Malaika Read Online Free PDF

Well, I’m sure your friend here has told you about a friend of mine.”
    “Yes, he has. The entire town knows about you and your friend.”
    “Yep, I have heard that as well. I wish they didn’t know. If you stick around, she may come by in the evening. You feel like hanging around awhile?”
    “I was hoping you’d ask that,” she said as she looked up to Absko. Gently, he smiled and pressed his lips to her forehead.
    “Oh, young love, how I wish I could bottle it. I’m jealous of you, young friend. So very jealous,” I said as we made our way out to the porch and sat, watching the daylight bleed away.
    After a few hours of banter and a couple thousand points of rummy, Malaika entered our camp, seemingly unsurprised by our new guest. Sanura became wide-eyed, immediately frightened. Absko assured her everything was fine. Both slowly stood as I stayed in my chair. She bumped her head into my hovering palm as she passed me.
    “Malaika,” I said proudly, “I would like you to meet Sanura, or young cat.” She walked toward the kids and held her gaze upon this new visitor. She flared her nostrils, smelling what was there to be sniffed. Sanura was visibly scared as Malaika walked toward her side and ever-so-slightly brushed her body against Sanura’s upper thigh and waist. Then the cat bumped Absko with a robust head bump against his backside, but was sure not to jostle Sanura too much. Absko belted out a hardy laugh. They began to wrestle, continuing, I assume from their last match.
    Sanura sat back down and watched in awe this humongous beast vigorously rough-housing with her sweetheart.
    “Sanura, tell me how you met such a hopelessly in love boy as that one right there.” She was beginning to open up. Hours of rummy and laughs and root beers will do that.
    “We met very young when we were just children, but recently we just noticed each other.”
    “I’ve got news for you—you’re still children.”
    “You know what I mean.”
    “I suppose I do.”
    “I was hoping you could do me a favor.”
    “Depends on what that is, darling.”
    “It’s kind of dumb, but I was hoping you could tell me what American name would fit me.”
    “Why would you want an American name?” Absko grunted, as he tried to lift Malaika but was quickly countered as she pressed her fangs against his thigh. She wasn’t about to be lifted. With each inch raised, she pressed harder against his thigh, and soon he realized that it wasn’t to be. Sanura and I practically fell down with laughter.
    After Sanura regained her composure, she said, “because one day, I want to live in America.” I realized before she said it that this was the reason. It saddened me, but I understood. I could fault her, but I was doing the same thing in a way.
    “I see. Well, let me size you up so I can figure out an acceptable ‘American’ name for you.”
    From toe to head, I assessed her. She wore black Nike sneakers, muddied in areas and mostly worn from the terrain, ripped blue jeans, a beige blouse with three Abalone buttons—two of which were unbuttoned, exposing a bit of cleavage. She couldn’t have been more than fifteen. Those dark eyes bright with hope. She had perfect bone structure and such a beautiful smile, which she was doing as I made my assessment. She was embarrassed at such scrutiny.
    “Be nice to me,” she joked, “or I’ll make my own assessment of you .”
    “You, my dear, have no faults. Me, on the other hand, well, we won’t talk about me.”
    “So what is my name to be?” she asked eagerly.
    “Veronica,” I said definitively. Her smile faded as she pondered it for a moment.
    “I love it. What does it mean?”
    “Honey,” I scoffed gently, “no idea. We Americans don’t put much stock into such things. They are just names. Well, I suppose there is of course a meaning to most names, but we don’t pay much attention. It is a shame, really. That’s why I like it here. Everything has meaning, everything has a