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“He has a na me She bowed her head low “No disrespect, of course I’”

“See?” I said, raising my eyebrows “I don’t even know if this would work No , people would knoho I was I’m one of the most revered men in all of Al-Jarra”

“I don’t know about that,” the barista said, giving me a sneaky smile

“All right, all right,” Alim said “I’ll think of a better plan”

Weto our typical bantering routine Still, the bet lay heavy on my mind

As andered toward the western side of the city, I peered up at the sun as it swept toward the horizon line At four in the afternoon, the school before us was ducking out for the day The children rattled out onto the pave endlessly all the while The chorus of their words filleda slow smile to my face

I watched as the kids kicked footballs through the air, running around, wild and free A few of the my name “It’s Rami! Hey, Rami!” They were unperturbed hatever society asked of theive And instead, they greeted me as one of their own

“Man, even the kids are obsessed with you,” Alihed “This entire day has felt like the first day of irlfriends by sixth period and I just had a food stain down my shirt”

“We can’t all be winners,” I grinned

Glancing toward the entrance, I saw a beautiful wo the children as they darted home She looked to be in her mid-20s, and she was pale—almost stark white in comparison to the children that surrounded her And she held her chin high up, proud and beautiful Her hair whipped around her, raven black, the taut lines of her body discernible beneath her dark green dress

“What about someone asn’t from here?” I heard myself ask