Unlikely Meal

Rania pulled into Steve’s driveway and the two of them went into the apartment, Steve carrying pizza and Rania carrying food from her native Syria. Opening the pizza box once they were seated at the table, Steve said, “No pepperoni, no pork!”

“Jazak’Allah*”, Rania replied.

Before they started eating, Rania said, “Bismi’Allah**” and Steve said grace.

Steve turned on the news and saw a report on a suicide bombing in Egypt, and heared inflammatory comments from the US government.

“Turn that off”, Rania said, “an American and Syrian sharing a meal; that’s what’s important!”

With that, they kissed. 

*Jazak’Allah means “May God reward you”, a Muslim way of expressing gratitude.

**Bismi’Allah means “In the Name of Allah”, commonly said before eating.

This is a post for Friday Fictioneers by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields, photo by Dale Rogerson.