It all started with a dictionary. Zayan hated dictionaries because they were heavy, boring and full of confusing words he’d never use. At least, that’s what he thought, until his teacher, Miss Farah, made an announcement that changed everything.

“Class,” she said, smiling like she’d just won a game of Ludo, “we’re having a ‘Word War.’”

Everyone groaned.

“It’s a competition,” she explained. “Whoever learns new words and uses them correctly in sentences by the end of the week, wins a prize.”

“What’s the prize?” Zayan asked, hoping it was something decent.

“A tablet,” she said.

You could hear the silence for two seconds, then chaos.

A tablet! Zayan had been begging his parents for one, but they kept saying things like “Focus on your studies,” and “We’ll see after exams.” Now, there was a way to get one without waiting for the next Eid, birthday or topping the exams.

Zayan told himself that he had to win. But so did everyone else, and they weren’t playing around.

That night, Zayan dusted off the old dictionary, which he’d always shoved at the bottom of the bookshelf. But now, pulling it out, he remembered his grandfather’s proud smile when he gifted it.

Zayan had never really opened it. Did he feel guilt? Maybe. Just a little.

It was........

© Dawn Young Magazine