Story Time! - by Ibn Abdullah 🦁

It was the first day of school. Actually, it was the second day, but we’ll pretend it was the first. The students ran around the school premises while the teachers congregated at the gate. Two parents stood next to each other, their young son sandwiched between them, each parent offering him a hand. The Principal walked through the gate, her young daughter holding her hand. “Good morning, teachers.” “Good morning, ma,” the teachers chorused. She let go of little Princess, who scuttled away into her classroom. The Principal walked towards the waiting parents. They greeted her. She reached for the young boy sandwiched between his parents. “Fine boy. What’s your name?” The boy staggered backwards, shielding himself behind his mother. “Akram,” his mother answered. Little Akram was not having it. The teachers all headed to their respective classes. So did Farouq. Farouq was busy typing away on his laptop. He had a research paper to finish. But he was tired of typing, so he stood up and walked out of the empty classroom. He strolled through the various classes, which were still scanty since most of the students were yet to resume. Eventually, he made his way to the nursery section, where Miss Precious was struggling to get a child to stop crying. It was, you guessed it, little Akram. The boy wanted his mother, who had been in the Principal’s office. Farouq looked at the boy. Even when he bent down to his level, the child glued himself to the wall. Farouq spoke to him. The child whisperer must have whispered a magical spell into the boy’s ear, because by the time Farouq returned to the class, the boy was holding his hand. Miss Precious was shocked. “Wow!” she said. Apparently, the teachers had struggled to pacify the boy, but just like that, Farouq was holding his hand. Farouq walked around the premises with the boy before finally settling down near the see-saws. Some children were playing on them. Akram watched. Farouq sat with him. Then Akram’s mother appeared. But before the boy could see her, she hid away in a classroom, smiling. Farouq gave her a look that said, I got this. The boy wanted the see-saw. Farouq took him to it. Up and down went little Akram. Princess joined them. Farouq watched the children play. Miss Precious walked past. “Thank you,” she said to Farouq. “You’re welcome,” Farouq replied. Then... it came time for Farouq to leave. He had to be at the school to test his experimental rig. Farouq made his way towards his car. Akram spotted him. He dismounted the see-saw. Farouq halted and turned around to observe the children. Akram returned to the see-saw. Farouq turned to leave again. Again, Akram saw him and came down. Farouq returned. Akram went back. Farouq was stuck. Akram did not want him to leave. But Farouq did not want to leave either. He wanted to stay and play, but he had a thesis to complete. So Farouq watched and waited. Once he saw that the boy was distracted, Farouq quickly tiptoed out of sight, started his engine, and drove off. Little did Akram know, Farouq really wanted to play with him. But he couldn't. Farouq came to school the next day. He saw Akram and tried to play with him. Akram wanted nothing to do with Farouq. Farouq was sad. 🫠 The end.

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