12:30 Ivan Grozny University June 10, 2006
Hayley walked away from the statute in the courtyard spotting another classmate of hers from physical geography class. Her name was Mahdi Dahiman; she was from Palestine, from a city in the West Bank called Nablus. She and Hayley met two years ago during an Arab American Film Festival the university had showcased to show the students a different view of the Arab countries to "protest and counter the mainstream media's view of the Middle East and all Islamic peoples" as the flyers announced it. She smiled upon seeing Mahdi thinking, Ivan Grozny is always trying to make a political statement. They embraced warmly asking how each other had been.
"You know…I'm trying to survive. My mom's still teaching Arabic and Islamic studies at Pierre U. My dad's still working for homeland security. And my little brother Steve has become a free lance journalist. He said he didn't want to work for mainstream media." Mahdi nodded looking at the ground before looking up at her friend. She spoke briefly.
"Mr. Kowalski wanted all the students to know that physical geography class will be cancelled next Friday." Hayley raised her clenched fists in the air in triumph. She whispered, "Yes!" She opposed physical geography and the teaching methods of the professor. She considered geography to be a nuance in her life. Mahdi smiled and giggled a bit before excusing herself from in front of Hayley. Hayley hugged her goodbye telling her they would meet up later after the graduation ceremony. She wouldn't miss Ray's graduation for any interruptions.
Dean's Office 12: 32 PM
Mahdi's Brother Haytham Dahiman, and his friends Nawad Sharaz and Mohan Kapoor stood in front of the university dean's desk trying to explain to her why they were called into the office earlier. They had been called by the dean because of last night's offensives in throwing late night parties pass the lights out curfew.
"Late night parties are prohibited on the campus! It's in the code of conduct!" Dean Sherr Prescott told them. Haytham tried to explain they had made a mistake in the times they had scheduled for the party.
"Excuse, excuse Mr. Dahiman will get you into trouble in your life." She grumbled standing in front of her chair with her hands neatly clasped in front of her.
"Dean…" Nawad raised a hand in the air trying to explain their actions. Mohan nodded saying, "…It was all my sister Ritu's fault. I told her she had to wait until the following night but she insisted that the party happen that night!" he punched his fist into his opened palm to prove his point. She shook her head no.
"I know a lot of the students here want to end their boredom. But late night parties are against the rules!" She cleared her throat clasping her hands together.
"No! No! Wait!" Haytham cried waving his hands in the air like the airport directional agent guiding a plane into its terminal space at the airport. Mohan interrupted him.
"Yes…Dean Prescott, give us a second chance. Besides that was only one offense!"
He raised a single finger into the air believing that their accusation of committing an offense was a weak reason to expel the three of them from the university. They weren't the only students who had thrown late nigh parties pass the lights out curfew between nine and eleven. Dean Prescott shook her head bitterly. She believed they were guilty of committing an offense no matter what their explanations were. She spoke inhaling heavily. Her patience were wearing thin by their constant excuses and lacking evidence.
"All right, all right! However, you all have had too many chances in the past. Since graduation has taken up the majority of my schedule, I will not expel any of you…" They interrupted her to cheer and clap. Mohan and Nawad raised their fists in the air muttering a solemn, "Yes!" Their eyes shifted from the window to her.
"I want you instead to discharge yourselves from any school clubs or fraternities you joined at the beginning of the year. I'm not going to assume you are Frat boys." She spoke matter of fact in an unusual serious tone pointing to each student standing before her. They could tell her nerves were on the deep end ready to give way to a less settled mood of behavior. Mohan grinned nodding in triumph. Nawad muttered, "Shakrun." Haytham translated the word for her in case she hadn't remembered what the word meant.
"It means thank you in Arabic…Shakrun Dean. And we will drop our fraternities we joined." Haytham motioned for Mohan and Nawad to follow him hurriedly.
"I don't want to see you three in my office again! I have far more important issues to deal with!" she warned hoping they would realize she was serious about it. On their way out, Mohan overheard the dean shouting over her late appearance at the graduation ceremony that was still one and half to two hours away from beginning. Nawad and Haytham walked ahead not hearing a word she said.
"Oh Lord…The rehearsal for the commencement speech has already started and I'm late!" Prescott hurriedly gathered her speech scattered across her desk counting each page number off before dashing out of her office toward the auditorium. The three men headed towards the cafeteria.