Twenty-four year old Ali and his new wife, Azul, stood behind Cassim, who was on his knees beside Iago's bed. The parrot was old, weak, and near death. Old age had caused him to go blind.

"Grandpa."

"Ali, I don't what I'll do if I lose him. He's my best friend."

"I know, Grandpa."

Ali put a hand on his grandfather's shoulder. Just then Iago awoke.

"Cassim?! Cassim, where are you?!" he yelled in a panic.

"Iago, it's okay. I'm right here beside you on the left. I'm still here."

"I must still be dreaming."

Cassim gently stroked Iago's feathers, but the parrot was still convinced that he was dreaming. Cassim carefully and gentle picked him up in his arms, brought him up to his face, and spoke softly to him.

Iago felt Cassim's warm breath wash over him and knew it wasn't a dream.

"Don't leave me."

"I'm not going anywhere, Iago. I promise."

That night the gang was awaken by Cassim's panicked yell.

"Iago!"

They all rushed into the room to see Cassim on his knees beside Iago's bed, his arms folded on the edge of the bed, and his face buried in his arms.

"No. No. No." he sobbed.

Cassim kept sobbing the word "no" over and over. Finally he lifted his head, tears trickling down his face, reached out, and gently stroked Iago's feathers.

The gang realized that Iago was dead! They all had tears in their eyes.

Genie put a hand on Cassim's shoulder and gently pulled him away from the bed. He took him into the main room. The others followed, except Aladdin. The sultan pulled the blanket over Iago's head then left the room.

Cassim was sitting on the ground by the fire. His knees were pulled up close to him chest, his arms were folded over his knees, his face was buried in his arms, and he was crying.

Ali took him into the kitchen Genie had put in the layer.

A few moments later the gang heard a crash, followed by a yell from Ali. The next instant the prince came running out of the kitchen full speed. A plate sailed just centimeters above his head!

"Dad, Mom, Genie, come quickly! He's going crazy!"

Aladdin, Jasmine, and Genie hurried into the kitchen.

Cassim was throwing things all over.

As he was doing that he kept saying loudly, "He can't be gone! He can't be gone!"

Aladdin, Jasmine, and Genie ducked as a vase came at them. Aladdin jumped forward and pinned Cassim to the floor! He would have been easily overpowered if Genie hadn't helped hold Cassim down.

"He can't be gone! He can't be gone! He just can't! He can't be gone!"

Aladdin pressed his arm down on the back of Cassim's neck, making him stop talking! Cassim's whole body trembled, and his muscles were tense.

"Dad, get a grip! Iago's gone. I know you don't want to accept it. None of us do, but we have to. He's gone, and there's nothing anyone can do about it! You just have to accept it and move on."

Aladdin and Genie felt Cassim's trembling body gradually grow still and his tense muscles gradually relax. They got off him.

Cassim stood up. He went into the storage room, grabbed a shovel, and headed out to the cliff where Aladdin had fought Sa'luk many years ago.

"Dad, what are you doing?"

"Digging a grave."

"Okay. We'll take care of the other things."

"Thanks."

About an hour later Azul came out with a glass of lemonade. Cassim, who didn't see her, stopped digging, put his left hand on the top of the shovel handle, his right hand over his left hand, rested his forehead on his hands, and wept.

"Cassim."

Cassim jumped and turned.

"Azul, you scared me."

"Sorry. I brought you some lemonade."

"Set down over there please."

"Okay."

Cassim put the shovel down, walked over to boulder she put the glass down at, and sat down. He picked up the glass and drank some. Azul sat down beside him.

"Azul."

"Yeah?"

"Do you know what it's like to lose your best friend?"

"No."

"I can only hope and pray that you never do. Iago and I were partners and inseperable best friends for twenty-five years, believe it or not."

"You two must have gone through allot together."

"Oh we did. Those things weren't always plesant, though. Our friendship was tested hundreds of times. No matter how many times we fought we always forgave each other in the end. Nothing could come between us. Remember when Ali accused me of murdering a merchant a few years ago?"

"Oh yeah."

"It hurt me to hear him say that. I would come out here and sit down right where I am now and just cry. The next thing I know Iago would be right there beside me, like you are now. He always seemed to know what to say to comfort me. I could always count on him. I could go to him with any problem. Now he's gone. My life is a falling apart,... again."

Cassim buried his face in his hands and began to cry again. He felt Azul's arms slip around him and hold him a gentle, loving hug.