Read A Missing Peace for Free Online

Assyrian.”
    â€œWhat’s that?”
    â€œSyrian Christian. Think Catholic. In fact, I go to the Catholic church because there isn’t an Assyrian church around. It’s basically the same.”
    â€œBut when people at school call you a raghead, you never say anything.”
    I shrugged. “It’s part true. Some things are cultural for all of us, kind of like atheists here still celebrate Christmas.”
    Caleb nodded.
    The pizza came, and with it, the mood lightened. We got off the subject of my mantilla, and Caleb started cracking jokes. They weren’t very good, so I laughed at how bad they were. Once I laughed too soon and he said, “I haven’t got to the punch line yet.”
    â€œIt’s okay. I already know it’s bad.”
    Caleb grinned and threw a piece of lettuce at me. I was having fun for the first time in I couldn’t remember how long, and tonight I was asking the questions.
    â€œWhat do you want to do after high school?”
    He grinned. “You won’t like it.”
    â€œOkay?”
    â€œI’ll probably enlist. But I haven’t signed yet. I was All-State this year, so I have a couple of big athletic scholarships my mom wants me to use instead. What about you?”
    â€œI want to be an engineer.” I grabbed another slice of pizza.
    â€œWhat kind?”
    â€œCivil. I want to build things, not destroy them.”
    â€œImpressive.”
    â€œI guess.”
    There was a game room in the back of the restaurant. Caleb and I had been so busy talking neither of us paid any attention to who might be back there, until Kailee appeared in front of our table.
    â€œHi, Caleb,” she cooed without even acknowledging I was there.
    â€œKailee,” he said.
    Now Kailee looked at me. “Are you the reason he had to take off so early on me Friday night?”
    I tried to hide my emotions, but I was peeved. The thought had crossed my mind that Caleb was late because he blew me off for Kevin’s party, but to have it confirmed like this flustered me. “How would I know?”
    A brunette appeared behind Kailee. I’d seen her around school, but I didn’t have any classes with her, so I didn’t know her name.
    â€œAre you the new girl from Iraq?” she asked.
    â€œI guess.”
    â€œI thought you talked funny,” she said.
    â€œActually, I speak correctly.”
    â€œHow did you learn English so fast?” Kailee asked.
    â€œKailee,” Caleb scolded. He wasn’t really defending me, but at least he wasn’t defending her. Then again, what was there to defend me from? They were patronizing me, but they hadn’t said anything blatantly insulting. Yet.
    â€œI’ve spoken English since kindergarten,” I said. “I speak Aramaic and Spanish, too.”
    The brunette looked impressed, but Kailee said, “Weird. Why would you need all that in Arabia?”
    Arabia? Oh my God. “Important languages. Besides, a person has to be really dense not to want to learn beyond their needs, don’t you think?” I smiled at her.
    Kailee glared at me. “Caleb, can I talk to you?”
    â€œYou’re doing a pretty good job of it,” he said.
    â€œAlone,” she snapped.
    Caleb rolled his eyes, but stood. “I’ll be back,” he said to me. He followed Kailee to the open entrance of the game room, leaving me with this brunette whose name I didn’t know.
    â€œThey were together for six months, you know. But everyone knew they were going to get together. People had been waiting on it since junior high. He loves her.”
    â€œGood for him,” I said. “But when I talk about her, it never seems like it.” That last line came out more defensive than I meant for it to. Why did I care anyway? I had no interest in Caleb Miller. He was just my government partner.
    I glanced back to the entrance of the game room. Kailee had her hands on her hips, her