Rebels by Accident Read Online Free PDF Page A

okay.”
    â€œJust okay?”
    â€œAll right, it was amazing!” I grin—the big, goofy grin I always use when I’m lying. I’m sure Deanna knows this, but she plays along with me.
    â€œI’m so happy for you,” she says.
    Deanna crosses out “first” on her list and writes “second” in its place.
    â€œWe kissed three times, actually.” Why stop lying now?
    â€œThree times?” I’ve never seen her eyes so wide. She definitely knows I’m lying. “Well, that’s great, but I’m talking about kissing another guy.”
    â€œI don’t want another guy.”
    â€œLook, Mariam, we’re going to Egypt. Have you seen how cute Egyptian guys are? You can always hook up with that guy when we get back to New York. I just can’t let you give up the chance to have the most romantic time of your life.”
    â€œLook, Deanna, I know you don’t get this, but I’m not interested in Egyptian guys, okay?”
    â€œWe’ll see about that.”
    I open my mouth to tell her we won’t see about anything, but then remember Sittu and how locked down we’re going to be, so arguing about meeting some Egyptian hottie is a total waste of time. Because unless he comes walking through Sittu’s living room, it’s just not happening. This goes for Deanna meeting her first love too. But why crush her dreams now? We will be landing in Cairo soon enough.
    â€¢ • •
    A new attendant stands over me. She’s wearing one of those little hats I’ve only seen flight attendants wear in movies from the sixties, back when they were called “stewardesses.”
    â€œI only speak English,” I say before she has a chance to speak.
    â€œPlease pull down your tray table. Fish or beef?” she asks with a British accent.
    â€œI’m not hungry, thank you.”
    â€œI speak a little Arabic… shway shway ,” Deanna says. “Fish. Shukran .”
    The flight attendant flashes Deanna one of those phony, it’s-my-job-to-smile smiles. “Good accent,” she says, and passes Deanna her fish.
    â€œYou don’t speak any Arabic?” the flight attendant asks, looking down at me.
    I shake my head.
    â€œWell, you are a good pair. You look Egyptian, and your friend here sounds Egyptian.”
    â€œDid you hear that?” Deanna says. “I sound Egyptian. How awesome?” Deanna raises her hand to high-five me, but I let her hand hang. I’ve looked Egyptian all my life, and all it’s ever gotten me is trouble.
    â€œ Ahlan wa sahlan ,” the flight attendant says with a smile, then continues down the aisle.
    I look at Deanna for translation.
    She shrugs. “I don’t know what that means.”
    â€œWelcome,” says the man sitting in the seat in front of Deanna. This time, he doesn’t even turn around.
    â€œExcuse me?” Deanna leans closer to the back of his seat.
    â€œ Ahlan wa sahlan ,” he says louder, but still doesn’t turn toward us. “She’s welcoming you to Egypt.”
    â€œ Shukran !” Deanna shouts back at flight attendant.
    â€œYou’re welcome,” replies the man.
    â€œHe speaks Arabic,” Deanna says, sounding impressed. “ Ahlan wa sahlan ,” Deanna repeats to herself. “Welcome to Egypt.”
    For the rest of the flight, I close my eyes and try to sleep, but all I think about is how I’d rather be flying over the Bermuda Triangle. Disappearing forever would be better than what’s ahead of us.
    When the wheels of the plane hit the runway, all the passengers applaud. I tap Deanna, who has just finished reading The Rough Guide to Egypt , the other guidebook she brought with her. It was a gift from my mother, who wanted me to have it, but I told her the only travel book I needed was The Rough Guide to Sittu’s Apartment . “What’s that all about?”
    â€œPeople are just