In the Principal's Office...

Ravi sits in a cushioned wood chair, opposite an empty one of identical make, behind a mahogany desk. Finally, The Principal enters the room. He's an old man with a white beard and short hair, a husky frame, and light beige suit. The plaque on his desk reads: "Mr. Baba Fadel".

Ravi
(Anxious.) You're the Coach's father?

Baba
(Stern, but calm.) You mean Hassan? Yes, he's my boy. You've met my granddaughter as well, I assume – Amira.

Ravi
Yeah, I'm in the same class.

Baba
Did you know she has a game, today?

Ravi
Yeah, I'm aware.

Baba
So you know that a bunch of wasps stinging my players is the last thing I want, right? I've got a reputation to uphold, as the fine leader of this school. That's why I always demand the best from my students.

Ravi
(Cautious.) I've noticed, but like... you also let teachers drag kid on the floor if they mess up in the slightest.

Baba
Yes, well. Sacrifices, and all that. Children need discipline, don't they?

Ravi
...right. But not Coach Fadel, who makes his students show their cleavage before he gives them snacks every morning; and who brings twice as many if they wear shorter shorts the day before; and yells at them for the smallest things; and tries to steal their property. He's fostering an environment of sexually voyeuristic exploitation, and might-is-right mentality.

Baba
(Acting bewildered.) I'm sorry, what exactly is the problem here?

Ravi
Your son acts like a pimp to all of his female students, and a vicegrip to all of his male ones. He literally has them doing tricks for treats, and it's only a matter of time before he dares further along that road. It's already trickled down – everyone here acts like sex is the most important thing about themselves. That, or their achievements. Nobody has any fun.

Baba
What do you want me to do about it, honestly? Give me your ideas.

Ravi
(Drawing back a bit, showing some humble.) Fire him. Get someone who can act their age, who doesn't pop a boner every gym class.

Baba
Who would run the sports program? And teach gym?

Ravi
(Genuine.) My mom could, actually.

Baba
(Grinning, but taken off-guard.) A lesbian! We already have one of those here, and she does a fine job. Besides, sports brings in the funding, and Mr. Fadel has an impressive résume.

Ravi's eyes squeeze in their sockets, and a terrible grimace comes over her face. Teeth showing.

Ravi
(Sardonic.) Like coming from your nutsack?

Baba gives Ravi a look, trying to size the kid up. Ravi is nervous, but not as afraid as they're supposed to be right now. Not throwing the desk up in a rage, either. Just stating facts, while rattling in their chair. Baba seems put-off, like his usual intimidation effect isn't working this time.

Baba
(Sparse and cold.) Well, he's older than you. That makes him your elder, and you should respect him. And I don't appreciate your crude remarks, much, either.

Ravi
Doesn't he still have to act with respect to those who depend on h-

Baba
(Cutting her off.) Now, this current business... you let some wasps out. Some kids had to get allergy shots, I have to buy some more. I'll have to call an exterminator, they'll probably torch every last one with a flamethrower. They'll go "SKREEE, POP!" Ahaha. Magnificent.

Ravi
You don't sound too upset.

Baba
It's not your fault that oaf threw the lid to their hole in a ditch.

Ravi
I don't understand. You give out harsh punishments to anyone who does anything, and you're going to let this slide?

The Principal picks up a small foam ball from his desk, and tosses it up into the air to catch it, over and over. He honestly looks happy to be busy with it. Ravi watches the thing go up, and down, and then decides that's a waste of her time.

Baba
(Proud.) Because you're like me, young man! You're not a dumb little horse, led around by a carrot. Not like the whimpering students of this school. You're a rider, you're the guy on top, telling it where to go. You've already experienced pain and loss, and you plan accordingly. You don't need the discipline because you already discipline yourself.

Ravi
Why does that NOT sound like a compliment, coming from you?

Baba
(Glaring.) Why indeed? And then, why do you not sound in the slightest like you feel bad about what you've done to practically the entire student body? Playing the girl, tugging on their heart strings, when you're anything but. Don't you know how that can make a man react? How removed that makes real girls feel? Are you even remotely sorry?

Ravi
(Utterly cold, eyes dark.) I thought it was implied. By showing up here every day.

Baba takes a moment to sit with that.

Baba
(Confused.) Okay, wow, that's... an alarming lack of remorse. You don't seem to actually care about what you've done.

Ravi
(Gritted teeth.) Same to you, buddy.

Baba
(Flippant.) You go, and tell your girlfriend she can go too. I'm not interested in talking to a little suck-up, at least not until she's eighteen. You know what I mean? Hah-ho! Zing.

Ravi
I don't think I agree with you on your personal politics.

Baba
Let's agree to disagree. Now GET!

Ravi
Yeah, one thing first.

Ravi stands up and pukes on Baba's floor.

Baba
(Pulling on his own hair.) OH, WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!

Ravi
(Wiping her mouth.) Falafel. Sorry, guess you just make me sick.

As Ravi leaves, Baba picks up his phone and calls for a custodian, while covering his mouth. Ravi passes a mirror, and uses it to wipe the sick off her jaw. For the first time, Ravi sees how pallid and desperate she really looks.

Jessica
(One brow lowered, one raised. Alarmed.) My turn to go in?

Ravi
No, you're better off out here.

Half an Hour Later...

Ravi finds Amira in the Kindergarten room, reading a story to a circle of little kids. There's playing blocks, wooden cars and trains, picture books, and more laying all over the colorful carpet. The kids look serene, wholly absorbed in what she's saying.

Amira finishes the story, and Ravi waves her over. The teacher instructs the kids to clean up with a little song.

Amira
What do you want, goth kid?

Ravi
It's your dad, and your grandpa.

Amira
Are they in trouble?

Ravi
No, they ARE trouble.

Amira
We should take this outside. I'm not exposing the kids to any drama.

Ravi
Good call.

In the Schoolyard...

Ravi and Amira sneak outside, and stand just outside the door. To their surprise, Hassan is outside too, riding a scrawny bull in the middle of a crowd of elementary schoolers.

Rancher
So after we break the bull for riding, we sell it to a rodeo manager. If the bull doesn't want to break, meaning it won't let itself be ridden, we'll sell it to the slaughterhouse. We do the same if it's too skinny, like this one.

Coach Fadel
(Jumping up and down.) HYAH, ANIMAL! RIDE!!

It winces, and its back looks like it's going to buckle under Coach Fadel's weight. Coach Fadel kicks it with his shoes, and the rancher lets it go. It trots around a little bit, while Coach Fadel yanks unnecessarily hard at its reins, forcing its head from side to side. It tries to buck him off.

Rancher
Whoah, there, Hoss! Whoah there. You'll get tougher customers than this, I'm sure.

He pulls on the bull's reigns from the side, to calm him down. He looks up at the coach.

Rancher
(To Coach Fadel.) That said, pardner, you mind not jumpin' on his back? An animal can only take so much. You might make it pissed off, y'know what I'm sayin'?

The rancher nods to the side, towards the little kids, and he gives Coach Fadel a dirty look. Coach Fadel gives one back that's twice as angry, and the rancher has the kids back off a bit. He stands in front of them, arms outstretched.

Rancher
Well, we'll, uh. Keep our distance, anyhow. As I was sayin'...

Coach Fadel spots Amira. Instead of chastising her for skipping class, he waves her over.

Coach Fadel
AMIRA! COME WATCH YOUR FATHER TAME THIS WILD BEAST! AHAHAHAAA!

Amira turns to Ravi, and smiles.

Amira
Ha, I see now. You were just trying to get me outside. Thanks, dude.

Ravi
No, I didn't know he was out here. You gotta hear what your grandpa said-

Amira
No, I don't think I do. I've heard enough nasty rumors about him. I get it, this is a small, rural town in North America. They don't like immigrants here. They don't like his rules.

Ravi
Right, but Amira-

Amira
You know where we'd be without rules? Complete and total anarchy! Running around wild, hair in the wind...

She looks over at the bull, completing its third circling loop, as Coach Fadel continues to abuse the directive power of the reins in his hands.

Ravi
You sound like you kind of want to do that. Run free.

Amira
(Shaking her head.) N-no, I get my fun with sports. That's the only fun I need, I'm not like you and the boys, a bunch of crazed little al-mi'raji.

Ravi
(Shudders.) Oh, gross, don't remind me of that thing.

Amira
I've seen you guys run off at lunch to do who knows what, not even realizing the fence you cross was built to keep you safe! Not to mention the other girls here, who act like rabbits in the other way, instead of doing their homework. I'm looking to GRADUATE, alright?!

Ravi
I, uh... I really just wanted to talk to you about what Baba said? And what Hassan has been doing? I think you're actually a good person, but-

Amira
Oh, I'M a good person, THANK YOU for DECIDING that for me. And don't call him "Hassan". I call him that. You call him "Coach", or "Mr. Fadel".

Ravi
Okay, well Mr. Fadel-

Amira
Is my father, and he's the only one who looks after me and my illnesses. You wanna know what I deal with ON TOP of your horse-shit? (She counts on her fingers.) Rashes, stomach aches, bloating, pain, headaches-

Ravi
Are you allergic to wheat?

Amira
I'M SORRY, ARE YOU A DOCTOR?!

Ravi
Just asking-

Amira
You know my people go forty days every year eating nothing BUT bread and lentils, when they aren't FASTING? When was the last time you WEREN'T EATING? Cause all I see, all day, is YOU, CHOMPING DOWN on snack after snack.

Ravi is silent. She could mention skipping lunch every time she goes to the Arab Express, but something is telling her this pissing contest only drips down when it's done shooting upwards.

Amira
So you think all Muslims should stop eating bread, is that it?

Ravi
No? I didn't-

Amira
Didn't what? Didn't think I'd argue with you, cause you think all Saudi women are submissive wenches?

Ravi
(Confused.) What? I didn't even know you were Muslim until just now. I've lived with my Muslim uncle for years, I know what I'm talking about-

Amira
Oh, so you can SPEAK for me because you know a MAN.

Ravi
(Throwing her hands up.) Wow, okay. I thought we were having a completely different conversation.

Amira
OH, DON'T TRY TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT! Classic MAN move!

Ravi
Hey, I'm not-

Amira
(Dangling her fingers.) Just because you're gay, it doesn't mean you're a woman! You don't know half of what we go through just to live in the same town as you! My father makes me feel SAFE, unlike you pack of wild ANIMALS! You just wanna shoot him down while he's on a higher horse than you, that's ALL it is!

Ravi stares blankly at Amira, realizing she's living in a completely different reality. Whatever one says won't translate to the other, not without some kind of device. The fact that anyone would call Coach Fadel "safe" is proof enough.

Amira
Even if my dad did do something horrible, and I mean UNSPEAKABLE, I'd still forgive him. Because unlike you, he deserves that. You may not like who the authority is around here, but things are the way they are for a good reason. Goodbye.

Ravi watches as Amira, chin pointed up with pride, storms over to the crowd of kids. She takes a deep breath and pauses. Then, she starts to cheer on her father. Coach Fadel laughs and smiles at her, but casts a wary glare in Ravi's direction. Ravi frowns and walks back into the building.