A Smile for Everyone

Karim’s fingers, once curled so tightly around his pencil that they ached, began to loosen. The sharp edges of the classroom, which had seemed so formidable just days ago, softened. It started with a flicker, a tiny spark in his chest when Lily, her hair a sunbeam even on a cloudy day, offered him half of her biscuit. He had mumbled a thank you, a whisper lost in the general hum of the classroom, but he had taken it. And the biscuit, buttery and sweet, tasted like a tiny victory.

The next day, Mr. Davies announced a special art project. They were to draw their favourite place. Karim’s heart gave a little leap. His favourite place. He thought of the dusty, sun-baked hills behind his old village, the way the wind would whisper through the dry grass, carrying the scent of wild thyme. He thought of the clear, star-dusted nights, so different from the hazy glow of London. He picked up a crayon, a vibrant blue, and began to draw. He drew the jagged peaks, the small cluster of houses, the winding path that led to the river. He drew it with a fierce concentration, his brow furrowed, his tongue peeking out from the corner of his mouth.

Lily, drawing a bustling park with a swing set that seemed to reach for the sky, glanced over. She saw the intensity in Karim’s eyes, the way his hands moved with a confidence he usually lacked. She saw the picture taking shape, a landscape so different from her own. When he finished, he held it up, a proud, shy smile tugging at his lips. Lily’s eyes widened. “Wow, Karim,” she breathed. “It’s beautiful. Is that where you lived?”