But that's less than a week away." She looked from one to the other, suddenly aware of Muhammed, who was staring down at the ground examining his toes s Since felt a tiny niggle of fear. It wasn't like hinu to be this quiet. Rashida liked him best of all Iman s uncles. He always joked, even when things went wrong, like breaking his leg, or crashing his bicycle "What God wills, he would roar, waving his long arms in the stir and bellowing with laughter Rashida glanced at him again, then up at Grandma who was standing silently beside him. "Mum's not ill, is she?" she asked anxiously. "Of course she's not," said Grandma "Whatev r gave you that idea? Now go and make Muhammed six me tea before he dics of thirst Rashidu put the mirror on the table in the tchen and turned on the tap Water splashed into the red tempot. She spooned in the tea automatically and lit the gas She was beingsilly, she thought, imagining thingsthat weren't even there, and forgetting the most important thing of all Mum would be here in five days' time she smiled to herself as she thought about it. rhey'd go to the market together and out visiting And in the evening they'd all sit round under the lemon tree, watching the stars come out and the moon risc It would feel just right. Her and Mum and Grindma together, Like they used to be. She poured out two glasses of tea, picked up the