Packing felt rushed, like it always did. Bags filled the hallway, half-zipped and uneven, and before Abdullah could really think about it, they were already on the way to London.
They spent the first day walking. Streets blurred into one another—shops, crossings, crowds. It all felt pointless to Abdullah, like walking for the sake of walking. The hotel didn't help. The room was small and worn down, the kind of place that made you want to leave as soon as you arrived.
The second day was more of the same. Endless walking. By the afternoon, Abdullah could feel blisters forming, each step sharper than the last.
That night, he finally asked his mother, "When are we leaving London?"
She sighed. "Listen, we'll go soon. Everyone's enjoying it except you. Just try and have fun."
He nodded, even though he didn't know how.
The next day, they went on the London Eye. Abdullah watched the city rotate beneath them, distant and quiet. Later that afternoon, Safiyah's husband, Farhan, came to pick them up. The car ride was long enough for Abdullah to fall asleep.
When he woke up, they were pulling into the driveway.
"Feels like I'm coming here after a long time," Farhan said.
"Same," Abdullah replied.
"Yeah, because it has been a while for you," Farhan said. "I was here three days ago."
Ali and Abdullah were put into a room together. Farhan took their devices.
"Mam doesn't even take our stuff," Abdullah said. "We'll sleep soon—just let us keep them."
"No," Farhan replied. "You need sleep."
Once he left, Ali muttered, "Why is bro acting like he's our dad?"
"Yeah, honestly," Abdullah said.
Five minutes later, Zara appeared, holding their devices.
"Look, I got you it," she said casually.
"Oh my God, thank you," Ali said.
"Bro, she came in clutch," Abdullah added.
The next day, Abdullah and his sisters played with Safiyah's newborn. The baby was small and quiet, wrapped in soft clothes that smelled clean and warm. Later, they went to a water park. Afterward, Abdullah asked for a foot-long Subway cookie.
"Share with everyone, so," Farhan said.
"But there's seven people. Abdullah said " let's Get two, so,"
"Nah, one is enough." Farhan said
The cookie disappeared in seconds.
When Abdullah and Ali told their dad, he shook his head. "I would've bought you two. You should've asked me."
"Farhan is so cheap," Ali added.
That night, Abdullah's mother told him Sara and Sarfaraz were coming to visit the next day.
When Abdullah came downstairs, he saw a boy sitting on the stairs, headphones in, phone in hand. Maryam told him to go sit in the living room.
Is that Sarfaraz? Abdullah thought.
Maryam said salam and the boy looked up.
"Hey, you remember me?" Abdullah asked.
"Yeah, I remember you."
"You're Sarfaraz?"
"Who else would I be?"
"Wow, man—you look so much bigger. Stand up. How tall are you now?"
"Nah, let me sit."
"Bro, just stand up for a second. Also, why are you on the stairs?"
"I like it here."
"Okay… is your sister here?"
"She's in the living room."
Abdullah walked in and saw her.
What the hell—when did she get so brown? he thought.
"Aren't you going to say hi?" his mum said.
"Uh… what's up," Abdullah said awkwardly.
Sara laughed lightly.
For a while, Abdullah didn't know what to say. Sara played with Safiyah's baby while he sat there, quiet. Eventually, Sarfaraz came in and started talking. Abdullah joined in, and soon Sara did too.
Abdullah told them about first year. "Yeah, one day I brought milk and it went bad and stunk up the room."
They laughed. Later, Abdullah got Sarfaraz's Snap—then Sara's too.
The next day, they were leaving. They had to take two different cars to the train station, with Safiyah leading the way. they got lost.
Abdullah's father sorted it out, and they reunited.
"She's literally a big baby," Ali said. "Leading us so confidently when she didn't even know where to go."
"Yeah, you're right," their dad said. "She is a big baby."
They eventually arrived at Maryam's house. The familiar sight hit Abdullah all at once—memories flooding back. That night, he slept on the same uncomfortable air mattress.
The next day, Sara and Sarfaraz came again. They went upstairs to the room where Maryam kept her cat. Abdullah tried to pet it, but it moved suddenly, making him flinch.
"Don't be scared," Sara said. "It's friendly."
"I'm not scared," Abdullah said. "It just startled me."
"Oh yeah?" she smiled. "So you wanna hold it?"
"If I hold that cat, I'm dropping it instantly."
"So you are scared," she laughed.
"You know who is scared of cats, Zara. Abdullah said
"you should tell her there's a cat behind her." Abdullah said
She shouted, "Oh my God, there's a cat!"
Zara screamed.
Abdullah & sara started laughing.
"Zara, there's no cat," Sara said, hugging her. "I was joking."
"I didn't know she'd get that scared," Sara said. "Why is she so scared of cats?"
"I don't even know," Abdullah said.
Aaliyah came upstairs and sat far away from the cat.
"Are you scared too?" Sara asked.
"No."
"Then why don't you pet it?"
"I don't want to."
Abdullah and Sara looked at each other.
"She's scared," Abdullah said.
Then Aaliyah asked, "Would you rather kill the cat or Sara?"
"What kind of question is that, you idiot?" Abdullah said.
he sees sara thinking deeply and then turn to look at him.
"No, answer it," Sara said.
"Well, obviously I'm not killing a person."
"Oh my God, stay away from my baby," Sara joked. "You're going to kill my cat."
"I wouldn't kill anything," Abdullah said.
Later, the topic shifted. Abdullah thought about Lina.
I wish I could be this comfortable around girls I'm not related to.
He said out loud. "Honestly, being sent to an all-boys school messed me up socially. like if i had gone to a mixed school i could have at least had a like a female friend ya know just so id be less socially shit. now i just freeze up around girls no matter who it is."
"Yeah," Sara said. "Mixed schools are better. Muslim Parents overreact so much the second you interact with the opposite gender."
Later, Aaliyah said their parents were arguing.
"Mom's not crying, is she?" Abdullah asked.
"No."
"Thank God. It's so awkward when she cries—I want to comfort her but I don't know how."
"Honestly dad so dumb sometimes," Abdullah added.
"Yeah… my parents used to argue really badly before their divorce like sometimes they'd start throwing shit at each other."
"Oh... sorry," Abdullah said.
"It's fine."
They were called downstairs—Qasim, Yunus's brother, had arrived with donuts. They talked for a while, then everyone left.
That night, Abdullah thought, I wonder what kind of man Sara's dad is.
The next day was goodbye. Sarfaraz hugged Abdullah.
"We'll play when your back, alright?"
"yea of course man" Abdullah replied.
Then Abdullah turned to Sara. "I guess we'll meet again next year. It's kind of a tradition now."
"Maybe sooner," she said. "My mum's been talking about visiting Ireland."
soon They returned home in Ireland.
One evening, Abdullah sat with his dad and Ali.
"I want to join a football club," Abdullah said. "It'd be good to get out more. Tomek's joining one too."
"no way its too late to join your too old now there'd be no point and you cant just join for fun you have to want to win as well."
"and your shit man ill be surprised if they even let you on the b team"
"yea but isn't the point to get better by coming to training like i know i'm shit and its not like i don't wanna win obviously i wanna win and i'll just join the c team so" abdulah replied.
"there is no c team" Ali said.
Abdullahs dad says. "okay stop acting like a hero when your a zero he's joining"
"haha so funny" Ali said sarcastically. "worst joke i have ever heard" he added on. Abdullahs dad just laughed.
Training came quickly. Abdullah stuck close to Ali. He recognised Matthew and Joe.
joe was around other people though. "hey your joining that's great your gonna be a full forward like your brother right. man of the match scoring all the goals" joe said coming up to him.
"i don't know what position ill play I'm not really that good" Abdullah replied.
"ah well that's what your hear for" joe replied. and he walked away.
the training started and they were doing some passing drills. Abdullah passing was shit often the ball going of course"
"what the fuck are you doing shoot it straight" Ali said. "I'm trying" Abdullah replied
soon they moved onto shooting. Abdullahs shots were weak often not even landing near the goal and easily blocked" "put your foot through it ya idiot" Ali said.
"i don't know how to" "look do what i do" Ali shot blasting it forward. Abdullah tried to copy him but it was still a shit shot.
then they continued to running. abdullah was lagging behind the rest of them. trying his best to run as fast as he could his heart beating loudly and his legs in a world of pain. putting in 100 percent he was still les athletic then some of them barely trying.
after it ended Abdullah was gasping for air and went for a drink. Ali coming up to him. "what the hell are you doing actually try. what the hell are you doing at the very back"
Abdullah ignored him. he sees Matthew and asks him. "hey i didn't know you played soccer"
"yea well now you know i didn't know you were gonna join" "good to have you on the team" he said
"thanks" Abdullah replied. soon Ali and Abdullah started walking home.
"hey school starting soon now huh" Abdullah says. "just be quite" Ali replied.
"why are you in such a bad mood I'm just trying to make small talk"
"sorry man I'm not on the a team this year cuz we had to go England" ali said
Abdullah was surprised he said sorry.
"i mean there is always next year" Abdullah said
"yea like this year will be easy i can relax. there is piss easy training on the b team"
That night, Abdullah lay exhausted, thinking about second year.
all the things he did over the summer rushing back into his head.
I wish the summer lasted
longer...