Page 120 - A Woman Is No Man

need to make sure our culture survives, and that means teaching a woman
her place.”

They ate dinner all together for the first time in months. The men sat at one
end of the table, the women at the other. Fareeda couldn’t remember the last

time she’d had all her sons on one sufra. She watched Isra filling Adam’s
bowl with rice, Nadine passing Omar a glass of water. As it should be! Now
all she had left was to marry off Ali and Sarah. She looked over at her
daughter, who sat slouched with teenage gracelessness. It shouldn’t be too
long now before that burden was off Fareeda’s shoulders. She was tired and
—though she would never admit it—eagerly awaiting the day she could
stop worrying about her family.

The men were lost in conversation—something about opening a new
convenience store for Omar, who needed a steady income. Fareeda eyed
them. “Maybe Adam could open the store,” she said. “Help his brother
out.”
She could see Adam’s face redden. “I’d love to help,” he said, putting
down his spoon. “But I barely have enough time to run Father’s store.

Between paying the bills and taking care of the family . . .” He stopped,
looked over to Isra. “I never see my own family. I’m always working.”
“I know, son,” Khaled said, reaching out to pat Adam’s shoulder. “You
do so much for us.”
“Still,” Fareeda said, reaching for another piece of pita, “your father is
getting old. It’s your duty to help.”
“I am helping,” Adam said, his voice suddenly cold. “But where will I

find the time to open up another store? And what about Omar? Why can’t
he take on some responsibility?”
“Where’s all this animosity coming from?” Fareeda smacked her lips,
waving her greasy fingers around the kitchen table. “What’s wrong with
helping the family out? You’re the eldest son. It’s your responsibility.” She
bit into a stuffed squash. “Your duty.”

“I understand that, Mother,” Adam said. “But what about Omar and
Ali? Why am I the one doing everything?”
“That’s not true,” Fareeda said. “Your brothers do what they can.”
“Omar barely puts in any hours at the deli, and Ali spends all day
‘studying,’ according to him, while I run the store on my own. You need to
give my brothers some responsibilities too. You’re spoiling them.”