The ball made a distinct swish as it made it through the rim attached to the wall of Husain’s house.
"Yeah. So?" asked Husain, smiling up at his best friend as he caught the ball and ran back to the basket to dunk it.
"So take it easy. You’re gonna get thirsty, and you can’t drink anything till Maghrib!"
"You know I can’t go a day without playing basketball. Gotta practice so I can be like my main man Karim Abdul Jabbar. I showed you that ball I got, right? The one signed by him? The most awesome ball of all time."
"Yeah, you did, about five times already," ‘Uthman rolled his eyes, and then a thought occurred to him. "Maybe I can get him a case for his basketball for Eid," he thought. He had searched several stores to find the perfect gift for his friend and wasn’t sure what to buy.
But now ‘Uthman smiled at his own ingenious idea.
"So what’s up with you?" Husain asked ‘Uthman.
"Oh, I found some nice boots to go with that snowboard I bought," ‘Uthman said, with a huge grin on his face. "I just have to save up my money so I can buy them by the winter."
Husain’s eyes lit up. He had been looking for an Eid gift for ‘Uthman for days. He could just buy the boots for him!
"Until it snows, though, I just have to be happy skateboarding," ‘Uthman dropped his skateboard back to the ground and jumped with it, landing back on the skateboard with ease.
"Dude, you’re boarding and you’re talking to me about getting thirsty!" Husain exclaimed.
"Yeah, well, I can handle it because I’m stronger. You, on the other hand, are weak," ‘Uthman teased Husain, smiling.
"Oh yeah? Well, think fast!" Husain threw the ball at ‘Uthman.
‘Uthman stopped on his board and caught the ball right in front of his face. "Hey! For THAT you’re gonna pay!" He chased Husain and tackled him to the ground, laughing.
A few days later, on Eid, Husain stopped by ‘Uthman’s house to drop off his Eid gift.
"You didn’t have to get me an Eid gift!" said ‘Uthmaan, taking the wrapped package from his friend. "I have something for you, too," he said, as he eagerly ran to his room to get Husain’s Eid present.
"Open yours first," Husain said when ‘Uthman came back with his gift.
‘Uthman ripped open the package, eager to get to the gift inside. When he opened the box, he looked up and smiled at Husain.
"Well, do you like them?" Husain asked expectantly.
"I love them," ‘Uthman laughed, looking at his gift. They were the boots ‘Uthman had wanted for his snowboard.
"My turn!" Husain said, as he ripped the wrapping paper off his Eid gift. Inside was an engraved case designed to keep a basketball in mint condition.
Husain looked up at ‘Uthman, confused.
"For your Karim Abdul Jabbar basketball!" ‘Uthman said excitedly. "You know, the one you showed me 10 times already!"
"Oh, that basketball," Husain chuckled. "Can I tell you something?"
"What?"
"I sold that basketball to buy you the snowboarding boots," Husain said smiling.
"Are you serious? I sold my snowboard to buy you the basketball case!" ‘Uthman exclaimed.
"So you have snowboarding boots, but no snowboard," Husain said.
"And you have a basketball case with no basketball to put inside."
The boys laughed. Even though they had sacrificed the objects that were most important to them, they had strengthened their friendship even more.
