Barakah

- Jameela

21/12/2022.

Hello everyone. It's been a pregnant moment and I honestly can't blame anything else but burnout and life. I really appreciated the messages and there're probably the only reason why I pushed myself to overcome the burnout and make time for this. Even though I'm yet to respond to any. Didn't feel it was right to respond without some peace offering for disappearing like that.

Happy new year in advance too.

Crone: An ugly old lady.

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Barakah

A loveliness gathered on a leaf, like a little dump of sand. Every October, she would search for them in her mother's garden, along with Ameenah. They took on the character of animal hunters. In their world, the garden would become a wilderness they explored.

"Amal, there're so many." The nine year old leaned over her shoulder, her breath on her neck a rapid blow of thrill.

Barakah felt a tickle of her sister's frizzy hair whip her shoulder blade. Ameenah, always a worser mess. If only their mother scolded Ameenah as often as she scolded her.

"Don't put your entire head in there." She told her younger sister who only gasped.

"But there's so many of them. More than last year. I counted."

Barakah let out an abrupt short laugh, "Lie lie."

"Do you think they'll habit this place longer this season? We should take some inside. I searched on google and it said they bring good luck!" Ameenah was shrieking her excitement.

Anxiety prickled at Barakah's spine, "Take them in and we'll end up being the first kids Mammy actually beats with that rolling pin."

"My friend said her mum uses a charger instead. Do you think she'll actually do it? I don't think so. Or she'll regret it, when the good luck kicks in." Ameenah swore. Barakah cursed, under her breath. She wasn't allowed too out loud.

"That's superstition, haram."

"I don't take word from non-malams."

"And I'll stop coming out here with you if you do it?" A moment of decisive silence. Barakah didn't trust Ameenah. Not when it came down to following rules.

Every new day short on the previous day, Ameenah's boldness of an armor thickened.

Barakah sighed at her younger sister.

Ameenah looked back at her with a straight face.

"Fine."

"Fine?" She pressed.

"Fine. Only if you let me touch them."

"No. Absolutely not."

Ameenah had already reached for them, gathering a few in her palms. Barakah was swift to reach for sister's hands, aggression in the way she got them out of her palms.

"We're going inside now." Ameenah bristled like a wolf sheltered in sheep.

"Why?" She cooed. Sweetly.

Barakah's patience snapped, "Ask me again."

Barakah stood from her knees, "If I get into the house before or without you, you won't like what I'll do."