A Child s Curiosity Awakens Memories

Yemenat

Mohammed Al–Mekhalfi

My son Ayham, eleven years old, possesses a remarkable passion for everything related to browsing and exploring social media, particularly YouTube. His imagination is vast, and his curiosity knows no rest; he asks about everything and searches for answers to whatever crosses his mind.

Some time ago, he decided on his own to create a YouTube channel. He worked diligently until he succeeded, and began capturing images of rainy scenes in Sana’a, sharing them on his channel and trying to describe the moments with innocent words.

Despite the charm of his endeavor, I tried to persuade him to step away from YouTube, which was consuming most of his time, and to focus on his studies for now. Hobbies, I explained, could be nurtured later when he grows older and becomes better able to manage his time.

After several attempts, he was convinced and stopped, but his curiosity remained undiminished. From time to time, he returned to exploring pictures of historical sites, questioning me about them with persistent eagerness.

A week ago, Dar Al-Hajar captured his attention. He kept asking me about it, showing me pictures, and insisting that I take him to see it up close. I tried to postpone the trip more than once, but he remained adamant.

Finally, this morning, I yielded to his wish. I took him along with his six-year-old brother Kenan, a naturally quiet child, perpetually smiling, who loves play and discovery. He possesses a mind beyond his years, noticing details with remarkable alertness and becoming deeply attached to things that stir his young wonder. And so we headed to Dar Al-Hajar, located about fifteen kilometers northwest of Sana’a.

Dar Al-Hajar is a majestic historic palace in the middle of Wadi Dhahr, built upon a massive granite rock. It was constructed in