“Matt and Mandy,” Friend, October 2021
Matt and Mandy
One morning before school—
You go ahead, Matt. I’ll see you later.
Hi, I’m Mandy. You must be new here. Are you OK?
Um … not really.
Yesterday kids were teasing me because I wear this.
I think it’s a beautiful hijab.
You know what it’s called?
Yes. You wear it to show your faith. I respect that.
Let’s go in. You can come meet my friends. I think you’ll like them!
“We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.”
Illustrations by Matt Sweeney