43 stories
Henna Nights
Nour is the best henna artist in Dammam. When she's hired for a wealthy family's wedding, the groom's divorced uncle Tariq can't stop watching her work. 'Yadayki sahira' (يديكِ ساحرة) - Your hands are magical - became their private joke.
Medina Moonlight
Salma teaches calligraphy in the holy city. When divorced imam Hamza seeks to commission Quranic art for his mosque, their sessions become sacred in unexpected ways. 'Al hubb ibada' (الحب عبادة) - Love is worship.
The Barbershop Chair
Big Mike runs the most popular barbershop in Harlem. When his best friend's newly divorced wife comes to pick up her son, he discovers some cuts go deeper than skin.
פיתוי טבריה | Tiberias Temptation
A divorced hotel manager and a mysterious guest share forbidden nights overlooking the Sea of Galilee.
Edmonton Home Care Aide
She cares for elderly Somalis in Edmonton—a thick ebony divorced woman who treats every patient like family. When his grandfather needs care, she becomes essential. Some care extends beyond visiting hours.
Winnipeg Driving Instructor
She teaches Somali women to drive in Winnipeg's brutal winters—a thick ebony divorced woman who fears nothing. When he needs winter driving skills, she offers private lessons. Some roads lead to unexpected places.
Boston Immigration Lawyer
She helps Somali refugees navigate immigration law—a thick ebony divorced attorney who fights for families. When he needs help with his mother's visa, she works overtime. Some cases require personal attention.
Dallas Car Dealership
She sells cars to Dallas's Somali community—a thick ebony divorced woman who never pushes. When he comes looking for a minivan, she offers test drives. Some drives go to unexpected places.
Detroit Mechanic
She fixes cars in Hamtramck—a thick ebony divorced Somali woman who learned engines from her brothers. When his car needs work, she gets under the hood. Some repairs require test drives.
Houston Shipping Clerk
She handles shipping containers at the Port of Houston—a thick ebony divorced Somali woman who sends cargo worldwide. When he needs to ship belongings to Somalia, she handles it personally. Some packages require special handling.
Las Vegas Casino Worker
She deals blackjack on the Strip—a thick ebony divorced Somali woman who's seen every kind of gambler. When he plays at her table all night, she offers private odds. Some bets pay off spectacularly.
Miami Event Planner
She plans events for Miami's small Somali community—a thick ebony divorced woman who makes celebrations perfect. When he needs a party for his parents' anniversary, she plans more than the venue. Some events are private.
Phoenix Daycare Owner
She runs a daycare for Somali children in Phoenix—a thick ebony divorced woman who shapes young minds. When he needs emergency childcare for his nephew, she offers extended hours. Some care is just for adults.
San Jose Daycare Mother
She runs a home daycare in San Jose's Somali neighborhood—a thick ebony divorced woman who mothers everyone's children. When he picks up his nephew every day, she notices him noticing her. Some pickups lead to drop-offs.
Seattle Uber Driver
She drives Uber in Seattle's rainy nights—a thick ebony divorced Somali woman who knows every street. When he becomes a frequent passenger, she offers off-the-meter rides. Some destinations aren't on the map.
Riverside Plaza Secrets
Everyone in Riverside Plaza knows Hawa—the thick ebony divorced Somali woman who runs the informal daycare. When he needs childcare advice for his niece, she offers private consultations. Some lessons are for adults only.
The Bloomington Accountant
She does taxes for half the Somali businesses in Minneapolis—a thick ebony divorced woman who knows everyone's financial secrets. When he needs help with his books, she offers private consultations. Some numbers are meant to be intimate.
The Eagan Real Estate Agent
She sells houses to Somali families in the suburbs—a thick ebony divorced woman who knows every listing in the Twin Cities. When he starts house hunting, she shows him properties no one else sees. Some closings are very private.
The Minneapolis Hawala Operator
She runs the busiest money transfer service in Cedar-Riverside—a thick ebony divorced woman who moves millions to Somalia. When he needs to send money urgently, she offers special rates. Some transactions are very personal.
The Somali Community Organizer
She organizes political events for Somali voters—a thick ebony divorced woman who knows everyone in the community. When he joins her campaign, she shows him grassroots organizing. Some activism happens behind closed doors.
The Somali Daycare Provider
She runs an unlicensed daycare in her Riverside Plaza apartment—a thick ebony divorced woman who mothers the whole community. When his sister needs emergency childcare, he discovers her other services. Some care is just for adults.
The Somali Driving Teacher
She teaches driving to Somali women in Cedar-Riverside—a thick ebony divorcee who's helped hundreds get their licenses. When he needs lessons, she offers private sessions. Some driving requires hands-on instruction.
The Somali Phone Repair Shop
Her tiny shop on Lake Street fixes phones faster than anyone—a thick ebony divorced woman with magic fingers. When his phone breaks, she offers to fix more than his screen. Some repairs happen after closing.
The Somali Tutoring Center
She runs the after-school tutoring center in Cedar-Riverside—a thick ebony divorced teacher who wants every Somali kid to succeed. When he volunteers to help, she shows him her teaching methods. Some lessons happen after the students leave.
The West Bank Salon Owner
Her salon does hair and hijab styling for every Somali woman in West Bank—a thick ebony divorced woman who makes everyone beautiful. When he needs a haircut, she offers after-hours service. Some beauty treatments are very personal.
Uptown Somali Boutique
Her boutique on Hennepin sells traditional Somali clothing with modern flair—a thick ebony divorced designer who dresses the whole community. When he needs an outfit for Eid, she offers private fittings. Some fashion is meant to be worn in the bedroom.
The Property Manager
She manages his apartment building in Cedar-Riverside—a thick divorced Somali woman who knows everyone's business. When he reports a maintenance issue late one night, she comes to inspect personally. The repair takes all night.
The Dhiig Connection
Dhiig means blood in Somali—the family bonds that tie everything together. His distant cousin's thick divorced mother hosts a family gathering. After everyone leaves, she shows him that some family connections are closer than others.
The Healthcare Worker
She's a Somali home health aide who cares for his elderly grandmother. The thick divorced mother comes every day, and he notices her exhaustion, her dedication, her curves. When he offers to help her the way she helps others, she finally lets someone care for her.
The Taxi Driver
She drives a taxi in Minneapolis—one of the few Somali women behind the wheel. The thick divorced mother picks him up from the airport, and he becomes her regular passenger. Then he becomes something more. Night shifts end at her apartment.
Hooyo's Best Friend
His mother's best friend has been staying with them since her divorce. She's forty-five, lonely, and keeps 'accidentally' walking in on him. The fifth time she doesn't apologize—she closes the door and locks it.
The London Layover
A delayed flight strands him in London. His Somali Airbnb host is a thick divorced mother whose listing mentioned nothing about personal hospitality. But after the kids go to sleep, she shows him what British-Somali women do when they're lonely.
The San Diego Surprise
San Diego has a growing Somali community in City Heights. When he visits his mother, he discovers her thick divorced neighbor has been helping around the house. Now she wants help with something at her place—something that requires closed doors.
The Eid Encounter
Eid celebrations bring the whole community together. After the prayers and feasting, he finds himself alone with his friend's thick divorced mother. She's wearing her best dirac, her finest gold—and nothing else underneath. Some Eid gifts are unexpected.
The Seattle Sister
His father's sister lives in Seattle—another city with a thriving Somali community. When he visits for a tech conference, the thick divorced eddo puts him up for the week. She hasn't had a man since her divorce, and Seattle nights are long and cold.
The Somali Café Owner
She's thirty-five, divorced, and owns the best Somali café in Shepherd's Bush. He's the twenty-five-year-old chef she hired to help during Ramadan. Their late-night kitchen sessions turn into something neither expected.
The Driving Instructor
She's forty-two, divorced, finally learning to drive. He's the Somali instructor who doesn't treat her like an idiot. When she passes her test, she wants to celebrate. He takes her somewhere private and teaches her something else.
The Halal Hookup
There's nothing halal about what happens. When his Somali dating app matches him with a thick divorced mother, he expects awkward tea. Instead, she takes him to her bedroom and shows him what years of bad marriage taught her to crave.
The Columbus Cousin
He visits his cousin in Columbus, Ohio—home to the second-largest Somali population in America. His cousin's thick divorced mother needs help moving furniture. By the time they're done rearranging, more than just the furniture has been moved.
The Garowe Connection
His company sends him to Garowe, Puntland, for a tech project. The thick Somali project coordinator assigned to him is a divorced mother who hasn't had a real man in years. Their professional relationship becomes very unprofessional after hours.
Dugsi Dilemma
He volunteers at the local dugsi—the Somali Quran school—to help with administration. The thick divorced teacher who runs the evening classes has been eyeing him for months. One night, after the children leave, she teaches him a lesson not found in any holy book.
Habaryar in London
His thick Somali aunt puts him up in her London flat while he looks for work. She's been divorced for years, lonely in a city that doesn't understand her. When he offers to help around the house, she shows him exactly what kind of help she needs.
Second Chance
His ex's mother reaches out after the divorce. She says she wants to apologize for how her daughter treated him. What she really wants is what she's wanted for years—him.