Free Stiletto Safari by Kate Metz Page B

thoughtful. “What say I promise not to tell Amy if you promise never, ever to call me ‘Miss’ Zara again! Zara will do just fine.”
    Ismail smiled his assent.
    “So what’s Gabi’s story?” I could see that she was waiting for us ahead at what appeared to be the school.
    For the first time since I’d met him, a cloud passed over Ismail’s handsome face. “Well, it’s a fairly typical story, really. For all intents and purposes Gabi is an orphan. Her mother contracted HIV a few years ago, no doubt from her father, and when she was diagnosed he abandoned the family. After being sick for about a year, the mother died. Gabi was left supporting her two younger sisters and a brother. Sadly, two of the younger children died, one from malnutrition and the other from diarrhea. Gabi first came to the clinic’s attention when she turned up with the other little girl. She too was very malnourished, but the staff were able to save her. She’s now living with relatives about a hundred kilometers from here.”
    “So why is Gabi still here and not living with relatives too?”
    Ismail shrugged his shoulders in exasperation. “They couldn’t take her.” Seeing the look on my face, he added, “They’re poor people with kids of their own. They could only afford to feed one more mouth. Gabi got left behind to fend for herself until the girls’ dormitory opened about eighteen months ago.”
    Gabi was now skipping in the dust waiting for us to catch up. I couldn’t even begin to imagine the life she’d led.
    “Does she really have any chance of becoming a doctor?”
    “Absolutely,” Ismail said resolutely. “She’s a very bright little thing and determined as all hell. She’s going to make it.”
    “But realistically, who will support her when she leaves this school? She can’t study medicine here.”
    “I will,” Ismail fiercely responded. “The kid needs a break, and I’m going to do everything in my power to make that happen. I’ll pay for her school fees, and I’ll find a family to look after her when it’s time for her to leave here.”
    By now we’d reached the school. It was bigger than I’d imagined. A number of buildings were clustered around a square. In the center of the square, raggedy-looking children of all ages were playing a variety of games, including soccer and marbles.
    “How come these kids aren’t in class?” I inquired, raising my eyebrows disapprovingly.
    Ismail smirked. “Do children in Australia or America attend classes on a Sunday?’
    “Oh, stupid question. I’d forgotten it was a Sunday. So why are they all still here?”
    “These are the boarders. Most of them stay for the weekends because their homes are too far away.”
    “Or they want to eat,” Gabi added, looking up at me seriously. Funnily, I hadn’t noticed her by my side.
    “Now, Zara, it has been a pleasure meeting you, but I really need to be heading back to the clinic. Gabi, will you take Zara’s hand and show her to the girls’ dormitory? Then take her to meet the principal, okay?”
    Gabi beamed up at him before tugging on his pants. Ismail bent down and she stood on her tiptoes to whisper in his ear.
    Ismail started chuckling and in a whisper loud enough for me to hear responded, “Yes, she is very pretty. I think her hair is real, but you’ll have to ask her yourself.”
    Embarrassingly, I found myself blushing. Gabi clapped her hand over her mouth and started giggling.
    For a few moments we stood together watching Ismail’s retreating figure. He turned around once to wave at Gabi. It looked like he was still laughing.

Chapter 14
    F
    or the second time that day, Gabi put her tiny, grubby hand in mine. Tugging, she led me toward a long, low building which I presumed was the girls’ dormitory.
    It took a while for my eyes to adjust to the dim light in the dorm. When they did, I could see row after row of flimsy-looking bunk beds. Hooks dotted the wall next to each set of bunk beds, with clothes