The Essence of Noah (Muslim story)

Albi

"I still don't see why you couldn't have just booked with Jetstar and had your things flown to Melbourne for you." Mum leans her back against the sink, slowly stirring at her sugar filled cuppa while she eyes me intently.

"Cause I want to take my car with me." I adjust myself to sit cross legged on the wooden kitchen table chair as I eat my soggy cornflakes.

"Hana, your car has trouble getting you from here to the city. You're going to be calling the RAA as soon as you hit the freeway." She stops stirring and taps her tea spoon against the rim of her mug a couple of times, before letting it clank noisily into the sink.

"I'll be fine." I speak through I mouthful of chewed cereal, letting some flavoured milk dribble down my chin.

"Hana." Mum scolds me as she places her cuppa down on the table and comes to stand behind me. I drop my spoon in the bowl as I reach for the tissue box to wipe my chin. "It's a long drive." She starts up again as I lean back in the chair. Her hands rest on my shoulders, massaging them gently as she continues. "It's eight hours on the freeway, nine with your driving." Her fingers make their way to my hair tie, tugging it out of my hair and letting my tangled curls loose.

"Mum." I drop my spoon back in the bowl, making some milk splash out onto my tank top, as I try to spit out stray strands of hair.

"Sorry." Gently, her fingers brush my face, to pull back my hair. She combs it softly, although her fingers tangle and tug at the knots formed from yesterday's bun. "You're going to go bald before your day if you keep neglecting your hair." I wince as she starts to twist it and wrap it into a tight bun on the back of my head.

"Noted." Having eaten most of the cereal, I discard my spoon on the table and drink the remaining milk from the bowl. Mum squeezes my shoulders once more before stepping away and picking up her cuppa.

"Your dad will be up soon. Get in the shower before he does." I stand and take my bowl and spoon to the sink, placing them inside and opening the tap briefly to fill the bowl with water to soak.

"Alright." I walk into the hallway, my feet cooling with the feeling of the cold floorboards beneath them. I pass my parents room, where Albi is sniffing and scratching against the door. "Albi." I whisper out to him and point back towards the kitchen. "Go to mum." He stops what he's doing for a moment, staring at me and then waddles over. "To mum." I point to the kitchen again as he stops by me feet. He doesn't listen though as he sits calmly. "Whatever." I mumble as I continue to my room, grabbing yesterday's clothes from on top of a box and heading back out to the bathroom.

Having only one bathroom to share amongst three people has always been a burden, especially since the hot water is limited. You always have to think of all the other sweaty bodies waiting their turn, before you take that extra soothing minute under the shower. It makes a big difference.

Albi follows me to the bathroom door, and comes inside as I hang my clothes on the thin metal rack. "Out you go." I open the door wider for him to leave, but he doesn't. "Come on Albi, I need to shower." I cringe at myself as I talk to him. He has no idea what I'm saying, and it's just a waste of my breath. "Out." I point with a firm voice, outside to the hallway as my patience wavers.

"Albi." Mum calls to him from the kitchen, and instantly, as if being buzzed with an excessive dose of adrenaline, he darts out, sliding against the floorboards as he makes his way skilfully to the kitchen. "Good boy." I hear mum praise him, probably picking him up and rubbing his tummy in appreciation. He's her dog anyways.

I shut the door, before mum lets him go again and he comes back to me. Ever since yesterday's brief walk and secret treat, he's gotten the impression that he's my pet, and that if he hangs around long enough, I'll take him out again. He's clueless to the fact that he won't be seeing me much after today. I strip and adjust the water temperature for my shower, and sure enough, before I step inside, I can hear Albi scratching at the door.