Chapter 12: Chapter 6

My alarm sounds off and I reach everywhere in search of it. It took me a moment to remember I was at my grandma’s and not my dorm room. I sat up and opened my eyes, then looked around the room. Beside the oil lamp was my alarm. It was seven thirty, the same time I wake up every day of the week. Right when I silenced the alarm, I was suddenly startled at Jinn sitting on the floor with her hands together and her eyes closed. I honestly had forgotten she existed. Part of me was hoping she was just some weird dream I have had, but she wasn’t. 

“Good morning,” I said.

Jinn ignored me with her eyes closed and her hands still pressed to each other. Her lips moved like she was speaking to herself. After a moment of this she suddenly bowed down for a moment and then rose back up. Her eyes flicked open and she looked at me.

“Good morning,” she returned.

“What was that?”

“Morning prayer.”

“Oh, I didn’t know you did that.”

“Yes, I pray to Allah, but that does seem to surprise everyone.”

“Who’s Allah?”

“Allah is the one and only god that most people pray to. I guess American’s just refer to him as God. I personally can’t remember which branch of religion it is since there’s so many.”

“Oh,” I say awkwardly as I personally wasn’t religious. My mom is religious. My dad, on the other hand, isn’t religious and I guess I take after him. “I didn’t think that Genie’s were religious,” I blurted out. Jinn glared at me for the longest time. “What?”

“Djins,” she corrected. At first I thought she was upset about the assumption I had made, but I again had forgotten the correct term of her kind. 

“Sorry,” I apologized and looked down at my blanket.

There was a long moment of silence. I then panicked as I heard the floorboards creak and grow closer to my room. I turn and see Jinn sitting as if nothing was happening when a knock echoed from my door.

“Yes?”

The door opened and my grandma peeked her head through the door and frame.

“Morning dear, I have breakfast in the kitchen ready for you whenever,” she said to me. 

“Okay, thanks!” I said hesitantly. She smiled and then shut the door.

“Like I said,” Jinn spoke as she stood up, “I am invisible to everyone unless you say otherwise.”

“And like I said, I need time for my mind to wrap around this reality you’ve created,” I didn’t think about what I said until after it came out of my mouth. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?” She said shyly. “If anything I should apologize.”

“Wait, why should you be apologizing? I spoke disrespectfully towards you.”

“So did I,” she said and raised an eyebrow.

“I’m gonna grab food,” I cut off the subject and jumped out of bed. “Any preference of food?”

“Eggs are fine,” she responded. Jinn refused to look in my direction. 

“Okay,” I said and walked out the door and closed it behind me. 

I walked down the hall and into the kitchen opening where my grandma sat at her little dining table. There was a plate of bacon, eggs, and a few waffles. I grabbed a plate and began scooping scrambled eggs onto them. When I began reaching for another plate my grandma chuckled.

“Hungry are we?” She asked.

“Maybe,” I said and added a different portion of scrambled eggs onto the new plate.

“Why are you grabbing two servings of eggs?”

“Oh,” I mumbled and stopped what I was doing. I then scraped the small portion of eggs, which were supposed to be mine, onto the plate I was making for Jinn. Then I grabbed waffles and bacon for my plate and then two forks. 

“What?” My grandma laughed and then seemed very confused.

“Uh, I don’t like my eggs touching syrup.” I made up whatever I could and proceeded to pour syrup onto my waffles.

“Not going to eat with me?”

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“No, I’m gonna pack up while eating and then have to get going, I have some school work to do back at campus.”

“Awe, alrighty. Just don’t make a mess in there, okay?”

“Okay,” I hollered while I walked back down the hall. 

When I entered the room, Jinn had popped the Aladdin movie back in and started it all over. She turned and looked at me with a calm expression. 

“Here you go,” I said and handed her the pile of scrambled eggs I had overdone for her.

“Thank you,” she said and took the fork and plate from one of my hands. 

I closed the door and sat on the opposite end of the bed from Jinn. I didn’t think it was right for me to sit close to her when we had just met and didn't know each other. When I sat on the bed, Jinn seemed to have stiffened as she turned herself a bit to slightly face me and still the TV. I guess I didn’t blame her since I would feel weird if she were to sit closely to me too after just meeting.  

We ate silently while watching the classic movie. Jinn would scoff or tilt her head at anything that seemed off from whatever her culture was, but she seemed overall entertained by the movie. I noticed she still kept an eye on me here and there whenever I would eat my food or adjust how I was sitting. 

I finished before Jinn did as she was eating piece by piece. I wondered when the last time she had eaten, or what it was like being in that oil lamp. Honestly, I had a lot of questions for Jinn and I needed to organize them before asking her. I stood and began packing my clothes and then of course the oil lamp from the counter. I then grabbed my hoodie and threw it on, then I looked at Jinn.

“Ready?” I asked.

“Ready for what?”

“We’re going to head back to my college,” I explained. “I don’t live here, this is my grandma’s house that I was visiting for the weekend. College is maybe ten minutes away so it won’t be a long journey.”

“Umm, okay.” Jinn set her plate on the side table and stood up from the firm mattress. She adjusted her clothing and then grabbed her plate. I then reached out and took it from her hands. 

“I’ll carry that for the meantime. Just stay close to me while leaving the house.”

“Okay.”

I make my way out of the bedroom, leaving the door open and Jinn right behind me. When we get to the end of the hall, I turn left to the living room and front door. 

“Cameron!” My grandma called from the kitchen. I turn and see her walking over to me with arms up and open for a hug. She was heading straight for Jinn. “Leaving already?” She cried in that grandma tone they always do whenever you leave them. Jinn stepped back quietly and stopped before bumping into the coffee table. Her brown eyes widened as she watched my grandma give me a huge hug. I handed her the plates of eaten food.

“I know, I’m sorry I really forgot all the things I have to do back on campus. Thank you so much for breakfast and the gift.” I reach for the front door and opened it wide while still standing in the house. Jinn picked up on the signal and snuck by. 

“Oh but of course Cameron, I’m always here if you need me. I hope to see you again Saturday?”

“We’ll see,” I say and then step out.

“Love you!” She called as the door shut.

“Love you too,” I returned and headed towards Jinn. I point to the old Nissan on the street, a blue two door beater car my parents got for basically free. “That’s my car,” I say. Jinn quietly followed me.

I opened the passenger door and watched my grandma’s house while she sat down in the seat. I then closed the door and jumped in the driver's seat. I push in the clutch and stick the key in the ignition and start the car. 

“Ever been in a car before?”

“Yes,” Jinn giggled lightly, and the first time I actually heard her laugh of some sort. “Where I’m from isn’t completely poor.”

“I didn’t know,” I shrugged and smiled. 

My smile fell as I saw my grandma come to my car. In her hands were my shopping bags from last night. I quickly flew out of my car and onto the curb as fast as I could. 

“You forgot your things! Silly Cameron,” she said and reached for the passenger door. 

“Let’s put them in the back,” I said and led her to the back of the car. I quickly grabbed the key and popped the trunk. My grandma gently set the bags down in the back and then gave me one last hug. She reminded me to come visit her again as soon as I could. I then slid back into my car, turned it on, and headed for my college. 

“Okay, from now on I need you to be visible to everyone,” I said hurriedly. 

“Okay,” Jinn said and closed her eyes. A small pulsation vibrated off of her and she looked at me. “Everyone can see me now.”

“Good, I don’t want to act like that ever again,” I sighed in relief.

The entire car ride back to college was quiet between me and Jinn. I put on the classic rock radio to break the ice. I don’t think Jinn liked rock as she seemed displeased and stared out the window the entire ride. I wanted to ask her questions, but I knew what it was like to be trapped in a car and pressed for answers. I left my curiosity be.

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