Morning Prayers

Elizabeth adjusted her hijab, preparing to kneel down on her prayer rug when Katie entered.

"As-salaam alaikum, mother," Katie said, adjusting her own hijab. Of all her white children, Katie was the most observant and most obedient, the apple of her father's eye.

"Wa-alaikum salaam, daughter," Elizabeth responded, hugging Katie before her daughter spread out her silver prayer rug beside Elizabeth's. Elizabeth was no linguist, but she'd picked up enough Arabic to be conversant for most of the basics.

The two did their morning prayer ritual, then had some hot tea and discussed their days, while Yusuuf was doing his own prayers and meditation and coffee upstairs.