The Duco Blessing
"Duco is the Somali prayer blessing given by elders. She's the thick widow everyone comes to for duco—her prayers are said to work miracles. When he asks for a private blessing, she shows him that some blessings require physical touch."
Everyone comes to Halima for duco.
The Somali prayer blessing. She's fifty-five, a widow, and the community believes her prayers work miracles. Sick children heal. Marriages mend. Jobs appear.
She's thick.
Two hundred and forty pounds of spiritual authority. Wide hips. Heavy breasts. Hands that raise to heaven and bring blessings down.
I come for duco too.
But not for miracles.
"What blessing do you seek?" she asks.
"Love."
"Then find a wife." She smiles. "I can pray for that."
"I don't want a wife."
"What do you want?"
"You."
The words hang in her small apartment.
"Warya—I'm an old woman. A widow. I give blessings, nothing else."
"You haven't given yourself a blessing in years."
She freezes.
"How do you know that?"
"Because I see you. Alone. Giving everything to everyone. Keeping nothing."
"That's what duco demands."
"Duco demands sacrifice. Not death." I take her hand. "Let me bless you."
She cries.
Then she leads me to her bedroom.
"Eight years," she says. "Since my husband. Since anyone touched me as a woman, not a saint."
"You deserve both."
I worship the prayer giver.
My mouth traces her body. Heavy breasts. Soft belly. Wide hips.
"No one has—" She gasps. "Eight years—"
I taste her.
She screams.
"ILAAHAY!" Her hands grab my hair. "ALLA—"
"Coming—" She's shaking.
She explodes.
"Inside me—" She's pulling at me. "Ku soo gal—bless me—"
I position myself.
"Ready?"
"Haa."
I thrust inside.
She screams.
"Alla—dhammaan—"
I start to move.
I make love to the duco giver.
The woman who blesses everyone.
"Dhakhso—faster—"
I pound her.
"Coming—" Her eyes roll back. "Ku shub—"
I let go.
I flood Halima.
The blessing she's been denied.
We lie tangled together.
"Macaan," she breathes. "You gave me duco."
"And you?"
"I'll pray for you." She kisses me. "Every day. And every night, you'll bless me back."
One Year Later
She still gives duco.
Her prayers still work miracles.
But now, she has a private blessing too.
"Macaan," she moans, as I take her. "My answered prayer."
Everyone seeks her duco.
I give her something better.