Samira's Day

One sunny morning, Samira was eating breakfast with her mother and
sister.

"Eat quickly Sarah, Samira, or you'll miss the bus." said Samira
and Sarah's mother Fatima.

"Alright mother" chorused Samira and her sister.

"Where are your manners, Sarah, you are eating like an animal!"

It was true, Sarah was stuffing food in her mouth as if there would be no
tomorrow.

"But you said eat faster!" said Sarah indignantly

"I know I did, but I didn't mean eat without manners…" sighed
Fatima.

Samira ate silently as she witnessed this small quarrel. As she did this,
she planned the day in her mind. After finishing her breakfast, Samira
went to feed the family cat Nixo, who gobbled up his food in no time.

"Samira, have you ironed your hijab yet?"

"Yes mother, I did that yesterday, I ironed Sarah's as well." replied

Samira.

" That's good, thank you Samira."

Samira smiled, then put on her hijab, she called Sarah and told her to
put on her hijab.

"I know, I know, no need to rush." Sarah muttered.

Ignoring her, Samira took a book from the bookshelf and read it while
waiting for the bus to arrive.
 "Good thing the bus stop's in front of our house, there's no need
for a hassle then." thought Samira.

"I'm done!" shouted Sarah at the top of her voice.

"No need to shout, dear." mother said as she came down the
stairs. Sarah gave her mother a sheepish smile as she sat down on the
sofa,

" Sorry, mother." "Hey, look the bus is here." Sarah scrambled
back up to her feet.

"Right then, we better get going, goodbye mother." Samira said as

she went to kiss her mother goodbye, Sarah did the same.

After Samira and Sarah exited the house, Samira swifty locked the door
behind her and got on the bus. She sat down next to her sister and
looked out the window. She loved gazing out of the window, she could
see a lot and by gazing out the window, she could block out the
unwanted sounds that were present on the bus. The two sisters got off at
their bus stop along with a handful of other students and nodded thank
you to the bus driver. They had to walk a bit to reach their school but
they didn't mind.

"Did you bring lunch?" Samira asked Sarah.

"Er…no, I forgot." answered Sarah sheepishly.

"Thought so.. you got any pocket money?" asked Samira again.
"Ermmm… " Samira looked at Sarah questioningly.

"Spent it all, didn't you?" Sarah laughed weakly and then said

"Yeah, sorry.." Samira sighed.

"Here, take this."

 "Thank you, I'll pay you back when I get more money." said Sarah
gratefully.

"We're here." said Sarah.

"Well, bye then.." Samira said. Sarah said bye in return.

Samira watched her sister walk away as she walked casually into the
school building.

"Samira!" Samira turned around to see who had called her.

She saw her best friend Claire waving at her madly. Samira grinned,

"Hi back!". "Where 'ave you been?"

"I 'ave been looking for you."Claire asked Samira.

"Sorry I'm a bit late."Samira said. "Aah, do not apologize.

“It iz not your fault that you are late." Claire said reassuringly.

Samira said "Your accent is not as thick as it used to be."

"Aah, you notized, I 'ave been taking zee English classes you
know?" Claire said proudly.

"That explains it." said Samira.

"Ah! Look at zee clock! It'z almost time for zee classes, let us hurry
up." Claire exclaimed.

Samira nodded "Okay, let's go." she said.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

Samira and Claire were in their classroom, making notes.

 "After you've finished copying the notes, do exercise 1,2,3, page
34 in the same book you are using to copy the notes." said Samira's
math teacher Miss Evans.

"Yes Miss Evans." chime the class. "Pssst, Samira, Samira!"

Samira looked up "What is it, Claire?" Samira asked while keeping

her voice low.

"I want to ask a question, do we 'ave to copy zee instructions az

well?" Claire asked.

"I think so, wait I'll ask." Samira raised her hand up,

"Miss Evans,"she asked.

"Yes, Samira?" "Do we have to copy the instructions as well?"

Samira said.

"Yes, you do."Miss Evans answered.

"Thank you, Miss Evans." Samira said.

Claire said to Samira gratefully,

"Thank you, for 'elping me." Samira smiled your welcome.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

School was almost over.

"Just five more minutes." thought Samira.

Samira had finished her work and had already packed her bag. She
looked around her and saw to her surprise that almost everyone had
finished their work. Most of them were chatting with their friends and
some were staring at the clock, willing it to go faster. Samira turned back
to face front and stared at the clock. Two minutes.. One minute.. School
was over!

"Right then, no pushing please.. see you tomorrow students."

Miss Evans said as she waved them goodbye.

"Bye Samira, I shall see you tomorrow, do not be late for zee bus."
Claire said.

"Alright, bye!" Samira said happily.

Samira walked towards the big willow tree that stood outside the school
gates. She always waited for her sister there.

"Where is she? It's been ten minutes." thought Samira.

She was a little bit worried, her sister was usually a bit late sometimes,
but never this late. Then she saw her sister appear out of nowhere, she
was running

"Where have you been?" Samira asked in an annoyed voice.

"Sorry, Miss Brown.. made me sweep… the classroom.… for not

finishing my homework." Sarah said in between breaths.

"Serves you right, you always put off your homework." Samira
said. Sarah scowled "Not always.." she muttered. Samira ignored her
sister.

"Now we'll have to walk home,"

"Because of you we missed the bus and we can't take the next
bus, it's too late. Samira said exasperated.

They were walking home when Samira heard a sound

 "What was that?" Samira said. Sarah looked at her sister looking
puzzled,

"What was what?" she asked. "There! Did you hear that?"

Sarah listened, she was about to speak when the sound came
again.

"Oooh, I heard it! Sounds like a meow to me." "Yeah, it does

sound like a meow." Samira said.

"Where is it coming from?" Sarah asked.

"I think it's coming from that drain." Samira said.

Samira peered into the drain.

"It's a cat." Sarah went to join her sister.

"It's sooo cute!" she exclaimed.

"I'll get it out." Samira said as she rolled up her sleeve and bent
down to pick up the cat.

Samira put down the cat and looked at it to see if it was injured.

"She looks fine to me, come on let's get a move on it's getting
dark." Samira said to her sister who was petting the cat.

"O..Okay…" Sarah said reluctantly.

After a little while they arrived at their house. They went in and greeted
their mother who was in the kitchen. Their mother returned their
greetings and said

"Go take a shower, you two. After that come down and eat dinner."

"Alright mother." Samira and Sarah said.

After she finished cleaning herself up, Samira went downstairs to the
kitchen and sat down at the dining table. Sarah and her mother were
already there and had been waiting for her.

"Sorry for making you wait." Samira said apologetically.

"No worries." mother said. As they ate, they filled their mother in on
the day's events.

"We rescued a cute cat on our way home." Sarah told her mother
looking pleased.

"Wow, did you really? That's good, remember to always help

anyone in need, including animals.

" Yes, mother." they said. "Helping people and animals is

something everyone should do." Samira thought.

"I hope that people always help other people and animals so that
everyone can live in peace and harmony