1.19 Leaving for Warmer Climes.

Lupe had done a ton research before getting the kids to pack on what was appropriate for the time of year and how to broach the culture issue and by the time they stepped out of the airport in Cairo, scarf firmly in place, she felt like she had it all well in hand. It was a bright, warm, sunny day that felt like arriving in Oz. Instead of Technicolor and Glinda greeting them, they were overwhelmed by the light reflecting off limestone buildings, the smell of car exhaust, and the honking of horns. They got into the shuttle provided by the hotel expecting to be hit with a wall of air conditioning, but to the locals, it was quite cool and comfortable. The driver idled until a few more passengers got on before putting the loud machine into gear and setting off into the crowded streets. Hazel and Ash practically plastered their faces to the windows straining to see out and elbowing each other to make space. Lupe was too tired to scold them, at least they weren't yelling yet.

Ash elbowed Hazel again to get her to move and she elbowed him back automatically. Her heart just wasn't into it. She was preoccupied with a few things. Before she'd left, she'd caught Joe looking at her rather too intently and too long while they were working together in the science lab when he was meant to be counting drops of silver nitrate being added to the sodium chloride solution. Augustin had taken her hand, Adam's apple bobbing, and asked her if she'd go with him to the winter formal. Hazel had accepted, not knowing he'd meant anything by it until Jeri had called her to tell her that she was excited Hazel would be her brother's date for the dance and that she better treat him right! Finally, there was the box in her backpack that her dad's friend, Mr. Nelson, had asked her to bring to his friend Mr. al-Shahib. It was a small box, heavy for its size, wrapped in brown paper with flowing Arabic script running across the V shaped flaps on the sides. Looking back years later, Hazel would recognize this as a turning point in her life.

She was to go to the shuk and look for the spice merchant then ask after his mother for Mr Nelson before giving him the gift. The instructions made no sense to Hazel. Was the present for Mr. al-Shahib's mother? It was nice though, to ask after his mother. They were friends, maybe they were family friends? More than anything, she wanted to know what was in the box. She leaned her head against the cool glass window and fell asleep.

It was a few days before they made it to the correct market. While Lupe and Ash looked at rugs, Hazel went to the spice stall. There were huge tubs of dried rosebuds, turmeric, several different powdered peppers and spices she didn't recognize in saturated colors wafting equally saturated scents. There was a youngish man helping customers and seated in back in the stall was an old woman wearing a hijab sitting in a rocking chair watching Hazel with shrewd dark eyes. When the man finished with his customer he came to Hazel wearing a big smile offering to help her. Hazel was suddenly nervous, "Are you Mr. al-Shahib?"

"Yes," he replied giving her a look

"Mr. Nelson sends his regards. He wants to know how your mother is?"

"She is well." Mr. al-Shahib gestured to the woman in the rocking chair.

Hazel slid her backpack off her shoulders and pulled out the package, "Mr Nelson asked that I give you this" she said handing him the small heavy box. Mr al-Shahib smiled coldly and put it in his jacket pocket and actually looked at her. He took in her straw cowboy hat, plaid shirt, and general earnestness and said, "Miss Apple Pie, since you are such a good friend to my friend Mr Nelson, would you like to help me out too? I need help in a … delicate situation. The fruit seller's daughter, Layla Lufti, is the most beautiful in Cairo! A good, modest girl, she does not notice me. Would you bring her this letter for me?"

Hazel was a bit of a romantic, and the thought of helping a couple get together was next to her heart. "Oh, yes!"

Mr. al-Shahib handed her an envelope also marked in flowing script and directed her to the correct stall. It was across the way and a few stalls down from his, allowing him to see Layla as she helped people and stocked fruit. She was tall and willowy and had a stylish way of wrapping her hijab. When Hazel got closer, she saw that Layla had large dark eyes that shined like stars. Hazel looked over a box of oranges and decided to get three for her and her family once Layla came to help her. Then, making sure that her father was occupied with other customers, Hazel gave Layla a mischievous smile, "Do you know the young spice merchant? Al-Shahib?"

Caught off guard, Layla replied, "The handsome one?"

Hazel giggled, palming the envelope, "He asked me to give you this." She presented the envelope to Layla so that her hand was blocking the view of it from her parents. Layla's eyebrows drew up and she almost smiled before she schooled her face into a neutral expression. She handed Hazel her bag of oranges and some coins, "Come back tomorrow! We should have strawberries!" she called loudly.

The next day, Hazel convinced Lupe and Ash that they should pick up their lunch from the shuk before going to Lu-xor. Lupe was pleased that her daughter was showing such an interest in local cuisine and produce, though annoyed at having to leave the hotel so early to accommodate her daughter's whims. Lupe would've been content with ordering their lunch from the hotel and having whatever generic sandwiches they came up with. Instead here she was traipsing all around this market, amassing food with her children. She was proud that Hazel's sweet tooth was leading her to the gorgeous winter fruit of the region instead of to the baklava seller. Still, she felt suspicious as she watched Hazel's cowboy hat bob through the crowd and approach the stall. It appeared that Hazel made a friend with the girl at the fruit stand. The girl reached under the table to retrieve something she'd put aside for Hazel and the two heads bent together chatting quickly before separating and giggling. Hazel waved goodbye and then headed across the way and down a few stalls to the spice seller she'd been talking to yesterday.

When they got to the tour company with their food, Lupe handed Ash her phone to play with while they waited. "So, what did you get at the market, mija?"

"Would you believe that strawberries are in season here this time of year!? When I got to the fruit stall yesterday, I got to talking with Layla and she said that they'd just run out! Look!" Hazel pulled a small basket out of her bag and showed Lupe the perfect, small red berries like they were gems. "I know that you and Ash love peas, so I got some of those too." She said pulling out a bag of shelling peas out of her bag, "She thinks it's weird to eat them raw, but then, we're foreigners."

Lupe gave her a narrow look, "What did you get at the spice merchant?"

"Mom!"

"We're in a foreign country! Of course I'm going to keep an eye on you! I trust you, but not everyone else."

Hazel rolled her eyes, "If you must know, she asked me to take a note over to the spice merchant. I think she has a crush."

Lupe laughed, "Are you supposed to help them more, Cyrano? Just don't go falling in love with him yourself!"

"Fat chance of that, Mom! He's like thirty!" Hazel said like thirty was next to dead. Lupe chuckled to herself. "He said if I happened to come by in the evening, he'd have a response. We don't have to though!"

"I'll indulge you. Besides, I need to get some scarves for Leah and Maru."

Over the next three days, Hazel got to know Layla fairly well, but not Mr. al-Shahib. It's not that he wasn't kind or friendly he just never said anything about himself. If it weren't for the notes she was carrying back and forth, she would have no idea he was anyone at all. Hazel knew al-Shihib to be a successful spice merchant: his prices were competitive, the stall asciduously clean and he had a way of talking that made everyone at ease. Layla was competant and shy, but was beginning to thaw. She went to an international school where they had held lessons in English. She'd been reassured by Hazel that she was a clear communicator and now they spoke freely.

The next afternoon Layla told Hazel, "My father will let me choose for myself, he's not that old-fashioned, but I don't think he would be too pleased about this." When Hazel asked why, Layla continued after looking around, "Their family... lives beyond their means."

"You mean they're in debt?" Hazel narrowed her eyes.

"No, they have more than they ought. And when everyone else is having trouble, they aren't." Layla paused to collect her thoughts, "There's nothing we can really point to, but we all close up early when they do. They don't have as much little thefts as everyone else. We are blessed to be so close to them in the market. We have less theft as well. Tell him I will meet him at the fountain this afternoon as he asks."

They returned to Meadow Glen exhausted, sunburned, and happy with an extra suitcase loaded with souvenirs. In the bottom of Hazel's backpack was a small package wrapped in brown paper to give to Mr. Nelson from Mr. al-Shahib.

Note: Thanks for your patience with me in getting this out. I struggle with Anxiety and Seasonal Affected Depression that seem to get worse between September and February. It was unusually bad this year.