Read Online Safiah's Smile by Leora Friedman - Free Book Online Page A

healing, Malia thought. If it could even become whole ever
again.
    Safiah furrowed her brows. “How
so?” Her mouth twisted in confusion.
    “With everything you’ve dealt
with, you still seem so strong.” Malia’s face dropped. “I just wish
I could be like that.” Not for me, but for him. Wherever he is.
    “You can. You just have to have
faith,” Safiah encouraged. She could get through to Malia, she kept
telling herself. She just had to keep trying. No matter how
stubborn she may seem.
    “I just don’t understand why
people have to destroy. And kill. And destroy some more.” Malia
brushed the hair from her eyes in frustration. “I just can’t wrap
my head around it.”
    “Neither can I. But you have to
believe,” Safiah urged. “You said you supported your brother
enrolling in the army. Why is that?” she inquired.
    “ Because...” Malia
thought. Why did she support
him? Because it was important to him? No.
Basketball was important to him, also. And getting the world record
for the most hot dogs eaten in a twenty-four hour time span. But it
didn’t mean that she was contacting all the basketball scouts in
the Midwestern area to inspect her brother’s athletic skills. And
she certainly wasn’t offering to assist Sam in grilling three
hundred hot dogs overnight in their backyard. Although he tried to
persuade her. Multiple times.
    “ Because I knew that it was
right. What he was doing. It was a good thing.” Was a good thing . Was it still a good thing
now? she pondered.
    “Exactly,” Safiah agreed,
smiling.
    For something
admirable. For his country , Danny had said.
    Danny. Where was he now? Would he
be coming home? Or would she lose everyone closest to her? He had
saved her from Joey Gandalini – the seventh grade bully, from Corey
Simon – the grand football star, and most of all, from herself.
    “I guess the only thing left to do
is pray,” Malia finally declared. “And have hope.” The pangs of
disbelief and denial dissolved. And she surrendered.
    Together they dashed to class,
enduring the remainder of the day with the knowledge that with
time, the war would end. The world would heal, and inevitably, so
would they.
    While striding to the
freshman dormitories, Malia noticed turquoise advertisements pasted
on every empty space on the bulletin boards posted throughout the
university. “Freshman party! Come meet your new classmates,” Malia
read eagerly. This is exactly
what I need, Malia thought. The prospect of
chatting with strangers – carefree college students unaware of her
qualms – whetted her excitement and she relished in the joys of
college life.
    She raced to dial Safiah’s number.
Reaching in her mesh bag to retrieve her silver flip phone, she
realized she had never asked for Safiah’s phone number.
    “It’ll be fun. Our first college
party. Plus, you’re the only person I’ve spoken to at this school!”
Malia laughed. “So you have to come with me.” Malia was smiling.
Safiah was shocked at this sudden change of character and hurriedly
agreed. Malia stood in the hall on the velvet navy blue carpeting
on the third floor of the freshman dormitory.
    “Don’t laugh, but I’ve never been
to a party before,” Safiah smiled.
    Malia sported a short black dress
with sequins and a necklace with multi-colored crystal beads. The
heels of her satin black pumps pounded against the cement of the
stone path leading to Grover Hall. An innocent grin sketched on her
face, Safiah lifted the thick cotton of her navy dress in her
fingers to prevent it from drifting to the wet floor after several
hours of afternoon showers.
    Malia recalled the countless high
school parties she attended most weekends at James Madison High
School. Mostly due to peer pressure rather than her own enthusiasm
for underage drinking and rock music.
    “ Malia, I don’t think it’s
such a good idea for you to be going to these parties,” her brother
declared. She was already dressed in a brown blouse,