Rebels by Accident by Patricia Dunn Page A

off and looking up at me.
    â€œI didn’t say anything,” I say.
    â€œYou don’t want to ask me something, then?”
    â€œWell, I just wanted to know what the time difference is between here and New York.”
    â€œLet’s see.” She looks up at the apple. “Wintertime, so eight hours.”
    â€œSo it’s only five in the morning there?” So Baba still doesn’t want to talk to me. I look over at Sittu. I guess calling Sittu a horrible woman was out of line. I probably also shouldn’t have called Egypt a backward country, even if it’s true.
    Sittu stands up, and without saying a word, she touches the sleeve of the dress.
    â€œThe one flaw—” Sittu smiles. “I think it makes the dress more beautiful. But if you want me to have it fixed before you wear it again…”
    â€œYou want me to wear it?”
    â€œI have no use for it anymore,” she says.
    I touch the unfinished sleeve. It would be nice to have it fixed; then, it would be perfect. Instead I say, “It’s fine the way it is.” I don’t know why she thinks a flaw makes the dress look better, but I don’t want to make her feel like I don’t appreciate it. Besides, I can always get it fixed back home.
    â€¢ • •
    The next morning, after we get dressed, Deanna logs in to Facebook.
    â€œI can’t believe it!” she squeals.
    â€œWhat? What is it?” I ask, looking over her shoulder.
    â€œI have a friend request from Hassan!”
    â€œOh, great.” This time, the sarcasm comes through loud and clear.
    â€œWhat’s up with you?” she asks, turning around to face me.
    â€œNothing’s up with me. I’ll meet you outside.”
    â€œHey.” She stands up and looks me dead in the eye. “I thought best friends don’t keep secrets.”
    â€œIt’s just…” I’m about to tell her what I think of Hassan, but I can see from the look in her eyes that she doesn’t want to hear it, so I say, “I don’t think Sittu likes me very much.”
    â€œYou’re crazy! You’re her granddaughter—”
    â€œGirls”—Sittu knocks on the door—“almost ready?” She steps into our room.
    â€œAre we going somewhere?” I ask.
    â€œYou sound surprised,” Sittu says. “What did you think? That I’d keep you locked up in this apartment all day?”
    I don’t say that’s exactly what I thought.
    â€œThe question to be answered is what would you like to see?”
    â€œThe mall.” I look at Deanna and smile. I can’t think of anything that would be more fun for us to do than shop.
    â€œIf that’s what you want to do.” Deanna sounds disappointed.
    â€œYou don’t want to go to the mall?” Sittu asks.
    Of course she wants to go the mall. What could be better than that? It’s our favorite place to hang out back home.
    â€œIt would be nice to do something more unique to Egypt,” Deanna says.
    â€œYou have something in mind?” Sittu asks. All I can think about is Deanna and her guidebooks. Please don’t say you want to do some stupid tourist thing.
    â€œI’d love to see the pyramids,” Deanna says.
    No! I want to scream. Not the stupid pyramids. Every time Egypt is taught in school, all teachers ever focus on is ancient Egypt, and it never fails, they always ask, “Mariam, would you tell the class what the pyramids are like?” Since my parents are Egyptian, I must be an authority on the pyramids. Well, I’ve never seen the stupid pyramids, and the last thing I want to do is see them today.
    â€œIs that okay with you, Mariam?” Sittu asks.
    â€œExcuse me?”
    â€œThe pyramids. Is it okay that we go to see them today and maybe the mall tomorrow?”
    Deanna has her begging eyes on me.
    What can I say? “No, it’s not okay to go see one of your country’s