To my Sawsy who I am very proud of <3

And she knows why. SusieQ_1994

*It is a late Saturday afternoon at the Malik household. Yusra is preparing dinner in the kitchen, Amir is taking a nap on the couch, exhausted from his long week of work, and Ayyoubi and Kareemo are playing on the floor in front of their father, watching a movie. Soon Yusra goes down the hallway, and once he hears the bathroom door close, Kareem sneaks a peek at his father to make sure he is asleep, before he leans towards his brother.*

Kareem: *whispering* Psst! Psst Ayyoubi!

*Ayyoub looks up from where he is playing with his cars*

Ayyoub: What Kareemo?

Kareem: What are you doing?

Ayyoub: *eyeing his brother suspiciously* I am playing Kareemo.

Kareem: That's nice Ayyoubi. What are you playing?

Ayyoubi: *glaring at his brother as he is well aware of how Kareem gets* A game.

Kareem: Good, a game is fun! *he scoots forward so he is closer to Ayyoub and lowers his voice slightly* Hey Ayyoubi?

Ayyoubi: Whhhhhaaaaaaaaat Kareemo? What do you want me to do?

Kareemo: *in an offended voice* I didn't, I didn't say I want you to do sumthin! *he is quiet for a second, before he grins* Do you want to go get some cookies with me?

*Ayyoubi drops his toys, and clasps his hands over his cheeks in disbelief*

Ayyoubi: Kareem! Mama said no cookies until after dinner! If Mama says no, you hafta listen!

Kareem: *a stubborn look on his face* Mama said, Mama said no cookies before dinner! She didn't, didn't say no cookies after lunch! *he stands up* I will take just one!

Ayyoubi: *shaking his head* No Kareemo!

Kareem: *rolling his eyes* Ayyoubi! How come you always hafta tell me no! Always no no no Kareemo! Never yes yes yes Kareemo!

Ayyoubi: Kareemo, you have to be a good boy and I won't say no!

Kareem: I am going!

*Ayyoub jumps up, and tries to block his brother from leaving the room*

Ayyoub: No! I will stop you!

Kareem: You can't stop me Ayyoubi!

Ayyoub: Yes I can!

Kareem: No! I am bigger than you!

Ayyoub: So! I will say Bismillah and try!

Kareem: Stop Ayyoubi! I just want one cookie!

Ayyoubi: But I hafta stop you! You will be in trouble with Baba!

Kareem: No I won't cause you don't hafta tell him! *he pushes past Ayyoubi and heads towards the kitchen, and Ayyoubi looks after his brother, his little face crumpled in agony. A few seconds later, Kareem returns with a cookie in his hand, and he is just about to take a bite, when Amir wakes up, and soon he pushes himself up into a seating position on the couch. Immediately Kareem stuffs the cookie under his shrit.*

Amir: *smiling at his sons* Hello my boys.

Kareem/Ayyoubi: *nervously* Hi Baba.

Amir: What are you up to?

*Both boys look at him guilty and even though poor Ayyoubi didn't do anything, he probably feels the worst. When neither of them answer him, Amir gets up, and crouches down next to them at eye level*

Amir: What is going on?

Kareem: Nothing!

*Amir eyes his older son suspiciously, before he looks at Ayyoub*

Amir: Ayyoubi? What is going on habibi?

*Ayyoubi shifts uncomfortably, looking at the ground, before looking up, his face turning red as he notices his brother glaring at him warningly*

Ayyoub: I don't want to tell you Baba.

Amir: *putting an arm around his son and pulling him forward* Why not? We don't keep secrets from Baba.

Ayyoub: I know...*he trails off, looking like he is on the verge of tears*

Amir: Kareem, what is going on that your brother looks like he is going to cry?

*Kareem is quiet for a few seconds, before, with a resigned sigh, he pulls out the cookie from his shirt*

Kareem: Here Baba.

*Amir frowns, and takes the cookie from Kareem*

Amir: Kareem, did Mama give you this?

Kareem: *shaking his head* No.

Amir: Where did you get it from?

Kareem: *mumbling* I took it, I took it from the kitchen.

Amir: Didn't Mama tell you that you couldn't have any cookies until after dinner? *when Kareem doesn't answer, Amir puts a hand under his chin, and forces him to look up* Kareem, I am talking to you. Please answer me. Didn't Mama tell you no cookies right now?

Kareem: Yes she did.

Amir: Then why did you take it?

Kareem: *a stubborn look on his face* Because I wanted one!

*Amir gives a sigh, and puts his fingers to his temple. Just then Yusra appears, and while at first she is smiling, the smile fades as she looks at them*

Yusra: What's going on?

Amir: Kareem?

Kareem: *glaring* I took a cookie.

Yusra: *putting a hand on her hip* Kareemo! Didn't I tell you no cookies before dinner?!

Kareem: *glaring even more* Yes.

Yusra: Then why did you do it?

Kareem: Because!

Amir: That is not an excuse. You are going to have to sit in the thinking chair for a little bit.

Kareem: *stomping his foot* NO!

Yusra: Kareem, you know that when you have done something naughty you have to sit in the thinking chair to think about what you have done and why it is wrong. *she points to the two little chairs across the room* Please go over there.

Kareem: NO! NO NO NO!

Amir: *in his Baba voice* Kareem Houssam Malik you get yourself into that chair right this second before I put you there myself!

*Kareem rushes to the thinking chair*

*Once he is sitting there, Amir hands the cookie to Yusra, who goes to the kitchen, and he looks down at Ayyoubi, who through the whole ordeal has been close to tears*

Amir: Are you okay Ayyoubi?

Ayyoubi: *whispering* No.

Amir: Why not?

Ayyoubi: Baba, Baba please take Kareemo out of time out!

Amir: Habibi you know we don't call it time out. He just needs to think for a little bit about what he did and why it is wrong.

Ayyoubi: *nodding* Okay but Baba, please take him out!

Amir: Why?

Ayyoubi: *his big brown Yusra eyes filling with tears* because, because Kareemo isn't naughty! He just, he just wanted to have one cookie! *he clings onto Amir's leg* Please, please Baba!

Amir: I know that Kareemo is not naughty but sometimes people do naughty things and they have to think about it so they can fix it.

Kareem: *bellowing quite loudly* BABA DOESN'T LOVE ME AT ALL! MAMA DOESN'T LOVE ME! NOBODY LOVES ME!

Ayyoubi: *looking up at his father* Baba! Do you still love Kareemo!?

Amir: *ignoring Kareem and picking Ayyoub up and kissing his cheek* Of course we do ya albi! It is because we love Kareemo that we want him to always do what is right. Do you understand habibi?

Ayyoubi: *who is wiping the tears from his eyes* I understand Baba. But, but can I sit in Kareemo's place?

Amir: *in surprise* But why?!

Ayyoubi: *his lower lip trembling* Because he is my brother! I will sit for him so he will not be sad!

Amir: *his face softening* Oh habibi. Oh Ayyoubi. *he kisses Ayyoub's head, his heart melting at how sweet his baby is* Kareemo may be mad for a little bit but soon he will realize that he made a mistake and everything will be okay. But if we make you sit there for something you didn't do, then YOU will be sad!

Kareem: *yelling* I AM GONNA RUN AWAY AND LIVE WITH KHALO HOUSSAM!

Ayyoubi: *looking over at Kareem, tears starting to roll down his cheeks* It is okay Baba. I will be sad if Kareemo will be happy!

Amir: Habibi, you are such a nice boy MashaAllah that you want to help your brother. Do you know how you can help him?

Ayyoub: *whispering* How Baba?

Amir: You have to make Duaa for him all the time! Okay?

Ayyoub: Like I did for my baby sister?

*Amir smiles*

Amir: Exactly.

*Ayyoub is quiet for a few seconds as he contemplates his father's words, before he smiles, and puts his hands on Amir's cheeks*

Ayyoub: Okay Baba. I will try. Because he is my brother.

Amir: *kissing his cheek* That's my good boy. Now go off and play until Kareem can get out of the thinking chair.

Ayyoub: Okay Baba.

Kareem: AND I AM NEVER COMING BACK! EVER!

*LATER*

*Kareemo has gotten out of the chair, apologized to his parents, and they have just finished dinner.*

Ayyoubi: *going up to Kareem* Kareemo?

Kareem: *looking up from where he is watching Monster's Inc* Yes Ayyoubi?

Ayyoubi: *shifting uncomfortably* Can I tell you sumthin?

Kareem: *eyeing him suspiciously* Okay?

Ayyoubi: I didn't, I didn't want you to still be mad at me from before.

Kareem: How come, how come you think I am mad at you Ayyoubi?

Ayyoub: Because, because you said I always tell you no no no Kareemo and I never say yes yes yes Kareemo. I only say no no no cause, cause I don't want you to get in trouble with Baba! I say no no no Kareemo cause I want you to be SO *he opens his hands wide* happy! And never be sad! So I always so no no no when you do sumthin naughty so I can help you! Cause, cause you are my brother and I love you THIS much! *he opens his arms to show how much he loves Kareemo, and Kareem takes advantage of Ayyoubi's stance, to hug his brother*

Kareem: I love you also Ayyoubi!

Ayyoubi: Are you still my brother!

Kareem: Duh Ayyoubi! You are my best brother in all of the world!