���˿���

THE EID SHOES
By Fawzia Gilani-Williams

The month of Ramadan would soon be over and it would be time for Eid. Mariam was very excited. Her mother had bought her some new shoes to wear with her new Eid dress. Mariam loved her Eid shoes. She wanted to wear them right away.

“No, no, no,” said Mummy with a smile. “We have to keep them for Eid. You can’t wear them yet!”

Mariam made a grumpy face. Mariam made a sad face. Mariam made a “pleasecan-I-wear-them-just-for-a-little-while” face.

“Okay,” said Mummy. “You can wear them just for a tiny, teeny time, but then we have to put them away safely.”

“Thank you, Mummy,” said Mariam.

Mariam walked in her new Eid shoes. She jumped in her new Eid shoes. She hopped in her new Eid shoes.

“Time to put them away,” said Mummy.

Mariam took off her Eid shoes very, very slowly and put them safely away in a red bag - which she kept right next to her. She kept them on her lap when she ate her dinner. She kept them behind her feet while she prayed next to Mummy. She kept them behind her back when Daddy read a story to her. At bedtime she put them next to her pillow.

“Shall I put them on the floor?” said Mummy.

“No thank you,” said Mariam, “they might get lost.”

Mummy smiled. “Tomorrow is Eid so you’ll be able to can wear your new shoes then!” she said.

Mariam smiled a big smile and closed her eyes. All night long she dreamed about her Eid shoes.

The next morning Mummy and Daddy got up early for Eid - so did Mariam. She stood in the kitchen wearing her pyjamas…and her new Eid shoes!

After breakfast Mummy, Daddy and Mariam all got dressed in their lovely Eid clothes. Everyone got into the car. Away they went past the shops, past the park, past the school, past the library…

Mariam tapped her feet. She looked at her Eid shoes and smiled. Mariam kept on tapping her feet until they reached the mosque.

The mosque was crowded. Lots and lots of cars. Lots and lots of people. And lots and lots and lots of shoes!

“Let me help you take your shoes off, Mariam,” said Mummy. “We have to take them off before we go into the prayer hall.”

Mariam looked a little worried. She held Mummy’s hand tightly as they entered the mosque.

“Mummy, can you pick me up?” asked Mariam.

“Don’t worry, Mariam,” said Mummy. “I’m right here.”

Mummy took Mariam to the back of the prayer hall. Everyone stood up to pray. Everyone made straight lines. Everyone bowed. Everyone kneeled.

When the prayers were over, the people hugged each other and wished each other “Eid Mubarak” - “a blessed Eid”. Other people answered with “Eid Kareem” - a prosperous Eid. There were so many people with so many smiles and so many hugs togive.

Mariam held onto Mummy’s dress tightly. Daddy came over and said, “There are so many people. Shall I carry you Mariam?”

“Thank you, Daddy,” said Mariam.

Everyone got into the car.

“Now we can drive to Grandma’s for the Eid dinner,” said Mummy.

“Let’s hurry,” said Mariam. “I’m hungry!”

And so they did hurry. Away they went, past the library, past the school, past the park. Mariam smiled and tapped her feet - but there was no tapping sound!

She looked at her feet and began to howl!

“What’s the matter?” asked Daddy.

“What’s the matter?” asked Mummy.

“My shoes!” yelled Mariam.

“Oh dear!” said Daddy.

“Oh no!” said Mummy.

Daddy turned the car around and headed back for the mosque. Past the park, past the school, past the library…

Mummy hurried into the mosque. Daddy picked up Mariam and hurried into the mosque. Mummy looked and Daddy looked and Mariam looked. They looked and looked and looked. But they couldn’t find the Eid shoes anywhere.

Just then the Imam appeared. “Asalaamu alaikum,” he said. “Are you looking for these?”

“My Eid shoes!” shouted Mariam and gave the Imam a big Eid hug.