Life of a Hijabi

Part 1

I have two drawers full of headscarves and I wear every single one of them. I keep my pins attached to the headscarf. I forget which one when I pick a different one to wear. I run out. I find one hidden for back up. I decide to organize my headscarves and within minutes I find all the pins.  But now I have less time to get ready. I don't even think as or try as I wrap my headscarf around my head. For once the pin fits just right. It's not too tight or loose. I'm happy about it. But not everything can be good. It felt like too much fabric in one place. No matter how much I try to fix it, bring more to the front to cover my chest or bring more to the back, there was no change. I tried a different style of taking the leftover and tying a knot to hang over my chest but it didn't work for me. I put a few extra straight pins in my bag just in case. I tried to ignore it and go on with my day. Naturally the folds fix itself, it's not perfectly tight or annoyingly loose around my head, neck and chest. Eventually it's loosening around my face let a few hairs show.

In the restroom I take out the straight pins and take of my headscarf without taking off the safety pin at my neck. I retie my hair into a ponytail. Once it's tight I slip my headscarf on. The safety pin still fits well. I rewrap the scarf around my head and put the straight pins on. I play with the folds to cover the back of my neck and my chest. I don't try too hard. It will naturally fix itself.

I toss my bag strap over my shoulder and on my leg I feel being pricked. I carefully rub my hands all over my bag and find a couple straight pins sticking out. I open my bag to place the straight pins in a different pocket. After the iftar the girls are having Qiyam, night prayers and a big sleepover of games and discussions. I forget it's midnight and I feel awake and full of good energy. A few people fall asleep. We lay down in a small circle to talk and ever now and then laughter erupts. I look up to see it's 3 AM and for a split second laughter dies down and I hear: "We're jannah friends, right?"

"Yes, we're jannah friends."

The conversations continue to get deeper and more heartfelt. We snuggle closer together in our pile of pillows and blankets. I remain quiet as the talk. Eventually we all get up to wash up for prayer.