Cover Up

She puts on her robes, dresses the traditional way, covers up. Women pass her on the street, they look at her, odd they think, who’d want to cover up. She spends five minutes preparing to go out, they spend an hour worrying about how they look, who was covering up. She doesn’t seek the admiring glances of men, she has no intention to tease. It’s odd she thinks, the way some seek the attention, when they ought to seek happiness. One day they will understand.

the child comes homes after school, the welcome is personal, his mother is waiting for him, They discuss the school, what did you learn today, no stones no anxieties, they chat about the news, he tells her what he is doing, about the school trip next week. She smiles as she watches him leave the dining room, he is heading off to see friends.

The…