“My father always repeated a warning to us that the emir, Al-Maktoum, would often say. ‘My grandfather rode a camel, my father rode a camel, I drive a Mercedes, my son will drive a Mercedes, but his son may again ride a camel.’ So it is important for me to learn the right things, to behave the right way.”

Ahmed paused. This was different from how he had imagined telling Ben this story.

“But now it seems I am not liked. It seems I don’t know how to be, here. Apparently I have done very much that is not right?” He looked to Ben. Ben paused for a second and then shook his head.

“No. It’s just temporary. They give newbs a hard time all the time. It’s part of fitting in here. It’s just the process of becoming a part of the school.”

Ben paused. Ahmed looked unconvinced.

“In a year you won’t remember any of this.”

Ahmed laughed. “I will remember.”

“But it won’t feel like a big deal. Really.”

*  *  *

Everyone else walked out of the Dish into the long hallway toward those immense front doors, but Ben turned on his crutches and leaned back into the crossbar of the little side door. He wondered if Underhill had come out of this same doorway, maybe when the door itself was made of wood. Ben crutched through the sandy parking lot toward the cart, planning to go back to the room and do some reading, but from behind him he heard the same door open and close, and when he turned he had the Alice-pang but it was actually Alice, in wind pants, running shoes, and that same blue sweatshirt. It took her a second to see it was him, but then she waved and easily caught up to him.

“Hey, Alice.” He couldn’t control his smile.

“Mr. Weeks. I haven’t seen you since the leg. Fucking beat.”

“Could be worse,” Ben said. “What’s shakin?”

“I’m going to run on a treadmill even though I live in a woodland paradise with many running trails. Because I’m a fan of irony.”

“You’re going to the gym?”

“I’m going to the gym.”

They arrived at the golf cart.

“As you can tell, I don’t have much reason to go to the gym, so I’ll take this opportunity to drive you there.”

“You will?”

“Why exert yourself before you take your run? That’s not the American way.” Ben wondered if this was how he would be without worry.

She nodded and climbed onto the passenger seat. As she situated herself, Ben took the opportunity to glance at her chest. The seams of her sports bra stood out even under her sweatshirt.