Strings - Capstone Amal Al Shamsi (1)

Jasem managed to move his hair out of the way. Hamza caught the glistening of metal
around Jasem’s wrists. “Few more days and they would have shaved my head, I hear. Feel like I
could have looked good like that,” he said. The boy was being dramatic, Hamza wanted to tell
him that but did not feel like sparing the effort. Plus, if he was anything like Hamza, a shaved
head would not suit him.
“I just realized, since I’ve had some time to think,” Jasem began, “It’s like Carlito’s Way.”
Hamza wanted to glance over his shoulder. He was worried Jasem had begun to ramble,
and would break into a hundred pieces. “What do you mean?”
“Have you seen that movie?” He was talking to Haya now.
“No,” she said.
“It’s with Al Pacino,” the man paused, he turned to his father. “You don’t know a lot
about New York, huh?”
Hamza shook his head, it was all incredulous. A little dream the tin can he had for a head
had cooked up.
“You’re not scared anymore,” he said. An observation.
Jasem shrugged. He had been somewhat keeping his composure but ever so often, the
chair would whine as he kept shifting his weight. Jasem would try to fold his hands then realize
he couldn’t, then hang them on his knees. Other than that, he looked exactly the same. Hamza
didn’t know what he was expecting, he had only been held there for a day.
“They just want to get the file, Jasem,” Haya said.
“Then I’m out?” he asked.
Hamza could not face him, he looked at the table between them.
“Yeah,” his sister said.
“I wanted to say I’m sorry,” Jasem said. It seemed too rushed.
“Jasem, don’t ruin it all,” Hamza said. In truth, he was exhausted.
Jasem turned to look at the door for a while. “I mean it,” he said.
“Okay,” Hamza responded blankly.
The doors swung open and the police officers were wearing grim faces. He could only
deduce that that meant good news on his behalf.
“You found the file with the original report?” Hamza asked them, getting to his feet.
They spared him a glance, moving behind Jasem and hoisting him up onto his feet. The
man muffled the pained sound, biting his lip into a small smile.
Hamza felt intense relief. The guards remained stationary.
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