Malaika by van Heerling Read Free Book Online Page A

clouds. I stood in a breezy golden meadow as I have before with the high wheat tickling my palms. A jungle appeared before me where a golden light came to life from nothing. It was Malaika, showered in blissful light. Her nostrils poked at the air as she sniffed for tobacco smoke and coffee. I waved at her as her eyes deadened on mine and then softened. She turned slowly, knowingly. Her powerful hind legs gently negotiating the landscape as jungle shadows dappled her coat. I blinked, and she was gone. My hand met my side. I didn’t think she’d have anything to say to me after . . . then I heard it—“Hi Thomas!” rang in my mind. “I know—I’m better now—and Thomas . . . I forgive you . It is time you forgive yourself. Go, my friend. Your family needs you,” she said, plain as day. No aggression, no sadness, no regret, no shame, just Love, just Understanding, and most importantly and heart wrenchingly painful for me . . . Forgiveness . Maybe it was time for me to go home and do the same.

AUTHOR BIO
     
    Van lives in Burbank, California with Redford- his adopted morbidly obese cat, which is more of a paperweight than a feisty feline, his wife Mary and her kitty Abigail.
     
    Van always enjoys hearing from his readers. If you wish to send your comments you may do so at www.vanheerlingbooks.com.

LESSON PLAN
     
    1) When Absko learns that he can lie to his father and get away with it, Thomas warns Absko that deception is a wicked instrument. Have you ever been deceived? If so, how did you respond to such deception? Was it in fact an evil instrument?
     
    2) Discuss Thomas’ first encounter with The Three, compared to the final time he met with them. How has his relationship with The Three changed? How has Thomas evolved as a person? What have The Three learned? Have they changed?
     
    3) Thomas is particularly fond of Abasi. List three or four of Abasi’s individual traits that are particularly endearing to Thomas. Do you admire these characteristics in others? What are the three most important attributes that you look for in a friend, mentor, etc?
     
    4) List three major points of significance from the dreams between Thomas and Malaika. Discuss each as it relates to the relationship that develops between the two over time.
     
    5) Abasi speaks rather harshly to Thomas about the difference between American loss and African loss. Do you agree with Abasi? Compare and contrast these two types of losses.
     
    6) Compare and contrast Thomas’ American life verses Abasi’s African life. Who is happier? Whose life is richer? Whose life has more meaning? What are the priorities of an African family, compared to those of an American family?
     
    7) Thomas presents Malaika with a fresh cut of meat but she refuses his gesture. Why might she do this? What does this say about her upbringing?
     
    8) When Malaika is banished from her pride she suffers both physically and mentally, to the extent that she believes she might die. Why do you think The Three banished Malaika? Do you agree with the punishment she suffered? Was Malaika asking for it ? Were The Three too easy on her or do you believe the punishment was excessive. What do we do with people in our society that push the constraints of our societal boundaries? Are they praised? Are they ridiculed? What does this say about fairness? Do these people that push societal boundaries make our society better or worse?
     
    9) At the tobacco fields where Malaika met her demise, besides playfully pouncing on Absko, what else may have played a part in prompting the farmers to act in the way they did? What does this say about us as human beings?
     
    10) Abasi warns Thomas that Malaika may be a demon not yet unveiled. When Abasi apologies to Thomas he concedes that he was wrong, that indeed Malaika was an angel and Man the demon. What does this say about Man’s capacity to change? Is Man capable of change in light of new truths?
     
    11) When Thomas meets with The Three for the