The passenger he’d just picked up, an elderly Chinese man, looked down in surprise as well. “Get out,” said Habib under his breath. Fadi quavered as the confusion on his father’s face turned to anger. Fadi crawled out, grabbing his backpack, which had fallen off. “I’m so sorry, sir,” said Habib, turning to his passenger. “This is my son. If you don’t mind, he will be riding in the front with me.” “No problem,” said the man. “Very unexpected, but what can we do with youth today?” He shook his head sadly. “All troublemakers.” The tips of his ears burning with shame, Fadi slunk into the front seat. He looked in the side mirror and watched his father place two heavy suitcases into the trunk. Meanwhile the crotchety old passenger let himself into the backseat and put his walking stick across his legs. Then he leaned back and closed his eyes with a deep sigh of exhaustion. How am I going to explain this? Fadi cast a wary glance at his father. His stomach felt like it was on a wild roller coaster ride.
