Sparkling eyes, beaming smile
Ebony curls, peppered with sand
3arragi* torn, yet he stood with pride
A child of 10, sailing on a lonely road

At the orphanage’s door, next to my friend’s house is where I first set eyes upon him. Hmm, yes, it was the playful expression dancing on his face, his piercing gaze and the twinkle gleaming therein, that had stopped me in my tracks.
“What’s your name,” I ventured. “Basil meaning brave, what’s yours?” he asked. “Hiba meaning gift,” I teased. “If you’re a gift, why do you look sad & tired? Gifts are supposed to be happy to make those who receive them happy.

Caught off guard and impressed by his keen insight, I pressed on: “So, what do you know about sad & tired grown-ups?” I know that they have forgotten how to smile and play. They see the night and forget there is day, he replied. “Don’t you think the sun is too hot during the day for anyone to smile or play?” I laughed. “You let the sun burn you like you let the night scare you.” Dumbfounded to come up with something witty, I mouthed a “you’re truly brave, Basil. Allah yihfazak*,” and hurried off to my friend’s house.

Father shot in the south
Malnourished mother died giving birth
At the age of 5, his uncle gave him up
Hollow-eyed, devoid of remorse

The orphanage was in a pitiful state and the orphans lived in shabby conditions. The caretakers had to make do with the scraps and donations they were given since their relentless efforts to persuade the government to increase their financing met with no fruition. Anyway, everyone noticed that Basil was special & different. He spent most of his time reading stories, sitting dazedly in Alhosh* or accosting & conversing with adult strangers who passed by the orphanage every now & then.

White is for soul
Green is for mind
Red is for heart
These are the parts that make up Basil’s toy

“What is that thing in your hand that has the colors of our flag?” I asked one day with mock-innocence and failing miserably to suppress a chuckle. By now, Basil had gotten used to my inane sense of humor. How ironic that our roles were reversed!! The doll look-alike was actually broken twigs glued, somehow, together. He used chalks to color his disfigured version of a human toy.
“Ya Hadiya* (this is what he liked to call me). This is my best friend. White is clean like Baba Ahmed’s Jalabiya* when he is praying. Green is the grass in our hosh. Red is the roses I saw in the park that Mama Safiya took us to.

7 days later, his stomach began to ache
Doctor diagnosed it as an infection
Medication was taken yet nothing stopped the pain
Until his appendix burst open

What can I possibly write after this! Yes, Basil passed away as a result of a misdiagnosis; another beautiful young soul, who could have done so much for this world, lost as a consequence of negligence and error!!! How can I describe the brutality, agony, horror & unfairness of it all? I stand speechless!
After his burial, which was attended by masses of people, old and young, whose lives he must have touched in one way or the other, I asked Mama Safiya for his precious toy. Back then, when he had expounded on the colors, I hadn’t thought much about it. However, now, I have come to fathom their deep meanings:

White (Soul): Keeping the soul clean & pure; being good; having faith & hope.
Green (Mind): The mind is fertile. It is our duty to nurture & cultivate it. We choose to allow the weeds to grow in it or not. We develop it.
Red (Heart): He likened it to a rose. A rose is exquisite yet fragile and so is the heart. Cherish & protect it for it can be easily broken.

A 10 year old taught me so much about life, humans and purity. His toy stands as a symbol of what we should be. Life is, indeed, temperamental, rocking us back and forth with its unpredictable mood swings. To cope with it, one must always search for goodness and strength within and to seek that inner power which, to me, is Allah. No matter how circumstances pull you down, try not to bow to it.

This piece is dedicated to those children in Sudan who are wise beyond their age due to what they have/had experienced & who are striving to uphold their values in the face of misery and tribulations

3arragi: A type of Sudanese traditional knee-length white robe, which is usually worn with a sirwal(loose slacks).It is for men.
Allah yihfazak: May Allah protect you.
Alhosh: The court yard/yard surrounding the house.
Hadiya: Gift in Arabic.
Jalabiya: White loose flowing robe worn by men.