Chapter 1: The Desert Star
By Sadiq and the Pet Problem
Sadiq squirmed in his chair. Recess was in five minutes. It was the first warm day of spring. The rest of the class was finishing a journal activity. Sadiq couldn’t wait to play soccer with his friends!
“I have something special to share,” Sadiq’s third-grade teacher, Ms. Battersby, said. “Next weekend is our school’s Spring Festival!” Excited whispers went around the room.
“The festival is open to all,” Ms. Battersby went on. “It’s a chance for our school’s teams and clubs to raise money. If you have a club, you can sign up to have a table. In the past, clubs have sold baked goods or crafts. See me if you need help thinking of something!”
Sadiq frowned. He wasn’t part of a club.
Ms. Battersby looked around the classroom. “Now, before recess, I have one more announcement,” she said. “On Thursday we’ll be going to an observatory for a field trip!”
Sadiq sat up straight. He put his pencil down. He loved field trips!
“This week we’re beginning a unit on space. We’ll learn all about planets and stars. At the observatory, we’ll view them in the night sky.”
Sadiq looked over at his friends Zaza and Manny and grinned. He loved space! In the summertime he liked to look at the stars with his baba.
“Our field trip will be in the evening,” Ms. Battersby said. “We’ll need an adult at home to sign a special permission slip.”
That night, Sadiq was brushing his teeth. He suddenly remembered the permission slip. Still brushing, Sadiq went to his bedroom and found the paper. He hurried to his parents’ room. Baba was in the middle of packing for a business trip.
“Baba, can you sign this?” Sadiq asked. “My class is going to an observatory on Thursday!”
“Are you learning about space in school?” Baba asked. He took the permission slip and signed the paper.
“Haa, Baba,” said Sadiq. “Today we learned about Saturn. Did you know it has sixty-two moons?”
“I would like to hear about it, wiilkeyga,” Baba said as he handed the form back to Sadiq. “But you should finish brushing your teeth first!”
Sadiq hurried back into the bathroom and finished brushing.
“Make sure they are brighter than the white sands of Berbera!” Baba said. Baba had been born and raised in the city of Berbera, Somalia. Sadiq loved hearing stories from his dad’s childhood.
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Adapted from Siman Nuurali, by Sadiq and the Pet Problem, ©️ by Capstone. Reprinted with permission.
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Questions
Do Sadiq and the narrator feel the same way about space
No, the narrator does not share their opinion about space, but Sadiq likes to look at the stars.
Yes, both the narrator and Sadiq are excited about going to the observatory.
No, the narrator does not care about space, but Sadiq likes to look at the stars.
Yes, both the narrator and Sadiq like to look at the stars.