|
About This Author
Well, hello. I’m still testing this.
|
Angel Feathers #1101781 added November 17, 2025 at 5:49am
Restrictions: None
Exotic Species
Dear Mom and Dad,
I'm writing from a Gardai station in Dublin. Abdullah is being detained, and as his younger sister I'm obligated to stay with him here. Our host parents, Professor and Mrs. Naik, are here with us, trying to get it straightened out, as, inshallah, it will be. They're wonderful, devout Muslims like us; alhamdullilah, you chose well.
I've greatly enjoyed seeing Ireland's beautiful cathedrals and castles and emerald green countryside. It's so different from Minnesota, especially this time of year.
Unfortunately, we've discovered some of the native Irish people are angry with us. It wasn't anything we did, dear parents; I can assure you we are entirely innocent of any wrongdoing.
It all started when Mrs. Naik suggested we visit the Halal meat market in downtown Dublin, combining a shopping trip with some sightseeing. Of course I thought it was a lovely idea, and Abdullah agreed. We walked along, past booths of Moroccan foods and Persian rugs, and everything was going smoothly until we ran into a group of protestors clogging the streets. They waved signs and shouted in English and Gaelic,
“Ireland for the Irish setters!”
“Send the exotic animals back to Arabia!”
“Save our heritage!”
I clung to Abdullah as we tried to sidestep the throngs of people.
“Why are they so upset?”
“Someone set two hundred hungry camels loose in the Cathedral,” Mrs. Naik explained, shaking her head. “Emotions are running high.”
“Oh heavens, that's terrible!” I gasped. “But they can't blame Muslims and immigrants for such a crime.”
“It's easy to scapegoat those who are different.”
A cluster of young men blocked our path on the sidewalk, yelling and jeering.
“You're smuggling invasive species!”
“Are we riding camels?” Abdullah demanded.
“We're being taken over by Arabian dune mice with a penchant for Guinness. They're putting our pubs out of business!”
“We have nothing to do with that. My sister and I are American exchange students.”
“Oh yeah?” One guy jabbed his sign at me and Mrs. Naik. “You're hiding more of them inside your scarves! I can tell.”
I shrank back, trying to pull my hijab tighter to show him there couldn't be any hidden creatures under it. Abdullah stepped squarely in front of him.
“You stop harassing us. We aren't carrying any live contraband!”
The men weren't convinced. Things escalated from there, until we got caught in a tangle of Garda officers trying to quell the rioters, who were throwing shamrocks and green glitter bombs.
One officer skidded to a halt and grabbed Abdullah by the glitter-stained shirt.
“Hey, I recognize you! You're the guy who's been scattering millions of petitions to outlaw pork all over the streets. We need to take you in for littering!”
The Gardai hauled all three of us to the station, despite our protestations. When we arrived, I was so relieved to see a lady in a hijab sitting at the desk! I didn't expect Muslim ladies to be working as Gardai.
Even with Fatima's kindness and understanding, each of us had to be interviewed in a separate room to get our statements and verify our identities. I waited a long while, alone in the lobby, for Mrs. Naik and Abdullah to finish. While I waited, there was this young red-headed Irish lad who tried to cheer me up, or at least I assume his intentions were positive.
“Why so sad, lassie?”
I told him what happened, and he shook his head.
“Now who would suspect a pretty lass like you of being illegal?”
He had such a charming brogue, and his eyes sparkled with the cheerful mischief of a leprechaun. He extended a hand.
“Would you care to visit my favorite pub with me while the Gardai get your affairs in order?”
I pulled back, dismayed at the idea of going to a bar with a strange man – how much would that offend Allah! I bowed my head and tried to think of something to say…
“Sean O'Donoghue!” Fatima spoke sharply. “Remember what we discussed in the diversity workshop? You don't ask Muslim exchange students out to the pub!”
“When in Ireland, do as the Irish do,” he mumbled.
She rolled her eyes, shooed him away, and apologized for his offensiveness. While we talked, Mrs. Naik appeared from her interview, shaken and teary eyed.
“I'm afraid Abdullah has been detained for further investigation. They say his name matched with a suspect who spray-painted inshallah five thousand times in the crosswalks. I tried to explain, but they won't listen. There must be some mistake.”
“Oh, heavens! What will we do? We can't leave without him!”
When you get this message, dear parents, please call the Gardai station ASAP (ask for Fatima) and assure them of our legitimacy. Professor Naik is here helping, but his absent-mindedness prevents him from providing an alibi for Abdullah, which the Commissioner thinks is as suspicious as corned beef and cabbage with a side of hummus.
Indeed, he is now threatening to exile us all to a cloistered life on the Isle of Man – males to the monastery, females to the convent. Make haste, or it may be too late. My manuscript illuminating skills have never been especially good.
Sincerely,
Your beloved daughter, Layla
PS. Just kidding, Mom and Dad! Abdullah and I will be home for the holidays… Inshallah!
Words: 880.
Written for "The Bard's Hall Contest" 
Prompt and AI Advice ▼
A Dear Mom/Dad letter arrives home from a college exchange student visiting another country. (Your choice of country.)
What went wrong there?
Must parents send bail money? Money to extend stay? Money for a ticket back home?
( Set it up good for a humorous ending.)
RULES:
 Must be a New story up to 1000 words. (Place Word Count top or bottom of story)
Make it humorous from an unbelievable OR shocking setup in the body of the letter. Place in: (Comedy genre /subgenre)
The GOTCHA!
At the end of the letter put in a P.S. and say ...Just kidding, Mom/Dad! I'll be home for the Holidays!
Full disclosure: my first draft was painfully serious. I showed it to ChatGPT, asking for advice on humor and cultural sensitivity, and made suggested improvements which were in no way written by AI. You can read the complete conversation here, along with its evaluation of my second draft: " Humor Advice from ChatGPT"
|
© Copyright 2025 Amethyst Autumn Angel (UN: greenwillow at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Amethyst Autumn Angel has granted InkSpot.Com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work. |
![Merit Badge in Seasons Autumn
[Click For More Info]
*^*Cornucopia*^* Congratulations! YOU are a winner at the very first (Thank-Witch, Bingo, 11/24) [Link To Item #angelwitch]
Happy Thanksgiving! *^*Turkey*^*
*^*Witch*^*](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/general-Seasons_Autumn.gif)
