Today, I made some food and put a plate out for my five-year old grandson. He took his plate and started to sneak out of the kitchen.
I said Yusuf Habibi come back, we are only allowed food in the kitchen, we don’t take it out, we only eat here.
He came back and sat on the table looking very disappointed, then looked at me. He pointed at me, then at the door.
I said: what do you mean Habibi?
He said: It’s sign language.
Me: But what does it mean? does it mean I am a door?
Him: (laughing): No.
Again he pointed at me, then at the door.
Me: Does it mean I’m a chair? (there was a chair in that direction.)
Laughing again, he said no.
Me : Tell what do you mean Habibi?
Him: It means go outside, I want to have a word with you.
Me: OK, Habibi, sure let’s go.
Him: on the stairs please.
Me: OK, sure.
We sat on the stairs, then he said: your glasses, they are dirty there is something on them.
Me: Oh really? what should I do?
Him: They need cleaning.
Me: OK, I will wash them.
Me: Is there anything else you want to talk to me about?
Him: Yes.
Me: Tell me.
Him: Why did you shout at me when I wanted to eat in the sitting room?
Me: Habibi, I wasn’t shouting at you, I just told you the rules that we eat only in the kitchen. If I raised my voice I am sorry, I should not have raised my voice. But let me tell you why we eat only in the kitchen: we don’t take food out because the sitting room has a carpet and if we spill food it’s very difficult to clean. The only time we can eat in the sitting room is when we have guests.
Yusuf thinking deeply for a little while, then said: I know. I can be a guest sometimes. I go on holidays sometimes then I come back like guests, so I can be a guest.
Me: hmmm, Habibi, let me explain to you, you can’t be a guest because you live here. This is your home, guests have their own homes.
Him (smiling): Oooh
Me: were you disappointed that I raised my voice when I told you about eating in the kitchen?
Yusuf: No, I wasn’t disappointed.
[Pause]
Yusuf: I was worried 😧
Me: Worried? Why?
Him: I was worried that I might cry.
Me: Habibi, I would never make you cry, I love you so, so much more than you can ever imagine! You know this small heart inside of me, it has so much love, if only you could see how absolutely full of love it is 🥰
Him: My heart is full of love 💕 too. Love actually goes from my heart to outside of my heart to my skin, to my body, to my mouth, and all over me, everywhere
Me: Mine, too 😍
[BIG HUG 🤗]
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Poetry for Palestine 