Suddenly, the frightening storm arrived. Alina quickly began running for her life, but she could not run fast enough. Suddenly everything turned dark …

PRINCESS Alina was a very selfish and mean girl. She always turned away the poor and needy, and cared only about herself. Her nanny, Asma, would often say to her, “You better change your ways Alina. Some day God will take away whatever you have.” But Alina always ignored her and did whatever she pleased.

One day Alina decided to go to take a walk in the park near the beach. Something unexpected happened to her there …. Inside the palace a servant ran towards king and said, “Your highness, a terrible storm is about to arrive. We must warn the citizens!”

On hearing this, the king asked the servants to spread the message throughout the land and then take shelter. Alina, unaware of the storm, was enjoying her walk on the beach.

“The beach seems so quite and deserted today. I wonder why?” she thought.

Suddenly, the frightening storm arrived. Alina quickly began running for her life, but she could not run fast enough. Suddenly everything turned dark …. When Alina opened her eyes, she rubbed her head and said to no one in particular, “Ouch, my head hurts!”

She stood up and looked around; she was not familiar with her surroundings. “Where am I?” she asked.

“You are on ‘Just-like-you’ island!” someone replied in a sing-song voice.

She frantically looked around, “Who said that?”

“Look down and you will know!” the same voice said.

She looked down and she saw a crab. “You?” she looked at the creature in shock.

“Yes! Now, if you are lost and in need of food and shelter, follow that path — it leads to the town and the townspeople will help you,” the crab said, speaking properly this time. She turned and started to walk on the path without even thanking the talking crab.

After walking on the path for about half an hour, she reached the town. She looked around and saw a bakery. She went in, then ordered arrogantly, “Hey mister! I need a loaf of bread!” the man grunted and said, “Another beggar? Go away!”

Alina left the store in anger. Feeling very miserable, Alina decided to go look for a place to sleep. Alina saw a woman standing outside a nice house and went to her. “I have no place to stay for the night. I need to stay at your house,” Alina asked.

“Do I look like a hotel manager to you?” the old woman snapped back at Alina.

The same thing happened with everyone that Alina went to for help. In tears, Alina ran back to where she met the crab. After she had been sobbing for a while, the very same crab came to her and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“I went to the townspeople, and they were very mean, and they did not give me with anything!” she said in between sobs.

The crab remained quiet for a while and then said, “Have you ever thought about how you treat other people?”

“Huh?” Alina asked, wondering why he had even brought up the topic. “Now do you know how the poor feel when you turn them away, not giving them any food or shelter? These people are treating you just like you treat others. If you are kind and nice to other people these townspeople will treat you kindly too. Hence, the name, ‘Just-like-you’ island!”

Alina now felt the pain the poor had felt when she had turned them away. Regretful about her behaviour, Alina decided that she will become a kinder person. She went back to the town and all the people treated her kindly this time. She came back to the crab and thanked him. Suddenly, the crab transformed into a man.

“I am actually a wizard. I created this island to teach people how it feels to be a poor person. Now that you have learned your lesson I shall grant you a wish.”

Alina, without hesitation, said, “I wish to go back to my parents!”

“Goodbye, Alina!” the wizard said and Alina disappeared in a swirl of wind.

When Alina landed back on her feet, she saw that she was standing right in front of her palace. She ran inside to greet her parents.

Alina had surely changed, and from that day onward, she never left a beggar or needy go past her empty-handed.