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Gabi put her hand on Aisha’s arm. Aisha looked towards where José was talking to the customer. Gabi let go, confused because yesterday Aisha had comforted her when they’d waited for the bus. “If you want to talk about anything,” she said.
Aisha ran her finger over the cover of the book. “Maybe I will learn to write properly one day and put my feelings into words.”
Gabi shoved her hands in her pockets. “I think you should.”
Aisha closed the book and sighed. “Do you ever dream of a different life?” she asked.
Gabi shook her head. “Winning the lottery would be good. I wish my mum hadn’t died and that I’d paid attention better at school, but that’s more about hindsight.”
Aisha stared at Gabi. “You’re lucky.”
Gabi smiled. “Maybe I just lack imagination.”
Aisha shook her head. “No. You have options.”
“Don’t you?” Gabi’s stomach turned leaden as Aisha stared at her. She hadn’t meant to be flippant, but Aisha was serious and intense. The differences between their lives were huge, and Gabi hadn’t been respectful of the challenges Aisha had already faced.
“Not like you,” Aisha said.
“But you enjoy living here?” Gabi asked.
“I love Granada, I love my family, and I love dancing. But our laws are strict, and we aren’t free to choose how we live or who we love.”
That explained the tension that slipped between them at times when other people were around. “My dad went mental when I kissed a girl,” she said, hoping it would encourage Aisha to talk openly.
Aisha lowered her head and ran her finger across the cover of the book.
“I was eight.”
Aisha smiled.
“We’d built a snowman together. That was my first kiss.” Gabi shrugged.
It had ended up as one of those tick tock watching the grandfather clock moments. Dad had shouted at Nana about Gabi being out of control and needing to see someone, though Gabi hadn’t quite worked out who she was meant to go and see or about what. “He went ballistic, and he’s never accepted me for who I am.”
Aisha sighed. “It’s important to get a parent’s blessing.”
Gabi shook her head. “Not for me, it isn’t. We’re not close, and he’s not going to change his attitude, so there’s no point in me wasting my time fighting for something he’s not willing to give.”
Aisha clutched the book to her chest. “I would want my mama’s blessing.”
Gabi wondered what it would have been like trying to get her dad’s approval. It would have driven her nuts, and anyway, she was too stubborn to plead for anything from him. Just because he was her dad didn’t mean she had to have his permission or agreement for the way she lived her life. “If progress depended on attitudes like my dad’s, nothing would ever change.” If that’s how Aisha lived, no wonder she felt trapped.
“It’s about respect,” Aisha said. “And knowing you have their support makes things less frightening.”
It dawned on Gabi how much Nana’s support had helped her, especially defending Gabi to her dad, and she could relate a little to what Aisha was saying. “I guess. I have my nana’s blessing.”
Aisha turned and ran her finger across the spine of the books on a shelf. “Yes, you do.”
Gabi had hoped that Aisha might have talked more but touching on the need for parental approval had brought a halt to their conversation and subdued the atmosphere. “Do you have to work later?” she asked.
“I have errands, yes. I must take food to some of the elders who can’t leave their homes. I have to bake bread and pick vegetables.”
“You make me feel very lazy. I have nothing to do, and you work all hours.”
Aisha held Gabi’s gaze and took a deep breath. Gabi thought she was going to say something, but she didn’t. Gabi wanted to ask Aisha who she wanted to love, but Aisha turned back to the shelf, pulled out a book, and set it aside. The moment was lost.
“Will you come for a drink with me?” Gabi asked.
