Grandma’s Irises

Omar and Yousef were so excited. Their eyes were filled with delight as they watched their Mother, Fatimah running around. She ran from room to room, upstairs and downstairs and finally outside. She brought in some small shovels and gardening gloves.

"Finally, I think I have everything." she said.

They couldn't figure out exactly where they were going. Omar thought about the beach since he saw his Mother retrieving the shovels. So he decided to get his shovels and sand truck.

"No, Sweety we aren't going to the beach today." Omar looked a bit sad. "We are going to Grandma and Grandpa's house."

"Hooray!" they both shouted.

Grandma and Grandpa had so many neat things to do at their house. Omar thought about the big tractor Grandpa used to dig up the garden. Yousef loved to ride on the riding mower with Grandma. She loved to bake for Omar and Yousef too. They always had a lot of fun there.

Their mother, Fatimah gathered everything and put them in the car.

"Ready." she said.

"Let's go!" they exclaimed.

They ran out the door and piled into the car. One by one Fatimah secured their seatbelts and got into the car herself. They drove to Grandma's house still wondering what they were going to do with all those shovels. The weather was nice and cool thought Fatimah.

"Here we are." She said turning left into the long driveway.

The leaves were falling all around them. Autumn had arrived. Bright shades of orange, red and yellow painted the trees. The ground was covered with tumbling brown leaves.

Grandpa was not outside gathering any vegetables from their garden and the grass did not appear to need cutting. Omar and Yousef thought their grandparents must be inside the house.

Their Mother just smiled at them. She could see them both squirming in their seats. They wanted to jump out of the car. Finally, she stopped the car. Omar slid out of the bottom of the seatbelt and Yousef just kept squirming until she freed him. They both jumped out of the car quickly.

They ran as fast as they could down the sidewalk, up the steps and swung open the side door with a loud crash. Fatimah grimaced at their unruly behavior. But her parents just gave her the back off look.

"Assalaam-u-alaikum. They belong to us now." said Grandma and Grandpa.

"Walaikum-as-salaam. Well I gotta run my errands. See you after Maghrib. I’m running late today." Said Fatimah.

She kissed them, placed the shovels at the door and left quickly. Grandma and Grandpa scooped them up and squeezed them tightly. They were so happy to see the kids. They lived far away in the city and did not get to see them very often because of Fatimah's work schedule.

The two boys started babbling on and on about ducks, cats, turtles and anything that entered their little minds. They just loved talking to Grandma and Grandpa because they were always interested in what they had to say. It did not matter how busy they were. Their eyes swelled and dazzled in delight as they giggled.

Then Grandma said," Let's go outside to the garden to replant my purple irises."

"But Grandma, everything is dying now." said Omar.

"Well Sweety, let's take a look outside and see what we can find." They walked outside and started to look around.

"Sure enough. Omar, you are right. Many of the plants and flowers have died off. The marigolds have long dried up and become brown. The roses wilted because of the morning frost and most of the trees are losing their leaves. But look my pansies are still beautiful. They like the cool air."

They both looked up at her with puzzled looks on their faces. They did not understand.

"But why does this happen?" said Omar.

"Yeah, Grandma why does everything get brown and go away?" replied Yousef.

"My sweet boys everything is here for a short time. Some things grow back year after year, but some things are just like people. When they leave this earth, they leave it forever."

"What do you mean Grandma?" said Yousef.

“They were almost the same height as you are now Omar." She pointed to the flower boxes on the front corner of the house.

"You mean like the one on your gardening gloves?" said Omar.

"Yes dear. That's the one. Every year, when it gets cold, they die off and become brown. But the bulb of the plant stays under the ground just waiting for the warm spring rain to grow again. It’s a purple iris."
"Grandma, is that kinda like when we die and are waiting in the ground for the Day of Judgment?" said Omar.

"Yes, Sweety, you're so clever. You see the flowers die and leave behind their seeds or bulbs just waiting for the warm weather to bloom again year after year. But the people leave this world and are waiting for the Hereafter. We all hope and pray that we will leave as believers to be among the people with Allah and the Prophet Muhammad in Paradise."

"But why do we have to replant the bulbs if they are already in the ground?" asked Yousef.

"Well Sweety, you see new bulbs formed with the old ones and if we don't replant them, they will not have enough space to grow. But in Paradise there will be a lot of space for everyone."

"I guess that’s why Momma brought the extra shovels in the car. Yousef and I will get them." They got the shovels and helped Grandma replant the Iris bulbs one by one.

"Hey boys, ready for a break?" Said Grandma bringing homemade lemonade and butter pecan ice cream for them to drink and eat.

The boys were happy to stop and have her delicious snacks. Grandma made the best lemonade thought Omar.

"Well let's get back to work. I need you guys. I can't do this alone." said Grandma hurrying them along.

Before long they were all very tired. At last, they finished the work. Grandma took them inside, helped them clean themselves and reminded them to pray Dhur before their afternoon nap.

When they woke up the sun had just sunk below the horizon. Grandpa called the Adhan and they all prayed Maghrib together.
Their Mother returned and they said their goodbyes to go home. They were missing each other and they had not even left yet. The boys were also missing their father. He was at home waiting for them.

They arrived home and started babbling away to their Father about everything they had done that day. He just smiled patiently and kept listening. Then he looked out the window and saw a single snowflake. The snow was early this year, he thought. It snowed only a little and then stopped.

"I bet Grandma is glad we replanted the irises because now it is getting so cold." said Omar. Yousef nodded in agreement.

They were happy they had helped their grandparents that day.

Autumn passed and the ground froze. Winter had arrived. It was so cold. Mom and Dad always reminded the boys to wear their jackets. One day they were all sitting by the fireplace and the phone rang.

"Assalaam-u-alaikum Omar."

"Walaikum-as-salaam Grandpa."

"Please get me your Mom."

It was Grandpa and he sounded upset. He did not talk to Omar as he usually did but instead asked for Fatimah immediately."

"Assalaam-u-alaikum Daddy. Is everything OK?"

"Walaikum-as-salaam. Sweetheart, Momma fell and she is in the hospital."

"Daddy we are on our way." They all dressed quickly and drove in the snowy weather to the hospital.
They arrived at the hospital and went to her room quickly. Fatimah could see that her Mother was tired. Grandma asked for the boys immediately. Fatimah brought them inside. Grandma hugged them tightly and kissed them.

"My Sweet boys, I am tired. I want to go to sleep like the purple irises."

Omar looked at Yousef and they both understood that Grandma would be leaving them for now. They were sad but they did not want to cry and make her sad.

They both kissed her and said, "See you next time. We love you so much and will miss you."

She looked at them with tears in her eyes and said, "Omar and Yousef, don't forget to replant my irises each year. When you see them bloom again year after year, remember that we will all bloom again someday. But we will bloom in the light of Allah."

By J. T. Watson