Something Important

Something Important Story by

Patti Rae Tomarelli Illustrations by

Wendy Cowper-Thomas

Bellwood Press Evanston, Illinois

Bellwood Press, 1233 Central Avenue, Evanston IL 60204-0605 Copyright © 2010 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States All rights reserved. Published 2010 Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper ∞ 12 11 10 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Tomarelli, Patti Rae, 1952Something important / story by Patti Rae Tomarelli ; illustrations by Wendy Cowper-Thomas. p. cm.

Summary: During a show-and-tell presentation, Maggie shares a Bahai prayer.

ISBN 978-0-87743-711-6 (alk. paper) [1. Bahai Faith—Fiction. 2. Prayer—Fiction. 3. Show-and-tell presentations—Fiction.]

I. Cowper-Thomas, Wendy, 1955- ill. II. Title.

PZ7.T5835So 2010 [E]—dc22 2009049330

It was Monday morning.

The sun was shining, and Maggie was ready to start her day.

1

Maggie sat down next to her friends, Lua and Mateo. They said “hi” at the same time.

That is how Maggie started her school day.

9

At the end of the day, Mrs. Edmonds said, “Attention, class.

Tomorrow I want you to bring in a memento, something that is very important to you. When you tell us about it, we will learn something new about you.”

Lua scrunched her nose, and her hand flew up.

“I don’t get it.

What is a ‘memento’?”

Mrs. Edmonds pointed to her purple pin. “This is my memento. It is something that is very important to me.”

10

“Is that why you wear it every day?” asked Mateo.

“Yes, Mateo. This pin reminds me of people I love.

My mother gave it to me when I went away to school to become a teacher. Her mother gave it to her when she got married, and my great-grandmother gave it to my grandmother when she had her first baby.”

“And so when I wear this pin, I remember all of these people. That’s why I wear it close to my heart.”

When the clock struck 2:30, Mrs. Edmonds said, “See you tomorrow, class. Remember your mementos.”

Everyone said at the same time, “Good-bye, Mrs. Edmonds,” and the class was dismissed.

11

Maggie was in a hurry to get home.

“Woof,” said Tristan.

Maggie answered, “Woof.”

“Meow,” said Morgan.

Maggie replied, “Meow.”

12

When she finally reached home, she went straight to her room and began searching for something important. I need to find something that tells everyone something about me, thought Maggie.

She looked at her toolbox. No. That wasn’t what she was looking for.

She looked at her wand and crown. No. She looked all around. It had to be as important as Mrs. Edmonds’ pin.

Maggie searched and searched and searched. Nothing.

14

Maggie decided that she needed help, so she folded her arms across her chest, closed her eyes, and said in a loud, sincere voice, “Alláh-u-Abhá, Alláh-u-Abhá, Alláh-u-Abhá.”

When she opened her eyes she saw what she wanted, right next to her on the nightstand. Her prayer beads were resting there. They were important, and they would definitely tell the class something about Maggie and her family.

Maggie picked them up and said,

“Thank you.”

15

Maggie hopped off the bed, slipped her prayer beads into her pocket, and got ready for school. Today was going to be a very exciting day.

She could just feel it.

17

End of this sample.

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