My aunt stood to clear our plates, and I joined her, thinking about her warning. If Kawkab Khala was right, how far was I willing to go to stop Junaid Uncle and Aydin before they burrowed even deeper into my neighbourhood?
I thanked Kawkab for breakfast and locked myself in the bathroom. StanleyP had advised me to hit my enemy where it hurt most. At the radio station yesterday, Thomas had given me a first-hand demonstration of the element of surprise. I couldn’t wait any longer. I had to act now, to show Aydin that Three Sisters was willing to do anything to survive. Or at least I was.
Aydin put great store on appearances. He had needled me about our restaurant’s shabby interior enough times for me to know that. He also cared about his reputation. Why else would he have tried to ingratiate himself with the BOA, despite his father’s surly personality? To destroy Aydin, first I had to dismantle his reputation. And through Aydin I would get to Wholistic Grill and his father. I would keep my family safe.
I looked up the phone number for the municipal Workers Health and Safety Centre and dialled. I chose from a menu of options before reaching a receptionist. I explained that I wanted to anonymously report a workplace safety violation, and I was transferred to the right department.
I explained to the sympathetic woman at the other end of the line that I was the sister of one of the contractors hired by Wholistic Grill, a new restaurant in the Golden Crescent neighbourhood. My poor brother had been seriously injured on the job the day before, and though he was too scared to call in the complaint himself, he had described his work environment as hazardous. I was worried he would be more seriously injured if he returned to work, and I was also concerned for the rest of the crew. I improvised the extent of his injuries—severe but not life-threatening—and painted a vivid picture of a worksite that flagrantly flouted municipal regulations.
“I’m pretty sure this construction is being conducted without the proper permits as well,” I said, then rattled off the address of Wholistic Grill and spelled out Aydin’s full name. The woman promised to look into my complaints. After thanking her profusely, I hung up.
I was doing the right thing, I reassured myself. Somebody had to fight back against Aydin and his deep pockets. So, then, why did I feel queasy?
Next I texted Lily and accepted her invitation to go out for ice cream after all. Talking to her would help me remember what I was fighting for. I sent another text, inviting Yusuf to join us. I needed both my best friends around, and if they managed to patch things up between them, that would be a bonus—and proof that I could also put some good into the world.
ISCREAMS WAS A GOURMET DESSERTshop that sold the best ice cream brand in the world, Kawartha Dairy. It was a fifteen-minute walk north in a newer plaza, one that contained a Starbucks, an upscale grocery store, and a craft supplies chain. Lily was already there, nursing Moose Tracks, her favourite flavour—vanilla and chocolate and mini peanut butter cups. I gave her a side hug and ordered my usual, Death by Chocolate.
“How’s Fazee?” Lily asked when I sat down. “Tell her she can call me anytime. I know being on bedrest can be lonely.” I assured her that my sister was doing well, overall.
Lily reached out to squeeze my hand before changing the subject. “Tell me you know mystery boy’s real name by now.”
I didn’t want to talk about StanleyP, his advice still vivid in my mind. I felt guilty enough about what I had done to Aydin. Instead I asked her for a life update.
Lily took a deep breath, as if coming to a decision. “I interviewed for the residency position. I found out yesterday I got the job,” she said.
I whooped loudly and enveloped her in a hug, almost crushing her ice cream cone. “Yes, Doctor Moretti! I am so proud of you!” When I let her go, my eyes had welled up with tears. I knew how hard my friend had worked to get there, how much she had worried and fretted.
Lily remained quiet, toying with her ice cream. “It’s in Timmins,” she said. “That’s more than halfway to James Bay. A seven-hour drive north in good weather. I’ll be working for the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority. My patients will be from the Kashechewan First Nation and surrounding area.”
I was speechless. Lily had never lived anywhere but in our neighbourhood with her parents. She hadn’t even gone away for undergrad or medical school. She was the most determined homebody I knew.
The shock must have been clear on my face, because she began talking rapidly, holding my gaze. “I want to make a difference, Hana, not just here but for vulnerable populations. It will be for two years, and I’ll learn so much.”
“Two years?” I repeated.
Lily looked uncomfortable. “That’s why God invented Skype, right?”
“You don’t believe in God,” I said, taking another bite of Death by Chocolate. It tasted like ash in my mouth.I saw so little of her as it was. She would return changed, with new experiences and new friends.
I forced a smile onto my face. “If you’re happy, I’m happy,” I said. Then the smile turned into something more genuine, and I hugged her again. “Promise you won’t be too busy flirting with the other doctors and nurses to text me,” I said, and she laughed.
The door of IScreams dinged and Yusuf entered the store. “My favourite people and my favourite breakfast,” he said, eyes crinkling. He looked at Lily. “Hey, stranger.”
I mouthed an apology to Lily while he went to order his usual two scoops of vanilla. I could tell she was annoyed, but she only told me to stay quiet about the new job and her imminent move.
Yusuf took a seat beside Lily and finished his cone in a few bites. He started regaling us with a funny story about his father and a mix-up with the weekly order of berries that soon had us giggling at his spot-on impression of Brother Musa.
Lily even laughed when Yusuf snuck a bite of her Moose Tracks. “Hey,” she said, holding her cone away from him, “get your own!” When Yusuf reached around and took an even bigger bite, Lily gave him a playful punch on the shoulder. I felt pleased with my handiwork.
Yusuf then turned to me. “I almost forgot, I talked to my dad aboutJunaid Shah. We’re going to bring up his threats with City Council, see if we can get them involved over his comments about gentrification and evicting local businesses.”
I filled Lily in on recent events. By the end of my narration she was horrified. “Junaid Shah sounds like a monster!” she exclaimed.
“His son is even worse,” Yusuf said. “Right, Hana?” I nodded mutely and he continued. “I can’t stand these corporate types. All that matters is their bottom line. We can’t let them throw their money around and try to sabotage Golden Crescent.”
I flinched atsabotage. Yusuf’s social justice spirit had been activated. Unfortunately, his words had also reactivated my guilt.
“Aydin is only trying to open a business, if you think about it,” I started, hating the meekness in my tone. Why couldn’t I fight back, and actually feel good about it? I shook my head, and both Lily and Yusuf stared at me.
