From We to Me...

My Cacoon

New pens? Check
New glue stick?, check
New clutch? Check. 
Note to self do not bite eraser of pencil.

Tomorrow Is the first day of the new year. I can't believe I actually made it to grade 6. More than  anything I can't wait to be in an all girls class. Last year was a nightmare. Sweaty boys who are constantly arguing about soccer. Who cares if Ahmed missed a goal? He has always been a terrible soccer player from grade 4. I hope Aaliya packed her bag. Knowing her she probably forgot to buy half the stationery items and will be digging through my stuff by the second period. I hope Mr Osman doesn't take us for maths. Everytime I walk pass his class, he is always shouting. Maths is definitely not my strength by far. My brother Ismail on the other hand is whizz. I am certain he took after daddy. He does not even look at the calculator while at work. I probably took after mummy. She always has a novel at her bedside and I remember Nan's favourite story "you know Faatimah Zahra when your mother was pregnant for you, she only buried  her head in books, my poor grandson use to live on just pasta." Typically nani, worry about food. I am certain her freezer does not have a bottom. Everytime we visit we come back home with more tupperwares. I love my nani dearly. She chose my name, Faatimah Zahra. Aunty Fee always says I'm witty just like nani.

I better get to bed. No more morning sleeps. I'm sure mummy will knocking just now at my door to pray fajr. It's my favourite time. It's so peaceful except for the birds who have so much to say. Just like Aaliya. She is never I mean never short of words. It actually surprises me how she is always short of words when writing essays.

5 am and I am up. As usual Ismail is taking forever to make wudhu. I would not be surprised if he has fallen asleep in bathroom again. Finally, he emerged. I make wudhu and pray. I ask Allah to help this year. I really want to be a better person. Time flies while making dua. Before I know it mummy is calling us for breakfast. She is always so chirpy in the morning. After breakfast I pack my lunch bag and I'm off. A quick kiss on mummy's forehead. She screams love you as I bolt out the front door.

The school parking is full. All the parents and new learners fill the walkway. In the distance I see Aaliya talking to the others. Her story looks dramatic with all those hand gestures. I run towards her and we hug each other squealing with joy. Since Aaliya returned from Dubai I have not seen her.   We have lots to catch up on.

After the usual first day stuff we go to our classroom. I pick a seat in front of Aaliya. The class is a buzz with chatter. After all the hugs everyone settles down. The teachers are busy in a meeting.

Aaliya is busy describing her beach experience when Zainab rushes to our desk. "Have you seen the new boy? OMG he is so cute.  He has hazel eyes." Irritated at her disturbance Aaliya chases her away and continues.

The next few weeks are hectic with settling in. All I hear from the girls is "Jo said this or Jo wore this". Really! We only in grade 6. Boys are so yucky. I wanna do well at school and be a child. Anyway mummy and daddy will kill me if I was interested in boys now. InshaAllah I will one day get married to a pious man. One who treats me like a princess exactly the way my daddy does. For now, school is my priority so that I can one day become a surgeon. My mummy always says "to achieve great things in life, we must
always do things that make Allah happy."

It's Monday,  the temperature is 32 and we have a triple English during the last 3 periods. Can't this day just end? I just want to go home and plop on my bed. Mrs Lily is busy reading out some comprehension passage. I sit there staring out of the window. Don't birds feel hot? Suddenly my gaze falls directly into a pair of Hazel eyes. My heart rate instantly increases. It's Jo! A smile escapes from his lips. I'm mesmerised. I am suddenly brought back to reality when Aaliya kicks my chair to get my attention. As usual she needed my pencil case. For the next hour my thoughts are cloudy. What was that? I have never felt that way before. Maybe it's just the heat. Nani always says "Beti the heat gets to people's heads." I shake it off and pay attention to Mrs Lily.

The last hour drags by. I wonder what mummy made for lunch. It's Monday and I have horse riding so I guess something quick. The bell finally rings I shoot up from my chair and rush Aaliya. After herding out of school I melt onto the leather seats of the car,turning the air corn vents to my face. I rush home, grab a bite and run into my room. 20 mins before horse riding. I plop on my bed and I am suddenly overcome by the thought of hazel eyes. I had a pair of green ones. I should be used to a pair of exotic coloured eyes. Why is it bothering me so much? I hear mummy coming to my room and jump back to reality.

Horse riding is amazing. It makes me feel so magical. I feel like a princess about to conquer great lands. My beautiful black horse. How majestic she looks. My parents bought her for me as an eid gift and I love her dearly. I named her Beauty. Nani says horses cannot have Muslim names.

As I led Beauty to her stable I noticed a rather masculine figure at the door. I grumbled under my breath hoping the stables were not mixed up again. As we drew closer I planned to tell the figure to get out of Beauty's stable as it was already taken. Anger building up I quickened my pace when suddenly the figure turned around to reveal his Hazel eyes.

Not again I thought. My legs felt like jelly. Even Beauty felt extra hard to pull. I walked to the stable door and said "move! It's taken."  He turned his head around and mumbled something under his breath. How rude I thought... Can't even apologise. I hurriedly placed Beauty in her stall and ran back to the car. Mummy was already waiting. As we drove pass the canopy trees that surrounded the exit of the farm my thoughts whirled back to figure at the stable. Joe... Hmph why can't he just stick to Yusuf. My parents always enforced that my name is Faatimah Zahra and should always be called by my full name. If anyone decides otherwise I must not answer. Why did his eyes look like it held secrets of sadness? When mum applied sudden breaks I shook back to reality. That's not my problem. I have much homework to do. Mid year exams are around the corner I better start with preparations.