From Syria...With Nothing

CHAPTER 4

Isa and his brothers had offered their morning prayers. When they came back home, their mother was still asleep. Blaming her fatigue, Isa decided to cook his siblings their breakfast himself. He began to inspect all that they had. He found some milk, a small pack of rice and 2-3 pieces of vegetables-carrot and tomato. He had no idea how or what to cook. But looking at his mother, who lay fast asleep, he didn't have the courage to ask her prepare breakfast for them. For he knew how hard she was working at few houses to help them survive. However, he decided to be creative.

He took the pot, poured some water into it and lit the stove. Their stove was a typically 'olden day' styled. With stack of wood and pot tied up on log, which were tied at the top. The town people were kind enough to let the 'road dwellers' use the public drinking tank, which was just a walk away from their settlement. He decided to check the water, which had already started to show bubbles. Quickly, he emptied the pack of rice into it. Some of it had spill out. He sat down, gathered all the grains and put them in the pot. Inspecting the tomatoes, he simply put them in the pot as he thought it would definitely 'melt'. He decided against adding the carrot. They would have it raw with the rice.

"Brother, I am hungry. When are we having our breakfast?" asked Noah.

"It's almost done. Why don't you and Musa lay the mat?"

"Yes brother. Mussaaa! help me lay the mat for breakfast" yelled Naoh.

Isa smiled. Noah was always bossy around Musa. There was not much age gap between the two of them. They were always a team. Isa decided to check the pot for one last time. He saw the water had had dried up and the rice were fluffy. However, he couldn't find the tomato. Happy that his trick worked, he began to lower the pot. The pot was not very big, he was able to carry it. Carefully, balancing it with a small cloth, he put it down where his brothers had laid the mat.

The family had been eating in one big plate. It looked more of a serving dish though. They were lucky enough to have few utensils. Isa took out some rice with a bigger spoon, and put it in the plate. Together, they recited the prayer before the meal. As soon as it was over, the little ones began to dig in their side of the plate. His sister was not able to eat. As she would try to take a morsel, more of it would fall to the ground and herself then go into her mouth. Isa took his baby sister and sat her in his lap. He began to feed her with his hand. Suddenly, he looked up and was surprised to see the miserable look on his brothers' faces. Baby Safiya made an awful face too.

Stunned by their horrible little faces, he took a morsel in his mouth. Suddenly, he realized. He forgot to add salt! Quickly, he ran and brought salt in his hand and began to sprinkle it over the rice. Now, it was tasting better. As they were eating, Isa realized the rice were overcooked. Nevertheless, it was better than uncooked or half-cooked. As he was thinking about it, another sight caught his eye. To his horror, he spotted the tomato had not melted, but rather became very mashed and slimy. Still, he was able to feed his siblings.

He decided to check on his mother. Taking slow steps with the plate of rice in his hands, he went near her.

"Mumma, I made this rice for breakfast. Please have little and tell me how does it taste, mumma" he whispered to her.

When she said nothing, he began to shake her slightly. Still she did not respond. Isa grew worried and put his hand on her forehead. She was warmer, and looked pale. His mother was ill. She needed care. She needed a doctor, for which they had no money.

Looking crestfallen, he sat near her legs. They felt cold. He had to do something but who will stay at home? They were earning daily. Missing a day would mean losing much money. At last he decided to make his brothers stay home. He would find something himself.

"Musa, Noah, you have to stay at home today. Mother is not keeping well and Safiya is too young. We cannot leave her alone at home nor can we take her with us".

His brothers looked at each other and nodded their heads in agreement. He gave them instructions and left. In reality, he had no idea where to go. But, he had a plan of his own, and he wanted it to work.

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