Rebels by Accident Read Online Free PDF

thanking the pilot for getting us here safely,” Deanna says. “They did that when I went to Paris last summer.”
    â€œI didn’t know you went to Paris.”
    â€œI’ve been to lots of places in Europe. Before my mom took the job in New York, she had lots more time to travel.”
    â€œWelcome to Cairo. Please remain seated until the seat belt sign is turned off,” says an unseen voice in a heavy British accent. “We are waiting for clearance to taxi to the gate.” The Arabic that follows starts with Ahlan wa sahlan , so I assume it’s the same announcement.
    â€œYou okay?” Deanna asks, staring at my hand.
    I’m pressing the volume buttons on the armrest, up and down, up and down. “Fine.”
    â€œYou know what F-I-N-E stands for: Freaked out, Insecure, Neurotic, and Emotional.”
    All of the above. But I say, “It’s nothing.”
    â€œI know you don’t want to be here, but give it a chance. You might be surprised.”
    â€œI hate surprises.”
    The man sitting in front of Deanna bangs his armrest and stands up. “This is ridiculous. Like our time means nothing to these Egyptians.” He climbs over the person sitting in the aisle seat with an, “excuse me,” but he doesn’t sound as if he cares if he’s excused or not.
    Once he’s in the aisle, he pulls down his carry-on luggage from the overhead compartment. The flight attendant who gave me the juice comes running over to him.
    â€œSir, please stay in your seat until the seat belt sign is turned off. It’s for your own safety.” He responds in Arabic and doesn’t sit down.
    The flight attendant looks at him like she’s trying to figure out her next move, but before there’s a showdown, the seat belt sign turns off. The cabin door opens, and the man strides up the aisle away from us.
    â€œCome on,” Deanna says, grabbing her backpack and making her way up the aisle too.
    â€œWhat’s the hurry?” I shout after her. But she doesn’t turn around.
    Now everyone seems to be in a rush to exit the plane, so I have to wait, standing in front of my seat until a woman with a baby in her arms motions for me to step out of my row. I gesture for her to go on, but she refuses. I take my backpack down from the overhead compartment, then turn to her and say, “ Shukran .”
    â€œ Afwan ,” she says, and smiles.
    I smile back and run off to find Deanna.

chapter
FIVE
    When I exit the plane, Deanna is waving like she hasn’t seen me in years.
    The airport looks normal so far. I mean, nothing seems strange or old, like I expected. It doesn’t look all that different from the terminal at JFK in New York.
    â€œWhy did you run off like that?”
    â€œI was trying to catch up with that guy. He was just so rude.”
    â€œSo what were you planning to do? Give him a lesson in manners?”
    â€œYou’d better believe it.”
    â€œYou’re kidding me, right?”
    â€œDoesn’t it bother you how American tourists can be so obnoxious? I mean, they give us all a bad name. When my mom and I travel anywhere, if we hear someone complain or act like a total jerk to a waitress or a hotel person, we know they’re American. My mom says it’s like Americans think they’re so much better than everyone else.”
    â€œLet’s not exaggerate.”
    â€œI’m not. You’ll see. Next time we hear some pushy person yelling at someone who is just trying to help, I’ll bet you anything he’s American.”
    â€œDeanna, we’re Americans too,” I point out.
    â€œExactly. And that’s why people like that man make us all look bad. He’s probably some business guy or government person who learned Arabic to come here and cheat people out of their money. Worse than a tourist.”
    â€œYou know all that from just looking at the guy. What’s that smell?” I