Flash Fiction by David

It’s late Spring in Yuma, Arizona, and Lina plants a small date palm tree. Back home in Morocco, her grandfather planted one like this, a Medjool, the year she was born. Lina, which means “young palm tree,” hopes to one day have a child of her own, perhaps by the time this new tree bears fruit. It’s a promise. Her daughter, Aya, which means “miracle,” is born five years later, just in time for the first batch of dates. When these trees receive good care, they can live for up to one-hundred years. Generations later, Aya’s grandson enjoys the fruit.