Salma Makes a Home

Salma Makes a Home — page 7 — Knock knock knock knock knock Mama taps her knuckles on the coffee table then sings Wake up and eat suhour let Ramadan visit you Salma giggles Now off to bed young lady Mama says You have school tomorrow In bed Salma closes her eyes and wishes for Baba to come here soon Vancouver has been a beautiful new home Salma loves the seawall and its many seagulls She learned how to skate at the ice rink and she looks great in her purple rain jacket But there is something missing that she can't figure out Is it how much she misses Baba Is it how different this city is from her hometown back in Syria She isn't sure In her dreams Salma walks the streets of 4

Salma Makes a Home — page 8 — Damascus with Baba He wears a red fez on his head and a long silky shawl on his shoulders Let's go celebrate Ramadan's return together Salma Baba says He holds his little drum by his chest and knocks on it Knock knock knock knock knock

Salma Makes a Home — page 9 — Salma looks around This is her old school in Damascus and that's her favorite candy store Over there is the little park where she used to climb the slide from the slippery side At the end of the road is her old home

Salma Makes a Home — page 10 — Suddenly as if they were made of clouds the buildings blur then disappear One after another the buildings turn to smoke and in a moment they are gone Salma's heart aches She feels a burn in her eyes Baba why is this happening Salma presses herself closer to Baba and squeezes his hand Because you've forgotten what they look like Salma Baba says He pulls his fingers away from hers and walks away He waves goodbye then knocks on his little drum Knock knock knock knock knock Baba please don't leave me again Salma feels her heart fluttering like a bird trying to escape a cage She runs after Baba but her feet are heavy The streets around her blur and her little home in 7

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