The Blanket Fort on a Rainy Day

Baby Mo and Baby Ais had been waiting a whole week for this day. Picnic day! The basket was ready. There were sandwiches, chocolate cake and orange juice.

But that morning, the window was covered in drops. The rain was pouring down, as if the sky were emptying a bucket.

"The picnic is cancelled, sweethearts," said Umi gently.

Baby Mo folded his arms and sulked. Baby Ais cried, hugging the picnic basket.

"The rain is mean," grumbled Baby Mo.

Umi sat down between them. "Hmm. The rain did cancel the picnic in the park. But the rain can't cancel… a picnic inside a fort."

Baby Ais stopped crying. "A fort?"

Umi opened the cupboard and took out the biggest blanket in the house — the orange one Grandma uses when she stays over.

Then they built a fort. Dining chairs became poles. The sofa became a wall. The orange blanket became the roof. Cushions became a soft floor.

Baby Mo found star-shaped fairy lights in a drawer, and Umi hung them inside the fort. The lights twinkled: red, yellow, blue.

"Wow…" said Baby Ais. Her eyes twinkled too.

They climbed inside the fort and opened the picnic basket. Sandwiches, chocolate cake, orange juice. Everything was still there!

Outside, the rain kept falling. But inside the fort, the rain sounded like a song. Tap-tap-tap on the roof. Thud-thud on the window.

Umi said, "Let's play 'Lucky We Have'. Say one thing we're thankful for today."

"Lucky we have a big blanket!" cried Baby Mo.

"Lucky we have star lights!" said Baby Ais.

"Lucky we have chocolate cake!" said Baby Mo again, his mouth full.

"Lucky we have rain," said Umi, "so the plants in the garden can drink."

Baby Ais thought for a moment. Then she said softly, "Lucky we have Umi and Mo… so the picnic is still fun."

They played "Lucky We Have" until they couldn't stop. Lucky we have pillows. Lucky we have a roof. Lucky we have ears to hear the rain. It felt like the good things kept adding up, more and more than they'd expected.

Umi smiled. "That's Allah's promise, you know. When we're thankful, Allah gives us more."

"If you are grateful, I will surely give you more." (Qur'an, Ibrahim 14:7)

In the afternoon, the rain stopped. A rainbow appeared in the sky. But Baby Mo and Baby Ais didn't want to leave the fort.

"Umi," said Baby Mo, "if it rains again tomorrow, can we have a fort picnic again?"

Talk it over with your little one: when our plans get cancelled, what can we still be thankful for? Let's play "Lucky We Have" before bed! 🏕️