Read Online The Green Bicycle by Haifaa Al Mansour - Free Book Online

things.
    Thank goodness you’re here
, she almost blurted, but then she remembered how angry she was. Abdullah had ruined her veil and let Ms. Hussa humiliate her! She dashed over and snatched her stone from his hand. Then she picked up another, rougher rock and threw it back toward him as she stormed off in the other direction.
    â€œTake that!” she shouted, aiming the stone well above his head. “And stop following me. I don’t want to play with you anymore. At school, for not having a veil? The teachers made me stand out in the sun all day!”
    Even on the last words, Wadjda was careful not to let her voice crack. Her friend dodged the poorly thrown rock and looked at her, ashamed. Wadjda kept her face cold. She put her stone in her pocket and turned toward home.
    â€œWait!” Abdullah shouted. He ran back to his bicycle and pulled a package off the rack on the back. Sheepishly, he held it out. His hand was shaking, just a little. “Here,” he said. “I got you this.”
    Wadjda glared at him, suspicious. Eventually, though, she took the package. Ripping back the paper, she gasped as the wind caught and unfurled a new black veil. It was beautiful. A yellow flower made of beads decorated the corner.
    For a moment, Abdullah and Wadjda watched the cloth dance in the breeze. Then Wadjda remembered how mad she was at him and stuffed it into her bag.
    â€œThis doesn’t make us even, you know.” A smile tugged at her lips. “You know when we’ll be even? When I race you on my new bicycle! Before you know it, I’ll be beating you all over town.”
    â€œWhat?” Abdullah scoffed, momentarily losing his apologetic tone. “Are you kidding, Wadjda? Girls can’t have bikes!”
    â€œThen I guess it’ll be that much more embarrassing when I win!” Wadjda said, narrowing her eyes in challenge. Again, she began to walk away. Abdullah jumped onhis bike, ready to pedal off in the opposite direction, but at that moment a small pickup passed by. Its wheels rumbled across the empty lot, sending up a huge cloud of dust that completely engulfed him.
    Looking back, seeing her friend coated in dirt and sand, Wadjda let out a long peal of laughter. Swiping at the dust on his face, Abdullah stuck out his tongue. He cursed and spat as he tasted the dirt. Wadjda laughed even harder.
    At last, Abdullah smiled. They were friends again. The thought made Wadjda’s heart lift. But it also made her more determined to get her green bike, race him, and win!
    An annoyed-looking site manager popped out of the pickup truck and stormed toward the workers. He didn’t notice Wadjda or Abdullah. Atop the looming building frame, the workers visibly tensed. In a big group, they scurried down to meet the contractor at the entrance to the site.
    â€œAll day, and you only built one pillar? Five men working for me! I pay five men, and I get one lousy pillar? You’re robbing me blind.” The contractor’s voice was harsh and mean. He slapped the closest man on the back of his neck, dragging him forward like a little boy caught cheating at school.
    â€œGo to car. Go,” he said, switching to condescending, broken Arabic. “We finish work on other building.”
    As she watched the cowed workers pile into the back of the pickup, Wadjda’s heart sank. She felt bad for them, despite their taunts and stares. She wanted to tell them they should be nicer, that they were all stuck in this place together. That they shouldn’t take their frustrations out on little girls, that there were real miracles in the universe and a purpose for everyone. That maybe she’d seen hers today, in the form of a green bicycle.
    But she didn’t. She just watched the truck pull away in a cloud of dust.

CHAPTER EIGHT
    T he air conditioner in the window over Wadjda’s desk bellowed, spitting out icy-cold air. But only the top of her head felt any sort of relief. The