Farah, Aliyah's Mother, Who Is 38 Years Old and Works As a Hotel Housekeeper

1

ALMOST HOME

Written by

Alaina DeMichiei

Characters

Aliyah, a 10th-grade Syrian refugee, who has been living in the United States with her mother for two months

Farah, Aliyah's mother, who is 38 years old and works as a hotel housekeeper

Kayla, Aliyah’s only school friend, who is sympathetic towards her but ignorant about the struggles of refugees

Gunnar, Aliyah’s classmate, who discriminates against her because of her religion.

Max, Aliyah’s classmate and Gunnar’s accomplice. He is clearly more sympathetic towards Aliyah than Gunnar is and doesn’t partake as much in the harassing. He normally seems uncomfortable during those scenes.

Elizabeth, the lawyer who Farah hires to look into her husband’s immigration case.

Setting: The play takes place at Aliyah and Farah’s apartment and Aliyah’s school, both of which are in urban Detroit, Michigan. The two live in a small one bedroom apartment with only essentials in it. Aliyah’s school is one of the better public schools in the city, and the kids there are better off and less exposed to refugees and other differing lifestyles.

Act I, Scene I

It is the middle of the night. Aliyah and Farah lies asleep in their beds when Aliyah begins to writhe and cry out. Farah wakes up and frantically runs over to her bed.

FARAH

(Gently begins to stroke her hair to soothe her)

Aliyah, darling, calm down. You’re okay. I’m here. It’s only a nightmare.

ALIYAH

(Sits up and puts herself into her mother’s arms, sobbing)

It came back. The dream came back.

(She pauses to catch her breath)

You, Papa, and I were sitting in the house when the bombs began to strike. We ran to the basement, but even then we could still hear the cries of our neighbors as they ran to find cover. Each bomb strike was another house in our village that we knew was being destroyed. It was only a matter of time until ours was next. But this time, since Ahmed wasn’t with us, Papa went outside to find him, and I heard another bomb and him scream and -

(she gasps)

FARAH

(She rocks Aliyah and quietly hushes her)

That was just a dream, my love. We’re not there anymore. We’re safe. And your father is safe. He’s already in Greece, getting ready for his flight to the states to join us, and we’ll be together again. The war cannot follow us. We’re free.

ALIYAH

But Ahmed. He’s not coming with him.

(She begins to violently sob once again)

They took him from us, and we’re never going to get him back.

FARAH

Your brother was a fighter, Aliyah. We all miss him very much, but he died working to protect us. You must remember him as a fighter, not as someone who lost. He will always be with us in our hearts.

(She pets Aliyah’s hair)

This new home is just as much his as it is ours.

ALIYAH

(She pulls away from her mother)

This is not my home, and it never will be. My home is back in Idlib. Where my friends are, where our family is, where my school is, where my bed is. I don’t want to be here, I want to be at my real home.

FARAH

Idlib stopped being the home we knew as soon as the first -

(She sighs)

As soon as the first bombs hit. I know you want to go back to way things were. I do too. But it is out of our control. You need to realize how lucky we are to have been welcomed into America. You have seen how difficult the process has been for your father. There are an endless amount of opportunities here for you, and it is safe from the very things we fled from.

ALIYAH

Nobody here understands.

FARAH

It is hard for people to understand a situation they have never been in. It’s not intentional, it’s human nature.

ALIYAH

We don’t belong here, mom.

FARAH

Of course we do.

ALIYAH

That’s not what the people at school are saying.

FARAH

The kids at your school have never met anyone like us before. We are the first. They’re just kids. Difference is hard for them to comprehend.

ALIYAH

But it’s not that they don’t understand. They know what they’re saying. They just choose treat me like I don’t belong here at all. They have told me directly that I should go back to where I came from and that people like us shouldn’t be here. For being the land of opportunity, America isn’t very welcoming.

FARAH

I know it’s hard, sweetheart. I’ve gotten the same type of treatment from people at work.

ALIYAH

Really?

FARAH

Of course. People take one look at me, see my hijab, and refuse to let me clean their hotel rooms.

ALIYAH

But that’s not okay, mom.

FARAH

Sometimes that is the way it is. Not everyone is going to like you.

ALIYAH

It goes beyond that. You said it yourself. That woman wouldn’t let you clean your room. That wasn’t because she doesn’t like you. It was because you are different from her. It was because you are Muslim. That’s not a difference in opinion mom, that’s discrimination.

FARAH

It has always been like this, sweetheart.

ALIYAH

Well, that doesn’t make it right. I just don’t understand. It doesn’t even make any sense. We’re just humans with different experiences than them, we’re not a different species. You saw the attack on the mosque in the news the other day… that isn’t normal, mom. There is so much hate here.

FARAH

Aliyah, I don’t want to hear this. I know life is different now, but we are lucky to be in this country. This is a place where we are free and safe, and you need to appreciate that. We were given an opportunity that our neighbors back home are dying for.

ALIYAH

But all of the things in the news..

FARAH

I know, Aliyah. But that can’t stop us from living our new life here. Of course we need to stay on guard, always, but never question whether or not we are safer here.

ALIYAH

But this isn’t fair, mom.

FARAH

We don’t get to make the decisions of what is fair and what is not.

ALIYAH

So you’re saying that people are going to fear us for doing absolutely nothing? Just because of where we were born and what we believe? These meaningless differences between me and the boy I sit next to in my Algebra class are going to decide which one of us is a friend and which one of us is the enemy. Can people in this country seriously not recognize the difference between us and the rebels? How could you not? The rebels shoot people and blow things up and fight against peace. How am I any of those things? Do people not understand that we were running from the same people that they are afraid of? How can you not be able to tell the difference?

FARAH

Fear is a powerful thing, and people’s ability to draw the lines between differing groups tends to weaken as it grows. But we need to do our part in showing that this stereotype is not true. That is all we can do right now. To help ourselves, the people around us, and the people still trying to get away.

ALIYAH

I know. It’s just hard. I have barely made any friends at school in the two months we have been here. And I know why. I hear people whispering. They talk about how their parents have told them about people like me and what we do. They think they’re being quiet, but I still hear it. And it hurts just as much than if they were to just say it to my face.

FARAH

Oh baby, I had no idea that this was happening. I’m so sorry. Why didn’t you tell me?

ALIYAH

I didn’t want you to worry about me. You have so much on your plate already. Between adapting to our new home,

(she pauses shortly at the word)

Learning the ins and outs of your new job, and talking with papa, I didn’t want you to have to be concerned about me too.

FARAH

I thought you made a friend. The girl who has come over a few times.

ALIYAH

Kayla?

(She sits on the bed)

FARAH

Yes, that’s her name. What about her?

ALIYAH

She’s really nice and always sticks up for me when the kids say something at school, but she doesn’t understand what I am going through at all.

FARAH

Sweetheart, you can’t really expect her to though. She comes from a well-off family that has always lived a safe, comfortable life. I know it would be easier if she could relate to what you’re feeling, but you have to realize how hard it is for these kids to see from a point of view besides their own, especially when it’s someone with a life so colorful as yours.

ALIYAH

I know, I know. It would just be nice to have a person who understand why their comments make me so upset, or why they’re doing it.

FARAH

You have me.

(Farah smiles)

ALIYAH

(Aliyah smiles back)

Thanks, but you’re my mom. There’s a difference.

FARAH

I know. I’m sorry, Aliyah.

ALIYAH

You don’t have to apologize. There’s nothing you can do about it. I’m sorry I even brought this up. I know you have a lot going on right now. I don’t want to worry you.

FARAH

You and your happiness will always be my top priority.

(She kisses Aliyah’s forehead then begins walking back to her bed)

Okay, time to get back to bed. It’s late, and you have school in the morning. Goodnight. I love you.

ALIYAH

Love you too, ma.

Act I, Scene 2

It is after school the next day. Aliyah is walking out of the school building with her backpack and uniform on.

KAYLA

(Running towards Aliyah from the school)

Aliyah! Wait up!

ALIYAH

(Turns around and smiles at Kayla)

Hey! How are you? I haven’t seen you all day.

KAYLA

I know! But you’ll never guess what I did this weekend.

ALIYAH

Umm.. watched that new TV show that we saw a preview for?

KAYLA

Um no. Also, that show looked kind of weird.. Anyways…

(She holds up car keys and squeals)

Look! My dad took me to the car place on Saturday and let me pick out anyone I wanted!

ALIYAH

Oh wow! That’s amazing. I’m so happy for you!

KAYLA

I know! Now I can drive us around places! Well, that’s enough about me. What did you do this weekend?!

ALIYAH

I didn’t do much, but I did learn that my dad is finally coming over here in two weeks! All of his paperwork and travel plans were finalized, and he is clear to join me and my mom.

KAYLA

Oh my gosh!

(She hugs Aliyah)

That is amazing news. He was staying in Greece, right?

ALIYAH

He was being held in Greece. At a refugee camp. But he’s finally made it through the relocation process. He should be here soon.

KAYLA

Wow, that takes a while. Hasn’t he been there for, like, months?

ALIYAH

Yeah, the process for entering the United States is a lot more complicated than Greece. Well, actually it’s more complicated than any country really. But he had to stay at the camp for a while until they could do all of the necessary background checks and interviews. But now that the process is all done and he has been approved, he is clear to come over!

KAYLA

I am so happy for you. It must have been hard living without your father for so long. I can’t even imagine.

ALIYAH

It was. The hardest part was not knowing if he was going to make it to the states or not. When my mom and I left, he was constantly telling me that it was temporary and that he would be joining us before we knew it. But I wasn’t clueless. I knew that he had no way of controlling that. I knew tons of families who got separated. It happened to almost all of my friends back home, actually. We are the lucky ones.

KAYLA

I’m so sorry you had to go through all of this, Aliyah. You’re so strong.

ALIYAH

I’m really not. Everyone has different hardships. This was just the one I was given.

KAYLA

Were you close with your dad?

ALIYAH

He was my best friend. He was busy working a lot, but he always made time for me. Our favorite thing to do was drive out to the Mediterranean Coast and spend time at the beach. We would play football, go on walks, and find seashells together. Obviously that all changed once the war started, but they are my favorite memories of home.

KAYLA

That’s beautiful. He sounds like an awesome guy. I can’t wait to meet him.

(She reaches out and squeezes Aliyah’s hand, smiling warmly)

ALIYAH

I can’t wait for you to meet him either. I think you’ll really like each other.

KAYLA

Uh oh.

(Kayla looks beyond Aliyah and nods her head in that direction)

Trouble’s coming.

(Gunnar and Max are walking towards them from the school)

GUNNAR

Hey, Aliyah. Did you hear the good news? No one like you is getting into our country anymore.

(He high fives Max)

America is going to be safe again.

ALIYAH

Wha-

(She hesitates)

What do you mean?

GUNNAR

You haven’t heard yet? It’s the president’s new travel ban. He stopped Muslims from coming into the country for the next few months, and all Syrian refugees from coming in forever. Thank God no more terrorists like you are going to be coming in now. Honestly, I was getting a little worried.

ALIYAH

(Shock spreads over her face)

Wha- How-

GUNNAR

I hope deportations are next. You need to go back from where you came from. There’s no place for people like you in America.

KAYLA

Wait Aliyah.. Does this mean your dad -

ALIYAH

I don’t-

(She starts panicking and breathing heavily)

I need to go

(She starts running out of the scene, towards her apartment)

MAX

What about her dad?

KAYLA

None of your business, Max.

GUNNAR

(He woos)

Well if he is blocked from coming over, that’s another American life saved right there.

KAYLA

You’re a jerk, Gunnar, you know that?

GUNNAR

(He smiles)

I prefer the term patriot.

MAX

No really. Is he alright?

KAYLA

He was separated from Aliyah and her mother when they were being relocated, and they haven’t seen each other in months. He was finally cleared and supposed to fly in from Greece in two weeks.

MAX

(Surprisingly concerned)

Wait, but he’s still going to be able to come over, right? If he’s already cleared, they can’t just not let him in.

GUNNAR

Dude, what does it matter? Don’t you understand? These aren’t normal people. They’re dangerous.

MAX

Yeah man, I know. It just- it sucks if she can’t see her dad again.

GUNNAR

(Gives Max a weird look)

Well,

(He pauses and then talks as though this is an obvious solution)

if she wants to see her dad, she can just go back to where she came from to be with him. It’s not a difficult concept, dude.

MAX

Yeah, I mean, I guess. I don’t kno-

GUNNAR

Would you stop worrying about her? She’s not a victim. She’s part of the problem.

MAX

Come on, Gunnar. She’s just a gir-

GUNNAR

(He starts walking away)

Whatever, I’m going home to play Xbox. You’re acting super weird dude.

MAX

(Stands alone, looking down at his feet then begins to walk away slowly, looking as if he has something on his mind)

Act I, Scene 3

Farah is sitting on the couch in the living room of the apartment, watching the news on the television intently. She is clearly distressed by what she is seeing. She puts her head down into her hands and begins to quietly sob. Aliyah runs in from off stage, still wearing her backpack and school uniform, and bursts through the door.

ALIYAH

Ma!

(She holds onto the door handle and tries to catch her breathe)

Did you hear about the-

(She notices how upset her mother is. Her voice softens.)

Mom.

(She slowly begins to walk over towards the couch.)

FARAH

(She quickly lifts her head and wipes the tears off her face, trying to mask her distress)

Hi sweetie. How was school?

ALIYAH

Mom, what’s going on

FARAH

Nothing, sweetie. It’s nothing.

ALIYAH

Please don’t try to keep this a secret from me. The boys at school already told me what’s happening.

(She sits down next to Farah on the couch.)

Can dad not come here anymore?

FARAH

(She looks up at Aliyah and grabs her hand)

I’m not really sure right now, honey.

ALIYAH

(She looks away from her mother and begins to cry)

How- how can they do this? He was already cleared. He went through a two-year long process. How can they just take it away from him -from us- so fast? We were supposed to be together.

(She falls into her mother’s lap and sobs)

FARAH

(Strokes Aliyah’s hair)