Rebels by Accident by Patricia Dunn Page B

national treasures. I’d rather shop for jeans”?
    â€œSure,” I say. “Let’s go to the pyramids.”
    â€œBefore we go, do you mind if I use the computer for one minute?” Sittu says.
    â€œOf course not.” Deanna pulls out the chair for her.
    Sittu types something, and I see she’s on Facebook, but it’s not her page. Still, it’s in Arabic, so I can’t read what it says.
    â€œHey, Mar, check this out.” Deanna’s looking at herself in the mirror.
    What, does she want me to see how great her reflection looks? “Look, my T-shirt. See what it says?”
    â€œP!NK. You got it at the concert last October.”
    â€œI know it says P!NK, but it’s not backward. Words in mirrors always read backward.”
    â€œThat’s a true mirror,” Sittu says without looking up from the computer.
    â€œA what?” Deanna and I say at the same time.
    â€œThe mirror is designed to show you the way others see you. Your father sent it to me a few years ago. I think he thought I would get a kick out of it. But when you live an hour from the pyramids, it’s hard to be impressed by inventions.”
    Deanna and I study our reflections. “Hey, Mar, see this freckle.” Deanna points to her cheek. “It’s on this side.”
    â€œIt’s always on that side,” I say.
    â€œBut not when I look in the mirror. I always see it on the other side. This is so cool,” Deanna says. “I can’t believe I can see myself the way others see me.”
    That’s the last thing I’d ever want. I turn back to Sittu. She’s typing fast, like she’s only got one minute before the computer explodes.
    â€œMariam. Earth to Mariam.” Deanna waves her hand in my face.
    â€œHuh?” I ask, looking back at our reflections. “What?”
    â€œI said, are you sure this shirt looks good with these jeans?”
    â€œFine,” I say.
    â€œ Fine ? ” She opens the closet.
    â€œNo, I mean great. You look great.”
    â€œSure?”
    â€œPositive.” Deanna could wear clown pants and a shirt stained with pizza sauce and she’d still look amazing.
    â€œYou look great too,” she adds.
    â€œThanks,” I say, but it doesn’t really matter what I look like. When Deanna’s around, all eyes are on Deanna.
    â€œGirls, meet me downstairs. I won’t be too long.” Sittu’s still typing frantically.
    I want to ask her if everything’s okay, but I never seem to say or ask the right thing.
    I’m hoping Deanna will ask Sittu what’s so urgent, but she just says “ Yalla ” and heads for the hallway.

chapter
TEN
    We wait for Sittu in front of her building. She lives in the suburbs of Cairo, but there are no houses I can see, only apartment buildings. It looks more like a city block, but it’s even quieter than my boring street back home. I thought Cairo would be jam-packed, but the only other people around are a woman hanging clothes on a third-floor balcony and two older men sitting in chairs in front of what looks like a barber shop.
    â€œThere aren’t many people out,” I say.
    â€œIt’s still early,” Sittu says, coming up behind us. “It’s only eight in the morning.”
    â€œIn New York, that’s rush hour,” Deanna says.
    â€œDid you get all your work done?” I say.
    â€œWork?” Sittu says. “I’ve been retired for a long while.”
    â€œI mean on the computer. You looked the way Baba does when he’s meeting a deadline for his job.”
    â€œYes, your father was always very serious when it came to his studies. I was just keeping up with the news.”
    â€œI hope it was good news,” I say.
    â€œ Insh’allah , it will be,” Sittu says.
    â€œ Alhamdulillah ! ” Deanna shouts.
    Sittu looks at Deanna. “You know alhamdulillah ?” She