Nadia Ahmed

Nadia came home from art class, and like usual her parents were at work. She had no siblings to talk to, or anyone to keep her company. She thought ”why isn’t my life perfect like everyone else’s.?” Nadia remembered she needed to pray, she took her prayer mat out and started praying. When she finished she sat on her bed and watched her phone screen, Nadia eventually fell asleep. *Alarm rings* “oh it’s already time for school” Nadia hops out of her comfy bed and gets dressed in some nice clothing, she heads downstairs where she sees her mom in the kitchen. “Assalamu Alaikum” says Nadia looking forward to eating some yummy breakfast. “Wa Alaikum Assalam” replies Nadia’s mother. “I have to leave for work for a bit, the maid will cook you breakfast” says mother. “But mom.. why can’t you stay home and cook me breakfast?” Nadia asks. “I told you already, now hurry up you have school” mother says. Nadia sighs and eats her breakfast, Nadia grabs her bag and walks out the house. Her driver is already in the car waiting for her.

                                    Amira Mirza

Amira groaned as her kitten, Bambi, licked her toes, which were dangling off the small sofa bed. Suddenly the dream she was trying to recover didn’t seem so appealing anymore. “Amira! You missed Fajr...again!” Mama shouts from the kitchen. Another downside of having to sleep in the living room: she has no personal space. But her 3 bedroom apartment barely fits her family of 5. 

“Coming!” She thrusts off her blanket and hopps out of bed and into her fuzzy slippers. The Wudu she makes is sloppy, and she knows she should be eager to please Allah, but it’s 6 in the morning! After speed praying and changing into some hand-me-downs, Amira seats herself at the kitchen bar. 

“Assalamualaikum,” Mama says while sliding a pancake onto the paper plate.

“Waalaikumsalam,” Amira responds. She gobbles up her breakfast then slings her backpack over her shoulder and scurrys out the door without another word.

                                Nadia Ahmed

Nadia walks down the hall with her friends, she stares at her limited edition Nike shoes as she walks. “Do you sometimes wish you weren’t rich?” Nadia asks her friends. “Where are you getting these thoughts from?” Says one of her friends while laughing. The bell rings and Nadia and her friends head to class, Nadia still thinks about her question.

                                                    Amira Mirza

School is normal. Amira watches as girls with shiny hair and cute outfits stride down the hall with

bright smiles lighting up their faces. Then she looks down at her cheap Walmart t-shirt, and the jeans she’s had since she was 8. The hem reaches to her shin, and her torn socks show underneath. Amira’s hijab is the only clothing that isn’t stained or patchy. 

        “Amira, why do you always wear the same shirt?” One of the girls in the clique asks. The other girls give her a grim smile and await her answer with big eyes. 

        “I...I just really like it.” She lies. How do you tell someone that you’re so poor that buying a 5 dollar T-shirt cuts into your parent’s monthly salary like a knife in a grape? 

        “Oh, well maybe try adding some color into your life.” The girl responds with a snicker, then flicks her hair and swivels on her heel, walking away with whispers. 

        Amira picks at her food and complains inside of how unlucky she is. Why did it have to be me?

                                Nadia Ahmed

Nadia walks out of school and decides to walk home today, she struggles to carry her heavy backpack. ”I don’t want to carry this heavy backpack, but I don’t want to go in the car either..” Nadia was almost home but then she started complaining in her head about how her shoulders were hurting and it was almost starting to rain. She got so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t look where she was going, “Agh!” She bumps into a girl and accidentally makes her fall. 

                                Amira Mirza

    The loud drilling is heard on Amira's way home. "What's going on?" She asks a construction builder. 

    "We're redoing this road. It'll probably take a day or two." He replies. 

     About time, Amira thinks. This road was so damaged, that when Mama drove her old car, it would bounce and hobble so much. “Oh okay, I guess I’ll take the longer path home.” She replies, then tightens her backpack higher, and turns left on a street where she would usually turn right. Wealthy mansions line up, and Amira is dazzled at the grandeur of them all. That's when she feels a drop of rain splatter on the tip of her nose. She looks up to find rain clouds. "Oh no!" She whispers, and breaks into a run. With her eyes peeled on the dark clouds, she doesn't notice when she rams into somebody. 

        "Oof!" Amira shouts as she lands on the hard gravel. Her head is spinning but she makes out the outline of a girl who is holding out her hand to Amira. 

    "Come on. The rain will pour soon." Is what the girl says before pulling her towards shelter.