Two Middle East mothers are sitting in a cafe chatting over a plate
of tabouli and a pint of goat's milk.
The older of the mothers pulls a bag out of her purse and starts
flipping through photos. And they start reminiscing.
'This is my oldest son Mohammed . He would be 24 years old now.'
'Yes, I remember him as a baby' says the other mother cheerfully.
He's a martyr now though' mum confides.
'Oh, so sad dear' says the other.
'And this is my second son Kalid. He would be 21'
'Oh, I remember him,' says the other happily, 'he had such curly
hair when he was born'.
'He's a martyr too' says mum quietly.
'Oh, gracious me. ' says the other.
'And this is my third son. My baby. My beautiful Ahmed . He would be 18', she
whispers.
'Yes' says the friend enthusiastically, 'I remember when he first
started school.'
He's a martyr also,' says mum, with tears in her eyes.
After a pause and a deep sigh, the second Muslim mother looks
wistfully at the photographs and says...
'They blow up so fast, don't they?'