I make a concerted effort to avoid the staffroom for the remainder of the week, sensitive in the extreme to any stray looks sent my way. I’ve tried to quiz both Sadia and Hala, without asking specifics. It’s not like I can just come right out and ask if they’ve heard anything without making myself sound, well, less than regionally appropriate, I suppose. I figure the gossip can’t have spread too far when Hala asks me if I want to grab an early dinner with her and her daughter one day next week. I can’t imagine she’d risk her daughter being introduced to a scarlet woman. I’m pretty sure her husband would go mad.
And once Kai is back from this week’s business trip I need to ask himexactlywhat he’d said to Arwa. I shudder to think, especially as she’s ignoring me like I’ve got the pox. It’s not something I want to do over the phone, mainly because our contact this week has been pretty sporadic and limited to smut and goading. But this thing needs to be addressed. She is my boss, after all. I at least need her to have confidence in me as a teacher.
One other thing we’ve discussed over the phone is my car.
It arrived Wednesday.
A little Toyota four-wheel drive.
No more taxis. No more Rashid.
And despite all I’ve had to say on the topic, and despite how it still makes me feel uneasy, I might be a little bit in love with my new, silver wheels.
