All’s Fair In Love And War
Amirah ignored the stares that were thrown her way. The adults covered their children’s eyes as they stared in disgust. Amirah rubbed her arms self consciously. Her hair was a dark brown that was always covered by her peach colored headscarf. She knew that everyone secretly hoped she and her mother would be removed from the country. The kids at her school liked to remind her of that every time she walked the school’s halls. It didn’t help that she didn’t go to church on Sundays with the rest of her neighborhood. Her mother told her it was okay that they were different, that’s what made them special. Amirah never felt too special.
“Hey, Ami!” Amirah’s friend, Blake, yelled from across the street.
He smiled at his friend before running to her. His curly blonde hair contrasted with his bright blue eyes. He wore his white headphones around his neck and his jacket was covered with pins and stickers from his favorite video games. Blake Rogers was an outcast like Amirah. No one hung out with him because of his dads. There was nothing wrong with them, people just didn’t like that two men were married and had a kid together.
“Hi, Blake. Did your dads kick you out of the house again?” she chuckled.
“Yup,” he threw his arm around her shoulders. “They said that I ‘needed to get out more,’ or something. Apparently, I spend too much time playing video games.”
She thought about that. “That seems reasonable. Mr. Jeremy is a doctor for a reason, y’know.”
“So you’re on his side now, huh!” Blake jokingly put his hands over his heart. “I’m wounded, truly.”
They continued to joke around as they walked. Everything was better with Blake, she decided. People still stared but it was nice to have someone to talk to. Blake would talk about the newest video game and Amirah would laugh at his bad jokes. She talked about the new flower that she had planted earlier that day and he would smile and nod. She knew, of course, he had no idea what she was talking about, but it was nice to have someone who listened. His presence was comforting, and it made Amirah forget that she didn’t belong. That was enough for her.
“By the way,” Blake suddenly said, “Do you know where we’re going?”
She hadn’t realized they had stopped walking until he started talking again. “Wanna go to the park?”
“Sure,” he shrugged, “but last one there is a rotten egg!” he took off running.
“No fair!” she chased after him.
“All’s fair in love and war, Ami!”
“So how was your day, sweetie?” Amirah’s mother asked as she washed the dishes.
“It was okay,” she took a bite of the casserole her mom had made. “Blake told me about this new video game he’s playing.”
“How are his parents? I haven’t seen them in a while.”
“Mr. Jeremy got a promotion at the hospital and Mr. John discovered a new recipe for salsa.”
Ms. Garnett smiled at her daughter. Her brown eyes always reminded Amirah of a chocolate fountain. They were warm and the color swirled around her pupils. Her mom wasn’t perfect, but she was pretty close. She worked long hours at the office so they could afford to live in a good neighborhood and go to a clean school. Amirah didn’t have the heart to tell her that kids made fun of her. Then they would have to move, which would cost money, and her mom would have to work even harder to afford a new place and find a new job. It wasn’t perfect here, but she could deal with kids and adults tormenting her. If she couldn’t do it for herself, Amirah would do it for her mom.
“Well, I’m glad you had fun today,” Ms. Garnett said. “Now go take a shower, you have a big day tomorrow!”
She nodded and ran to her bathroom. Shower time was her favorite part of the day. Unlike any other part of the day, this was a time where she could be alone with her thoughts. She could daydream about different worlds, ones where she wasn’t made fun of for the color of her skin. Worlds where Blake’s dads were free to love each other in peace. Besides, she could take off the annoying headscarf she had to wear at all times.
As she finished her shower, Amirah thought about what would happen the next day. She would wait for Blake to come back from Sunday church, then they would spend that day together before celebrating her birthday after dinner. Mr. John would make her birthday dinner and Mr. Jeremy would help decorate the house. She smiled at the thought of them all sitting at the table together. Blake gave her a new plant every year. Just last year he had given her a peach rose to match her headscarf.
“What are you smiling about?” her mom asked as she tucked Amirah into her bed.
“Oh, nothing,” she sighed.
Ms. Garnett hummed in response. “Well, get some rest. I love you, honey.”
She closed her eyes and snuggled into her blanket. Suddenly, she was too tired to think about her birthday. With one last yawn, Amirah fell into a dreamless sleep.
A/n: This is a story I’m hoping that’ll be published one day! I appreciate any feedback. Thanks!
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