Read Multiplayer for Free Online

wasn’t entirely joking. How did he know Sanjar and his family weren’t up to something? Maybe this whole “looking-American” thing the rest of the Zahedis did was just a bunch of posing so people wouldn’t suspect they were supporting Muslim terrorism. Who knew? Maybe they were terrorists themselves.
    Hector watched from his window as Sanjar walked back to the house and threw the bag in the trash. Then he began juggling a soccer ball. “Not bad for a guy wearing a dress,” Hector mumbled, when he heard the door slam downstairs followed by a jolly “Hallo!”
    “Pappous!” Hector heard Halie squeal, followed by the sound of laughter. In his mind he saw Pappous picking up Halie, and his little sister smiling and giving him a kiss. Hector ground his teeth as an image flashed into his head - his father doing the same thing with him.
    He crept downstairs and paused at the bottom step, scheming for a way to avoid the Pappous hug. His ears told him they were in the kitchen. “Where’s Hector?” he heard the old man say, and then Halie complaining about him calling her a baby. Hector clenched his teeth as he listened to Pappous talk. The old man had been in the country since the sixties but sounded like he’d just stepped off the boat. “I’ll talk to him when he comes down,” he told Halie.
    “No, you won’t,” Hector whispered. He waited until he heard the sound of the television from the den and tiptoed past.
    “Where are you going?” asked Helen, when he entered the kitchen. His sisters were seated at the table doing homework but Helen’s phone was lying next to her open, screen glowing.
    “Out,” whispered Hector.
    “Mom wants you to tell me where you’re going,” she said loudly.
    “Shhh!” hissed Hector. “I don’t want to –” he rolled his eyes in the direction of the family room.
    “You’re such a complete and total stain,” Helen said matter-of-factly, and just as loudly. “And as bad as I’d like to get rid of you, you can’t leave until you tell me where you’re going.”
    Hector cringed. “Do you think you could keep it down? Riding my bike. I have my cell phone. You can text me. You know how to use your fingers don’t you?”
    “Do you have homework?” Helen asked, ignoring the dig. “Mom wants us to finish our homework first.”
    “Mom told me to go outside when I got home.”
    “Why’s Hector whispering?” asked Halie.
    “Because he’s an immature little twit,” Helen answered with abject kindness.
    “I’m out of here,” said Hector.
    Helen threw her hands up. “What-ev.” Her phone buzzed and she snatched it up, furiously working the keypad with her thumbs.
    Hector pedaled through the neighborhood, looking for something to do. Bicycles stood in open garages unused and backyard swings and trampolines were empty and motionless. There weren’t even any pets outside. Deion had a dog, but it went to ‘daycare’ everyday because no one was ever at his house enough to take care of it.
    As he passed the school, Hector watched a soccer team practicing on the field. He glanced down at his Bayern jersey and felt a tinge of regret, but had no desire to sign his life away to a club. He noticed a group of kids riding skateboards and trick-bikes in front of the school. As he drew near, however, his hope turned to disappointment. Among others, Sabrah the Goth and Chaz Martin, who’d dropped out of school the year before. Chaz was a year older than Hector, had a head of thick, red curls, and a reputation for getting into trouble for things like racing his go-cart on the school track. Hector kept going.
    Just outside the neighborhood sat one of the Zahedi’s convenience stores. The Gas-n-Go. He parked his bike and went inside.
    “Hello Hector. How are you?” said the thick-chested, swarthy man entrenched behind the cash register.
    Hector forced a smile back at him. “Fine, Mr. Zahedi.”
    Along with his graying hair and friendly smile, Mr. Zahedi had little pockmark