Read Online Three Wishes: Cairo by Jeff Klinedinst - Free Book Online
Authors: Jeff Klinedinst
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soldiers at the local pub. Outwardly, she radiated extreme confidence and appeared ready to tackle any situation. She was truly a one of a kind specimen. There was not one person who met her who didn’t believe in her instantly, because what you saw was what you got. She didn’t mince words nor put on airs. Yet now, as she stood waiting for the processional to begin; waiting for the world as she knew it to judge her appearance, her manner and her grace, she instantly reverted back to that gangly tom boy she was in school. She transformed into an awkward twelve year old whose body was more bruises and sweat than it was curves and perfume. This was indeed scary.
Her mother sensed her anxiety and calmed it with one simple touch. One reaffirming squeeze of her shoulder reset that reservoir of confidence she had instilled in her daughter at an early age.
“Now is not the time for doubt. You are important to every little girl playing in the streets today. You are important to every person who aspires to be more than their station in life allows. Beauty is amazing, but it is secondary to your grace and your intelligence. You've earned the right to be here. You will not just be a pawn in this game of life. You will be a player. We are all proud of you. All of us.”
Ameerah swallowed her fear, closed her eyes and mentally reset her frame of mind.
“Everything I am, I owe to you, Mother.”
Her mother squeezed her shoulder more firmly now.
“I will take the credit for birthing and raising you; the rest is all your doing. Trust me. Now go get married.”
As if on cue, the processional began.
Ameerah had decided to walk down the aisle on her own. It wasn’t some bold display of misplaced bravado. She felt it to be a quiet tribute to a father that could no longer be present in her life. There would be those who thought this was a sign of supreme independence and tout this as a fact to all that would listen. Still others would testify to the radical departure from normalcy and warn that this was a sign of someone who didn’t respect the traditions that the realm held dear. For Ameerah, it was a bridge of sorts; from the faded memory of the man who protected her in youth, to the man who would be her partner for the rest of her life. All other opinions didn’t really matter.
She briefly touched the simple green necklace for the strength it radiated and then made her way deliberately down the aisle. She had been told during several practice runs that she was moving too fast. “Don’t be in such a hurry,” her mother had warned. “All of the eyes of the kingdom are on you, so enjoy it. Trust me, they’ll wait.”
As she got closer and closer to her destiny, she became more at ease and found herself making eye contact with those folks seated on the aisle. Eventually, her eyes landed in the front of the room and onto Rorgue and Atiene who both looked like schoolboys who had stolen candy from a merchant and were reluctant to give it up while being questioned. Rorgue eventually gave her a nervous wink. Any contact with Rorgue always generated the same response from Ameerah. As if on cue, she rolled her eyes and smiled slightly. Rorgue had joked with her that if she continued rolling her eyes in that manner; and to that degree, that someday, they may indeed just roll right out of the back of her head, down her neck and out onto the ground.
Now her eyes fell to Atiene who always presented a graceful and relaxed demeanor. But the look he sent back in her direction seemed more like panic than the calm she was hoping for.
Finally her gaze fell upon the man she was about to marry. Khayri looked as handsome as ever in his formal dressing gown and boots. She smiled when their eyes met, yet he did not return her smile. He looked stoic and seemed to be in deep concentration. Though he appeared to make eye contact, she didn’t notice the normal brightening that they both experienced every time their gazes met.
“That’s
Her mother sensed her anxiety and calmed it with one simple touch. One reaffirming squeeze of her shoulder reset that reservoir of confidence she had instilled in her daughter at an early age.
“Now is not the time for doubt. You are important to every little girl playing in the streets today. You are important to every person who aspires to be more than their station in life allows. Beauty is amazing, but it is secondary to your grace and your intelligence. You've earned the right to be here. You will not just be a pawn in this game of life. You will be a player. We are all proud of you. All of us.”
Ameerah swallowed her fear, closed her eyes and mentally reset her frame of mind.
“Everything I am, I owe to you, Mother.”
Her mother squeezed her shoulder more firmly now.
“I will take the credit for birthing and raising you; the rest is all your doing. Trust me. Now go get married.”
As if on cue, the processional began.
Ameerah had decided to walk down the aisle on her own. It wasn’t some bold display of misplaced bravado. She felt it to be a quiet tribute to a father that could no longer be present in her life. There would be those who thought this was a sign of supreme independence and tout this as a fact to all that would listen. Still others would testify to the radical departure from normalcy and warn that this was a sign of someone who didn’t respect the traditions that the realm held dear. For Ameerah, it was a bridge of sorts; from the faded memory of the man who protected her in youth, to the man who would be her partner for the rest of her life. All other opinions didn’t really matter.
She briefly touched the simple green necklace for the strength it radiated and then made her way deliberately down the aisle. She had been told during several practice runs that she was moving too fast. “Don’t be in such a hurry,” her mother had warned. “All of the eyes of the kingdom are on you, so enjoy it. Trust me, they’ll wait.”
As she got closer and closer to her destiny, she became more at ease and found herself making eye contact with those folks seated on the aisle. Eventually, her eyes landed in the front of the room and onto Rorgue and Atiene who both looked like schoolboys who had stolen candy from a merchant and were reluctant to give it up while being questioned. Rorgue eventually gave her a nervous wink. Any contact with Rorgue always generated the same response from Ameerah. As if on cue, she rolled her eyes and smiled slightly. Rorgue had joked with her that if she continued rolling her eyes in that manner; and to that degree, that someday, they may indeed just roll right out of the back of her head, down her neck and out onto the ground.
Now her eyes fell to Atiene who always presented a graceful and relaxed demeanor. But the look he sent back in her direction seemed more like panic than the calm she was hoping for.
Finally her gaze fell upon the man she was about to marry. Khayri looked as handsome as ever in his formal dressing gown and boots. She smiled when their eyes met, yet he did not return her smile. He looked stoic and seemed to be in deep concentration. Though he appeared to make eye contact, she didn’t notice the normal brightening that they both experienced every time their gazes met.
“That’s
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