Huda was here, p.15
Huda Was Here, page 15
Fadey shook his head, but I felt like I missed something.
‘Hang on. What does Fadey have to do? Do I have to do it too?’ I asked.
‘Akeal. Focus. This isn’t a time for questions!’ my sister snapped. She huffed in frustration, grabbing her walkie-talkie and shoving it into the elastic of her pants. She scrunched up her hand-drawn map and stuffed it back into her bag, then kicked the backpack further behind the donation bin.
‘I’m gonna leave my bag here, it won’t fit through the window.’
She adjusted her keffiyeh and chucked the pointing stick over her shoulder, then froze as she spotted something over our heads in the distance.
‘Stay down, prowler alert!’
Huda squatted beside us as we tucked ourselves out of view behind the donation bin. We peered out, hoping the dark would conceal us from the figures stumbling through the park across the road.
‘They’re probably just late-night walkers, passing through the reserve,’ I whispered, hoping it was true.
The two figures reached the edge of the field and paused to cross the road. From where we were, I saw both of them check for cars, and then check again. Then they stepped off the kerb and shuffled towards Uncle Ahmed’s shop.
Huda gulped.
‘Shish-kebabs! They’re headed straight for us!’ I felt my sister hold her breath but then twitch. ‘Hang on, they look like—’
Fadey cut her off. ‘Like kids.’
As they drew closer, I could make out that they were holding hands. The smaller one tripped and stumbled to the ground, then lifted himself up and brushed his knees.
‘Oh my God,’ Fadey sighed. He slapped his forehead, then stood and stepped out from behind the donation bin.
‘What are you doing here?’ he called to the kids as they trudged towards us. The smaller one grinned while the older one, who was around Huda’s age, raised his eyebrows.
‘Are you kidding me?’ Huda muttered. She stepped out from behind the bins and stood beside Fadey. ‘Stinker, don’t you dare tell me …’
Fadey ran his fingers through his curls. ‘Yeh, well, I didn’t know they followed me.’
The penny dropped. The younger one’s messy light-brown curls bounced like Fadey’s when he moved. He was wearing a T-shirt-and-shorts pyjama set with monster trucks printed all over them. I glanced down at his feet. He wasn’t wearing shoes, not even slippers. I felt cold in my hoodie and wondered if he was freezing.
The older one was a copy-paste of Fadey, but smaller. He had straight hair, but the same tanned skin and dark eyes as his big brother. His trackies were too big and I noticed he wasn’t wearing socks with his runners.
My sister snorted at Fadey. ‘Do you realise being a Crimanimal is serious business? Do you realise that if your little family members can find you, then you’re not very good at your Crimanimal behaviour?’
As Huda lectured Fadey, he stared at a spot on the ground. I stepped out from behind the bins just as the two boys landed in front of their big brother. The little one tugged at the bigger one’s sleeve and whispered in his ear.
‘We don’t like being left alone,’ the older one muttered, as he stared up at Fadey.
‘You were asleep. I had something to do, but I wasn’t going to be long.’
The little one whispered again into the bigger one’s ear. The older one nodded in agreement.
‘We don’t like that. We think we’ll tell Dad,’ he sniffed.
‘What?’ Huda flung her arms in the air. ‘We’re done for! This is all your fault, Stinker!’ She jabbed her finger at him twice.
I lifted my palms and moved them downwards like a waterfall, as I’d seen Huda do when she wanted to calm a situation.
‘Okay, okay. Let’s all take a breath. There’s no need to be grumpy.’ I used my steady voice. ‘Now Huda, Fadey didn’t mean for this to happen. Fadey, Huda must be feeling very tense now as we have a lot at stake. Let’s all try and understand things from the other person’s point of view.’
Fadey nodded, but my sister only glared at him. I turned to the two kids watching us.
‘Boys, we’re sorry you’ve been mixed up in this—’
With a wave of her hand, Huda cut me off.
‘Okay, enough of that, Akeaw.’ She turned to Fadey’s brothers.
‘Names. Gimmie your names.’
The little one tugged at the big one’s sleeve and whispered again. The big one nodded and looked at my sister.
‘My name is Kayled and this is my little brother Noah. Noah says he doesn’t like your attitude.’
Huda gasped and dramatically covered her mouth. Fadey shook his head at his brothers.
‘You need to go home, guys. You shouldn’t be leaving the house and wandering the streets alone.’ He stepped between them and grabbed their shoulders, giving them a gentle shake.
Noah grunted and Kayled rolled his eyes.
‘That makes complete sense,’ Kayled scoffed. ‘I mean, because you and your friends aren’t doing that exact same thing, right?’ He glanced at me and smiled cheekily.
‘Anyway, we don’t care what you’re up to. We just got sick of being left at home.’ Kayled used his hands a lot when he spoke. My teacher would say he had ‘effective hand gestures’.
‘Okay, so what do we have to do to make this little situation disappear?’ my sister asked flatly.
Noah, who I now noticed had a bulging tummy like a medium-sized balloon, slowly rubbed his thumb and two fingers together, as if to say, Pay me. Kayled glanced down at him and then back at Huda.
‘You heard him.’
‘You want cash?’
Noah nodded.
‘Very well, lucky I have this on me for emergencies.’ Huda reached into her back pocket and pulled out my wallet, flicking it open in the blink of an eye.
‘Hey, that’s mine!’ I spluttered, but my sister shushed me again by raising her pointy finger.
‘Now isn’t the time, Akeal.’ She turned to the boys. ‘I’m assuming five dollars will be suitable?’ she said, pulling out a crisp note.
Noah shook his head.
‘Keep going,’ Kayled said, clicking his tongue and pretending to look bored.
‘Seven?’ my sister asked, pursing her lips. She unzipped the coin compartment of my wallet.
‘Keep going.’
‘Fine. Ten dollars. That’s my final offer. And I’ll throw in some bubblegum.’ She pulled a half-eaten pack of grape-flavoured bubblegum from her pocket and held it on her palm. ‘Otherwise you can stay out here alone and get eaten by the foxes.’
Kayled narrowed his eyes at my sister and stepped forward so they were face to face.
‘Everyone knows foxes only eat rabbits, mice and other small mammals. So I don’t think they’ll be coming after us. Besides, we know boxing and jujitsu, so Mr Fox wouldn’t get very far with us.’
Huda gulped, but Kayled kept going.
‘But, if we’re giving advice now, you should be more worried about the security patrols lurking around here, if you know what I mean.’
‘No such thing, Kayled. I know that for a fact,’ my sister sneered.
‘Sure you do. Give us our ten bucks and that bubblegum and we’ll be on our way. Two fives would be good.’
Huda pulled out my only five-dollar note and handed them to Kayled with the gum. He quickly passed them to Noah, who shoved the money into his shorts and a piece of gum into his gob.
‘See you at home. Please don’t be too long,’ Kayled mumbled to Fadey.
‘I promise, I’m not far behind you. Off you go.’ He ruffled both his brothers’ hair.
Before he turned to leave, Kayled paused and eyed me and my sister. ‘I’m sure I’ll be seeing you two again soon. Watch out for the foxes,’ he smirked. And with that, both boys walked across the road towards the park.
Dad
Huda glared at Fadey. I almost expected red lasers to shoot out of her eyes.
‘It’s all good now, Pip-Squeak. No harm done. Let’s get on with it.’ Fadey rubbed his hands together.
Huda was still clenching her jaw, so I put my arm around her shoulder.
‘Don’t worry, Buds. Let’s just focus on the mission. Remember he’s here helping us,’ I whispered.
My sister closed her eyes, took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled.
‘Okay, okay. Fine, let’s do it,’ she mumbled.
Fadey glanced around.
‘Coast is clear. Let’s move.’
We shuffled back across the car park, then down the alley on the left side of the shop. The gravel was wet, even though it hadn’t been raining, and the smell from the drain beneath our feet forced me to block my nose. At the back of the shop, just like Huda said, was the small toilet window with the third pane missing.
‘Okay, lift me up.’ My sister turned to face the brick wall under the window.
Fadey was at least a head taller than me and I knew even if I tried, I wouldn’t be able to lift Huda high enough to reach the window.
‘Leave this one to you, bro. I’ll keep watch,’ I said.
He nodded and grabbed Huda by the waist and lifted her upwards, almost like he was springing a surfboard up towards the clouds. My sister lunged upwards and clutched the brickwork at the base of the frame. Once she’d steadied herself, Fadey gave her a final jolt up and she pulled her head and shoulders through the gap. She kicked her feet away from Fadey and wiggled through the window. We heard a thud on the toilet seat and then a scramble to the floor below.
‘I’m okay, I’m okay! Now get into your places!’ From beneath the window, I saw Huda’s torch flick on.
‘You good, bro?’ Fadey asked as he headed towards the road side of the shop.
I gave him a thumbs up and pulled over a crate lying nearby. I plonked myself down on it, pressing my back to the brick wall, and waited for Huda to let me know she was done. From where I was, I could just make out Fadey’s silhouette in the dark. He’d bobbed down beside a small metal bench, next to the bus stop. He flicked his head from side to side, checking up and down the road for any movement.
I knew we were lucky to have met him. I knew it wasn’t an accident that we’d crossed paths down at the creek that night. I’d heard angels sometimes come to help people when they’re really stuck. I wondered if Fadey was one of them, but realised angels probably wouldn’t help you break the law.
I crossed my arms and glanced up at the sky. It was an overcast night and the moon was tucked away behind the clouds. I could barely make out any stars, except for one sparkly blue one that flickered. I stared at it for a minute, before realising it was an aeroplane. I rubbed my eyes and glanced back over to Fadey, but his spot beside the metal bench was empty. I blinked, wondering if my eyes were playing tricks in the dark. I stood and took a step forward to get a better look at the road. He was gone. A panicked voice shot through the walkie-talkie in my bum bag.
‘Code red. Hide. Patrol car.’ Fadey’s voice trembled.
I darted back towards the brick wall and pressed myself against it, fumbling to pull out my walkie-talkie.
‘Huda! You’ve got to get out now!’ I whisper-screamed into it.
‘Akeal, there’s a red light flashing in here. The cameras are moving. Everywhere I walk, they’re following me.’
‘Get out! Hurry!’ I felt my hands clench and pins prick the soles of my feet.
Through the window, I heard Huda’s rushed footsteps coming towards the back of the shop, and then her feet fumbling onto the toilet. She scrambled to the window. I leaped onto the crate and put my arms through the gap.
‘Jump!’ I called through the window. ‘I’ll grab you!’
‘I’m trying, Akeal. It’s higher than I thought.’ Huda’s voice cracked. I could hear her desperation.
‘Look for a box or something you can stand on, quick!’
Huda clambered off the toilet and I heard her shuffle back into the shop.
I pulled the walkie-talkie close to my mouth.
‘Fadey, are you okay?’
No answer.
‘Fadey, are you there?’
I hit the talk button again.
‘Tell me you’re okay, bro.’
My ears rang. Fadey was gone. Huda was stuck and I couldn’t get to her. This was the nightmare I feared more than anything.
‘I found a plastic box,’ Huda called out from the toilet. I heard the box hit the toilet seat and then scratching sounds as my sister began to climb up.
‘Careful, it might be unsteady.’ The last thing I needed was for her to slip and break a leg.
Everything went silent. There was no sound. But suddenly my sister’s head popped out through the gap in the window. I was glad her keffiyeh was still wrapped over her head and face, but I could see it had come loose. The tension in my hands and the prickles in my feet disappeared.
Huda shoved her arms out to me.
‘Pull me through, okay?’
I grabbed my sister around her shoulders and yanked until she flopped out like a sea slug. Trying to steady myself with her weight, I fell backwards off the crate, smashing my tail bone on the concrete. Pain shot through me like I’d been run over by a semitrailer. Huda crashed on top of me, but managed to cushion her fall on my body. She rolled off and jumped to her feet like she’d done this a thousand times before. I groaned and curled up like a baby.
‘Thanks for that,’ she said, dusting off her clothes. She patted her bare head. ‘Hey, my keffiyeh got pulled off in the window!’
I tried to stand but winced in pain.
‘Ugh, you’re being dramatic. Let me help you.’ Huda held out her hand to pull me up and then flicked my arm across her shoulder to support me. I leaned against my little sister, knowing it was now my weight crushing her.
‘Don’t worry, Akeal. I won’t leave you behind. We’re brother and sister.’
My tailbone didn’t just ache, it felt like I’d snapped it in two. I swallowed hard.
‘I don’t know where Fadey is,’ I whimpered.
‘He’ll be right. He’s probably just farting away till the coast is clear. Come on, let’s get you somewhere out of sight.’
Huda helped me hobble into the alleyway and then paused before we reached the end.
‘Have a rest here,’ she said, guiding me over to a pile of crushed cardboard boxes. I let myself collapse on to them.
‘Same thing happened last year when I fell off my scooter, remember?’ I said. ‘I just need a minute and I’ll be fine.’ The pain wasn’t as bad, but I knew I wasn’t ready to run through the dark streets yet.
‘Oh yeh, that’s right. The time when you hurt your bum and had to crawl off the driveway before the pretty girl down the road saw you. That’s okay. You just sit tight,’ she said, patting me on the head. Then she stood up. ‘I’m going to go find the Stinker.’
‘Just wait. I’ll be fine in a minute. We’ll go together.’
‘No time. If there’s a patrol car around, he could be stuck somewhere. Maybe something’s wrong.’ Huda was already backing away towards the opening of the alleyway.
‘Keep your walkie-talkie close,’ she said, before turning and running into the night.
I ripped out my walkie-talkie, hoping I could stop this situation from getting any worse.
‘Fadey. Let us know where you are and if you’re okay.’
No answer.
I ran my hands over my head as my mind raced. What if Fadey was hurt? What if something bad had happened to him? I gazed up at the sky again.
‘Oh Allah, Fadey helped us when we were stuck. Please don’t let anything bad happen to him. Ameen.’
I closed my eyes and took three deep breaths, allowing myself a minute to feel the soreness in my back. I focused on my muscles and bones, stretching and releasing them gently. I softly rolled my shoulders to make sure I was ready. I felt a few cracks but the worst of the pain was over, so I carefully stood and shuffled to the entrance of the alley, poking my head out.
I expected to see only the empty car park, streetlights and maybe my sister running in the distance. What I saw instead made my blood run cold. A white car with orange lights on the roof turned into the car park and pulled up in front of Uncle Ahmed’s shop.
My mouth went dry. I shut my eyes and reminded myself to breathe. When I opened them, it was just in time to see my dad step out of the car.
He was wearing his security uniform. His beard looked full and black and healthy and his keys dangled from the chain on his belt. He slammed the car door shut and pulled out his black work torch – the one we always begged to play with, though he would never let us. Dad flicked the torch on and shone its light through the window of Uncle Ahmed’s shop.
I stared at my dad. At his face. At his little frown. At the way his eyebrows bunched together, like he was thinking. I gazed at him, like it was the first time I’d ever seen the sun rise or the stars sparkle in the sky. He was here. I felt my heart shift in my chest. He was here because of us. Back at work and checking what was happening at Uncle Ahmed’s shop. All I wanted was to run over and wrap my arms around him. But I couldn’t let him see me out on the streets at night.
I retreated into the alley and pressed my back into the dirty brick wall, stepping to the side. Beginning to make my way towards the other end of the alley and away from Dad, I felt my foot knock into something on the ground. Before I looked down, I already knew what it was. The glass bottle made a hollow-thumping sound against the tip of my sneaker. I closed my eyes and prayed in that millisecond that the bottle wouldn’t topple over, but the loud clang of the glass against the filthy gravel exploded through the night. I didn’t wait to see what Dad would do.
I bolted. The pain from my tailbone radiated down my legs and up my back, but I knew Dad seeing me would be a pain far worse.
Undone
‘Hey! Stop!’ His footsteps charged after me. I’d only ever outrun him once. Last year. Dad had come to pick us up from school after the sports carnival. I remember showing him my ribbons and telling him how fast I’d run in the hundred metres that day.
‘Oh yeh? Even faster than me?’ Dad crossed his arms over his chest and raised his eyebrows.
