Yusuf and Yusra's Happy Dilemma by A. Dawood

Author:A. Dawood [Dawood, A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781960323118
Publisher: Shaherazad Shelves

3

MEAN MISTAKE

There was a knock on the door, and the volunteer poked his head inside. “Assalamu’alaikum, I’m Hamza with Heroic Hearts, here to collect the toys.”

Abbu pulled on his beard. “About that…we’re not sure where they are.”

“What?” Hamza frowned.

“We put them here last night, and now they’re not here,” Yusuf explained.

“Oh.” Hamza looked at his watch. “I’m expected somewhere else in about thirty minutes.”

Yusra grabbed Yusuf’s arm. “We have to find the gifts before he leaves. It’s Eid, it should be happy for everyone!”

“I know, I know. Let’s look and ask around some more.”

Yusra faced Hamza with pleading eyes. “Please don’t leave, Mister Hamza. We’re going to find the toys, inshaAllah.”

Hamza nodded. “I’ll be waiting by the truck.”

Yusuf and Yusra checked the classrooms for a third time. They peered into the office window, ran to each corner of the prayer hall, and looked behind shelves and inside cabinets. But there was no sign of the brightly colored boxes.

The two went back to the main prayer area.

“Imam Tahir!” Yusuf said, gasping for air, hands on his knees.

Yusra tugged at the collar of her dress. The skirt part kept getting caught in her legs, and the material felt sticky against her skin now.

Imam Tahir turned around, and his eyebrows raised in surprise.

“What’s the hurry, Yusuf? Yusra?” he asked.

“Have you seen the toys we collected to donate to the shelter?” Yusra asked, her throat dry.

“I saw them in the classroom this morning,” Imam Tahir replied.

“The toys aren’t in the classroom anymore!” Yusra wailed.

It was Eid day! She wasn’t supposed to be running around in a frenzy. She was supposed to be parading prettily outside. But she knew she wouldn’t be able to enjoy this Eid the way she did every year if they didn’t find the toys.

This Eid was different. During Ramadan, they learned about the millions of refugees from different parts of the world: Syria, Rohingya, Mali, and more. Yusra hadn’t been the same then. She worried about the Muslims in Palestine, living in a war that had lasted for decades. She thought about orphans and made shukr for her parents. Mama introduced them to organizations that worked tirelessly to help people in need. Yusra and Yusuf had been so excited to do a small part in making someone else smile.

And now…

Yusra gasped.

“What, what?” Yusuf looked at her from where he was sprawled on the carpeted floor.

“What if someone stole the toys?”

“Stole them?” Yusuf sat up. “I can only think of one grouchy person—”

“Ah, ah, ah,” Imam Tahir wagged his finger. “We don’t accuse people without any proof, Yusuf.”

Yusuf puffed his cheeks to pout. “Well, the toys couldn’t have just disappeared.”

“Times like this, we should turn to Allah and make duaa,” Imam Tahir said kindly. “I have to go now. InshaAllah, you find the missing toys.”

Yusuf was still frowning. Suddenly, he gasped and grabbed Yusra’s arm. “Look,” he whispered.

Uncle Afzal was exiting the prayer hall, a wrapped package in his hand.

“There he is! I knew it! Come on, let’s follow him.”

The siblings tiptoed out of the prayer hall, keeping Uncle Afzal in view.

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