"Thanks so much for taking care of everything, I don't know what I would have done with out you two!" Dad said for the thousandth time at eleven at night while Auntie Aasiyah and Mazin were getting ready to leave.
"It's the least we could do Ahmad!" Auntie Aasiyah stated, and with that they were gone into the black of the night.
I was so happy dad was back home, I had forgotten about everything Mazin told me the day before. And I had also forgotten to ask my dad about the gunman who shot him. Maybe we'll save the question for another day. Right now I was too happy, I felt like I hadn't seen Dad in a century.
I told my dad about everything that had happened while he was in the hospital.. Well everything in school, I didn't want to worry him too much. Not just yet. I also told him about what Miss Mitchells had said, entering me in an art competition.
"Maydah it's a great opportunity and I think you should seriously consider it!" Dad encouraged.
"I am seriously considering giving it up."
"Think about it Maydah, this could be about your future and everything, it all starts with something small like this," Dad urged.
"I don't know dad," I sighed. It was kind of weird dad was getting so into this whole art idea, I mean don't artists have like a different view of life and see things differently and stuff? "I'm already different enough as it is.."
"Sometimes being different is what makes us great," Dad said.
"How will art make me great?"
"Art is more than a pretty picture Maydah. You can draw meaning. You can make people see the invisible fist that's punching them in the face. Art is a hidden message that's waiting to be revealed."
"Dad, are you saying I can put a message in my drawings?" I asked, finally understanding.
"You're the artist, you tell me."
I walked into school the next morning, the grass was all damp and the pavements were filled with puddles. It had rained last night.
"So did you dad get hurt while planning a failed attack? That's how he ended up in the hospital right?" Haylie snickered.
"My dad would never hurt a flie!"
"You can never be too sure," she said looking at her newly manicured nails.
I rolled my eyes and walked away. I was hoping to see Miss Mitchells before the bell rang.
"Hey Maydah! I'm so glad your dad is ok!" Azalea grinned.
"I know, he's great, thank God,"
"So I heard you got entered in the 'Artist Today' competition!"
"Yeah, I was just going to see Miss Mitchells about that," I said.
"Ok, I'll catch you later."
"Maydah, darling come on in!" Miss Mitchells said full of energy. "So I guess you need some information on the competition eh?"
"Yeah,"
"Well have a seat hun, I have a leaflet at the back some where just hold on. In the mean time you can have a look at these, they are examples of drawings that might get your creative juices flowing."
I carefully opened the cover of the fragile book that she had left me with. The works of art were amazing and I was starting to have doubts if I could really do it! These peices were carefully done, each flick of the paint brush seemed to have a perfect effect on the picture..
"Here you are, all the information you need," She handed me the leaflet.
"I don't think I can do this." I stated.
"Why not?!"
"These are perfect! I can't produce a peice of work like these ones."
"That's the beauty of art Maydah," Miss Mitchells smiled. "Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. An artist you see, is not paid for their labour, but for their vision."
"I dont.. I can't do it Miss Mitchells, I'm sorry." I shook my head.
"If you hear the voice withing you saying 'you cannot paint' than by all means paint and that voice will be silenced."
I took a deep breath. "How long do I have to finish my first piece?"
"That's my girl!" Miss Mitchells broke into a hige smile. "Ok, you have until the first week of spring to complete the art work and hand it in, that will be your entry piece."
I nodded as the bell rang and walked out of the class.
"So it's official? You're actually doing this?" Azalea asked at lunch.
"I guess," I said still not believing it.
"It's going to be so awesome! You'll be famous all over the world, like Leonardo Da Vinci or Vincent Van Gough or-"
"IF I win," I reminded her.
"You will win,"
"I hope," I said, "Just one thing."
"What's that?" Azalea asked.
"Don't let me quit,"
"Trust me, I won't!"
YOU ARE READING
Journal of a Teenage Muslim.
Teen FictionMaydah Ahmad was never a normal girl. Ever since she was a young girl, it was clear to tell she was made for something bigger, something better.. But than her mother died, leaving Maydah and her father to cope on their own. After that her life was n...
