Page 5 - Issue 19 January 2023

I’ll Make Room

My grandfather's truck was a two-seater. Unfit for a family of four, but

that didn't matter. He carved out space in the back and installed two

jump seats for his kids with me, nestled snugly in between them, their

bodies like my seat belts. This was the nature of living in my hometown.

You had to work with what you had and what you were given. When you

don't fit in, you make room for yourself and you trust people around

you to keep you safe.

Building rooms onto trailers from plywood for unexpected guests who

never felt unwanted nor overstayed their welcome, putting lawn chairs

on the truck beds for visiting cousins who needed a ride.

There were no trees for tree houses, so we made do with tents on rooftops.

I'm telling you all this, so you'll understand what I mean.

When you worry, there's no space left in my heart, so I say I can make

room for you.

By Abdullah Rajab Basher Al Habshi-CAAS

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FP Chronicle Issue 19, Jan 2023 Chronicle Issue 19, Jan 2023
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