The Wall Between Us by Katarina Premfors

The Wall Between Us Dubai, U.A.E. A Story of the Pandemic

This is the chronological story of the wall that divides our house from our neighbor’s. Walls are built to separate. They keep us safe from intrusion, protect our privacy from peering eyes, mark a clear line between what belongs and what does not. As the pandemic rapidly changed the world outside our wall, we could feel the aftershocks within. In February, schools shut their doors for an early spring break, not to open again for the rest of the academic year. New words were added to our vocabularies almost daily: “Non-Essential Worker,” "Social Distancing,” and finally, “Lockdown.” Unable to step outside our walls for anything other than essential, permitted purposes, I turned my eye to what was around us. Walls are straight lines. They define things. But we have a special wall. Our wall was built to keep us apart, but built new friendships. Our wall brought us freedom. Zayed, our neighbor’s son, would perch precariously on top, calling for my children to come out to play. Two meters apart and two meters high, our wall became the only playground our children would know for weeks. Our wall was a basketball court. Something to climb. A place where they traded toys and Eid holiday treats. And quickly a place where all of their time was spent while I would watch with wonder over their fascination. At the same time, we realized our walls didn’t divide a shared rooftop with our neighbors on the opposite side. Every week, like our children, we would climb a ladder to the top for sundowners and a laugh. Two meters apart and ten meters high, our neighbors were the only people we’d see socially for weeks. As Dubai re-opens and we settle into the “new normal,” the wall is still a central part of our lives. When the world feels like too much, I feel safe retreating behind its gates. We still don’t venture out much, we are cautious but I find comfort in knowing that our wall echos the sounds of laughter and joy throughout my garden.

Zayed and Astrid playing basketball

Zayed and Sawyer chatting as As...ates the drop without a ladder.

Zayed and Sawyer chatting as Astrid contemplates the drop without a ladder.

Zayed and Astrid on the wall chatting.

Astrid plays with light.

I told our neighbor, Zayad, tha...prawn, garlic and chili crisps.

I told our neighbor, Zayad, that he must stay on his side of the wall and stop passing the basketball with my daughter. Cooly, he lay there to snack on his prawn, garlic and chili crisps.

My daughter Astrid home learnin...nd a routine that suits us all.

My daughter Astrid home learning in the first few weeks. It was hard at first and now that we only have a week left we have found a routine that suits us all.

My husband goes on the roof at the start of lockdown.

A police car patrols the street...amp;quot;Stay inside!"

A police car patrols the streets blasting out messages in Arabic and in English. "Stay inside!"

My daughter Astrid looks out on a stormy early evening.

Zayed gives my son a toy car. I...ent straight into a soapy wash.

Zayed gives my son a toy car. It and the hands went straight into a soapy wash.

Zayed the neighbors kid and a b...endship with the boy next door.

Zayed the neighbors kid and a bird. My daughter has struck up a friendship with the boy next door.

My daughter hides from me. She ...hink she is already a teenager.

My daughter hides from me. She is only 9 but sometimes I think she is already a teenager.

The way up on the wall. A ricke...way the only freedom they have.

The way up on the wall. A rickety ladder. My ear is always tuned to the outside as I am working inside. The wall is high and full of nails and I am scared the kids will fall off. At the same time I don't want to take away the only freedom they have.

Zayed and Astrid chatting on th...f of the empty house next door.

Zayed and Astrid chatting on the roof of the empty house next door.

Hag Al Laila marks a couple of ... and Zayed has his head shaved.

Hag Al Laila marks a couple of weeks before start of Ramdadan. A very Gulf Arab tradition. We prepared 5 goodie bags for the neighbors. Thats when I found out there was 7 siblings. Here Astrid hands them over. Oh and Zayed has his head shaved.

My daughter Astrid is quite con...g. Her world is small and safe.

My daughter Astrid is quite content at home. She has us. Her neighbors and she loves reading and drawing. Her world is small and safe.

Astrid turns 9 years old and we...p and surprise her with a cake.

Astrid turns 9 years old and we decorate the roof top and surprise her with a cake.

Astrid brushes her hair.

Zayed bring a birthday cake for my daughters 9th birthday.

I venture out to see the kids p... the wall but from the outside.

I venture out to see the kids playing on the wall but from the outside.

The first time the kids leave t...re they wanted to go back home.

The first time the kids leave the house in a few months. They didn't seem that interested and we made it to a school car park 300 meters away before they wanted to go back home.

We have had the fortune of bein...ether we have a serene harmony.

We have had the fortune of being in lockdown with San, the caretaker of my children when I work. She is calm, funny and and together we have a serene harmony.