Chapter 1 Salma fills in the last bits of sky in her family portrait The blue goes nicely with Vancouver’s green forests stretching in the background the Fraser River twirls throughout The mountains tall and capped with white snow tower over the scene She adds a beautiful mosaic border around her drawing then decorates it with jasmine flowers and little birds In the center Salma draws her mama and baba holding hands 1
Salma adds herself beside Baba with a big smile on Beside Mama Salma draws her uncle Khalou her face Dawood Salma can you go downstairs and help your baba Mama says from the kitchen Salma leaves the coloring pencils scattered around her takes a final look at her work and rushes out of her room I am really excited for my khalou’s visit she says as she pulls on her rain boots Me too Mama holds Salma’s jacket open so Salma can get her arms into the sleeves I haven’t seen my brother in so long elevator Salma slips into the hallway and runs to the Salma has heard about her uncle Khalou Dawood 3
