Planet Omar: Unexpected Super Spy

CHAPTER 1
CRASSSHHH!
That was the sound of my ceramic Stormtrooper bank breaking into 100 pieces. I had turned it upside down and tapped it against the metal leg of my desk, because I thought that was a good idea for getting the money out. It wasn’t. But at least my money was there, and it looked like A LOT.
I needed to get it out to buy this really cool Nerf laser blaster I saw on TV. I had accidentally broken my last one the time we had a Nerf battle at my cousin Reza’s house. I’d been imagining that everyone was turning into MAN-EATING GIANTS WITH GREEN WARTS ALL OVER THEIR FACES and got a bit carried away. That’s the best part-pretending you’re running from something way scarier than your cousins and friends.
While I was counting my riches, Maryam came in and said, “YOU’RE SUCH AN IDIOT. You know there is a little rubbery piece at the bottom you can just open the thing with.”
“I know,” I said. I actually didn’t know, so I felt kind of stupid. I tried really hard to think of something smart to say, but, in the meantime, Maryam tried to sit on my wheelie chair, which wheeled itself away from her with a mind of its own. She completely missed the seat and hit the floor, and we both almost wet our pants laughing.
She disappeared back to her room after that, leaving me to add up all my coins and bills. In total, I had $42.53. Super cool-that had to be enough to buy the Nerf blaster! I borrowed Mom’s phone and called my best friend, Charlie. After I told him, he said,
“WHOA! HOW DID YOU GET THAT MUCH?”
“I put all the money I got for Eid and all the money I got for my birthday in there. Dad said it would be worth the wait for something awesome if I saved up.”
“Aw, man, that’s cool. I spend my money the minute I get it.”
I told Charlie that I used to do that, too, but then I imagined that if I saved enough money, one day I could pay people to let me drive even though I’m only a kid. And maybe I would end up with enough money to buy a Ferrari, because they’re only like $150,000, which surely couldn’t take that long to save.
Mom shouted up the stairs that it was time to get off the phone and put my shoes on to go to the mosque. But she said it really nicely and she even called me “sweetie,” so I didn’t think it was that urgent and I kept talking to Charlie and daydreaming about my Ferrari. Charlie was daydreaming, too, because I said I’d pay people to let him drive as well.
Then Mom came in and blew my ears off.
“I SAID PUT YOUR SHOES ON!”
Yikes!
“Bye, Charlie.”
Our mosque trips had become even more fun since Dad started coming with us. He changed things around so that he doesn’t have to go to the lab on Saturdays anymore, which means more cool things can happen on weekends now. He even took me go-karting recently, which was the best Saturday Ever!
Gulp. I couldn’t find my left shoe, and Mom was going to lose it if I didn’t get this done in fifteen milliseconds… Yes! I saw it on top of the sofa and grabbed it while Dad stood over me with a face like that emoji whose lips are just a very straight line. But when I put it on, I saw that it had been treated to a dose of my little brother’s slime in a bucket. I didn’t dare complain or look for other shoes, so I shoved my foot in. It was DISGUSTING. Like I was stepping on a
GAZILLION ZOMBIE EYEBALLS.
EWWWWWWWW.
I squished and SQUIRTED my way to the Peanut (that’s our car) and jumped in.
At the mosque, when we were all praying, Esa sat on my head and made me laugh. I had to control myself before it turned into a full-on giggle fit, so I imagined that there was a SUPER-VILLAIN holding me in a headlock and if I laughed out loud, he would blow up the whole entire universe. But if I kept quiet as a mouse, he would release me and the universe would be safe…
PHEW, I managed it. I was pretty pleased with myself, especially when Dad turned and winked at me when the prayer was finished. I know why he did it. To show me that he saw Esa on my head and that he was proud of how I’d handled it. Also because he was in a good mood. He’s always in a good mood at the mosque, and he has a different sort of smile on his face while we’re there. Maybe it’s a Secret Smile that’s only for Allah or something. I think he’s really glad we found such a great mosque close to our new house. All the others Mom made us try out when we first moved are miles away. Dad says he’s happy that it has the kind of vibes that make him feel closer to Allah. Mom and Dad like those kinds of vibes, and they say you don’t get them in every mosque. Everyone is really nice to each other, and it’s quiet, and light comes streaming in through the windows on sunshiny days.
CHAPTER 2
On Monday at school, I rolled in with an imaginary Nerf blaster in my arms and targeted my best friend, Charlie.
POW!
He gave me the very same toothy grin that made me like him when I moved to this school recently. Then he pulled out his own blaster from under the table (imaginary, too, of course) and pretended to blast me right back.
I think his imagination has been getting stronger since we became friends, like a muscle does when you lift weights all day long.
When Daniel saw us, he giggled and punched me on the arm. Don’t worry, it was one of those FRIENDLY punches that don’t hurt at all. Daniel is our friend now.