A Little Advice

Zohair (Zoo-hair) raced across town. He had a bagel in one hand and a trunk-style suit case in the other. He climbed down stone steps and finally made it to the train station just before the big line began to form.

He found a bench and set his bag on the ground and began to eat his bagel. He checked his watch, there was only fifteen minutes until the train arrived, but this train was always either early or late.

The station was over loaded with people and their over loaded bags. Their were families, business men and women, and a few who Zohair couldn't figure out why they were on the train.

Eventually the train arrived and he got on.

The old rickety train rocked back and forth as Zohair attempted to get some shut eye. "Why doesn't anyone renew the trains." He mumbled, slightly annoyed, but with a big smirk on his face as he rocked every which way.

He, unfortunately, just happened to be riding in an over crowded train and had the privilege of being seated in the middle seat, between a sniveler and a business man getting yelled at by his boss for half the ride then frantically trying to finish an assignment the other half.

After his dreadful ride to the country side, he hopped off the train and onto the wooden platform nervous for what comes. He tipped his hat and ran off to his host family.

The walk was sweet, filled with surprises, he would do it a hundred times over. Plants and animals no where to be found in the bustling city. Too many different types of flowers to count, all with their own scent and look. Tree's taller than three story buildings. The ecosystem was thriving.

He reached into his inner jacket pocket and pulled out a small scrap of paper with instructions on how to get to the house, and to his luck, he forgot to take a right four blocks back.

So he turned around and walked back, enjoying the trail. He saw a deer scurry across the path and onto the other side.

He looked over to his right and saw a small gap in the tall grass and ferns.

This must be it! He thought.

He took the right and began to move at faster pace. Soon he heard loud chatter and soon saw a house, or more of a large cottage than a house.

He picked up the pace even more. The sounds of people grew louder and louder. When he arrived a middle aged man approached him.

"Hello young man." He said in a kind voice.

"Hello, sir. Is this the Gretro residence?" Zohair asked, his voice calm and pleasant.

"Yes, it is." The middle aged man replied with a smile.

"I'm the exchange student, Zohair Visto. Nice to meet you." Zohair extended his arm in a means of antiquates

"I'm Sam Gretro, just Sam is fine. Nice to meet you. too" Sam says, shaking Zohair's hand.

"I see you're having quite the party." Zohair says, walking with Sam to the land.

"Oh yes. It's my mother, niece, sister and Teto's birthdays this month but we celebrate them all on day." Sam says happily

"Who is Teto?" Zohair asked politely

"Teto is my grandmother. She's turning 97 and she's still as fiesy as ever!" Sam said. "We call her Teto because when my nephew was born he had three grandmas, so my mother was Granny, his father's mother was Tete and my Grandmother became Teto."

Zohair let out a small chuckle, his deep dimples showing at either side of his mouth.

When they reached the house they were getting the table and cake ready for the four birthday songs mashed into one.

Sam took Zohair's suitcase and gave it to his nephew, Josh. Then Sam went to introduce Zohair to everyone, starting with the birthday girls.

"Zohair this is my sister, Sally. Sally this is the exchange student, Zohair Visto." Sam introduced them.

"Hello." Zohair said, a small smile on his face.

"Hi! I see you just arrived. How was you trip here." Sally asked. A drop of sweat rolled down his face.

"It was good, a few mishaps but nothing out of the ordinary." He said scratching the back of his head.

Then they went to the niece, she was turning seven. Zohair crouched down to her height.

"Hi! I'm Elizabeth but I go by Beth!" She said energetically.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Zohair. Can I call you Lizzy?" He asked tilting his head slightly.

Beth gasped, "A new nickname?! Yes, yes, yes, YES!" She exclaimed.

Zohair was almost overwhelmed by her energy.

Next on the list was Sam's mother.

"Hello, I'm Zohair the exchange student." He said with a small smile. Zohair greeted virtually everyone the same, calm and kind.

"Hi Zohair, I'm Matilda, Sam's mother." She said shaking her hand.

And last but certainly not least was Teto, Sam's grandma.Zohire

She was sitting in a chair with a yellow small paper crown on her head.

“Hello, ma’am.” Zohair said, his voice laced with honey.

“Oh, it’s been so long since someone called me ma'am, please Teto is just fine.” She said, flattered.

“Alright, Teto.” He said.

“Oh my! Do you have a spouse?” She asked bashfully.

“N-no I’m-I’m single…?” He said flustered.

“Ooh, is that a question?” She asked with a sheepish smirk.

“No, I am single, I don’t have a significant other.” He said, shaking his head and smiling. 

“We’ll see about that.” Teto said, nodding her head.

After being introduced to everyone else in their large, very large, family, they all gathered around two cakes. 

One cake was for Teto and Sally while the other was for Beth and Matilda.

“Happy Birthday to you! You’re a hundred and two! You look like a monkey and you smell like one too!” Everyone sang. Then they sang the other birthday song.

“Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you…” They sang so on and so forth then when it came time for the names they mashed them all together, “BethSallyMatilda And Tetoo” Teto was always last so that her name could be properly pronounced.

After the party was over and everyone bid farewell, Zohair went up to his room, changed into his PJs and went to sleep.

The next week flew by like a breeze on a summer day. From classes to homework and exploring, not to mention the walks with Teto.

Those were his favorite parts of being there. Long walks through the dense woods, all while talking with Teto.

One day, after about six months of living there, Zohair was walking with Teto when they found a cliff and decided to sit in the tall grass that filled it. 

“You know, Zohair, I do happen to know quite a few good candidates to be your significant other.” Teto said, giving him a nudge in the arm with her elbow. 

“You’re never going to let me live down the fact that I’m not married, are you?” He asked laughing and flashing his dimples.

“Never.” Teto said folding her arms. “You know, what do you want to be when you’re older? Not like what you’re studying for, like if you were to pick a path to pave, where would the path lead?” 

“Well, I’m studying to become a medical researcher, but I’ve always wanted to open up my own bakery.” He said looking up at the sky, painted with the colors of a thousand souls.

“Well, when you do here’s a little advice. Make sure you let all people in too. If their skin is light or dark, if they show their hair or cover it or where their from, whatever it may be, don’t let it impact your impressions of them. Let everyone in except those who cause harm to those around them with the intention of doing it for their own benefits. Can you do that for me?” She asked, her frail and wrinkly kind smile always filled his heart with joy. 

“Yes, of course.” He replied.

“Also I must be your first customer.” She said.

“Okay, you can be my taste tester and live off of baked goods and sweets.” Zohair said with a chuckle.

“Sounds good to me!” She exclaimed. 

They watched the sun set in content silence, as the two sat as peaceful as can be.