"Cheerios. We need Cheerios. Can you grab them, Sam?" Max asked while pushing his cart down the aisle.
"How is this going to help me learn about Islam?" Sam asked his father before retrieving the box of cereal that was requested.
"Patience, young grasshopper," Max answered dramatically. "Or as they say in Islam, sabr."
"What? Sabir? What does that mean?" Sam asked in confusion.
"Well, technically it's Arabic. Sabr literally translates to the word "patience." It's an integral part of being Muslim. Patience is the key to success," Max replied sagely.
"Yeah, but I don't even know if I want to be Muslim. Can you just teach me about Islam? Like the basics?" Sam asked before reaching for a box of spaghetti.
"Muslim or not, patience is an awesome thing. While the world is running around trying to catch time, you're embracing it and going with the flow," Max continued.
"Is that why you're always so calm now? I remember there was a time when you'd worry about every little thing," Sam speculated.
"And then I thought about it. Will my worrying change the situation? Nope. Will my prayers change everything? Yeah, maybe. So I focused on prayer," Max nodded.
"Can I buy a tomato?" A familiar voice called out from the aisle next to them. Sam glanced at Max who glanced back at his son. We know that voice. Where did we hear it before?
"Why in the world do you need a tomato?" Another familiar called out.
"Rana. That's Rana," Max said quickly and turned the cart towards the next aisle.
"Dad, it's creepy that you know that so well," Sam called out in a loud whisper. He found his father's eagerness to talk to the soldier a little weird. His father had never been excited to see anyone in his life, let alone an old friend from the past. before Same could call out to his father, he heard a loud crash.
"Shahzadi!" Rana, clad in her uniform, cried out in surprise as their cart collided with Max's once Max turned the corner.
"Ahh!" Khadijah cried out at the same time as she cowered in the cart.
"No!" Max cried out as well while trying to steer the cart away from Rana's.
"Are you okay?!" Sam asked quickly while approaching the little girl who was sitting in the cart.
"Shahzadi! My love, are you alright?" Rana asked in concern as she lifted the little girl out of the cart and inspected her in her arms.
Khadijah groaned dramatically and hung limp in Rana's arms. Sam could see the borderline hysteria the older woman was facing as she patted the little girl's cheeks. Please be okay. Please be okay.
"I need a tomato to feel better," Khadijah finally moaned and then smiled at her aunt.
"Shahzadi! You can't do that! You nearly gave me a heart attack!" Rana cried out before giving the little girl a mammoth hug. The older woman gave the little girl's cheeks a kiss each before inhaling deeply and placing her back in the cart.
"It's okay, sir. I'm okay. I was just pretending," Khadijah called out while waving at Max. Max had turned into stone while everything had played out. Sam poked his father in the shoulder, trying to snap the older man out of his daze. Max blinked unsurely before looking at the little girl with the blue eyes. Max exhaled forcefully before whispering,
YOU ARE READING
Blue-Haired Muslim
SpiritualRaised as a Christian, Samuel Maximus Jameson Junior felt a close bond with the religion his mother had introduced him to. After her tragic passing, he continued to adhere to the faith, but found himself being drawn to the mystery that was Islam. Af...
