Chapter 1

My name is Faud, and I am a typical kid growing up in the suburbs of America. My family moved here because we didn’t have much money, and we hoped to find a better life. However, I can’t honestly say that this place is better than home. My father is always working, and we can barely afford everything we need. My sister, Fateen, has been acting out since our father started working 12 hours a day. I don’t think she hates him, but she clearly misses having a father figure in the house. Meanwhile, my mother is the center of our world. She is always there for us, preparing us for school each morning with delicious food and nice clothes. She is our biggest supporter, both at home and at school.

Faud - Morning, Mom!

Afaf - Good morning, sweetheart! Take a seat, today is your favorite.

Faud - Mom! I love you so much!

Fateen - Mmm, delicious smell, Mom. I want double today.

Afaf - Inshallah, for everyone, sweetie. Take a seat!

My father, walked into the kitchen, greeting us with a simple:

Ghazi - Good morning, guys.

Faud - Hi, Dad!

Fateen - Whatever ... Aren’t you leaving yet?

Fateen, on the other hand, seemed annoyed.

Afaf - Fateen! Ask for forgiveness right now!

Ghazi - It’s alright. She’s right. I actually have to go.

Afaf - What about breakfast?

My mother asked, clearly disappointed that he wasn’t staying.

Ghazi - I’m sure it’s delicious, darling, but I’ll be late.

He replied, kissing her on the forehead.

And with that my sister leaves the table.

Afaf - Fateen, wait...

Ghazi - Leave her be. She’s young and doesn’t fully understand yet. Inshallah, Allah will guide her. Have a good day, son

Faud - Bye, Dad! Have a great day!

Afaf - Please talk to your sister, Faud. Help her understand that your dad is working hard for us, so that we can have food on our table and go to school.

Faud - Sure, Mom. I will talk to Fateen.

Afaf - Allah made you a good boy. Mommy loves you.

She said, kissing me on the forehead.

Afaf - You’re such a sweet boy. Keep being kind and understanding, my love.

With that, my sister and I left the house, walking slowly to school.

Faud - Hey Fateen, why don’t you cut our father some slack. He works hard for us.

Fateen - That is not for you to decide if he works for us or not...

Fateen replied, her voice strained.

Faud - But you know...

Fateen - Please Faud! I don’t want to talk about it. Leave me alone for now...

Fateen said, cutting him off.

Faud - Come on Fateen, you know that we are best friends since we were born, you know you can tell me everything that is on your mind, right?

Fateen - I know Faud, but this time you wouldn’t understand, please leave me be.

Fateen responded, her voice softer.

Faud - Ok sis, I’m here if you need me.

Fateen - I know, thanks Faud.

As I walked into school that day, a feeling of unease crept over me. I tried to ignore it and hoped that my instincts were wrong. The first few hours of the day passed uneventfully, but that uneasy feeling persisted. Then Kevin, one of my closest friends who also happened to have a major crush on my sister, approached me with a serious look on his face. He told me that Billy and his friends were bullying my sister. Without wasting any time, we rushed to the scene. When we arrived, we saw my sister in the middle of Billy and two other guys. They were all groping her while she was paralyzed with fear, tears streaming down her face. It was a scene that made my blood boil and filled me with an overwhelming sense of rage and protectiveness.

Billy was the quintessential popular kid in school, with a height that towered over most, strikingly handsome features, a toned muscular build, and a family with a notable financial standing. On top of all that, he was also a gifted athlete, having represented the United States in kickboxing and bringing home the gold medal just the previous year.

As I scrambled to find a way to help my sister, my mind raced with thoughts about the injustice of America’s supposed “land of freedom.” It seemed like freedom was only reserved for the rich. And to make matters worse, Billy was a notorious bully in school who had beaten countless students without ever facing consequences. In fact, he had caused so much fear that many kids had moved away just to escape him. As I struggled with these thoughts, I suddenly saw my friend Kevin rush over to help my sister. I felt a wave of relief wash over me, but I couldn’t help feeling inadequate compared to Kevin. He was taller than me and had street smarts that I could only dream of. Though I had never done any sports or combat training in my life, Kevin was no stranger to street fights. But as it turned out, street fights and professional fights were two entirely different things. In a matter of seconds, Kevin was knocked out cold.

Billy - What does this hobo want? Is he your boyfriend? Are you sleeping with a hobo, Alahu Akbaru? Answer me when I ask you something, you terrorist whore!

He aggressively grabbed my sister’s tits, squeezing them hard, and forcefully pulled her towards him

My sister was one of the most beautiful girls in school, at least in my opinion. She had big tits for her age and a small, bubbly ass that was soft and bouncy. Her body was slim, and she was short, which only added to her appeal. She was a perfect little girl, fertile and alluring, yet her baggy clothes, big glasses, and hairstyle hid her beauty from everyone else. They thought she was just an ugly nerd like me, but I knew the truth: she was the most desirable girl in the world, and I was hopelessly attracted to her.