The Orphan Child

Chapter 9

"I promise I'm going to be good today grandma. You just wait until I get back from school. You are going to be so proud of me."

Harris whispers leaning down to place a kiss. His lips touch her cold skin and Harris pulls up the duvet futher covering every inch of her so she will be nice and warm as for now footsteps approached and he rushed for the door ready to take on this last day and whatever it may bring.

............................

Zahra Ismail waited eagerly clutching her homework for she could not wait until Ustaada Amina saw all the little small acts of kindness she had done. She had written them down neatly in her book and wondered what they would learn today. Perhaps another surah. Surah Al-Fatiha!

The class contributed in small chatter as they waited for their Ustaada. She was a little late but it was just as well expected of a lady her age who could barely walk.

Zahra, who looked to her friend who was furiously scribbling down her homework last minute, felt relieved that she had remembered her homework and was not in a position of stressing over it as her friend Hana was.

"Can I quickly see your homework. I promise I won't copy."

"Sure."

Zahra slid her homework across for Hana to see. A thought occurred that this was yet another act of kindness but perhaps it was not a good idea to write that one down.

Homework

My Small acts of Kindness

• I helped my mum water the plants
• I dusted the stair for mum
• I helped my dad bring the washing in from the line.
• I met an old lady after a halaqah I went to. She had difficulty walking so I assisted her while she waited for her grandson to return from the toilet
• I gave some left over bread to the birds outside.

"That's awesome. You really did a lot of kind acts."

"How about you?" Zahra asked her friend who responds with a sheepish grin and a shake to her head.

"I didn't do any acts of kindness that I can remember. I just stayed home and fought with my brother." She admits with a shrug as she pulled her hijab from slipping down.

"So what did you write?" Zahra questions.

"Does sleeping so as to give the angels on our shoulders a rest count?"

Zahra thought about it. Angels didn't get tired and neither did they dislike their jobs. She finally came to a conclusion that angels probably don't get tired like us humans so it wasn't really a favor.

"I don't think so Hana." Zahra gives her a sympathetic look.

Hana let out a low groan and then scribbled out a few lines of her homework.

A knock at the door caused Hana to jump in fright, it was too late to complete her homework now and all that was left was to make dua.

"Assalaamu Alaykum." A deep voice greeted. All the children sat up straight expecting Ustaada Amina but instead in was Principal Haq who stepped in.

Hana who was tensed a few seconds ago relaxed and let out a breath of relief murmuring something under her breath.

"Wa Alaykum assalaamu." The class responds immediately.

"Unfortunately I have some bad news I'm afraid. Ustaada Amina will not be able to make it today. She had had an accident and is in hospital recovering."

A few gasps and low murmers spread across until a boys hand slowly raised up to question.

"What happened to Ustaada Amina?"