RUNNING

Chapter Two

"An education system isn't worth a great deal if it teaches young people how to make a living but doesn't teach them how to make a life." Unknown Author

Maraya sits closely beside her baby brother, Sa'ad who is busy playing with his toys. Her mother had told her to be playing with her brother while she is busy cooking in the kitchen.

Sa'ad is her youngest bother and her mother knows how much she adores the little boy so she always asked her to play with him whenever she is busy and she sometimes allow her to feed the little baby with her food, the only thing her mother did not realize is the fact that Maraya already develop a sense of responsibility towards her brother and she always feels she is big enough to take care of all her brothers need including cleaning his potty.

She has always wanted to back her brother but her mother usually prevents her whenever she told her about it. She was excited when she noticed that she is the only one around Sa'ad because her brothers are out to play with their friends. Maraya picks up her little brother and attempt to back him, just in time for her mother to enter the sitting room and retrieved the baby from her.

"How many times do I have to tell you that you are too small to back him?" she said as she collect the baby, "I only told you to play with him Maraya."

"But I am a big girl mama." She argued shrugging her shoulder.

"Says who my beautiful daughter?" her mother asked smiling adorably at her.

Her mother walks to sit one of the cushions in order to feed sa'ad as she listends to her daughters rumbling.

"Dad said I am a big girl and I can take care of my brother." Maraya insisted. Her mother smiles at her words, she knows Maraya has great confidence in herself and it was all thanks to her father.

Maraya's brothers walked into the house each holding a stalk of flower and Maraya rushes to welcome them because she knows that the flowers are meant for her. Being the only female child of the family, everybody adores her and they always tries their best to make her happy, her parents always shower her with lots of gifts especially when she comes home with her results and that has been a source of encouragement for her all through.

"See your fower(flower)." Al'amin(Maraya immediate younger brother) said as she offered Maraya the flower he was hold. "I pyuck(pluck) it myself" he said proudly.

"Thank you."Maraya smiles hugging Al'amin. She takes turn to collect the flowers from her elder brothers.

"It is time for Islamiyyah mama. Ibrahim is waiting for us outside" Adam said glancing at the clock and It was past 4p.m.

"Are you through with your assignment?"their mother asked.

Adam hesitated before answering his mother. He knows his mother will not allow them to leave without finishing their assignment, their mother is always strict in ensuring that they get their homework done and anybody who takes their education lightly will face the consequence by getting punished so all of them are very serious about their school.

Being an elites themselves, Maraya's parents that are vast educated, Maraya's parents ensures that their children are enrolled in the best school in their village and they plan to send them to the best school in the city to ensure that they have access to good western education which will help them in securing a better future.

it was a prayer answered when Maraya father got a call from Lagos to work in one of the leading construction companies where he had traveled for some weeks in order to make proper arrangement for the accommodation before he will send for his family to join him.

"We will do it after coming back from Islamiyyah, Mama." He said scratching the back of her head, an habit is used to whenever he is nervous or trying to gain composure.

"Go inside and bring out your books now." Their mother said firmly and he walks straight to their room so as to get their school bags.

After retuning with the bags, their mother assist Al'amin while the other two tries to complete their assignment. Maraya had already done her own before her lunch so she started removing her clothes to have a shower as her brothers continue their assignment.

"Don't remove your clothes, I will bath you when I finish helping your brother." their mother said looking at her.

"I can bath myself mama, I am a big girl." she beats her chest frowning at their mother.

"okay big girl, are you going to remove your clothes in front of boys?" their mother pointed out.

"I forget!" she uses her palm to cover her mouth "girls don't remove their clothes in front of a boy."

"oh-oh" the mother smiles triumphantly at her.

"I will go and remove it in the lobby and bath myself in the bathroom then get dress for Islamiyyah." she explain to their mother.

"then be quick about it you are running late for islamiyyah." thier mother told her.

"Okay Mama." Maraya answered and rushes to the bathroom.

"I want to bath too Mama" Al'amin looked up from his book.

"No. you have to finish your assignment first then go to Islamiyyah. you already bath when you return from school." their mother argued.

"Maraya also bath." Al'amin protest.

"Maraya is a girl. a girl need to bath many times." their mother explain.

"But I also want to bath." he insisted.

"Alright. finish your assignment you will bath when you come back from Islamiyyah." their mother conclude and she was glad when her son returned to his book.

At about five minutes to five, they all set out to go to Islamiyyah after which their mother walks to clean up herself in the bathroom before returning to the sitting room to feed Sa"ad.

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Jazakallahu khairan for reading. In sha Allah we will move over to Maraya's adolescent life in the next chapter. I guess you are looking forward to know what Maraya will be like at this stage. Having a family who adore her and a promising bright future there is no doubt that she will grow up to what she had always wants to be.... "A girl who has it all". Have fun!!!: