Community Corner

‘Mama, Where Is Daddy?’ Mom Struggles With Anguishing Question

Your 5-minute read to start the day: "Fish of a lifetime"; why patient bolted from the dentist's chair; no one knows why beavers are dying.

Her Muslim faith requires Hifsa Ahmad, shown with two of her three children, to mourn her husband — killed in a Quogue, New York, head-on collision — for four months, during which time she cannot work or leave her home. But how will she provide for her kids? (Lisa Finn/Patch)

ACROSS AMERICA — At 16 months, the youngest of Hifsa Ahmad’s three children cries for his father every night. He leads his grandmothers to the place in the basement where his dad, Farhan Zahid, slept, expecting to find him there.

“Mama, where is Daddy?” her 3-year-old daughter asks.

Explaining to the children, the oldest of whom is 6, what happened to their father is a conversation the Bay Shore, New York, mother never expected to have. He was among five people killed in a head-on collision.

Find out what's happening in Across Americafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The truth of what happened the night of July 24 is difficult enough for Hifsa Ahmad to accept; her children’t aren’t there yet.

“He didn’t die; he’s sleeping,” the 3-year-old said after seeing a bandage on her father’s face at the funeral. “God put a bandage on him, don’t worry.” Read the full story on Southampton, New York, Patch.

Find out what's happening in Across Americafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Fish Of A Lifetime

This isn’t an exaggerated fish story where the catch gets bigger with each telling. Peter Schultz set a state record with the 301-pound swordfish he caught during a fishing tournament in Ocean City, Maryland.

Schultz and his team pulled in what he called the “fish of a lifetime” over eight hours. “We put so much effort into this,” he said. “Everyone had a crucial role.” Read the full story on Bowie, Maryland, Patch.

Peter Schultz and his team put up an eight-hour fight to catch a record-breaking 301-pound swordfish. (Getty Images)

More Good Reads

Why He Bolted From Dentist’s Chair: Connecticut state Sen. Bob Duff couldn’t get out of his dentist’s chair quickly enough, via Norwalk, Connecticut, Patch.

Beavers Are Dying, And No One Knows Why: The cause of death of trio of beloved beavers on the Northwestern University campus remains a mystery, via Evanston, Illinois, Patch.

See Map Of CA Wildfires: An interactive map shows where the wildfires are burning in drought-stricken areas of California, via Los Angeles Patch.

Firefighters lighted a backfire and took other measures to prevent the Dixie Fire from spreading near Prattville in Plumas County, California. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Where There’s Smoke: Find out how wildfires in the American West and Canada, though perhaps thousands of miles away, are affecting air quality where you live, via Across America Patch.

Target’s New Mask Policy: As the delta variant spreads, the retailer has announced new mask guidance for employees and customers, via Southwest Minneapolis Patch.

Lowe’s New Mask Policy: The home improvement store also has updated its COVID-19 guidance, via Mooresville, North Carolina, Patch.

Career Criminal Accused In Cop Killing: The man police said shot and killed a Cape Cod officer Thursday is a career criminal with more than 100 charges on his record, via Barnstable-Hyannis, Massachusetts, Patch.

Patch News Partner Spotlight: Male fertility is declining, and environmental toxins could be the reason, from The Conversation, via Across America Patch.


Quotable

“It's very demoralizing for the staff in the intensive care units and critical care units who are having to care for the very sick COVID patients. It is scary, emotionally draining and physically demanding work to care for COVID patients.”

— Washington Hospital Association CEO Cassie Sauer on rising COVID-19 hospitalizations


Trending Across Patch


Patch is in more than 1,000 communities across America. Find your community and see what's happening outside your front door.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.