Read Online She Wore Red Trainers by Na'ima B. Robert - Free Book Online Page B

I’ll tell them soon, inshallah…’
    I watched Yasmin’s emotions flit over her face as the others asked her more questions about her aunts’ husband hunting plans.
    I felt sorry for her then and made a big show of sighing impatiently. ‘What’s all this talk about marriage anyway? It’s so sad: once Muslim girls reach a certain age, it’s like that’s all we can talk about, like now that we’ve finished school, that’s the next logical step.’
    â€˜Well, isn’t it?’ Samia again with her wide-eyed revert look.
    â€˜No, Samia, it isn’t,’ I said firmly. ‘I, for one, have things I want to do, places I want to see, dreams to fulfil…’
    â€˜You can do that once you’re married, can’t you?’
    â€˜I’d rather do it on my own, thank you very much,’ I sniffed. ‘Husbands just get in the way. And then you’ve got the spawn to contend with…’
    â€˜Oh, Amirah, stop!’ Rania pushed me away and I almost fell off my chair, again. ‘You talk so much rubbish. We all know that you love those rugrats more than anything. I hardly ever see them around without you! Just admit that you’re an old softie, really, and all you need is the love of a good man to get you barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen…’
    â€˜Shut it, Rania,’ I said, duffing her on the head with my bag, my face burning. ‘You don’t know what you’re talking about.’
    Samia got in on the act. ‘Well, if I was a gambling woman – which I’m not, of course – I would put my money on Amirah to be the first to get married and have a kid.’
    I stared at her, my mouth hanging open. ‘And what onearth would give you that idea? If I told you once, I told you a thousand times: I am not getting married. End of!’
    Rania threw Samia and Yasmin a knowing glance and smirked, ‘Methinks the lady doth protest too much…’
    I grinned then, feeling foolish. I was making too big a deal out of it. It wasn’t as if I knew the future; only Allah knew that. But I felt pretty confident that Samia’s prediction would come to nothing. Anyway, who in their right mind would want to marry me with all my issues?
    â€˜Well, while you three weird sisters carry on with your Mystic Meg act, I’m going to order dessert. Let me know when you get back down to planet Earth.’
    And that was the end of all that talk. There are certain times when one’s full attention is required: ordering dessert is one of them.

13
    â€˜So, son, have you heard anything more from the university?’
    Dad sat back from our new dining table after a delicious dinner of roast chicken and macaroni cheese. One of our new neighbours, Khadijah Jones from number 5, had sent it. She had packed a week’s worth of dinners in sturdy plastic containers, wrapped in cling film, and dropped them off first thing in the morning.
    â€˜ Jazakallah khayran , sister,’ I had said, overwhelmed. I hadn’t expected hospitality like that, not in the city.
    â€˜You’re new to the community, aren’t you?’ she had chirped. ‘And you’ve lost your mum, I hear? So this is the least I can do. Don’t hesitate to knock for me if you need anything, understand?’ And she strode off down the close towards the gate, her purple hijab fluttering behind her.
    With curtains up in the windows and containers of home-cooked food in the fridge, the house was starting to feel more and more like a real home.
    But now, Dad wanted to have one of our ‘talks’ and Khadijah Jones’ macaroni pie was starting to churn in my stomach. I had been dreading this conversation for weeks and, now that Umar and Jamal had left the table, it didn’t look like I was going to be able to avoid it. Is there ever a good time totell your superambitious self-made father that you just aren’t sure about