Amina’s Strange Behavior
Amina had always been a curious child, but recently her behavior had taken a strange and puzzling turn. Every single day, without fail, she would ask her mother, Anna, to climb trees. It didn’t matter where they were—at home, in the park, or even visiting relatives—Amina would point to the nearest tree and insist, “Mom, climb it!”
At first, Anna thought it was just a phase. Children often develop unusual interests, and she assumed Amina would soon grow out of it. But as days turned into weeks, Amina’s requests became more persistent. She would tug at Anna’s hand, her eyes wide with urgency, as if something very important depended on it.
Anna found the situation both confusing and exhausting. She wasn’t particularly fond of climbing trees, and frankly, she wasn’t very good at it. Still, she tried to humor her daughter. She would awkwardly pull herself up onto low branches while Amina watched closely from below, her face lighting up with excitement and relief.
What puzzled Anna the most was the seriousness in Amina’s expression. This wasn’t just play. Amina seemed to believe that her mother had to climb the tree, as if it served a purpose only she understood. When Anna refused, Amina would grow anxious and restless, sometimes even on the verge of tears.
One evening, Anna finally decided to ask, “Amina, why do you always want me to climb trees?”
Amina hesitated before answering softly, “Because when you’re up there, you can see everything… and nothing bad can sneak up on us.”
Anna was taken aback. She realized that beneath Amina’s strange behavior was a deeper feeling—perhaps fear or a need for safety. Climbing trees, in Amina’s mind, was a way for her mother to protect them both.
From that day on, Anna saw things differently. She still didn’t love climbing trees, but she understood why it mattered. And sometimes, love means doing strange things—like climbing trees—just to make someone feel safe.
