Translation: Naomi Halsted

A quiet Friday morning. Very little traffic in the Territories, the roads are empty. Autumn sunshine.

The children are at home in Farisiya. There’s no school on Friday. For the moment, school is continuing as usual – four days of school and one day studying at home on Zoom.

Hagar accompanies Ahmad to the pasture – a small area of grazing beside the road. It’s forbidden to cross over to the eastern side. The greener and more fertile land has been appropriated by the Creator to the settlement of Rotem. Nevertheless, they cross over and pray that God’s emissaries won’t turn up.

There’s a group of children at home. It’s time for organized activity or each on his/her own. It’s a quiet morning with games, relaxed and joyful. The children are given their morning showers in a bucket – warm water is scooped up in a cup and poured over them. In the living room, they are soaped, rinsed with more cups of water, toweled and given clean clothes. All set to play in the earth. A girl with long, clean hair is making a braid according to instructions on Instagram with the help of her aunt.

Grandma Fathiya is working nonstop. It’s not clear at what. Working all the time. The baby wants to get out of the playpen, happy to play with the children. Colorful plastic shapes for playing and building. At home and outside. Patiently. A refillable pen is a surprising challenge for the baby, who takes it apart and puts it together again with enjoyment.

A walk to the neighbor’s tent. Women’s talk. Then a walk around to families in the area, and distribution of equipment. And the joy of meeting.