12-10-2004, 09:02 AM
Miss Moppy- I'll see ya'
Miss Moppy and her brother Samy, have their first confrontation with death.
"Come on and put your shoes on Moppy. We have to give this food to Roy," said Samy.
"I'm trying to, but my foot is stuck," replied six year old Moppy.
"Give me your foot and I'll help you," offered her brother.
Samy tried to push Moppy's little foot into her shoe but it wouldn't go.
"You're hurting my toes. I'm not in a cartoon! I'm real you know!"
"I know you're real Mops. Looks like you need some new shoes," commented Samy.
"Got it!" said Moppy. "These one will do for another day, Inshaa Allah," she said happily.
"What do you have for Roy today?" asked Moppy.
"Oh just the usual bits of leftovers," said Samy.
"Isn't it funny that dogs eat all the things that we don't even like to touch," remarked Moppy.
"Allah made every creature for a purpose," said Samy thoughtfully.
"Maybe He made Roy and the other dogs to clean up all the garbage," said Moppy.
"And to be my friend too," added Samy.
"Are you friends with a dog, Samy?" asked Moppy curiously. "Aren't dogs dirty?"
"Yes, dogs are dirty but that doesn't mean we have to be cruel to them. I'm nice to Roy and I love watching him play. There's a lot of times he has come to my rescue when another dog was chasing me," said Samy lovingly.
"And he always meets you at the bus stop after school," added Moppy with a smile.
"And walks with me to the bus stop in the mornings," said Samy. "He knows when I feel sad," observed Samy.
"How does he know that?" asked Moppy.
"I don't know. He just knows and he walks behind me quietly. He lives in this garden and it's his home. We're neighbours," said Samy.
"That reminds me of Molly," said Moppy.
"How can Molly remind you of a big, strong, clever dog like Roy?" asked Samy surprised.
"Well, she's big and strong umm for a guinea pig," said Moppy proudly. "And Allah made her for a purpose too and she's my friend."
"She looks like a rat!" said Samy laughing.
"No, she doesn't! She's more like a rabbit with small ears and no tail," said Moppy defensively.
"Wait here Moppy," said Samy, "I want to speak to my friend for a minute."
Samy left Moppy standing underneath a beautiful palm tree. Its leaves fanned the little girl, as it moved in time with the breeze while she waited for her brother to return.
One look at Samy's face and Moppy knew something was wrong.
Samy quietly brushed a tear from his face and sat down on the grass under the palm tree.
"What's the matter?" asked Moppy gently.
Samy stared intently at a little yellow flower growing out of the bottom of a rock.
"Roy's dead," he said, with such a look of such sadness that Moppy reached out her little, chubby hand to touch him gently.
"Inna lillahi wa ina illahi ragioon. From Allah we come, and to Allah we return," said Moppy, her big brown eyes full of sadness.
"Most of the dogs in the area were shot last night," said Samy.
"With guns?" asked Moppy surprised. "Who's going to clean up all the garbage now?" she asked.
"And who's going to meet me at the bus stop?" added Samy. Tears fell again and he put his head on his knees.
"I'll meet you Samy! Me and Molly will come and meet you everyday. Don't you worry. I'll put her in the little, red, shopping basket. She'll like going for a walk."
"Thanks Moppy but I really miss Roy. There aren't many dogs like him. Now he's gone."
Moppy sat up straight and looked firmly at Samy.
"Well he belongs to Allah and it's up to Him to decide when He wants him back. Right?!"
"Right Moppy," said Samy starting to sit up straight.
"So, you're lucky to have had a friend for three whole years and other kids never had a friend like Roy at all!"Samy looked at Moppy and listened.
"And he'll wake up again you know! Mum told me all about it. I know he'll wake up again!!" said Moppy.
"When?" asked Samy.
"On the Day of Judgment, you know 'Yaum al Qiyamah! That's when everything and everyone will wake up again," said Moppy with certainty.
"And Allah will judge everyone for what they did in this life," added Samy.
"Allah will ask us how we treated Roy," added Samy.
"And Molly," added Moppy. "And we treat them nicely, don't we Samy?"
"I hope Allah will be pleased with us. And maybe we get to see Roy again then."
"Inshaa Allah," said Moppy.
"You're getting bigger all the time," said Samy, wiping his face again.
Moppy reached out and grabbed his hand, pulling him to his feet.
"Come on Samy, let's see if we can find another cat or dog who'll eat these scraps. Guinea pigs don't like chicken bones!"