Pocket Full of Patience

This is for every man who placed his family needs before his..

For every man who became a local hero to his family and everyone around him..

…..

A knock on the door woke him up, then a sweet voice whispered behind the door, “Mohammed, wake up dear.”  He moved out of his bed and placed his feet on the ground, ground’s coldness moved from his veins to his brain and something flashed in his brain, “C’mon Mohammed it’s a new day, survive and then visit your bed once again.”

Mohammed is the house’s man, even though he’s too young for that. Friends hangout and have fun while he’s running errands but he never complained and that made him his mom favorite boy. But today he woke up heavyhearted; he started counting the seconds the moment he got out of his bed, “I just want this day to end.. I want to go back to bed.. I’m tired of all of this.. When will I get rid of this situation..” All of those thoughts are running back and forth in his head.

He walks into the kitchen wearing blue sweat pants and pajama shirt, he sat on the wooden table and that’s when his mom stood behind him and placed a plate right in front of him, then she rested her hands on his shoulders.

“Here you go, plain pancakes your favorite breakfast.” His mom said. He looked up to see a warm smile drawn on her face, and then he kissed her hands and smiled, “Thank you.”

Mariam his eight years old sister was next to him, she opened the pack of blueberries, and used them to make a face, nose and smile on Mohammed’s pancakes. Then she laughed, “It matches your pants and because blueberries will kick your blues away.” Mohammed laughed at her innocence and hugged her tight between his arms. She tried to push him away but he refused to let her go then she said, “Let me go, your arms.. I can’t breathe!!” He opened his arms then Mariam ran and hid behind her mom.

She peaked behind her, “Mommy his arms are like rocks.” Her mom laughed and said, “It’s his new thing baby, he puts his anger to improve his health. I like it that way.”

Mohammed stretched, “Well that was delightful but I have to go now.”

After dressing up and getting to his car, Mohammed went to his college. He knew that it’ll be a long stressful day but that boy got a pocket full of patience. He walked into that door and straight away to his class. Physics, Calculus, Arabic and other courses that sucked life out of him but still that pocket was full.

He entered his house at six in the evening and he rushed back to his room to be reunited with his bed; the moment he closed the door a similar morning knock came but this time it was quieter. He opened the door to see his mom standing, “Mohammed can you take your brother Ahmed to his friend, drive Mariam to your grandmother’s house and get couple of things from the grocery.”

He took a deep breath, “But mom I just came from college and it was a tiring day can all of them wait till I get some rest?!”

She wanted to shout at him but she knew he was right, “What do you want me to do? You’re the only one I can count on and you don’t want to do it. FINE! I’ll find a way to take them there.”

He rubbed his hair, “Fine mom I’ll do what you want.” He couldn’t see her like that.

“NO!” she shouted at him.

“Please mom.. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.. I’ll do what makes you feel better.” He apologized.

She walked away and didn’t look back at him. Mohammed had to surrender to reality and kiss his rest goodbye for now. He took his siblings, got what his mom wanted and then he picked them again.

At eleven in the evening he walked in his home again and this time he prayed no one no asks him for anything. In his room before he closes the door his mom came and said, “Mohammed your dad is on the phone.” Mohammed picked it up, “Hey dad.”

“Hey Mohammed, how are you son.”

“I’m great dad, how about you.”

“I’m proud of you.”

“What made you say that?” Mohammed laughed.

“Because you’re doing my job and your job at the same time, I know that me being away from you and everyone else is hard. Umm.. I can’t say how proud I am of you..”

“Dad it’s my job and I’m proud to be your son, thanks.”

He hanged up and handed his mom the phone; she held his hands instead and hugged him, “Your dad and I are really proud of you, you proved that you’re a son of a man. I love you and I’m proud of you.”

“I love you mom, I’ve got a pocket full of patience.” He whispered.

She laughed and hugged him even tighter, “Pocket full of patience, I like that..”

_____

Hope and Love

Maitha the Parrot