Read Online One Half from the East by Nadia Hashimi - Free Book Online Page B

something? What’s going to happen to you? When are they going to change you back?”
    Rahim’s face gets really serious. His eyelids lower and his lips tighten. He stuffs his hands deep into his pockets and I worry that I’ve asked something I shouldn’t have.
    â€œNever,” my best friend says with so much fire that I get a little nervous for him. “I’ll never be a girl again.”

Eleven
    T here’s a yelping noise.
    â€œGet away from him!” Rahim calls out. We’re walking home from school, blowing on our hands to keep them warm. It’s starting to get really cold out. Winter’s not far away.
    I turn to see what Rahim’s yelling about. Two older boys are chasing after a stray dog. They corner him in an alley and one boy picks up a small stone. The dog’s a mud-covered mutt with patchy hair. He’s cowering, looking for a way out.
    â€œLeave him alone!” Rahim yells again. He charges at the boys. They turn, surprised. I can see their faces become knotted with anger.
    â€œRahim, wait! What are you doing?”
    He ignores me. He’s already in front of the dog, who is backing away from Rahim, too. He’s not sure if he’s got any friends.
    â€œLeave the dog alone, you brutes!” Rahim’s hands are balled up. One of the boys takes a step toward him and gives him a shove. Rahim shoves him back. I’m terrified but run to my friend’s side.
    â€œStop!” I yell. I don’t know what else I can do.
    â€œWhat’s your problem? Is this dog your sister or something?” The boy jeers.
    â€œNo, he’s the child your mother wished she’d had instead of you,” Rahim shoots back. I’m impressed. And nervous.
    The dog senses his opportunity and scampers away.
    The boy swings at Rahim’s head, but my friend ducks backward and the boy stumbles to the ground. He comes after Rahim again. Rahim kicks at his leg and the boy grabs his shin, howling in pain. His friend looks at us and charges at Rahim. Without thinking, I stick my leg out and trip him. He falls flat on his face. Rahim looks at me. He doesn’t have to say it. I know what he’s thinking.
    We run as fast as we can. Our girl legs are light and quick. The boys chase us down one street, but when we make our second turn, they give up. Once we’re sure we’ve lost them, we rest against a wall and catch our breath.
    â€œI can’t believe you did that!” Rahim laughs.
    â€œI can’t believe it either,” I admit.
    â€œThat dog looked so sad. I didn’t want to see them hit it with a rock. Thanks for backing me up.”
    â€œYou’re my friend, Rahim. I wouldn’t leave you to fight those boys alone.”
    â€œYou fought a boy and won, Obayd.” Rahim grabs my hands excitedly. “Isn’t that great? Doesn’t it feel really good? We took down a couple of boys! Let him explain to his friends that his hands and face got all scraped up when he got taken down by a couple of girl-boys.”
    This is one of our best days so far as boys.
    I enter the living room, still feeling really good. As usual, my father’s not there.
    â€œObayd, good. You’re finally here.”
    â€œ Salaam, Mother.”
    â€œMy son, take a plate of food to your father, would you? He didn’t want to eat earlier, but maybe his appetite will pick up if he sees you.”
    I toss my backpack against the wall.
    My sisters are sitting on the floor cushions. Their notebooks are splayed across the burgundy carpet like butterfly wings.
    â€œWhen is he going to come out of that room?” I ask. I kind of want to tell him what I just did, though I don’tknow what he’ll say about it.
    The leaves on the chinar tree outside have gone from green to orange and yellow and red and now they’re falling to the ground. The season is shifting and changing, just like me. I have both hands on my hips and my chin