I’m next door in Andy’s driveway, shooting hoops with him…
After prayers, Andy drives us to Mr. Softy’s in the Deathmobile,…
Mom passes me the chick-peas. “So, Sami, what are your…
Holy shit. What just happened? Mom and Dad—they never fight…
Dad’s gone when I get up.
Last period. History. Cottage countdown.
We’re a mile down Valley Park Road before I catch…
Thanks to Andy’s heavy foot, we get to Alexandria Bay…
The guys make jokes as we skim through the water.
The man holding the shotgun is maybe sixty. He’s wearing…
We get home midafternoon. Mom practically has a hemorrhage. She…
After the swim, Andy and Marty come over for supper.
I bike to school Monday morning. Friday seems like years…
Dad’s already arrived home when I wheel in. His morning…
Andy and Marty text me around midnight. They’re so lucky.
The whole weekend, I’m stuck inside. Dad says I can’t…
It’s one A.M. Thursday night—well, early Friday morning, technically. Whatever.
The world’s a blur of shouts. Shadows. Boots. Dogs.
The agents grill me to a crisp. Questions about Dad…
The chopper belongs to the local news station. They use…
Two minutes later, there’s a report that members of the…
Mom and I stay inside for the weekend.
All night I have nightmares.
Next morning Mom gets a call from Mr. Bhanjee. Dad has…
They keep Dad in jail.
Next morning I enter the Academy from the side door…
I hit Meadowvale Secondary at lunch break. It’s a zoo.
When I get home, there’s a note on the kitchen…
We’re on the 401 to Toronto, a multilane highway packed…
One thing at a time.
Yonge and Bloor. Five to five.
Hasan rises. He looks at me with curiosity and suspicion.
I need something to help me focus. I take a…
Mom and Mr. Bhanjee are watching from the bay window when…
The case against Dad turns into confetti. The FBI never…
It finally happens late one Friday afternoon. Mr. Bhanjee calls from…