What happened was indeed unfortunate. Jason was Abdul's best friend. Nostalgic thoughts of all the times they interacted swarmed through Abdul's head. The time when he got stabbed and his father thought he was going to die. The time when they were in Jason's living room giving each other Dawah(Islamic reminders). So many other times they shared. Abdul didn't want his close friend to depart from him. But he was sure that he would see him again in Jannah, almost too sure.
Shay quickly rushed out the door behind Abdul.
"YOU GOING BACK TO THE HOUSE?" She asked.
Abdul turned his whole body around.
"I'm going to the Masjid. Then I will be going back, yes." Abdul said.
"You want me to go with you?" Shay asked.
"If you want. But I'm going to be there for quite some time." Abdul said.
"Okay. Lemme get my jacket." Shay said then she went back in the house.
Lisa was giving a eulogy speech. Christy was seated across at the couch still crying. Roxanne and some other family members surrounded her and were consoling her.
Shay quickly grabbed her black jacket from one of the chairs and headed back out.
Abdul was still standing at the same spot waiting for her.
"Okay, let's go." Shay said as she delved her hand in her handbag and drew her car keys out.
"We will be walking." Abdul said.
"What. Why?" Shay asked.
"For every step you take to the Masjid. Allah rewards you and forgives your sins."
"But it's like twenty-five minutes away." Shay said.
Abdul stared at her and said nothing.
"You can stay if you like." Abdul finally said.
Shay pouted and sighed deeply. She then walked towards Abdul at the cross walk.
"Put on your jacket." Abdul ordered her.
Shay immediately inserted her hands in the sleeve of the jacket.
"Come on, let's go." Abdul said and began walking.
He then stopped and pointed his finger forward.
"Please walk in front of me." He said.
"Why?" Shay asked.
Abdul thought for a minute.
"Because I want you to arrive to the Masjid before me. I want you to get to Jannah first." Abdul said.
"But we can arrive together." Shay said.
"Okay." Said Abdul.
"Wouldn't you like that? If we go to heaven together."
"I would, yes." Abdul replied.
They were both now in juxtaposition as they walked side by side on the sidewalk. Abdul reached his hand down to hold Shay's. He then lifted it up and kissed her tiny fingers.
"I truly love you dearly." Abdul said.
"Awww... I love you too." Shay responded.
They continued to walk. When they arrived to the end of the sidewalk Abdul halted.
"What's wrong?" Shay asked.
Abdul raised his finger and pointed forward.
"You see that stop sign over there at the end of that street?"
Shay looked and nodded her head.
"Yeah."
"We're going to have a race, me and you." Abdul said.
"What?" Shay scoffed and said.
"Boy I'm not racing you."
Abdul half giggled. "This is because you're scared. It's understandable. I mean..."
"Boy ain't nobody scared!" Shay scoffed and said.
Abdul got close to Shay's face.
"I'm stronger than you. I'm faster than you. My impetus is excellent. You want to emulate my style and be like me..."
Shay scoffed. "PLEASE!"
"I'm about to get a gym membership at the 'Y' and me and you we're gonna start going." Abdul said.
"I don't wanna go to no damn gym with you wtf. What are you trying to say ABDUL!!?"
Abdul said nothing. There was a short period of silence.
"I'm not trying to say you're fat if that's what you're thinking. I'm just saying... You've let yourself go over the years that's all." Abdul said.
Shay's face got red and she began to fume. She then took her black jacket off and wrapped it around her waist. Then she folded her pants legs up.
"I see you're willing to take me up on the challenge. Okay, let's make this funner. If I win..."
"MORE FUN!" Shay corrected him.
"Huh?"
"'Funner' is not a word. It's 'more fun.'" Shay said.
"Whatever. Allah Knows best. But if I win you get to make me an egg and cheese sandwich with extra lettuce and ketchup." Abdul said.
Shay laughed softly. "And what if I win?"
Abdul thought for a minute.
"Umm... You can hop on my back and I'll piggy back you all the way to the Masajid." Abdul said.
Shay laughed out loud. "WHAT! Are you serious??"
"Wallahi!" Abdul said.
"It's not going to be easy. Considering... Your immense weight."
"Let's go!" Shay said.
They both got set at the end of the sidewalk.
"On the count of three, we can go." Abdul said.
"One... Two... THREE! GO!" Abdul said and they both darted off.
Shay was instantly in the lead. Abdul saw this and he started sweating profusely as he tried to catch up with her. When they got to the middle of the street and Abdul saw that he was going to lose, he decided to pull a trick.
"AAAHHHH! WTFF!! MY LEG! AAHHH!" Abdul fake fell down and started gripping his kneecap.
Shay didn't even hear him. She flew past the stop sign and began cheering.
"YAAAYYY! WHOO-HOO!" Shay jumped up and cheered.
She then turned and saw Abdul on the floor holding his knees.
"Uhh... What are you doing?" She asked.
"I GOT SHOT!!!"