lman had more brothers and sisters, and aunts and uneles, than you could count on both hands. Rashida only had her grandmother That wasn't strictly true. Rashida had family too but they mostly lived in Cairo, and she didn't often see them. When Dad had died almost three years ago, Mum had gone to work in the city, and hardly ever came home Rashida had visited Mum once in the tiny erowded mat she shared with her sister's family, on the outskirts of Cairo. "It'll be better for you to stay with Grandma," Mum had said. "There's no room here." Rashida had looked round the balcony where they were standing, which her aunt used as a kitchen, and nodded You will visit me?" she had asked. "Of course l will," Mum had repliedo OL Rashida knew they needed the money, and how lucky Mum was to find a job. 1t wasn't bad living with G andma Rashida loved her more than anyone else in the world apart from Mum. But didn't stop her wishing that things were different. That one day Muna would come home for good, and the loneliness Rashida felt would disappear "God knows best Grandma would say when Rashida complained, but it was still hard, like now when it was so long since Mum's last visit. Longer than ever before Grandma straightened up and smiled, her face "creasing into a thousand wrinkles ot hat'L teach you not to dawdle on the wily home, I thought the sand ghouls had got you Look, said Rashida, holding out the obj foun it by the river, and thought could clean it up.