Huda and Me by H. Hayek (readict txt) 📕

no one can keep a secret in our house, right? Anyway, once we were safely out of Melbourne, Mr Kostiki was going to the school. To tell the office he needed to speak to Kholoud urgently, because she’d left her favourite purple gel pen at home. That was when he’d fill her in on everything, and then she’d let the others know about our plan, when she got home after school.’

‘But what about Aunt Amel?’ I spluttered. ‘She caught you that time you tried sneaking over to Mr Kostiki’s – how would they all manage it without her noticing?’

Huda quirked one eyebrow at me. ‘Well, brother, at school Mr Kostiki was slipping Kholoud a little bottle of sleeping potion, left over from when he used to work at the sleep clinic.’

Huda chuckles. Mum shoots Dad a worried look. My sister notices and sighs.

‘Mum, don’t worry. It’s perfectly safe and medicinal! Mr Kostiki said it only knocks people out cold for eight hours.’ My sister rolls her eyes. ‘So, the twins would give Aunt Amel the tea. She’d fall asleep and then BAM!’

Huda pauses. We all wait eagerly for the next part of her explanation.

‘And then …?’ Dad asks.

‘And then the sibs would grab Raheed from her clutches and take off to Mr Kostiki’s house, to chillax until you two get back.’ Huda points at Mum and Dad.

Mum opens her mouth to say something, but my sister gets in first.

‘Let me tell you, though, the best bit is that Pineapple Head – I mean, Aunt Amel – wouldn’t even have realised me and Akeal were missing. Or that the sibs were right next door eating pizza and having a movie marathon of Polish cinema. The tea would last till round midnight, and if she woke up then, in the middle of the night, she’d just go back to sleep. She’ll still be asleep and clueless right now!’

Everyone stays motionless for at least thirty seconds after she finally stops speaking. My sister … I think even if I lived a thousand years, I’d never be able to predict what goes on in that mind of hers.

Mum bites her lip and grabs the phone. ‘Okay then, Huda. Let’s try calling Jozef.’

Her fingers fumble as she finds his details. She puts the phone to her ear as it begins to ring. I hear a click, and Mr Kostiki’s deep, croaky voice down the line. Me and Huda move in closer so we can hear the conversation. Luckily for us, Mr Kostiki always talks really loudly.

‘Hello? Hello?’

‘Hello, Jozef? It’s Hend, from next door.’

‘Hello? Who’s that?’ He’s shouting into the phone. ‘I’ll put my hearing aids in. Wait.’

There’s a pause, then a small crash. Then another pause.

‘Got them. Glasses next. Where are the darned things? Who is this?’

‘Mr Kostiki, it’s me, Hend. I think something terrible has happened to the kids.’

‘Which kids?’

‘Mr Kostiki, my kids.’

‘I know that.’ He sounds a bit annoyed. He begins to cough. ‘Huda and Akeal are fine,’ he says once he’s recovered. ‘Don’t go calling Missing Persons about them. They’ve probably just arrived in Beirut.’ He pauses, like he’s checking his watch. ‘Yes, they should’ve landed by now.’

Huda can’t control herself and screams towards the phone. ‘Hi, Mr Kostiki! We miss you!’ Mum winces and presses the loudspeaker button.

‘Oh, I see you made it,’ Mr Kostiki says warmly. ‘Well done. I hope it was a smooth flight.’

Mum butts in, her voice the most serious I’ve ever heard it. ‘Mr Kostiki, the other kids. Are they safe?’

‘Hend, your older kids are here. They’re in my rumpus room.’

Mum drops the phone and it hits me on the side of the head. Huda catches it on the rebound and puts it to her ear. Dad grabs the bedhead, looking like he’s about to faint.

‘So it all worked out, Mr Kostiki?’ Huda screams into the phone.

‘Ahhh, yes, young one. The plan was followed through almost to perfection.’

Huda looks at Mum and Dad and narrows her eyes. ‘He says they’re okay. Relax!’ Then she yells into the phone again. ‘I’m gonna hang up and video-call you, okay?’

Mr Kostiki doesn’t have time to respond, because Huda hangs up, redials and lifts the phone to her face.

He answers on the first ring. All we see is black, though. He’s holding the phone to his ear.

‘Mr Kostiki, hello! You have to hold the phone in front of you so we can see you.’ Huda’s still shouting. I guess this is the voice she usually uses around him.

Mr Kostiki holds the phone way too close to his face, so only his chin is on the screen.

‘Can we see my brothers and sisters, please, Mr Kostiki? My parents’ faces are all scrunchy and worried.’

‘All right, all right. Give me a minute.’

We watch as he walks down his dark hallway. His face is lit up by the phone’s light. It looks like a creepy head bobbing around without a body.

He opens the door to his rumpus room and lifts the phone higher up – but still facing him.

‘We can’t see anyone – just your head!’ Huda shouts.

Mr Kostiki turns the phone around, and behind a long row of massive sausages hanging from the ceiling are my sisters and brother, awake already, huddled together on his couch.

When they see my and Huda’s faces squished up on the screen, they gasp and leap up to crowd around the phone. Kholoud grins, Suha and Layla clap. Omar shakes his head in amazement. He takes the phone from Mr Kostiki.

‘You made it! Good on you!’ My brother smiles too.

I’m having a really hard time not bursting into tears. We’re a family again.

Huda swings the phone around so Mum and Dad can see Omar’s glowing face. Mum stares back with wide eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks. Dad leans in close to the phone, so he can be sure of what he’s seeing. He takes a big breath.

‘Alhamdulillah, you’re safe. Is everyone okay?’ he asks.

Before Omar can answer, Mr Kostiki cuts in. ‘Aahhh, Ibrahim. That’s what I meant