Three Different Religions

    “Okay class, I’m Mrs.Willabee and let's start our 5th grade year by introducing our two new students, Sarah and Omar. Sarah is from Israel and Omar is from Egypt,” Mrs. Willabee explained.
    I always wanted to learn about Egypt, John thought.
    Sarah sat in the seat to John’s right, and Omar sat closer to the front. 
  “Hey,” John said quietly.
  “Hi,” said Sarah in a very small, soft voice. 
   I wonder if she has met anyone here yet? Or how hard it must have been to move to a new country? Or if she is religious since she lived in Israel? John wondered. 
John had so many questions stirring around in his brain to ask Sarah.
 “I bet it is hard to get used to a new country. I can show you around if you would like?”
  Sarah said, “Sure, that would be so nice of you.”
As the day went on, John showed Sarah where the colored pencils, markers, where to put your homework when you finish, and everything she would need to know about the classroom. During science, John and Sarah got paired up with each other to do a packet on atoms because the teacher noticed that John was being so polite to Sarah. 
  At recess, John and Sarah saw Omar swinging by himself with his head down. 
John said, “Omar, can we sit with you? I’m John and this is Sarah.”
Omar put his head up and looked at John before he said anything. 
“Sure.”
John and Sarah sat on the swings next to him. 
What should I do? Should I ask them about where they came from? John debated to himself. 
“I bet Egypt is a really cool, delightful place to live. I have always wanted to learn about Egypt,” John said with a smile. 
Omar said happily, “It is a really nice place. If there is one place I would recommend going, it is Egypt. I lived in Cairo. We moved here in July 2012.”
I am definitely going to ask Omar more questions about Egypt another time, John thought.
“That’s so cool! Israel is probably not as exciting as Egypt, but there are many interesting buildings that you can explore,” Sarah said. 
John questioned, “I wish I could visit those places sometime. Are you guys religious?”
“Yes, I am a Jew,” said Sarah.
Omar mentioned, “And I am a Muslim.”
“That’s awesome that we all follow a different religion. I am Christian,” confessed John. “What are some things that your religions follow?”
“Jews practice in a Synagogue, their religious leader is a Rabbi, and follow the Torah and Talmud, the Old Testament,” stated Sarah. 
Omar said, “Mhmm, Muslims follow the Five Pillars of Islam. We follow Muhammad, pray five times a day, give to the poor, have a Holy Month of Ramodon, and perform Hajj to Mecca.”
Some religions are way different than others, but I think it is good people get to practice the religion that they would like, John thought in his head. 
“Your religions are interesting. You guys know a lot about them. What is the thing that you have to perform? Haji?” John said. 
“Oh, it is a thing where each person does it in their lifetime, and they perform a series of rituals,” Omar explained. “John, what are some things that Chrisians follow?”
“So to become a Christian you have to be baptized. We follow the New Testament, and believe in Trinity, where we believe in one god but three people.”
“That’s interesting, too,” said Sarah. 
The teachers called everyone inside. As the day went on the three talked more about the places they have been to and more about their religions to each other.
Ring!
Ring!
Ring!
The bell rang at the end of the school day.
“See you tomorrow!” John said with a smile. 
“Bye John, Bye Sarah,” yelled Omar.
“Bye!”