Safe Haven?
Charmaine woke up and her stomach was roaring worse than an angry lion. How was she going to eat? Where was she going to get some food? She decided to ask Riley for help.
Charmaine: Riley, I am so hungry. If I don't eat soon or have something to drink I won't live long. What can I do?
Riley: I don't know kiddo. I am unable to provide for you and this makes me very sad, but the only thing I can do is to teach you how to steal.
Charmaine: I can't, my father would rip my hide if he thought I took something that didn't belong to me. I can't do it.
Riley: Your father isn't here, and you need to eat. You will have no choice if you want to live.
Charmaine: I don't know if I could do it and not get caught. If I get caught they will take me to my dad, and he will take me back to Abdullah. I can't risk that.
Riley: Well I don't know how else you expect to get food.
Charmaine sighed knowing Riley was right. She supposed they had better head to the market place if she could even find it. If she wasn't so hungry she would never do this thing. Still she was reluctant to get going. Her feet hurt.
Charmaine: Riley, I am so hungry. If I don't eat soon or have something to drink I won't live long. What can I do?
Riley: I don't know kiddo. I am unable to provide for you and this makes me very sad, but the only thing I can do is to teach you how to steal.
Charmaine: I can't, my father would rip my hide if he thought I took something that didn't belong to me. I can't do it.
Riley: Your father isn't here, and you need to eat. You will have no choice if you want to live.
Charmaine: I don't know if I could do it and not get caught. If I get caught they will take me to my dad, and he will take me back to Abdullah. I can't risk that.
Riley: Well I don't know how else you expect to get food.
Charmaine sighed knowing Riley was right. She supposed they had better head to the market place if she could even find it. If she wasn't so hungry she would never do this thing. Still she was reluctant to get going. Her feet hurt.
While Charmaine was talking to Riley, the strange man was watching her from the shadows of the trees. He wondered what such a little girl was doing all alone in the midst of the desert. She didn't from this distance look unkempt or shabby like those other poor kids whose parents abandoned them. If she was from a good family why was she alone? He didn't want to scare her, but he knew without help she would not last another few days. What should be done?
Seeing her sitting there in the open all alone and probably frightened he decided he needed to do something. Zahid was a loner who lived in a nice house on the outskirts of town with his elder father. His father was very influential and rich. He had a brother who he didn't get along with, and who lived in a separate house of his own. In spite of only living about 10 mins. away they never talked or had anything to do with each other. His brother despised him for what reason Zahid couldn't quite figure out. Maybe his brother was just a not very nice person. Well in spite of his being a loner he wasn't able to be anything but who he was and that meant risking scaring the girl. So he started toward her.
Zahid saw the girl stand up and wondered what she was planning to do. He stopped for a moment unsure if he should continue to approach her. Maybe he should follow her until she got where she was going. He figured she might be hungry right about now and would probably head to the marketplace where the merchants were in full swing selling their merchandise. She better hurry though as the merchants products would soon be sold out. Everything here shut down in the afternoon due to the extreme temperatures. Nobody felt like doing much when every breath was sucking in heat and your body was sweating out the water you were drinking faster than it could be consumed. If a person wasn't careful the heat could kill them, and that is another reason he was concerned for the girl. How would she survive out here in the heat of the day?
Seeing her continue to stand there he proceeded to approach her. He couldn't just let her stand there. She didn't seem to be aware of her dire situation.
As he walked toward her she sat down again! What was she thinking? She had to know she at least needed water and soon. The sun was climbing and it was getting close to being at least 80 and would quickly climb from there. What was that strange creature she was talking too? He knew now he had to do something and quick.
He stopped to the side of her and waited for her to notice him. Charmaine did notice the man and jumped up. Where had this man come from? She was scared.
Zahid saw she appeared to be ready to flee, but for now was frozen in place. She was surprised at his presence he could tell, but not sure what she should do.
Zahid saw she appeared to be ready to flee, but for now was frozen in place. She was surprised at his presence he could tell, but not sure what she should do.
Before she could do anything he turned his head casually to look at her. He didn't want to turn full in front of her as she might see that as overbearing and threatening. He had been right. She was not one of the poor abandoned street urchins. Her clothes while a little dirty, were of a nice quality. Her hair looked like it was well taken care of, and she wasn't underfed. So why was she here? He decided he better talk as she looked like a frightened rabbit.
Zahid: Hi, little one. My name is Zahid, and I live about 5 miles from here. I come out here regularly looking for exotic reptiles. They are my hobby, and the desert if full of them.
Charmaine stood there looking at him. Where did this man come from? She sure wished she could talk to Riley about this, but she didn't dare in front of this man. She didn't know what to say to him. He was like an angel appearing before her all of a sudden. Maybe her prayers had been answered. Then again why would a strange man be wandering in the desert? He said to look for exotic reptiles, but he had no tools or anything to capture them.
Zahid could see she was scared so he tried to put her at ease: Do you like reptiles? Most girls don't. I bet you do though. You look like one of those girls who wouldn't be afraid of a little ole reptile. You know something my stomach is growling and I was just about to head home for some bread with labneh and goats milk. My father and I would love the company of a very pretty girl. We don't have much company. Would you do us the honor of joining us?
Charmaine at the words bread and Labneh which was a traditional dish that she loved. She hadn't eaten anything for almost 2 days and the temptation was almost more than she could bear. She didn't know if it would be wise to go with this man. How did she know what he wanted?
Zahid smiled at her trying to encourage her to trust him.
Charmaine wanted to go so bad, but something told her Riley might not approve.
Zahid: Hi, little one. My name is Zahid, and I live about 5 miles from here. I come out here regularly looking for exotic reptiles. They are my hobby, and the desert if full of them.
Charmaine stood there looking at him. Where did this man come from? She sure wished she could talk to Riley about this, but she didn't dare in front of this man. She didn't know what to say to him. He was like an angel appearing before her all of a sudden. Maybe her prayers had been answered. Then again why would a strange man be wandering in the desert? He said to look for exotic reptiles, but he had no tools or anything to capture them.
Zahid could see she was scared so he tried to put her at ease: Do you like reptiles? Most girls don't. I bet you do though. You look like one of those girls who wouldn't be afraid of a little ole reptile. You know something my stomach is growling and I was just about to head home for some bread with labneh and goats milk. My father and I would love the company of a very pretty girl. We don't have much company. Would you do us the honor of joining us?
Charmaine at the words bread and Labneh which was a traditional dish that she loved. She hadn't eaten anything for almost 2 days and the temptation was almost more than she could bear. She didn't know if it would be wise to go with this man. How did she know what he wanted?
Zahid smiled at her trying to encourage her to trust him.
Charmaine wanted to go so bad, but something told her Riley might not approve.
Zahid turned toward the girl hoping to appear friendlier.
Zahid smiled: You know I told you my name, but I still don't know yours. Surely a pretty girl such as yourself must have an especially pretty name. Won't you tell me it? I can't call you little girl. You are practically a woman. He said that knowing how little girls liked to be complimented in this way.
Zahid smiled: You know I told you my name, but I still don't know yours. Surely a pretty girl such as yourself must have an especially pretty name. Won't you tell me it? I can't call you little girl. You are practically a woman. He said that knowing how little girls liked to be complimented in this way.
At those words Charmaine looked up scared. Why did he say that? Why did he say she was almost a woman? Those words made her change her mind. She had been almost convinced to go with him, but not now.
She backed away slightly.
Zahid saw that for some reason he had spooked her. So he tried to be overly friendly.
Zahid: Come on we will not hurt you. You can't stay out here. Even a practically grown woman such as yourself needs food.
Charmaine: There he went again calling her practically a grown woman. What was he getting at? Was he wanting her for himself? Was he going to do to her what Abdullah did? Surely not as Abdullah was not a man to cross. Yet he didn't know about Abdullah and she couldn't tell him as he might return her there. She had to get away. This man was scaring her!
Charmaine: I won't go with you. I am not a grown woman! I am only 8 years old! I don't want to get married! You can't make me!
Zahid: Come on we will not hurt you. You can't stay out here. Even a practically grown woman such as yourself needs food.
Charmaine: There he went again calling her practically a grown woman. What was he getting at? Was he wanting her for himself? Was he going to do to her what Abdullah did? Surely not as Abdullah was not a man to cross. Yet he didn't know about Abdullah and she couldn't tell him as he might return her there. She had to get away. This man was scaring her!
Charmaine: I won't go with you. I am not a grown woman! I am only 8 years old! I don't want to get married! You can't make me!
Charmaine turned and ran. This man had designs on her. No way was she going to be trapped again.
Zahid was flabbergasted. What had he said? Why was she so upset? He hadn't mentioned anything about marriage. He was perplexed and for a few seconds he couldn't get his wits about him. Was this girl engaged to someone or was about to be? Was that why she had run away? He couldn't let her go, he had to go after her.
Zahid was flabbergasted. What had he said? Why was she so upset? He hadn't mentioned anything about marriage. He was perplexed and for a few seconds he couldn't get his wits about him. Was this girl engaged to someone or was about to be? Was that why she had run away? He couldn't let her go, he had to go after her.
He took off running after her. She would have to come with him. He couldn't leave her out here to die.
Zahid: Little one come back. I promise you I won't hurt you. Please let me help you. I can offer you food and shelter and won't ask anything in return. Come back.
But Charmaine kept running. She was not going to make the mistake of trusting anybody ever again. After all she had trusted her father and mother and they had given her and Zoe to Abdullah. Nope she was going to make it on her own or die if she couldn't. She hoped that she could outrun him, because he would have to kill her before she would go with him.
Zahid: Little one come back. I promise you I won't hurt you. Please let me help you. I can offer you food and shelter and won't ask anything in return. Come back.
But Charmaine kept running. She was not going to make the mistake of trusting anybody ever again. After all she had trusted her father and mother and they had given her and Zoe to Abdullah. Nope she was going to make it on her own or die if she couldn't. She hoped that she could outrun him, because he would have to kill her before she would go with him.