Saving Kabul Corner

by N. H. Senzai

  “Don’t blame yourself either, Tofan Baba,” said Jamil. “You couldn’t control what your friend said, or where the stories ended up.”

  “He could have found out about the feud multiple ways,” said Ariana.

  “Yeah,” said Mariam. “Gossip about the feud spread like wildfire through the Afghans, but people outside the community knew about it as well. We overheard Mr. Martinez and the Smiths talking about it one day while we were . . . er . . . investigating.”

  “But once Ronald knew, the feud was the perfect story to cover up his crimes,” said Wali.

  “It was all to drive Wong Plaza under and force Mrs. Wong to sell,” said Laila.

  “This is just amazing,” said Nasreen. “I can’t believe you kids figured this all out.”

  Gulbadin looked at Wali with pride. “While we were feuding like fools, you were working hard to uncover the truth behind what was really happening.”

  “Mashahallah, Ariana jaan,” said Uncle Shams, examining the flyers. “Who knew that all those years of folding paper would enable you to find these remarkable clues?”

  Ariana grinned, her heart swelling with relief and pride.

  Wali’s mother sat with tears in her eyes. “We owe you children a great debt of gratitude.”

  Hava Bibi and Tofan Baba sat back and shared a pleased smile.

  His body stiff, Uncle Shams turned to Gulbadin. “Jamil and I were very sorry when we heard what happened to your store,” he said, his voice serious. “And now that we know it was Hammersmith, I feel a great injustice has been done to all of us.”

  “It was a terrible blow,” agreed Gulbadin. “But thankfully the insurance company has agreed to pay me for all the money I put into the store.”

  “Thank goodness for that,” said Jamil.

  “What do you plan to do?” asked Uncle Shams.

  “I don’t know,” said Gulbadin, turning to Tofan Baba. “We have a few options—rebuild, or move to a different location.”

  “Whatever you decide to do, there is enough business for all of us,” said Jamil with conviction.

  “Thank you,” said Gulbadin. “That is very generous of you to say.”

  “At least the silver lining in all this is that Ronald Hammersmith has brought your families together,” said Uncle Habib, a twinkle in his eye.

  “Oh my goodness,” exclaimed Jamil, blinking at the mention of Ronald’s name. “He might win the mayor’s race.”

  He’s right, thought Ariana with a jolt. In another hour the voting polls would close and the vote count would begin.

  “There’s no way we can let him become mayor,” said Gulbadin.

  “We need to do something,” said Uncle Shams as the horror of that reality settled over the room.

  “Well, we must tell the police what we’ve learned,” said Uncle Habib.

  “I’ll call Officer Nguyen,” said Jamil. “His number is in my cell phone.” As he hurried to find a quiet spot to talk, Uncle Habib turned to everyone.

  “Alhamdulillah, now we have something to celebrate! Let’s eat.”

  As everyone scurried to lay the dastarkhan and bring out the food, Ariana turned to Wali and whispered, “We did it.”

  “We sure did,” he said, and grinned back.

  SCANDAL ROCKS FREMONT AS MAYORAL CANDIDATE ARRESTED ON CHARGES OF FRAUD AND ARSON

  November 10, 2007

  By Terry Yurkovich

  FREMONT—Ronald Hammersmith, owner and president of New Vistas Development ­Corporation and recent mayoral candidate, was arrested yesterday afternoon, charged with vandalism, arson, and conspiracy to commit fraud. This was the second dose of bad news for the real estate developer, who lost the race for mayor by a narrow margin last week. It has been uncovered that Mr. Hammersmith had been acquiring several properties in Fremont for redevelopment schemes, the latest of which, Clay Terrace, was financed by risky loans. Bank records reveal that Mr. Hammersmith hoped to avoid bankruptcy by rapidly building and leasing environmentally sustainable units at Clay Terrace.

  “I was approached twice by Mr. Hammersmith to sell Wong Plaza, but I refused,” said Lucinda Wong, owner of Wong Plaza, a critical parcel of land integral to Clay Terrace’s success. Mrs. Wong’s family has owned the land for three generations, and she was unwilling to part with it.

  “In an attempt to force Mrs. Wong’s hand into selling, Mr. Hammersmith engaged in unlawful activities,” reported an unnamed source close to the Fremont Police Department. Mr. Hammersmith allegedly hired Gilbert Fargas, an ex-convict with a long record of breaking and entering. Mr. Fargas, in collusion with another New Vistas Development Corporation employee, Paige Jensen, attempted to undermine the reputation of one of the stores at Wong Plaza, Pamir Market, by accusing them of selling horse meat masquerading as beef.

  The source confirmed that Mr. Fargas confessed to entering Kabul Corner a few weeks later, with the aid of a key, which was procured by Mr. Hammersmith during a visit to Mrs. Wong’s house. Mr. Hammersmith allegedly used bars of soap to make imprints of the old-fashioned master keys for Kabul Corner and Pamir Market. The locksmith who crafted the copy has been found and will be testifying at Mr. Hammersmith’s trial.

  Mr. Fargas also confessed that Mr. Hammersmith paid him to burn down Wong Plaza by entering Pamir Market and starting an electrical fire in one of the bakery ovens. The Fremont Fire Department reported that because of the cold, wet weather conditions on October 31, they were able to contain the fire before it spread to neighboring stores. Mr. Hammersmith has been taken into custody and is being held without bail.

  • • •

  A huge grin on her face, Ariana cut the article out from the paper and slid it into her folder of clues. She then slipped the folder into the filing cabinet and headed out of the garage. She had to get ready for the engagement party of a very special couple. Tofan Baba and Hava Bibi were getting married. Years ago the two had fallen in love as teenagers and had secretly hoped to marry, but their fathers’ feud had made that impossible. For fifty years Tofan had remained true to his love for Hava Bibi, and he’d proposed to her the night of Uncle Habib’s dinner. And tonight the two families would be united as one.

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  In my author’s note for Shooting Kabul, the companion novel to Saving Kabul Corner, I confessed to having resisted writing the book for many years due to two reasons. First, it was a very personal story, loosely based on my husband and his family’s escape from Afghanistan after the Soviets invaded in 1979. Second, it dealt with many sensitive issues—the tragic events of 9/11, the war on terror, Islam, and Afghan culture and politics. In the end, with some trepidation, I wrote the story and it went out into the world. Three years later, I’ve been overwhelmed and humbled by the positive response it has received. What made me most proud were the e-mails and letters I got from kids who found common connections with Fadi, the protagonist, who flees with his family from a Taliban-controlled Afghanistan in 2001, accidentally leaving his younger sister, Mariam, behind. These kids felt that they were being given a glimpse into a part of the world that they knew little about but had often seen in the news, and now they felt that they were able to relate to it on a personal level. I’ve always felt that if you give young people the opportunity to explore and experience other cultures, they will often realize how much we have in common and, in the process, also appreciate our differences.

  Whenever I visited a school or gave a presentation, the question that inevitably came up was: Will you write a story about Mariam? It seemed Mariam’s story haunted many readers, and it gave me sleepless nights as well. By the end of 2001, the Taliban had been ousted, al-Qaeda had been dismantled, and Hamid Karzai had been elected president (with US backing), generating renewed hope in a country ravaged by generations of war and instability. So when I decided to write Saving Kabul Corner, I knew Mariam would play a key role, hopefully answering som
e of the questions that so many kids kept asking about her.

  But sadly, as Saving Kabul Corner begins, six years later, things in Afghanistan have not greatly improved. President Karzai proved to be ineffective in stamping out corruption and in stabilizing the country. In addition, opium cultivation escalated, economic conditions remained poor, and the Taliban continued to threaten and destabilize the country. More recently, the United States has announced that troops will be withdrawn by 2014, after hundreds of billions of dollars were spent on the war effort and reconstruction. It’s not clear what the outlook for the country will be after the Americans and NATO pull out, but one thing is certain: all parties must be brought to the table in order to reach a lasting political agreement. While the situation may appear bleak, Afghans are by nature an optimistic people, and I hope such optimism, combined with determination, will bring peace, security, and prosperity, insh’Allah, because future generations of Afghan children are counting on their success.

  —N. H. Senzai, August 2013

  alhamdulillah—An Arabic phrase meaning “praise to God.”

  Allah—Standard Arabic word for God, used by Muslims as well as Arab Christians.

  aushak—An Afghan dish made of pasta dumplings filled with leeks, served with a meat sauce and topped with yogurt and dried mint.

  baba—Respectful term used for an older man.

  bachay—Plural of “bacha”; means “children” in Pukhto and Farsi.

  badal—Code of blood feuds or revenge in Pukhtunwali.

  bharata natyam—A classical Indian dance form originating in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

  burka—Enveloping outer garment worn by women in some Islamic countries.

  chador—A large cloth worn as a combination head covering, veil, and shawl, usually by Muslim women.

  chiyogami—A type of washi paper featuring woodblock-printed designs depicting Japanese imagery.

  dastarkhan—Tablecloth laid out on the ground for family meals, which are traditionally eaten on the floor.

  doday—Means “bread” in Pukhto.

  Farsi—Persian language spoken in Afghanistan (also called Dari).

  ghayrat—Means “sense of honor and pride” in Pukhtunwali.

  gunzakhil—A type of fried Afghan cookie.

  halal—Denoting or relating to food prepared as prescribed by Muslim law, similar to how “kosher” relates to Jewish law.

  imandar—The concept that a Pukhtun must always strive for good in thought, word, and deed and must behave respectfully to people, animals, and the environment around them.

  insha’Allah—An expression meaning “if God wills,” used to suggest that something in the future is uncertain.

  jaan—Means “love” or “dearest” in Pukhto and Farsi.

  Kabul—The capital and largest city of Afghanistan.

  kameez—Long tunic or shirt—worn over loose, flowing pants, which are called a parthuk.

  kami—Means “paper” in Japanese.

  kebob—Refers to a variety of meat dishes consisting of grilled or broiled meats on a skewer or stick.

  khala—Means “aunt” in Pukhto.

  kimchi—A traditional fermented Korean dish made of vegetables with a variety of seasonings.

  kosher—sanctioned by Jewish law, especially referring to things that are fit for ritual use.

  lablabu—Beets cooked and sold by vendors in Afghanistan and beloved by children for their sweet taste.

  leberkäse—Horse meat sausage from Austria.

  mantu—A kind of dumpling, usually filled with lamb or beef, that is popular in Afghanistan.

  mashahallah—Literally means “whatever God wills.” It is often used on occasions when there is surprise at someone’s good deeds or achievements.

  melmastia—The code of hospitality and protection offered to every guest in Pukhtunwali. Guests must set aside their ­differences if they are feuding.

  nang—Display of honor in Pukhtunwali.

  origami—The Japanese art of folding paper into decorative shapes and figures.

  parthuk—Loose-fitting pants worn under a kameez.

  pastissada—Horse meat stew made in Italy, particularly in Verona.

  Pukhto—An Indo-European language spoken primarily by the Pukhtuns.

  Pukhtun—The largest ethnic group in Afghanistan, composing 42% of the population. They speak Pukhto.

  Pukhtunwali—A concept of living, or philosophy, for the Pukhtun people; it is regarded as an honor code and an unwritten law.

  pulao—A dish of cooked rice that contains a variety of meat and vegetables.

  sahib—A form of address or a title placed after a man’s name or designation, used as a mark of respect.

  salaam alaikum—An Arabic spoken greeting used by Muslims as well as Arab Christians and Jews, and means “peace be upon you.”

  sitar—A large, long-necked Indian lute with movable frets, played with a wire pick.

  tabla—A pair of small hand drums used in Indian music.

  Taliban—A predominantly Pukhtun movement that governed Afghanistan from 1996 until 2001.

  vaastu shastra—The Indian science of architecture and design of temples, homes, and buildings.

  walaikum a’salaam—The traditional response to “salaam alaikum”; it means “and upon you be peace.”

  washi—A traditional Japanese paper made from plant fiber. The most widely made type is kozogami, made from the mulberry tree.

  FURTHER READING

  Books

  Ali, Sharifah Enayat. Afghanistan (Cultures of the World). New York: Benchmark Books, 2006.

  Banting, Erinn. Afghanistan the Land (Lands, Peoples, and Cultures). New York: Crabtree Publishing Company, 2003.

  Bjorklund, Ruth. Afghanistan (Enchantment of the World. Second Series). New York: Scholastic,Children’s Press, 2011.

  Clements, Andrew. Extra Credit. New York: Atheneum, 2009.

  Ellis, Deborah. The Breadwinner Trilogy. Toronto: Groundwood Books, 2009.

  ———. Kids of Kabul: Living Bravely Through a Never-Ending War. Toronto: Groundwood Books, 2012.

  Khan, Rukhsana. Wanting Mor. Toronto: Groundwood Books, 2010.

  O’Brien, Tony, and Mike Sullivan. Afghan Dreams: Young Voices of Afghanistan. New York: Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books, 2008.

  Owings, Lisa. Afghanistan (Blastoff! Readers: Exploring Countries). Minneapolis: Bellwether Media, 2011.

  Reedy, Trent. Words in the Dust. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books, 2011.

  Weber, Valerie J. I come from Afghanistan (This Is My Story). Pleasantville, NY: Weekly Reader Early Learning Library, 2006.

  Whitfield, Susan. National Geographic Countries of the World; Afghanistan. Des Moines: National Geographic Children’s Books, 2008.

  Websites

  BBC News Country Profile: Afganistan

  bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12011352

  CIA World Factbook

  cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/af.html

  National Geographic

  kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/places/find/afghanistan/

  Time For Kids

  http://www.timeforkids.com/destination/afghanistan

  UNICEF

  unicef.org/infobycountry/afghanistan.html

  World Atlas

  worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/af.htm.

  N. H. SENZAI grew up speaking two languages, balancing a life lived on the edge of two cultures. She grew up in San Francisco and Jubail, Saudi Arabia, and attended high school in London, England, where she was voted “most likely to lead a literary revolution.” Ms. Senzai works as an intellectual property consultant and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and son. Her critically acclaimed first novel, Shooting Kabul, was nominated for
a number of state awards and received the Asian/Pacific American Award for Young Adult Literature. Visit her online at nhsenzai.com.

  A PAULA WISEMAN BOOK

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  An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020 SimonandSchuster.com

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Text copyright © 2014 by Naheed Hasnat

  Jacket illustration copyright © 2014 by Béatrice Coron

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  Book design by Chloë Foglia

  The text for this book is set in Bembo Std.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Senzai, N. H.

  Saving Kabul Corner / N. H. Senzai.

  pages cm

  “A Paula Wiseman Book.”

  Summary: Twelve-year-old Ariana, a tomboy, and her ladylike cousin Laila, recently arrived from Afghanistan, do not get along but they pull together when a rival Afghani grocery store opens, rekindling an old family feud and threatening their family’s livelihood.