HOW TO BE HAPPY

Up there! Look up there!”

I pointed to the endless, bright sky on that clear summer night. My little Dunia and I sat on the swing in our beautiful august backyard. We sang our favorite songs, giggled, and pretended that the loud cicada orchestra in the background was playing just for us. When we sang they quieted down and when we stopped they sang louder, but often they got confused!

“Look at the million stars shining up there!” I said.

Dunia’s wide-open eyes looked up and gazed in amazement. Then she turned to me and, with her curious five-year-old tiny voice, asked, “After we die and go to heaven, do you think we’ll be together?”
Not waiting for an answer, she went on.

“Will you look the same? Will I recognize you?”
 
One more time, and before I got a chance to say anything, she continued.
“Will you recognize me?”
She stared at me, and I felt a chill overwhelm my body.
“Of course I will,” I responded as successfully as my words could hide my choking voice, and as much as the discreet tears could cover my surprise and sadness.
With no hesitation, and almost no doubt, I pretended that her questions were common and my answers obvious and easy.
“Of course we’ll be together. We’ll live, eat, and sleep together. We’ll play, laugh, dance, and sing, just like we’re doing right now!”
I’d like to believe that the disguised certainty of my answer satisfied her curiosity, and reassured and comforted her, at least for a while.

After I tucked Dunia in bed, I stepped back outside. The cicadas were still celebrating their happening lazy life, loud and happy!
I lay down on the swing, staring back at the infinite sparkles way up in the eternal distance. The warm breeze had calmed down a little, but I could still feel it wrapping itself around me, caressing me with its heavenly softness.
Slowly, the singing quieted. Everyone and everything went to sleep, safe in the arms of the night, except the million stars that shone brighter and brighter.
There was silence all around.
All of a sudden, Dunia’s concerned questions echoed in my mind. Then, one after the other, my own oh-so-familiar questions
started to wake up and parade themselves, some mysteriously carrying me back to Dunia’s age, maybe even earlier.
“Where do I come from? Where am I going? What am I doing here? What do I want? Who am I? Who am I?”
“You are a great Human Being!”
“I am a great Human Being,” I repeated. “You are a great Human Being!”
“I know I am,” I proudly agreed. Suddenly, I froze.
“Wait a minute!” I thought. “Who’s talking to me?”
Afraid to be seen or heard, I managed to hold my breath, but my heart betrayed me. It was beating so fast and loudly that I could clearly hear it myself.
I hesitated for a moment, then cautiously sat up and dared to mumble, “Who’s there?”
“Up here! Look up here!”
“Look up where?” I silently thought. “I’m outside in my backyard. Nothing is above me but the deep sky!”
Giving up like a prey at the mercy of its fate, I rolled my eyes up while my head remained lowered with fear.
“Do not be afraid.”
“Who are you? Where are you?”
As I finished asking these questions, I felt something softly touch my chin and gently lift my head.
I looked up and witnessed the biggest, brightest star I had ever seen in my life!
“Who are you?” I repeated in disbelief. “Are you talking to me?”
With the greatest twinkle, the star winked straight at me and spoke.