Read Online Amanda in Arabia: The Perfume Flask by Darlene Foster - Free Book Online

ranch but made them promise to use him only to give rides to tourists.
    â€œWhat if they would have used him for meat?” Amanda shuddered.
    â€œI told them he was a tough old camel and no one would be able to eat his meat,” laughed the old man. Then he told of meeting Mohammed and how they planned the escape with the help of a kind tourist. “When you came into my shop Amanda, I knew you were the one.”
    After a short rest, Shamza and Mohammed got ready to leave. They would ride on Ali Baba and Sheba through the mountains to a nearby country and start their new life together.
    â€œWhen I get a job, I will send you some money to pay the camel ranch for the camels,” Mohammed told Yoseph. “I do not want to have a reputation as a camel thief.”
    Amanda stroked Ali Baba’s neck and whispered goodbye in his ear. Then she gave Shamza a big hug. Tears came to her eyes as she said goodbye and wished her friend good luck.
    Shamza hugged her back, “I have had good luck ever since I met you. You are my good luck Djinn .”
    As the princess turned to leave, Amanda remembered something.
    â€œShamza, I almost forgot, I brought the perfume flask as you asked.”
    She reached into the pocket of her jeans, pulled out the smooth pewter flask and handed it to her friend. The princess held it tight and closed her eyes as she thought about her mother who gave it to her. She would probably never see her again. Then she handed it back to Amanda. “It is yours now.”
    Amanda stammered, “I – I can’t take it. Don’t you need it – for good luck?”
    â€œI will be fine now,” she smiled as she looked at Mohammed. “You must keep it for good luck now.”
    Yoseph drove the girls back to the city and back to their worried families. “Where have you been?” asked Amanda’s distraught aunt as she gave her a big hug.
    â€œJust took a wrong turn and got lost.”
    â€œWhy are you limping?”
    â€œOh, I fell off the camel – just once. It is only a bruise.”
    â€œOh no! What will I tell your mother?”
    â€œTell her I am having the time of my life.” Amanda limped over to the couch and let herself fall into an overstuffed pillow. “Gosh, that feels good. Much softer than sand,” she decided. “I’m okay, honest. But I can’t wait to tell all my friends back home about my adventure in the desert. They won’t believe me! Can I please have something to eat? And then I need a big sleep.” She would have fallen asleep right then and there if she hadn’t been so hungry. Her aunt shook her head and went to the kitchen for a plate of leftovers saved from dinner the night before.

Chapter 20
    Amanda was pleased that Leah had forgiven her for tricking her into helping the princess and they both agreed it had been an incredible experience. They also decided they needed to do more things together. Leah’s parents had a time-share in Spain and often holidayed there. Perhaps Amanda could meet her there.
    Leah went to the airport with Amanda and her aunt and uncle. They had plenty of time so they took a little detour through the desert so Amanda could see the sand dunes one more time.
    Leah pointed out the window. “Look Amanda, do you see the sand surfer over there?”
    Amanda looked to where Leah was pointing and saw a young man in a snowy white dishdasha and a red and white checkered ghurta on his head streaming down the side of a large rippled dune on what looked like a skate board. At least it looked like a skateboard at first but then it looked more like a snowboard. Amanda, who had been sad and quiet about leaving her new friend and a place she had grown to love, started to laugh. “Just like at home. These dunes are like golden coloured snow hills except you can snowboard on them all year round. I know a lot of guys who would love that!”
    The young man flashed a wide toothy