Historical Context

Who’s really the terrorist me or you ?

My short story is about many topics like Islamophobia, Decolonization. I decided to do my short story on this because I’ve learned about many topics but those 2 topics really stuck with me because it really caught my attention the most and I was really interested in learning more about these topics. Basically my story is about 2 girls named A'isha and Ariana is white and A'isha just moved from Saudi Arabia to the United States. So A’isha and Ariana go to the same school and A’isha always gets bullied and picked on because she wears a hijab and Ariana is always standing up for A’isha and Ariana’s family is supportive on their friendship but their neighbors are racist and don’t like A’isha because they are afraid of her and assume she’s a terrorist and that she will bomb them and a whole bunch of false stereotypes. Every time A’isha would come over the neighbors would judge Ariana’s family and they even threatened to kick her family out of the community because they don’t want A’isha around. Despite all that happening Ariana and her family continued to support A’isha and her family and didn’t care for what the community had to say. As time went by A’isha and her family would get harassed by someone from Ariana’s community and it escalated to the man following A’isha and her family as they were leaving the Mosque. The man killed about 50 people and wounded 10. A’isha and her mom made it but her father didn’t. Later on the man turned himself in and said he did it because he didn’t agree with the way they dressed and that he didn’t like them. He only got 10 months in jail. Aisha's dad was murdered because of his faith and her mom couldn’t walk anymore because of that man, where was the justice for A’isha and her family ? They were just a normal happy family until all that happened and it’s just sad how when people see an Arabian family they automatically assume that they are terrorist but how can that be when in reality the government and the system are the terrorist not me and my people. It’s crazy how the United States is full of chances and opportunities but how could that be? If there it ain’t no possibilities. How could someone have so much hatred for people they never gave a chance, how could you be so evil ? Later on in the story, A’isha got surgery for her mom and now her mom can walk again and they continued on with their lives and moved back to Saudi Arabia. As life went on A’isha got married and finally had kids of her own and taught her kids how they should be treated and to fight for what’s right and stand up for what you believe in and to always follow your heart and to never let anyone say you are a terrorist or bring you down because you wear a hijab, be proud of who you are.

Who's really the terrorist me or you?

It all started off when me and my family moved from Saudi Arabia. My name is A’isha mom named me after grandma passed. It was grandma’s name so of course mom wanted to name me after her in honor and memory of her. Today is my first day at my new school and it’s also my birthday, I just turned 16. I walked in and got weird stares from everyone but then I saw my online friend Ariana holding balloons and a gift for me. She ran up to me and said “Happy birthday A’isha I’m so happy you’re finally here.” Ariana and I have been friends since I was 14 we met on Instagram. Slowly she became my best friend and we would always Facetime and text but never really got to hang out or see each other till now. We had made so many plans for when we see each other but of course we couldn’t do everything on one day so we planned different things for different days. Today we planned to go out to eat and go out somewhere else to celebrate. We ended up going to Mosque then, to Red Lobster and then, we went to John's Incredible Pizza Company. After that we went home and my family threw me a surprise party.

As we were leaving from Ariana’s neighborhood everyone was looking at my family and me weirdly and they were saying, “Why is her family supporting them?”

“Omg! They are terrorist!”

“Go back inside or they will bomb us!”

They were just saying so many rude things that weren’t even true. Ariana’s family had ended up defending me and my family she made us feel like we’re all a big family and defended us like we we’re their own. After that momma said we shouldn’t go back for awhile but that didn’t stop me and Ariana from hanging out. She would come over or we would meet up at the places we planned to go with both our family’s. People would stare at us weirdly still but we just ignored it.

Today we went to the movies and we watched "The Hate You Give" and it was one of our favorite movies it was different from the book, but it was still a good movie. At least it was my first time being at the movies so it was a good experience besides people talking from here and there it was good. We took pictures and that was fun because i’ve never taken pictures in a photo booth before so that was fun. After that we went to the mall and we went back to home and hanged out for a little. The next day we went to school and I had went to the bathroom and some of the girls were bullying me and saying mean and disrespectful things about me that weren’t true. I didn’t tell anyone not even mom and dad… It continued for months till finally one day Ariana walked in on them pushing me around and saying things about me. She stood up for me when she didn’t need to.

She asked, “Why didn’t you tell me this was happening ?”

I just told her, “Because I can fight my own battles on my own and I didn’t want to tell you because it wouldn’t do anything.”

The next day those girls wrote stuff on my locker and even drew a bomb. I said to Ariana, “I told you it would’ve just made things worse,” and I walked away crying.

That’s when I ran into the principle and she asked what was wrong and why I was crying. Ariana told the principle why i was crying and then we went to my locker to show her what it had said then she called the custodian to clean it up after that we went to her office. She asked us if we knew the names of the girls who wrote all that and were bullying me. It was 4 girls and they have known Ariana since middle school, two of them are twins. The names of the twins were Ella and Emma and the other two were Olivia and Sophia.

After I wrote my statement the principal said she would talk to the girls and their parents and also to mine to inform them on what was happening. After she contacted all the parents she said she would speak to the girls tomorrow morning because it was time to go home. It was the next day and she had spoke to the girls separately. Ella, Emma, and Olivia confessed to bullying me they were just following Sophia’s directions, but Sophia said she didn’t do anything that it was all Ella, Emma, and Oliva’s ideas and she was saying it was bad to do it and that they wouldn’t listen to her when she said it was a bad idea.

The principle had called me and Ariana in to tell us what the girls had said. She told us that we all would have a meeting with everyone’s parents as well to hear all the sides of the story and from there what would happen after that. My parents were upset that I didn’t tell them what was going on but they understood and were glad that Ariana stood us for me. The day had came to have the meeting and everyone confessed including Sophia and they all apologize to the both of us because they would also bully Ariana as well from time. Weeks and weeks went by and nothing happened after that meeting everything was fine between me, Ariana and the girls.

Then everyone was talking about a new kid at the school. I was wondering who it was and why everyone kept talking about him, all I knew was that he was a junior like Me and Ariana. As days went by he introduced himself to me and told me his name is Adam. He would talk to me about his family, he told me how he has a little brother named Zayn who’s 14 and actually goes to school with us as well. He also has a little sister named Yasmin and she’s 3 years old. He started to ask me questions because he said he wanted to get to know me, so I told him I was an only child for now by had a sibling on the way and lived with my parents and that was about it. He would flirt with me from time. He ended up telling me that he thinks that I'm cute and he asked me if I think he’s cute but I said I’ll tell him later.

I started to see him walking around with Sophia. He told me that she thinks he’s cute and that she likes him and he doesn’t like her he likes someone else but wouldn’t tell me who he likes because he said he doesn’t know if she likes him back or not. He just kept saying she’s cute, smart makes him laugh all the time.

Adam asked, “Do you like anyone ?”

I said, “No. Not at the moment why ?”

Adam said, “Just because.”

After I told him I didn’t like anyone he was sad and I asked, “Hey Adam what’s wrong?”

He just said, “It’s nothing” and walked away.

The next day I seen him in class and he didn’t talk to me so I asked, “Are you okay ?”

Adam said, “Yeah, I’m just upset because the girl I like doesn’t like me…”

I asked, “Aww, I’m sorry, but how do you know she doesn’t like you ?”

Adam said, “I asked her yesterday and she said she doesn’t like me that’s why I was sad.”

I said, “Adam, I’m so sorry but if you don’t mind can I know who it is.”

And that’s when Adam told me he likes me. I didn’t know he felt that way about me. Like, I mean I know he said I’m cute, but like I didn’t think of it as anything, so I didn’t know what to say.

I turned to him and said, “Adam why didn’t you tell me you like me?’’

Adam told me it was because he asked me who I like and I said no one. I didn’t know he wanted me to say I like him but I didn’t know he wanted me to say I like him. The truth is, I was too shy to say anything. I ended up telling him that I like him and that I do think he’s cute but I didn’t say anything earlier because I was too shy and didn’t know he liked me.

It was the next day and I saw him walking with Sophia and she seen me waving at them and she turned and kissed Adam in front of me and Adam just looked at me and said, “A’isha it’s not what you think it is.”

I walked away hurt then he ran after me but I didn’t say anything. He kept trying to talk to me and I just ignored him and went to class.

At lunch, Sophia came up to me at my locker and asked if I liked Adam and at first I was going to say no, but I didn’t care anymore, so I said, “Yes I do like Adam why? Is there a problem ?’’

Sophia said, “Look Adam is mine okay so back off!”’ and walked away.

I just laughed and went to class with Ariana, I told him what she said and he told me that she likes him but he doesn’t like her and that he didn’t mean to hurt my feelings and had brought me a little red teddy bear. I don’t know how he knew my favorite color is red but I forgave him. Then he offered to walk me home and I said sure since I live down the street from school.

Sophia saw me, Adam, and Ariana walking to my house and he met my parents surprising my parents actually like him and they asked if we were dating and we looked at each other laughed and said no then my parents asked if he wanted to eat and so we went inside and ate lunch then we all talked for a little and that’s when my mom told me she was expecting again. Of course I was happy, and so was Adam for me because now I won’t be alone. Ariana was happy for me as well and couldn’t wait for my mom to have another kid.

After that, my dad went to drop Adam home and said he was welcome to our house any time. Then gave him a hug and left. When dad got home, I asked why he and mom didn’t tell me about the fact that I finally wasn’t going to be alone anymore.

But they told me that it was a surprise to them as well and mom had found out this morning. The next morning me and Adam were walking to class and that’s when someone pulled Adam away and Sophia ran up on me and jumped me with some other girl. They let go of Adam after they were done, Adam and Ariana ran to me and asked if I was okay.

I said, “I’m fine. It just hurts.”

After that, I started crying because I was so embarrassed and everyone had seen what had happened and they recorded it. Adam and Ariana walked me to the office and told the principle what had happened and she called my parents to let them know what had happened and then she also called Sophia’s parents to have a mediation.

My parents got here and were very upset that this had happened but they wanted to hear what had happened from me so I told them that i was walking with Adam to class and that he felt someone grab him and then that’s when Sophia had ran up and jumped me along with some other girl and then they left. I have no idea why they did what they did but all I want to know is why they did. After that we talked to an officer about if we wanted to press charges and we did because I been had problems with her but I thought by now she wouldn’t start no problems with me but yet this happened. She said she did it because she doesn’t like me and she likes Adam. Her parents made her apologize for everything.

Adam went home with us to hang out for a little but but he stepped out to talk to my dad about something and they walked in happy and smiling. I asked why they were smiling so much and they didn’t tell me at all.

We ate dinner and watched tv for a little bit and after that Adam got up and looked at my dad and my dad looked at me and I said, “What? Is something wrong ?”

That’s when Adam said, “You know I care about you right? You know I really like you right ?”

I said yes but I was confused as to why he asked me all these obvious questions.

Then he told me to stand up and said, “A’isha, will you be my girlfriend?”

I thought it was a joke so I looked at my parent’s and they were nodding their heads and I said yes. We all hugged then watched tv together til 10pm after that dad went to drop Adam home and mom and I tagged along to tell Adam’s mom the happy news.

We told her that Adam asked me to be his girlfriend and his mom was okay and actually knew and had made our favorite cake. We ate and talked for a little then went back home. It was the next day and we were walking to school and then people kept looking at us weirdly but we didn’t care we were happy. And some of them were happy for us and said we look good together.

Sophia found out we were together and she was jealous she even came up to us and asked if we were together and we said yes and she was angry and to make her even more mad Adam kissed me in front of her which was funny to me because her face turned red and she walked away upset and mad and we just laughed.

As days went by, Adam and I were still together and we would go on family trips together cause my parent’s really liked Adam and were happy that I got someone to always be here for me and love me no matter what like they do. So they all we’re happy and approved with the relationship. It was thanksgiving break and it was my birthday on Thursday. It was also thanksgiving. Well, I call it Things Taken because things were taken and Christopher Columbus didn’t discover anything he took credit for what was already discovered. And it’s just wrong how he took credit for it and acted like he was the one who discovered America and he killed the people that did discovered America and who ever wouldn’t listen he would kill them or torcher them badly. He made them work as slaves, he made them do so many things they could do themselves.

Anyways we ended up going to the mosque with his family and mine after we had went to eat. We went to the mosque after we went to pray. Some white guy had shot up the mosque killing 50 people and wounded 10. 2 of them being my parents, but Adam and I were fine but my dad didn’t survive. My mom did, but she couldn’t walk but other than that she was okay. An hour or later the man had turned himself in and said he did it because he didn’t agree with our beliefs and didn’t like the way we dressed. My father was murdered and he only got 10 months in jail that’s it. Where was the justice for my dad and my mom? I no longer have my dad and my mom she can’t walk…

Months went by and Adam and Ariana would come by everyday to check on mom but she still couldn’t walk and I kept wondering to myself where did we go wrong? But I realized that this world we live in today is just so messed up and wrong. Instead of being one, everyone is doing their own thing and against one another and that’s not right, we all need to unite and stand together as one.

Mom had went to the the hospital with my grandma and she told us that my sibling didn’t make it as well. And it hurt badly to find out that the one sibling I had is now gone before I even got to meet them and it makes me upset that I never got to meet them and tell them that I’ll always be here for them and that I’ll love them forever even though I never got to meet them. I won't ever forget them, and that they will always be in my heart just like my dad.

Time went by, but I still didn’t get justice for my family. Adam and Ariana’s family supported me and mom. Grandma moved in with us to help take care of mom when I wasn’t around. Senior year wasn’t easy but went by fast. Adam and I went to prom together and Ariana went with her boyfriend Isaiah. They won prom king and queen and after that we went out to eat and came home.

Days went by and it was time for graduation and I just remember crying so much because dad wasn’t there to see me graduate and I felt really sad because I did it all for him. I’m glad to say I graduated with my baby and my best friend. We all celebrated with his family and mine, we went out to Dave & Buster's then we went home because it was late.

The next day we went to Great America and after a few rides Adam proposed and I just looked at my mom and started crying because it didn’t feel real to me at all but I said yes of course and I was so happy that my best friend and my mom was their with me during this happy moment of my life. We got married on Valentine's day; same day my parents got married.

Adam and I saved up to pay for mom’s surgery for her to be able to walk again. We were told it’s not that much of a chance that she would make it but we tried just because we wanted to take the chances and see if it would work. It worked and she could finally walk again it was a miracle.

After that we moved back to Saudi Arabia and that’s when I found out I was expecting, so we celebrated twice: once, because mom could walk again, and then again because I was expecting. I let mom and Ariana plan the gender reveal party because she’s always wanted to plan everything for when that time comes. We’re having a little boy and for now we called him Adam jr. because he really looked more like Adam than me.

I started to read to him and made him read so he would be aware of his rights and have social justice knowledge. I just want him to be aware of the background of the history about the United States because Adam jr. actually wants us to move back to the United States for school and to be with his godmother. Him and Ariana are very close and that’s why I said yes to moving back, so we did. He wanted to surprise her, so we didn’t tell her we were moving back.

We moved back on the 9th of September and surprised her and Adam jr. finally got to see her and they cried because it had been so long since they seen each other. Once Adam jr. got older, he opened up a school that only taught ethnic studies and social justice knowledge.

I’m glad I taught my son to stand up for what's right and to be proud of who he is just like how my mom taught me the same.