This Excerpt is part of our featured writer series
Abdelrahman
I was so embarrassed when Farida walked past us and overheard me chattering. We most certainly must have looked dumb sitting on the beach like that, talking about movies.
I saw them swimming, laughing and happy, while we three were sitting under a parasol, looking very serious and doing nothing fun. I felt really ashamed of myself.
If it was anyone else who had passed by next to us, it wouldn’t have mattered to me one bit. But Farida was something else. I longed to come across as much better than this to her.
After lunch, we all got together on the beach in a circle. Miss Gamila told us to think of an idea for a contest for tomorrow night. The best dressed, for example, anything fun—fun for her, that is.
I found the idea of a contest stupid. We don’t need a contest to be entertained here by the beach; the beach is entertaining in itself. It’s enough to sit and watch the sunset or to sleep on the beach at night in the dark and watch the stars. That to me is funner than a fashion show.
Nancy suggested we have a beauty contest. Of course, that was expected, but I couldn’t let it go.
“What’s the idea behind a beauty contest, Nancy? You want everyone to say you’re beautiful? Sure, we can tell you right now that you’re beautiful without a contest to save time, nothing more. Then, we can do stuff that’s more useful and fun than telling you you’re beautiful.”
“Oh, you’re so funny. No one spoke to you in the first place or cares about your opinion.”
Miss Gamila encouraged Nancy’s idea. “Who agrees?”
Everyone raised their hand except me.
“I don’t agree, Miss Gamila.”
“You are one against 29, Abdelrahman, you don’t count.”
Then I got an idea. “What if I came up with another activity instead of this contest?”
“Go on.”
“Yesterday I was talking to the diving instructor, and he told me if we all want to go diving—the whole class I mean—he and four other instructors could join us.”
“What are you talking about Abdelrahman? No one here knows how to dive.”
“We are going to take an absolute beginner’s class. The instructor will teach us what to do and we’ll wear diving gear and an oxygen tank and all. Every group of five will have an instructor and we’ll only dive a short distance in a space full of fish and corals.”
“That’s enough, Abdelrahman. We’ve already decided on something. Besides, diving is rather dangerous.”
“Why, Miss Gamila, if you don’t want to join us maybe Mr. Ehab might agree. And whoever wants to dive can come with us, and whoever wants to sit and pick beauty queens can do as they please with you.”
Miss Gamila wasn’t amused. She got up and left. I went to find Mr. Ehab, to try to convince him. I was very excited about my idea and was certain that if he agreed, he would be able to change the minds of the rest of the kids in class, except for Nancy, of course. But who wanted Nancy to join in the first place! Let her sit and play on her own. Let her choose herself and crown herself and clap for herself. She doesn’t need us, right?
Farida
I honestly liked the diving idea that Abdelrahman suggested a lot. I’ve always wanted to try on a diving suit, to wear an oxygen mask and to swim with the fish. Everyone who has tried it have said it’s an awesome experience.
But as usual, because Abdelrahman came up with the idea, nobody showed any enthusiasm, and I was scared to share my honest opinion, so I wouldn’t embarrass myself and also so Nancy wouldn’t be upset with me.
I went for a walk alone by the sea. At sunset, I like to be alone, away from the noise of the other kids. That way, I wouldn’t have to hear anything but the waves, and I could look at the water, the sky, and the sun as they gradually changed their colours.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.
I didn’t want to think about Mayada or Nancy or Hassan or Karim. Thinking about anything related to them exhausted me.
I didn’t want to think of anything except this place I was standing in, its soft sands under my feet, and the seawater.
I found myself thinking how happy I would be if he were standing with me here and now, talking about the subjects that he likes to talk about, about the sea, sea life, and the sun; about historical heroes and legends and fantasy stories; about technology and new inventions. Abdelrahman was an encyclopedia. No one could possibly be bored of his tales, ever.
But amidst the noise of the other kids and their worries, no one noticed how vast and interesting his knowledge was, and no one noticed how much of a human being he was, one who deserved to be respected and listened to. And what a beautiful human being too!
I could still hear the voices of the others, so I walked a little further away, and continued walking until all the sounds were distant, and then disappeared. Then, I noticed there was someone sitting on a rock, a little way away, looking at the sea.
At first, I was worried because no one else was by the sea, and I was afraid that I was putting myself in danger. I was about to go back when this person turned around, and I was surprised to find it was Abdelrahman.
Quickly, I turned and headed back. I don’t know why I was scared!
I was just wishing to myself he was here with me. What made me head back? Why am I such a coward?
Abdurahman
Why did you go back Farida, why?
/
