My dear kids.. Today I will tell you the story of a little kid, like you.. He was 3 years old, may be a tad younger than you.. But believe me, he was as pretty as you as he was naughty.. He was such a cutie pie 3 year old… His name was Aylan Kurdie.. Now that is a different name, but beautiful, right.. Yes, it is.. That is because he was born in a different country called Syria.. Yes , there is a country called Syria.. And in Syria , little children had such beautiful names..
So Aylan was a happy kid… Now, why should he not be happy.. He had a brother, who was about 5 years old who would play with him.. His father used to run a business.. Whenever he came back home, he used to pamper Aylan with love.. And Aylan’s mother.. She was one of the most beautiful mothers in the world.. Not that Aylan knew so many mothers.. But nevertheless, he knew that his mother was the best of all..
Aylan’s brother would go to school in the morning. As he was a small kid, they would not take him in school. So he would play with Mommy till his brother came back..By evening he would wait for his brother to come back.. They would play soccer in the yard.. Aylan loved that. His brother would slowly push the ball to him. And he would run like a rabbit behind the ball and catch it and throw it back to his brother.. They were such a great pair.. And like his Mommy, Aylan knew that he had the best brother in the world too.. In fact , he had the best parents.. Aylan was such a happy kid..
Now, in Syria, the streets are not very wide, but not as narrow too, with houses on both sides.. Every house in the street had a nice garden in front. There were flowers ; Aylan did not know the names of those, the little kid that he was.. But he could see that there were such beautiful flowers.. And through them, in the middle of the street, Aylan could see his brother coming from school..As soon as he saw him from a distance, he would just scamper in to the yard, unaware of his mother calling from behind, just to reach his brother, so that they can play soccer.
And then one day, instead of his brother, he saw a lot of new people on the road.. They were all dressed in black, had black flags with something written on them. They were carrying big, big guns.. Aylan had a gun too. But it was a toy gun.. It would sing and blink in different colours.. But these guns were much bigger than his. Aylan wanted one such gun.. He went to the window, curiously watching the people dressed in black..
That day, his father came home early, closing his shop.. His brother was inside and they did not play soccer. His mother was weeping.. Aylan had never seen mothers cry.. Not that he had seen many mothers.. But he was sure that mothers never cry.. And he wondered why..
The next day , Aylan’s father did not go to the shop. His brother did not go to school.. They all huddled inside their home.. And there was a knock on the door.. Not like when his Daddy knocked when he came back home.. It was heavy, and felt as if the door would break. “Open the door”.. Someone was shouting.. And for the first time in his life, Aylan thought he was afraid..
They came through the door, some 15 of them.. They kicked Aylan’s Daddy, beat him up for a long time.. Aylan felt like crying and hot tears were running along his cheeks.. And Mommy was crying too and so was his brother.. And a while later they left, leaving Aylan’s father curled up in a corner..
The next day, Aylan’s father takes them out in to the car.. Aylan saw that they had packed suitcases.. He was very happy again.. He was wearing his red shirt.. He loved that one, as it had those mystery space riders cartoon all over it.. He loved them.. And it had been a very long time since Daddy took him in is car. He loved car rides, through the beautiful streets, in the slow moving car, Aylan would see other kids playing. He would see tall buildings come up on the sides.. Sometimes the trip would end up in the circus.. Aylan loved them.. His Daddy was the best.. Not that he knew many Daddys, but his was surely the best..
But Aylan now sees that the buildings on the side of road are all gutted half in fire.. The beautiful lawns are gone.. So are the kids on the streets.. Aylan wondered where everyone went.. And who damaged those beautiful houses.. Was it the people dressed in black ?
After a while, the car runs out of petrol.. Everyone has to walk.. Everyone , but not Aylan.. His Daddy carries him on his shoulders.. Aylan was so happy. It has been such a long time that Daddy carried him on his back.. He used to ask him many times , in his kiddish tone.. Daddy would always say something else and change the topic..But today, Aylan felt he was on the top of the world.. Sitting on Daddy’s shoulders, he could see so far in front.. He could see a lot of people walking.. But there was only Aylan, sitting on his Daddy’s shoulders..
And then the walk ends near a beach.. Aylan had seen pictures of the sea and the beachesin books which his Mommy used to show him. He had never been to a beach himself. He is sure that Daddy has brought them to the beach to play, to make sand castles , to run in the waves.. Daddy is so good.. He just wants to get down and run..
But Daddy tells that there is no time.. He takes them to a boat. It is a small rubber dinghy with a motor.. Now Aylan has never been in a boat. Daddy is taking everyone for a boat ride..There are a few others in the boat too and the boat drive.. They all get in and the boat sets out in to the sea..
Aylan wants to touch the sea sitting in his mother’s lap.. His Mommy does not allow him to, lest he might fall in. But he is so happy.. Today Daddy brought them to the beaches and then has taken them for a boat ride.And Mommy is keeping him on his lap while they are floating in the big , big sea.. Aylan has the best parents in the world.. Not that he knew many parents, but…
And then there are BIG waves.. BIG BIG waves.. The boat sways up and down.. Sea water pours in.. Aylan is so happy.. He was not able to touch the sea, but the sea has come near him..He bents a bit and touches the sea water, while his mother holds him tight.. His brother sits next to his Mommy, and is holding her close..
And then the final wave.. The driver is afraid and jumps out... Aylan could see that he wore a yellow jacket..
The boat topples.. Now the sea is all around Aylan.. His mother is still holding him.. But she cannot hold on.. His brother is nowhere.. Aylan is a bit afraid as he cannot see his Daddy and brother.. But he is happy.. Now he is playing in the sea… He can see all the sea animals and the treasures inside.. It would be the same as the story his mother had read him sometime back.. Aylan is so happy.. And water is all around him.. And he just splashes his way in to the bottom of the sea, to see all wonders that it holds..
The next day morning, on the beaches of Turkey, a police officer sees a kid wearing a red shirt sleeping on the beach .. It seemed as if he was just tired of making sand castles, and just slept there, splashing his hands in the waves.. He was just sleeping on the beach, peacefully..
“Onun bir cocuk (Its a kid)”, he shouts.. “ Onun bir cocuk, guzel bir tek (a beautiful one)” .. He runs and lifts Aylans body in his arms..
“Bir cocuk..(a kid ) !! “ shouts his colleague, baffled and shocked..
But Aylan has not done playing.. Just that his body is there with the Turkish officer.. He is still playing on the beaches in heaven, splashing in those beautiful waves and making sand castles.. After that they would play soccer.. Aylan loves soccer so much doesn’t he.. Aylan has the best family in the world.. Not that he doesn’t know.. He knows , now..
And the streets of Syria are still black, with black people moving around with black flags and blacker guns..
But Aylan wouldn’t be afraid of them , would he.. He is not in Syria anymore.. He has a lot of fun, at a place, where there is just happiness..
Note : This was an attempt to tell Aylan Kurdies story to the kids in the way of a bed time story.. May not be completely correct.. But just to tell them so that they too, would know Aylan, and Aylan , would know them..
