Hilary - Bomb.

Hilary  ( not sure if this is what was required …….)

Friday afternoon. 3pm. Time to pick up the girls from school.

Shari quickly finished the washing up. She had made a chocolate cake for Fabia’s 10^th birthday and wanted to remove all the evidence before they arrived home.

Shari enjoyed giving the girls surprises. She loved to see the look of complete delight in their faces when she presented them with something unexpected.

The cake was a departure from their usual birthday treat. Being a devoutly religious family of modest means, they were not used to celebrations of this kind and usually celebrated birthdays by visiting a place of local interest. This was followed by a family visit to the in laws where their Grandfather would sit the girls down and talk about the family history.  Shari had noticed how the two girls would show interest in their grandfather’s talks and was proud of the respect they gave him. However, once removed from his presence, Fabia and her sister would quickly start to discuss their plans for the next day. Shari would try to ensure that they did not lose sight of their past by asking the girls questions about what their grandfather had told them, but the moment was forgotten by the two of them in the excitement of planning their weekend with their school friends.

“ Hi Ma” said Fabia as she bounced down the path from the school. “ Had a good day today, I came first in the spelling test and fourth in the maths test.”

“ Hey, sweetheart, that’s great. Dad will be so proud of you” smiled Shari. She walked slowly with her youngest daughter to the bus stop where she waited for the school bus to bring her other daughter from the secondary school three miles away. “ What do you think Janna will say when she hears about your great school results?”

“ Oh, she will probably say that she did much better when she was ten and that Daddy was even more proud of her than he will be of me”  Fabia looked down at her feet and a little sigh emanated from her. Shari knew just how she felt. She was the youngest of four, and always felt that her efforts were less appreciated than those of her three brothers. She often felt quite invisible as a child and this carried through to her teenage years. Until she met the wonderful man who finally became her husband, she had never felt as if she belonged anywhere.

The whole family sat around the table as Shari bore in the chocolate cake which was decorated with sparklers. The lights had been turned off and Shari looked at the girls faces, expectant, excited, lit only by the glow from the sparklers. It was magic and she stifled a little sob that caught in her throat. She would remember this moment.

The following morning was Saturday. The girls had been invited to their Grandparents and Shari’s husband had taken them early before he set off for work. The taxi firm had asked him to do a further shift. 

Shari was used to being alone for much of the day, every day. But today was special. As she walked to the bus station with her large case she thought of the times the family had needed their faith. She remembered those times she had been ridiculed for her beliefs and her clothing; the time when she had been spat upon by one of a gang of youths on the bus.

She thought of the friends of her and her husband. These were the people who had kept her sane. The evenings they had sat and talked about their troubles and those of the wider community. She had basked in the love that they had showered upon her and her husband. And finally, the debt she had realised that she owed them was ready to be paid.

As she walked into the crowded waiting area, she looked up at the ceiling, whispered “Allahu akbar” then louder “Allahu akbar” before smiling and pulling the cord.