I am a writer and teacher, born and raised in Toronto, Canada, currently living in Alexandria, Egypt. My published works include two picture books (One Hundred Flavours of Ice Cream, Bilal's Second Surprise) and three chapter books (Blackout, Littering Stinks, and Stuck in the Middle), available at ruqayasbookshelf.com.
I love the walks to school on winter mornings. The crisp weather, the leisurely stride, the friendly banter between my daughters and their cousin. Sometimes they link arms with her—not with each other, to be sure—and sometimes they take quick steps, trying to outpace each other. The puffy black jacket I bought a decade ago on another continent serves me well. Today, grey clouds loom above, but so far there is no rain. (It doesn’t take long for the streets to fill with water when it does rain, and then the walk turns into a delicate crisscrossing dance.) We’re approaching the school gate now. “Anyone want to hug and kiss me in public?” I quip. The girls politely decline, but they do say salam and “I love you.” I stand until they pass through the doors; both of them look at me and wave. I turn back, and soon I’m crossing a one-way road; I live in Egypt, so I look both ways. My way back is contemplative. I study all the greenery on my path—trees and bushes of various shapes and sizes. Som...
Hi Sumayya this is zakiya glad to know about you. Do visit my website as well http://www.duasforlife.wordpress.com/ looking forward to collaborate in shaa Allah.
ReplyDeleteAs Salaam Alaikum. Nice to hear about you. In sha Allah
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