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Mehdi thought about that for a moment As he did, their food arrived, and the table beca dishes that smelled like heaven Mehdi explained what every dish was, froetables Steph filled her plate and took a succulent bite, closing her eyes as she experienced the cuisine of El Farah for only the second time
“To answer your question,” Mehdi said, picking up where they left off, “there is some political discord here, but El Farah has been a prosperous country for overn correctly, and peace ensues I find that we have h I do believe some of our laws to be a bit too conservative”
Steph took another sip of punch to wash down her fruit pie, tilting her head “It seeh I suppose since you’re the only person here I really know, I can’t say that’s a fully informed observation”
“I spent many of my formative years in Europe and the United States, and I learned a lot while I was there I think taking on soood for our country It would help us become more united with the world as a whole, and help blend us into the twenty-first-century global community”
“Sounds like you’ve put a lot of thought into this,” Steph said, and Mehdi shrugged
“Yes, well Enough about me Tell me a little more about you What did you do back in the States? I don’t think I even knohat state you’re from!”
Steph s about the humid Vermont air as she sat out in the dry desert heat The shade certainly helped, and Mehdi’s courtyard was filled with various vegetation that seemed to cool the area She made a mental note to ask him about how that worked later
“I’m from Vermont It’s a bit south of Canada and a bit north of Boston Very hu compared to this The heat here is a whole other level”
“Yes I iine it is What did you do in Vermont?”
His eyes were engaged, and Steph realized he was truly curious about her She wasn’t sure howto share After all, her time with Mehdi seemed so limited
“I worked at a bank It hat my father wanted me to do, so it’s what I did”
“Again with that loyalty to your family’s wishes You are more El Farahn than you think, Steph”