Chapter 11: Kassim and the Four Thieves

As they made their way back to the place of his friend's death, Aladdin's mind took him back to that horrid day. Abbi had gotten the abridged and more understandable version of events, but Aladdin's guilt forced him to remember the true story.

5 years ago…

Aladdin burst through the cloth hanging that covered the doorway to his hideout with Omar, Babkak, and Kassim. The young street rat ignored Babkak's glares and Omar's confused expression, running right up to their leader.

To Aladdin, Kassim was a cross between the big brother Aladdin never knew he wanted and the father he'd always wished for, but many probably wouldn't give the older boy a second look. They wouldn't notice that Kassim favored dark clothes that were nicer than one would expect of a boy of his station. Or that Kassim used a cologne of some sort and that his soft shining hair, even his wispy barely-there goatee, were well looked after. To most of the world, Kassim was just another Agrabah street rat and Kassim was determined to change that. As such, that afternoon Kassim was counting their money reserves and trying to figure out how much more they'd need for his big plans.

He was the only one who didn't look up at Aladdin's arrival. It was not until Aladdin was practically wheezing over the copper dinar pieces Kassim had out on a table, that Kassim finally moved his gaze away from the pile of money and to Aladdin's sweating face.

"Aladdin, you early bird, got your worms already, did you?" Kassim asked.

Aladdin shook his head.

Kassim frowned, obviously disappointed. It was supposed to be Aladdin's turn to go out pickpocketing in the summer heat.

In a more serious voice, Kassim asked, "Are you running from the guards?" His eyes flicked to the covered doorway before returning to Aladdin.

Aladdin shook his head, still trying to catch his breath.

"Then what has you so worked up?" Kassim asked.

Aladdin gave up on trying to breathe properly and did his best to talk between breaths. "Remember. How. I told you that I. Was trying to. Recruit. Someone?"

For the last couple of years, it had been just the four of them against the world. They were all like brothers, but Aladdin had found someone who would be a great addition to their little family.

Kassim nodded. "You said they were unusual."

"They're a monkey," Aladdin admitted. "And-"

"A monkey!" Omar exclaimed.

"You've gotta be kidding me," Babkak muttered.

"Shut up!" Aladdin shouted at the other boys. "They're in trouble and I. I need."

"Easy there, Aladdin." Kassim put a comforting hand on Aladdin's shoulder, "First, you need to breathe. Take a big breath in. Count to ten and breathe out."

Aladdin obeyed.

"There you go. Do another," Kassim instructed. Now that he knew his little brother wasn't directly in trouble, Kassim encouraged him to get himself together. When Aladdin finally stopped looking like someone who had sprinted at top speed for kilometers through the city on one of the hottest days of the year, Kassim said, "Alright, now start from the top."

Aladdin explained how he and Abu had been fighting over a jeweled brooch when Syreeta, the fat lady with all the animals, had shown up talking about being hungry. She had snatched the monkey and left the scene with a legion of burly men at her side. "I think she's going to eat him!" Aladdin finished.

Babkak who had been snickering during the entire story finally burst into laughter. Omar joined him. Aladdin did his best to ignore them and looked beseechingly up at Kassim.

Kassim rubbed his chin and the few tufts of hair, that he considered to be a beard. "You say he's a good thief?"

"The best," Aladdin confirmed. He and the monkey had been competing over treasure and purses all week. The monkey had a gift.

"And Syreeta took him," Kassim muttered, thoughtfully. "She trades exotic animals. People say she's a total sweetheart and quite…generous." Kassim exchanged a knowing look with Babkak.

Aladdin didn't get it and Omar looked just as confused, but Aladdin knew better than to interrupt Kassim when he was plotting.

Aladdin was rewarded for his patience. Because when Kassim came out of his thinking pose, he slammed his hands on the table hard enough to make some of the dinar coins jump, and then he said, "Alright! We'll save your little monkey, Aladdin."

"Yes!" Aladdin said breaking out into a huge grin.

At the same time, Babkak protested, "What! Kassim, you can't be serious."

Aladdin turned to Babkak. If Kassim was the perfect older brother, Babkak was the type of older brother no one wanted, but almost everyone seemed to have. Aladdin told Babkak, "You heard Kassim. He said-"

Kassim put a hand on Aladdin's shoulder again, this time to silence him. "'Course, I'm serious. Aladdin has tripled his quota over the last week. If the monkey is as good as he claims, we'll be rolling in it. We might even be able to leave the city a few months early and go to Getzistan," Kassim said with a gleam in his eye.

"Well, you can count me out," Babkak said sourly before turning away from the two of them.

Aladdin stuck out his tongue at Babkak and Kassim said, "Nobody asked you, Babkak."

Kassim rolled his eyes at Aladdin and Aladdin giggled. The little street rat knew everything would be alright now that Kassim was on his side.

Kassim asked Aladdin more questions. Then Kassim motioned for Omar to join them. The three of them began whispering their plans which predictably caused Babkak to come over. Soon all four of them were setting up a heist to save their possible fifth member.

The plan was simple. Babkak and Omar would provide the distraction, while Kassim and Aladdin infiltrated. "The monkey knows you," Kassim explained to Aladdin. "So, it's your job to get him to come quietly. Do you think you can do that?"

Aladdin nodded.

"You better," Babkak huffed.

"I will," Aladdin promised, glaring at Babkak.

Babkak glared right back.

"Will I get to pet the monkey?" Omar asked, cutting through the tension.

"Yes, Omar," Kassim promised. "After the heist, I'm sure Aladdin will let you pet the monkey."

Omar grinned and the rest of the group laughed.

By that point, no one, not even Babkak, had thought they'd fail. It was another day for the boys, another grand adventure, another daring heist until it had all gone wrong.


A/N: Don't worry. Aladdin's story isn't done. We'll learn more about this horrid day in the upcoming chapters. In the meantime, I highly recommend you all check out the song: Babkak, Omar, Aladdin, Kassim. I specifically suggest the version put out by Joy Arzaga on youtube.