He opened the door and it fell face down and he fell with it. We all started laughing, and he got up angrily saying “fkrat mnu haaa?!” Everyone kept quiet and I replied “Estath na7n may59na ymkn broo7a chee” He gave me a death stare and went inside saying “A5ER MARRA ASAM7KM!”  I chuckled and said in my head “Kanat fkra gwya ya ghaith!”.

 I went back home and I started memorizing the 5^th book. I had to memorise 5 BIG books for this competition. Since I had photographic memory it was easy.

I memorized it all and as soon as it was 5:00 I had to go to this barnamaj called “Seen jeem”

 (Not from the narrator: It’s a show mal ayam awal, they ask you questions and you have to answer, you get to be on tv. It’s like “man sayarb7 al million”. This is a true event that happened to my dad.)

I went there and the show began, I told my mum to tell my friends to switch on their small antenna TV’s.

Shaikha’s Perspective:

I switched on the TV since everyone said there was going to be a surprise. All of my siblings and my parents gathered around. Once it was on the right channel “Seen jeem” Popped up. Then that guy, o5oo Hind , Shamma, and Sarah; was answering the questions.

“Mashallah 3alaih thaky” My mum said

“Haih wallah kafoo 3alaih” My dad said

All of my siblings were amazed by his intelligence.

“6a3 hatha 5agag” I said while rolling my eyes.

Chapter 1-

Hello, just to make things clear this is the story of my Mum and Dad. I will change their names of course and add a few events which are not-true since I don’t know every single detail. Enjoy the bittersweet love.

The story will be placed in the late 70’s and it will be on my Dad’s perspective.

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I walked home from school adjusting my school bag on my shoulders. I walked over the rough sand with my shoelaces untied as usual. I passed by the houses that were made of wind towers and that line the Creek on both sides.

These wind towers were not just decorative. They were the only means of cooling our houses.  I started increasing my pace as I wanted to reach home for lunch.

“ Ghaiiith! Ta3al ba5brk shay” My friend screamed on the top of his lungs as I saw him running towards me from the far end. He came closer to me and we talked about random things of how we want to plan our day today with our other neighborhood friends. Playing between el sikeek (between the houses), and playing kook/’3mai’6a  (Hide and go seek). After our short talk I hurried over as fast as I could to reach home.

Once I arrived I stomped my foot on the floor so the sand covered on my shoes would rub off, and I wouldn’t get punished for entering the house with sand. I pushed the wooden door open and I screamed “ANA W9LT”

Our family consisted of My mother, 3 sisters, and 3 brothers including me. My Dad passed away when I was 9 Allah yr7ma. I’ll list my siblings in order of age.

1-  Hamdan

2-  Hind

3-  Shamma

4-  Sarah

5-  Ahmad

6-  And me Ghaith

I am the youngest one of them all, sadly I’m just 11. I walked towards the living room and the smell of Machboos came sloshing into my nose. I took a whiff and I said “Alllaaah”. All of my siblings were seated and they had been already dressed in home-wear or as we say it Malabes el bait. I rolled up my school uniform sleeves and took a seat beside Ahmad and Hamdan. I stretched my hand 3ashan a’3rfly 3aish (put rice on my plate) when suddenly my mum said

 “Ghaith goum badel 3gb ta3al”

I replied “Mama allah y5alech aboos reelch yo3an”

She said in a calm tone “Ghaitho roo7 badel maybala ela dgeegtain”

I huff-ed as I got up from the red tkay mal el yalsa (red couch-like pillows that were placed on the floor) I got to my room and wore my hideously ripped jeans and a white t-shirt. I ran and sat on my seat and started gobbling on the Machboos dyay.  Once I was done I washed my hands and did my usual chores: ta’3seel el 97oon, and picking up the plates. I finished my chores and headed outside as usual since we didn’t have anything better to do. I went to my friend and all our neighborhood friends gathered around, boys and girls from different age types (it was okay to play with girls back then, no worries). Klna we gathered around and started playing kook. Everyone had various places to hide in, I hid in our 1-floor house roof top and scrunched my body downwards so I wouldn’t show.

After we played our games, athan el m’3rb and that was our cue to go back home. I sat with my family as they told us that we would be going on a r7la with many neighborhood friends mal el freej. Sine today was the last day of school I could go. I packed my bag and slept.

The sun rose and my brothers that were sleeping on the beds next to mine woke up to my mothers shouting “YALLA BANAT, AWLAD BANTA5R” I got up from bed and brushed my teeth with a grin on my face. I got my bag which had my clothes in them and we went out.

As soon as we reached everyone went out with their friends. Me and my freej friends consisted of 10 girls and 10 boys we were all at the ages of 11-14. I was running around and laughing until I bumped into someone. An unfamiliar girl.. I looked at her and creased my eyebrows trying to figure out who she is.

AHA, I remembered she’s my sisters young friend she once was playing with my sisters. She looked like my age. I looked at her pale skin and light brown eyes that were framed with long lashes. Her long curly light brown hair looked amazing on her.

“uhmmm asfaaa!” She replied in a calm tone and started skipping away to her friends.

She looked cute. Wait what am I saying I’m only 11.