Page 1

Father had been praying for a long time.

Maryam sat at the top of the stairs and listened.

The house was still. His voice was quiet.

She did not know the words he was saying.

But she stayed - longer than she meant to.

By the time he finished, her legs had gone stiff.

She went back to her room.

Page 2

In the morning, the calendar caught her eye.

Same squares. Same numbers as every month.

Yusuf came and stood beside her.

"What are you looking at?"

"This month," Maryam said. "Does it feel different to you?"

He looked for a moment.

"Maybe," he said.

Then he went to find his shoes.

Maryam kept looking.

Page 3

Father came and found her there.

"What is it?" he asked.

Maryam pointed at the calendar.

"You prayed longer last night," she said. "Is something different about this month?"

Father looked at the calendar. Then he looked at her.

"There is," he said. "Come."

They sat together.

Father reached for his Mushaf and opened it carefully.