HWJN (English 2nd Edition) by Ibraheem Abbas, Yasser Bahjatt Read Free Book Online Page B

humans! You really make me laugh!
    It is true, we cannot enter this house just yet.
    But, trust me, this is only temporary!
    A human no matter who he or she might be, weakens after the first test and forgets about God! Tomorrow you’ll see for yourself. The owners themselves are the ones who asked for me, and no one will be able to stop me from entering the house.”
    As Xanam was leaving, he turned to me to say his final filthy statement, only meant to raise the tension between me and Mother: “Don’t forget, cousin, if you need any help with the Human just let me know!”
    Mother and I went up to make sure Grandfather was okay. We found him sleeping, so I left her with him and went to my room in the yard, were I tried to organize my thoughts and calm my fear of what the future may hold.

(7)
    Cancer and the flower

 
    T hat night Sawsan invited her friends over—maybe to prove that her house was not haunted. It was a limited-guest event with just a handful of girls. They spent most of their time in Sawsan’s room, avoiding the topic of Jinn for fear of hurting Sawsan’s feelings, or maybe for fear of a Jinni actually showing up. Their curiosity almost gave them away, but Sawsan courageously opened the subject as if she were ending the rumors.
    “Girls, I’ve decided to ask the Jinn what upset them on the day of my party.”
    Areej understood her objective and wanted to keep Sawsan from any embarrassment, and herself from any terror. “Sawsan, there’s no need for that. Just turn on a recording of verses of the Holy Quran and they will be gone.”
    Khulud would not let such a chance pass her by. “If they were good Jinn, they would have enjoyed the DJ with us. There must be a reason. The only solution is to face them! Sawsan, bring a paper from the printer.”
    Khulud started drawing the Ouija board. Areej was not happy about it, and the rest of the girls were nervous. I felt a hidden joy regardless of all the tension that was building up. Was it because I was going to talk to Sawsan again? What would I say? Should I seize the moment and confess to her how madly in love with her I was? That would terrify her for sure! Again the girls did not give me the chance to think it through.
    “Is someone there? Is someone there?” Khulud called.
    I know that if I did not respond they would stop. “M I S S E D… Y O U.”
    Oh dear God, what had I done? I could not resist the opportunity! The room went numb until Sawsan brought it back life.
    “Hawjan?”
    I moved the marker to “Yes.”
    Khulud was about to start her question, but I did not give her a chance to interrupt my chat with Sawsan. “F O R G I V E… M E.”
    “Why did you do that? Did we harm you in any way?” Sawsan went on.
    “N O T… M E.”
    Khulud could not contain her curiosity. “Are there other Jinn in the house? Are they Devils?”
    I moved the marker to “No.” “G R A N D F A T H E R… S I C K… M O T H E R… U P S E T…   S H E… D I D… N O T… M E A N… I T.”
    Sawsan looked relieved. “Forgive us. We’re sorry. And please tell your mother and grandfather we’re sorry too.”
    “H O W… A R E… Y O U.”
    Areej could not pass up the chance to mock me. “ My oh my! Your Jinni is drowning, Sawsan. How about if we leave the Ouija to give you some privacy?”
    She left the plastic piece, making its movement very heavy, but with some effort I returned to its normal movement, then tried to ease the mood and get closer to Sawsan.
    “I… W O R R I E D… A B O U T… Y O U…   D O N T… B E… S C A R E D…I… A M… H E R E.”
    Khulud noticed the smooth movement of the plastic piece. “Here’s a thought. We should try it with one person. Sawsan remove your finger let me try to move it alone.”
    Sawsan did so, and the plastic piece stopped like a rock even though I was trying as hard as I could to move it. If this worked I would be able to talk to Sawsan without her friends having to be there.
    “Khulud, let me