Mr Ears Goes Missing

Mr Ears was Baby Ais's blue rabbit. One of his ears was longer than the other, because Baby Ais chewed it when she got sleepy. He went everywhere with her: to the dinner table, to the bathroom (waiting outside), and to the park.

That afternoon, as they were about to leave the park, Baby Ais shrieked. "Where's Mr Ears?!"

Her hands were empty. Her bike basket was empty. Umi's bag was empty.

Baby Ais burst into tears. "Mr Ears is lost! He's all alone! He'll get cold!"

Umi crouched down and held both her shoulders. "Ais, listen. First we look, then we leave it to Allah. Come on, let's remember. Where did we go today?"

Baby Ais sniffled, but she began to think. "The swings…"

They went to the swings. Baby Mo crawled underneath. There was a flip-flop, there were dry leaves. No Mr Ears.

"First we look," Baby Ais mumbled, "then we leave it to Allah."

"Then the slide!" said Baby Mo.

They went to the slide. Baby Mo slid down looking left and right. There was someone else's water bottle. No Mr Ears.

"First we look, then we leave it to Allah."

"Then we bought ice lollies at the shop!"

They went to the shop. The shopkeeper shook her head. "Haven't seen him, dear. If I find him, I'll keep him safe for you."

The sky was getting dark. They had to go home. Without Mr Ears.

That night Baby Ais couldn't sleep. Her bed felt too big. She cried quietly into her pillow.

Umi sat beside her. "We looked everywhere. Now comes the second part — we leave it to Allah. There's a du'a for that: Hasbunallaahu wa ni'mal-wakiil. Allah is enough for us, and He is the best helper."

"What if Mr Ears doesn't come back?" whispered Baby Ais.

Umi hugged her. "Even if he doesn't, Allah is still enough for us. Allah knows Ais is sad. And Allah never loses anything."

Baby Ais closed her eyes. "Hasbunallaahu wa ni'mal-wakiil," she whispered.

Then someone knocked on the bedroom door. Baby Mo came in hugging his brown bear — the bear he never, ever lent to anyone.

"Here," he said, holding out his bear. "To look after you tonight. Until Mr Ears comes home."

Baby Ais slept hugging Baby Mo's bear.

The next morning, the doorbell rang. At the gate stood the shopkeeper — and a little girl. In the girl's hands was a blue rabbit with one long ear, a bit dirty, but whole.

"My daughter found him under the park bench," said the shopkeeper. "She wouldn't go to sleep until we brought him back to his owner."

Baby Ais hugged Mr Ears tight. Then she looked at the girl. "Thank you," she said. "Do you want to play on the swings with us this afternoon?"

Hasbunallaahu wa ni'mal-wakiil. — "Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best Disposer of affairs." (Qur'an, Ali 'Imran 3:173)

Talk it over with your little one: when we lose something, what are the two things we do? (Whisper: first we look… then we leave it to Allah.) 🐰