Written by Nuraina | @heyainaaa
On the last day of Ramadan, Mr. Hijazi led the dua for his family while the sound of the Adhan echoed across the twilight sky. The family each took a bite of the sweet Egyptian date to break their fast, followed by eating the deliciously cooked meal by Mrs. Hijazi. The aroma of honey-glazed chicken, warm brown rice, and a big bowl of sautéed vegetables filled the entire dining room while the Hijazi’s indulged in their last Ramadhan dinner.
Afterwards, Mrs. Hijazi instructed her two children, Isaac and Diana, to make their final preparations for Eid al-Fitr tomorrow by ironing their new Eid garments upstairs. Diana was stressed, finding a patterned hijab in her wardrobe that would match her emerald laced cotton dress, while Isaac was in the hallway, focused on carefully ironing his satin shirt. If the iron was left one second too long on the satin, that would be the end of Eid before it even began for Isaac. Moments later, he heard the voice of Mrs. Hijazi greeting someone at the front door. “It’s so nice to have some helpers for this year.” Mrs. Hijazi said gleefully.
From the floor above, Isaac could see the shadowy figure of a person walking through the living room towards the kitchen.
“Who was that?” Diana asked, leaning against her door frame.
“A helper.” Isaac said with a simple shrug.
As soon as it was bedtime, Mrs. Hijazi told Isaac and Diana to stay in their rooms the whole night so they would not distract the helpers who are preparing the food for tomorrow.
On the eve of Eid al-Fitr, sound asleep in her warm sheets, Diana was jolted awake by a thumping sound. Feeling scared, she quickly woke Isaac, asking if he had heard it. “Maybe… the helper is still here.” Isaac yawned and added, “Let’s check it out.” Diana protested against it but Isaac was already halfway out the door. She groaned out of her bed, following Isaac. The two siblings silently tiptoed out of the room and down the stairs. They stood quietly in the middle of the darkened floor of the living room, and slowly craned their necks toward the white sliding doors of the kitchen to their left. The sound of cooking muffled through the slightly ajar door, pouring a streak of white light that barely illuminated the whole room. The room smelled of lavender with a hint of cleaning products, and the tile floor felt squeaky clean on their toes. An envelope was placed on top of a small table with a note saying, “For the helpers”.
They gasped suddenly at a clunking sound and saw an empty pot rolling through the sliding door, stopping in the middle of the area. Isaac went over and crouched to pick up the pot but was stunned when a tentacle-like arm stretched out through the crack of the door, slithering itself around the handle, and pulled swiftly back into the kitchen. Diana quickly covered Isaac’s mouth in time before he could manage a scream. She placed a finger on her lips.
The two tiptoed to the edge of the sliding door and peeked through. Their eyes dilated when they saw a large, terrifying creature cooking, washing, and chopping ingredients with its many long and wrinkly tentacles. The creature’s meaty body was hanging above the floor from its four hind legs. It had no face or neck, just a mouth with sharp fanged teeth.
“What is that?” Isaac quietly said.
“It’s the helper,” Diana said, looking around the kitchen then quietly adding, “But where’s the other one?”.
The sliding doors were suddenly pulled open from behind them by the second creature, which made them thump forwards onto each other on the kitchen floor. They had not noticed the second helper quietly cleaning in the living room. They turned around and the second helper shrieked loudly, flashing its sharp teeth, making them too stunned to scream. It edged its mouth closer to their faces and gave a deep sniff at Diana.
“Diana…” It hissed. Trembling in fear, Diana hugged her brother closely. “Fast full.” The second helper said, and she nodded shakily. It then turned its mouth to Isaac – he gasped – “Isaac… Fast full.” Isaac shakily nodded as well. “Good.” The second helper said and walked over them into the kitchen, but the first helper rushed toward them. Diana and Isaac quickly inched backwards in an attempt to put more space between them and the creature. “Helpers. Clean… and… cook.” The first helper hissed and quickly disappeared by shutting the kitchen door.
Diana and Isaac returned to their beds, feeling stunned by what they had seen. “Diana, what would have happened if we didn’t… fast full?” Isaac asked, but Diana lay silently staring at the ceiling.
