Harper and Hashim

Harper was jealous of her friend Amy, living in the Middle East for the summer with Hassan. She found she missed her too, but at least she had some companionship for the summer. Prime among them was Hashim, the Sudanese refugee who'd come into his own in the American South. They couldn't go to Harper's parents house -- too close-minded still. They wouldn't accept Harper's choices, and its consequences, for years to come. So instead she was with Lindsay and Samir at their farm in the low country, not far away from Harper's parents. Lindsay's best friend Ramona visited often too. They were all products of the same seeds, driven to the same outcome -- white women in the service of African Muslims.

Harper lay against Hashim under the gentle breeze of the ceiling fan. They weren't wedded yet, though they needed to be soon. Hashim's hand glided over her still flat tummy, but the seed was in there. The first of many consequences.