Somewhere Far Away

It was Sunday morning. My family and I woke up from our slumber to get dressed for our religious gathering.

"Ashley, go wake up your sister!"

"Yes, mother,"

I went to the room next to mine and woke up my 6 years old sister.

"Wakey, wakey, Taylor!"

My sister grunted and flipped to her side.

I stretched my fingers and tickled her body.

"Stop it!" said my sister and she woke up with messy hair.

"We are about to leave, let's go!"

"I don't want to go!"

Taylor buried her head into her pillow.

"Hey, if you go, I would buy you a candy!" said I.

She sprung out from her bed. "Really?"

I nodded.

All 3 of the family member were dressed up and began to walk to our local church.

As usual, it was boring and I have not the slightest clue to what the priest was talking. My sister had dozed off halfway through the priest's sermon. My mother slapped my sister awake.

The gathering ended at 12 noon and everyone began to chit chat with each other.

"Mom! I will be bringing Taylor to the market for shopping!"

"Alright dear, please be back before 5pm."

"Alright, Mom!"

I grabbed Taylor's hand and went to the market.

I went to Ms Brenda's candy shop. She always had the tastiest candy.

The doorbell rang as I pushed open the door.

"Ms Brenda, can I have one of that swirly lollipop?"

"Sure, my cute little Ashley."

Ms Brenda was a plump old lady with curly grey hair. She walked out from the counters and went to the counter where the lollipop was located.

"Here you go."

She handed me the lollipop and gave my cheek a squeeze.

"You look so adorable. Another one for your sister?"

"It's fine. This is for my sister."

"Oh, you are not having one?" asked Ms. Brenda.

"I having a bit of toothache and I don't want my tooth to fall out."

"Then you better take care of your tooth. Don't want to have your tooth to all fall out like mine."

Ms. Brenda smiled politely and I smiled back.

"That will be 20 cents, darling."

"Here you go."

I passed the lollipop to Taylor and left the shop.

"So how does it taste?" I asked Taylor.

"It's delicious."

A man with severely hunched back and was wearing a pair of sunglasses was stumbling around the streets.

"Ashley, what's wrong with that person?" she asked while licking her lollipop.

"Let's go help him, Taylor."

We approached the man and grabbed both of his arms to guide him through the streets.

"We are here to help you, where do you want to go?" asked me.

"Oh….thank….you." His voice was coarse and croaky and incredibly slow as if he has a speech impediment. "But it's okay, I can walk myself." His tone was soft and polite.

He shrugged us off with force and continue to walk down the street. The two of us looked at his hunched figure and stumbling footsteps. We couldn't help but feel sympathy and empathy. But the onlookers thought otherwise.

"Hey, you two, stay away from him. You never know what diseases he has."

"Why do you say so, mister?" asked Taylor.

"Look at him, his clothes were ragged and he looked awfully sick to me."

"Is that why you guys don't want to help him."

"That's enough, Taylor, let's just go." I grabbed my sister's hand and leave.

We went to a nearby water pipe and wash our hands.

"Sister, do you think he is sick as well?"

"I don't know but better be safe than sorry."

After we washed our hands, we walked around the market. I held my sister's hand so that she won't get lost. She always had a tendency to approach things that spark her curiosity.

We stopped at a puppet booth and sat together with the other kids on the long bench to enjoy the puppet show.

We were both totally absorbed into the voice over of the puppets and was laughing at the top of our lungs over the slapstick comedy.

After the show was finished, we dropped a few cents in front of the booth to support the show.

We continue to venture around the market and we decided that there is nothing else interesting to watch anymore. So, we turned around and left.

We arrived home and our mother was in the house cooking dinner.

"We're back, Mom!"

"Welcome home, so how was the market?"

"It's fun!" said Taylor.

"It's okay," said I.

"I am just about to finish cooking dinner, go and take a bath."

We went to take bath but as we passed by the altar of our father, we both offer him a prayer.

"Father, I hope you are doing well in heaven. Today, Taylor and I have so much fun in the market. I hope you have as much fun as we do in heaven. We miss you."

We finished taking our bath and have a lovely dinner with mother. Before we begin, we said a word of prayer to our Heavenly Father.

We prayed to Him for His continuous blessing on our family and the world.

I prayed to Him to help him go through this toothache that has been bothering me for a few days.

I wonder what did Taylor prayed to him?