CHAPTER 01 / 12
اللَّوْحَةُ الْجَدِيدَةُ
The New Sign
فِي الصَّبَاحِ الْبَاكِرِ، كَانَ السُّوقُ الْقَدِيمُ هَادِئًا. سَمِعَتْ لِينَا صَوْتَ الْمَاءِ فِي إِبْرِيقِ أُمِّهَا، وَصَوْتَ رَجُلٍ يَفْتَحُ دُكَّانَهُ. أَحَبَّتْ هَذَا الْوَقْتَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَمْتَلِئَ الطَّرِيقُ بِالنَّاسِ.
Early in the morning, the old market was quiet. Lina heard the water in her mother’s kettle and a man opening his shop. She loved this time, before the road filled with people.
أَمَامَ لِينَا لَوْحَةٌ مِنَ الْخَشَبِ، وَبِجَانِبِهَا عُلْبَةُ طِلَاءٍ أَزْرَقَ. كَانَتْ تَكْتُبُ اسْمًا بِفُرْشَاةٍ صَغِيرَةٍ. وَعِنْدَمَا انْتَهَتْ مِنَ الْحَرْفِ الْأَخِيرِ، بَعُدَتْ عَنْهُ قَلِيلًا لِتَنْظُرَ إِلَيْهِ.
In front of Lina was a wooden sign, with a tin of blue paint beside it. She was writing a name with a small brush. When she finished the last letter, she stepped back a little to look at it.
كَانَ الِاسْمُ «أَمَل». وَتَحْتَهُ كَتَبَتْ لِينَا بِأَرْقَامٍ صَغِيرَةٍ: «٦». هَذِهِ لَوْحَةُ الْبَابِ السَّادِسِ فِي السُّوقِ الْجَدِيدِ. وَكَانَتْ لِينَا قَدْ أَعَدَّتْهَا مُنْذُ أَيَّامٍ.
The name was “Amal.” Beneath it, Lina had written a small “6.” This was the sign for Door Six in the new market. Lina had prepared it days earlier.
قَالَتْ صَبَاحُ مِنْ خَلْفِهَا: «هَلْ سَتَنْظُرِينَ إِلَى هَذِهِ اللَّوْحَةِ حَتَّى الْمَسَاءِ؟» لَمْ تَرْفَعْ لِينَا رَأْسَهَا. أَجَابَتْ: «حَتَّى يَجِفَّ الطِّلَاءُ فَقَطْ».
From behind her, Sabah said, “Are you going to stare at that sign until evening?” Lina did not lift her head. “Only until the paint dries,” she replied.
وَضَعَتْ صَبَاحُ كُوبَ شَايٍ قُرْبَ ابْنَتِهَا. «إِذًا سَأَشْرَبُ شَايِي قَبْلَ أَنْ يَجِفَّ». ابْتَسَمَتْ لِينَا. كَانَتْ أُمُّهَا تَبِيعُ الشَّايَ فِي هَذَا الْمَكَانِ مُنْذُ سَنَوَاتٍ طَوِيلَةٍ.
Sabah set a cup of tea near her daughter. “Then I’ll drink my tea before it dries.” Lina smiled. Her mother had sold tea in this spot for many years.
كَانَ السُّوقُ الْقَدِيمُ صَغِيرًا، وَسَقْفُهُ يَسْرُبُ مِنْهُ الْمَاءُ عِنْدَ الْمَطَرِ. لِذَلِكَ اتَّفَقَ التُّجَّارُ عَلَى الِانْتِقَالِ إِلَى سُوقٍ جَدِيدٍ. فِيهِ عَشَرَةُ أَبْوَابٍ، وَسَقْفٌ جَيِّدٌ، وَمَكَانٌ لِلْبَيْعِ فِي أَيَّامِ الْمَطَرِ.
The old market was small, and water leaked through its roof when it rained. So the traders had agreed to move to a new market. It had ten doors, a good roof, and a place to sell even on rainy days.
بَقِيَ أُسْبُوعٌ وَاحِدٌ عَلَى افْتِتَاحِ السُّوقِ الْجَدِيدِ. لِهَذَا كَانَتْ لِينَا تَعْمَلُ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ. تَكْتُبُ الْأَسْمَاءَ عَلَى اللَّوْحَاتِ، وَتَنْتَظِرُ حَتَّى يَجِفَّ الطِّلَاءُ، ثُمَّ تَضَعُ كُلَّ لَوْحَةٍ فِي مَكَانٍ آمِنٍ.
Only one week remained before the new market opened. That was why Lina worked every day. She painted names on signs, waited for the paint to dry, and then put each sign somewhere safe.
فِي هَذَا الصَّبَاحِ، دَخَلَتْ خَدِيجَةُ مِنْ بَابِ السُّوقِ. كَانَتْ تَحْمِلُ وَرَقَةً مَطْوِيَّةً. تَوَقَّفَتْ لِتُسَلِّمَ عَلَى صَبَاحَ، ثُمَّ اقْتَرَبَتْ مِنْ لِينَا. كَانَتْ خَدِيجَةُ تَبِيعُ الْقُمَاشَ، وَتُسَاعِدُ التُّجَّارَ فِي تَنْظِيمِ السُّوقِ.
That morning, Khadija came through the market entrance carrying a folded sheet of paper. She stopped to greet Sabah, then came over to Lina. Khadija sold cloth and helped the traders organise the market.
قَالَتْ خَدِيجَةُ: «صَبَاحُ الْخَيْرِ. هَلِ انْتَهَتْ لَوْحَاتُ الْأَبْوَابِ؟» قَالَتْ لِينَا: «بَقِيَتْ ثَلَاثٌ. وَهَذِهِ لَوْحَةُ الْبَابِ السَّادِسِ». أَشَارَتْ إِلَى الِاسْمِ الْأَزْرَقِ عَلَى الْخَشَبِ.
“Good morning. Are the door signs finished?” Khadija asked. “Three are left. And this is the sign for Door Six,” Lina said, pointing to the blue name on the wood.
نَظَرَتْ خَدِيجَةُ إِلَى اللَّوْحَةِ، ثُمَّ إِلَى الْوَرَقَةِ فِي يَدِهَا. قَالَتْ: «هُنَاكَ تَغْيِيرٌ صَغِيرٌ. ضَعِي اسْمَ حَامِدٍ عَلَى الْبَابِ السَّادِسِ، وَاسْمَ أَمَلَ عَلَى الْبَابِ التَّاسِعِ».
Khadija looked at the sign, then at the paper in her hand. “There is a small change. Put Hamid’s name on Door Six and Amal’s name on Door Nine.”
لَمْ تَضَعْ لِينَا الْفُرْشَاةَ مِنْ يَدِهَا. سَأَلَتْ: «الْبَابُ السَّادِسُ؟ أَلَمْ يَكُنْ لِأَمَلَ؟» أَجَابَتْ خَدِيجَةُ بِسُرْعَةٍ: «كَانَ كَذَلِكَ. لَكِنَّ أَمَلَ وَافَقَتْ عَلَى التَّبْدِيلِ».
Lina kept the brush in her hand. “Door Six? Wasn’t it Amal’s?” she asked. “It was,” Khadija answered quickly, “but Amal agreed to the exchange.”
نَظَرَتْ لِينَا إِلَى اسْمِ أَمَلَ. كَانَ الطِّلَاءُ جَافًّا، وَكَانَتِ الْحُرُوفُ مُسْتَقِيمَةً وَوَاضِحَةً. سَأَلَتْ: «وَهَلْ تُرِيدِينَ لَوْحَةً جَدِيدَةً لِلْبَابِ السَّادِسِ؟» قَالَتْ خَدِيجَةُ: «نَعَمْ، وَلَكِنْ لَا تَتَأَخَّرِي».
Lina looked at Amal’s name. The paint was dry, and the letters were straight and clear. “And do you want a new sign for Door Six?” she asked. “Yes, but don’t delay,” Khadija said.
قَالَتْ صَبَاحُ: «لِينَا تَعْمَلُ مِنَ الصَّبَاحِ حَتَّى اللَّيْلِ. دَعِيهَا تَشْرَبُ الشَّايَ أَوَّلًا». ضَحِكَتْ خَدِيجَةُ ضَحْكَةً قَصِيرَةً. «اشْرَبِي الشَّايَ، ثُمَّ أَكْمِلِي الْعَمَلَ».
“Lina works from morning until night. Let her drink her tea first,” Sabah said. Khadija gave a brief laugh. “Drink your tea, then finish the work.”
قَبْلَ أَنْ تَذْهَبَ، نَادَاهَا رَجُلٌ مِنْ آخِرِ السُّوقِ. كَانَ يَحْتَاجُ إِلَى مَنْ يُسَاعِدُهُ فِي حَمْلِ صُنْدُوقٍ. تَرَكَتْ خَدِيجَةُ الْوَرَقَةَ فِي يَدِهَا وَذَهَبَتْ إِلَيْهِ. لَمْ تَسْأَلْ عَنْ أُجْرَةٍ، وَلَمْ تَنْتَظِرْ شُكْرًا.
Before she left, a man called to her from the far end of the market. He needed help carrying a box. Still holding her paper, Khadija went over to him. She did not ask for payment or wait for thanks.
رَأَتْ لِينَا ذَلِكَ مِنْ مَكَانِهَا. كَانَتْ خَدِيجَةُ تُسَاعِدُ النَّاسَ كَثِيرًا. وَقَدْ سَاعَدَتْ لِينَا أَيْضًا فِي أَيَّامٍ قَلَّ فِيهَا الْعَمَلُ. لِذَلِكَ لَمْ تَكُنْ لِينَا تُحِبُّ أَنْ تُسَبِّبَ لَهَا أَيَّ مُشْكِلَةٍ.
Lina watched from her place. Khadija often helped people. She had even helped Lina when work was scarce. That was why Lina did not like the thought of causing her any trouble.
فَتَحَتْ صَبَاحُ الْإِبْرِيقَ، ثُمَّ قَالَتْ: «لَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْمَعَ خِلَافًا عَلَى لَوْحَةٍ مِنْ خَشَبٍ». قَالَتْ لِينَا: «هِيَ لَوْحَةُ بَابٍ، يَا أُمِّي». أَجَابَتْ صَبَاحُ: «وَالنَّاسُ يَتَخَاصَمُونَ عَلَى أَشْيَاءَ أَصْغَرَ مِنَ الْبَابِ».
Sabah opened the kettle and said, “I don’t want to hear an argument over a piece of wood.” “It’s a door sign, Mother,” Lina said. “People argue over things smaller than a door,” Sabah replied.
شَرِبَتْ لِينَا قَلِيلًا مِنَ الشَّايِ. كَانَ دَافِئًا، وَلَكِنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ حُلْوًا. نَسِيَتْ أُمُّهَا السُّكَّرَ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى. لَمْ تَقُلْ شَيْئًا؛ فَصَبَاحُ كَانَتْ تَقُولُ دَائِمًا إِنَّ السُّكَّرَ يُفْسِدُ طَعْمَ الشَّايِ الْجَيِّدِ.
Lina drank a little tea. It was warm but not sweet. Her mother had forgotten the sugar again. Lina said nothing; Sabah always said that sugar spoiled the taste of good tea.
بَعْدَ قَلِيلٍ، أَخَذَتْ لِينَا دَفْتَرَ عَمَلِهَا وَذَهَبَتْ إِلَى اللَّوْحَةِ الْكَبِيرَةِ عِنْدَ بَابِ السُّوقِ الْجَدِيدِ. كَانَتْ عَلَيْهَا قَائِمَةٌ بِأَسْمَاءِ التُّجَّارِ وَأَرْقَامِ الْأَبْوَابِ.
A little later, Lina took her work notebook and went to the large noticeboard at the entrance to the new market. On it was a list of the traders’ names and door numbers.
قَرَأَتْ لِينَا الْأَسْمَاءَ بِبُطْءٍ. الْبَابُ الْأَوَّلُ، الْبَابُ الثَّانِي، ثُمَّ الثَّالِثُ. وَعِنْدَ الرَّقْمِ السَّادِسِ وَجَدَتْ اسْمَ حَامِدٍ. أَمَّا اسْمُ أَمَلَ فَكَانَ عِنْدَ الرَّقْمِ التَّاسِعِ.
Lina read the names slowly. Door One, Door Two, then Door Three. At number Six she found Hamid’s name. Amal’s name was beside number Nine.
كَانَتِ الْقَائِمَةُ جَدِيدَةً. أَمْسِ، لَمْ تَكُنْ لِينَا قَدْ قَرَأَتْهَا. كَتَبَتْ فِي دَفْتَرِهَا: «٦ — حَامِد. ٩ — أَمَل». ثُمَّ أَغْلَقَتِ الدَّفْتَرَ، وَلَمْ تَشْعُرْ بِأَنَّ الْأَمْرَ أَصْبَحَ أَوْضَحَ.
The list was new. Lina had not read it yesterday. She wrote in her notebook: “6 — Hamid. 9 — Amal.” Then she closed the notebook, but did not feel that matters had become any clearer.
كَانَتْ أَمَامَ السُّوقِ الْجَدِيدِ أَبْوَابٌ مُغْلَقَةٌ. فِي أُسْبُوعٍ وَاحِدٍ، سَيَفْتَحُهَا التُّجَّارُ وَيَضَعُونَ بِضَائِعَهُمْ دَاخِلَهَا. وَقَفَتْ لِينَا لَحْظَةً، ثُمَّ عَادَتْ إِلَى مَكَانِهَا فِي السُّوقِ الْقَدِيمِ.
The doors of the new market were still closed. In one week, the traders would open them and put their goods inside. Lina stood there for a moment, then returned to her place in the old market.
وَجَدَتْ أُمَّهَا تُنَادِي عَلَى الْمَارَّةِ لِيَشْرَبُوا الشَّايَ. وَكَانَتْ أَمَلُ وَاقِفَةً قُرْبَ الْكُرْسِيِّ الصَّغِيرِ. وَرَاءَهَا عَرَبَةٌ ثَقِيلَةٌ عَلَيْهَا خُضْرَوَاتٌ وَمَرْطَبَانَاتٌ مِنَ الْمُخَلَّلِ.
Her mother was calling to passersby to come and drink tea. Amal stood near the small chair. Behind her was a heavy cart carrying vegetables and jars of pickles.
كَانَتْ أَمَلُ تَنْظُرُ إِلَى اللَّوْحَةِ الَّتِي عَلَيْهَا اسْمُهَا. سَأَلَتْ لِينَا: «هَلْ تَحْتَاجِينَ إِلَى لَوْحَةٍ جَدِيدَةٍ؟» قَالَتْ أَمَلُ: «لَا. جِئْتُ لِأَشْرَبَ الشَّايَ. وَلَكِنِّي أَرَى أَنَّ اسْمِي مَا زَالَ هُنَا».
Amal was looking at the sign with her name on it. “Do you need a new sign?” Lina asked. “No. I came for tea. But I see my name is still here,” Amal said.
وَضَعَتْ أَمَلُ يَدَهَا عَلَى الْقُمَاشِ الَّذِي يُغَطِّي الْعَرَبَةَ، وَأَصْلَحَتْ طَرَفَهُ. كَانَتْ تَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ كُلَّمَا تَوَقَّفَتْ لِلْكَلَامِ. قَالَتْ بِصَوْتٍ مُنْخَفِضٍ: «سَمِعْتُ أَنَّكِ سَتَكْتُبِينَ اسْمًا آخَرَ عَلَى الْبَابِ السَّادِسِ».
Amal put her hand on the cloth covering the cart and straightened its edge. She did that whenever she stopped to talk. In a low voice, she said, “I heard you’re going to put another name on Door Six.”
أَجَابَتْ لِينَا: «طَلَبَتْ مِنِّي خَدِيجَةُ ذَلِكَ هَذَا الصَّبَاحَ. قَالَتْ إِنَّكِ وَافَقْتِ عَلَى الْبَابِ التَّاسِعِ». سَكَتَتْ أَمَلُ، وَنَظَرَتْ إِلَى لِينَا بِدُونِ غَضَبٍ، وَلَكِنْ بِدُونِ ابْتِسَامَةٍ أَيْضًا.
“Khadija asked me to do that this morning,” Lina replied. “She said you agreed to Door Nine.” Amal fell silent and looked at Lina without anger, but without a smile either.
قَالَتْ أَمَلُ: «أَنَا لَمْ أُوَافِقْ عَلَى ذَلِكَ». لَمْ تَرْفَعْ صَوْتَهَا. لَكِنَّ كَلِمَاتِهَا كَانَتْ وَاضِحَةً. سَأَلَتْ لِينَا: «هَلْ أَنْتِ مُتَأَكِّدَةٌ؟» فَأَجَابَتْ أَمَلُ: «نَعَمْ. هَذَا مَا أَقُولُهُ».
“I did not agree to that,” Amal said. She did not raise her voice, but her words were clear. “Are you sure?” Lina asked. “Yes. That is what I’m telling you,” Amal replied.
مَرَّ رَجُلٌ بِجَانِبِهِمَا وَطَلَبَ كُوبَيْنِ مِنَ الشَّايِ. ذَهَبَتْ صَبَاحُ لِتُعْطِيَهُ إِيَّاهُمَا. وَفِي تِلْكَ اللَّحْظَةِ، مَدَّتْ أَمَلُ يَدَهَا إِلَى اللَّوْحَةِ، ثُمَّ تَوَقَّفَتْ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَلْمِسَ الطِّلَاءَ.
A man passed by them and ordered two cups of tea. Sabah went to give them to him. At that moment Amal reached toward the sign, then stopped before touching the paint.
قَالَتْ أَمَلُ: «لَا أَطْلُبُ مِنْكِ أَنْ تَتَخَاصَمِي مَعَ أَحَدٍ. فَقَطْ لَا تَضَعِي اسْمًا آخَرَ فَوْقَ اسْمِي حَتَّى نَفْهَمَ الْأَمْرَ». وَسَحَبَتْ يَدَهَا. «هَذَا كُلُّ مَا أُرِيدُهُ الْيَوْمَ».
“I’m not asking you to quarrel with anyone,” Amal said. “Just don’t put another name over mine until we understand what has happened.” She drew her hand back. “That’s all I want today.”
لَمْ تَعْرِفْ لِينَا بِمَاذَا تُجِيبُ. كَانَتْ خَدِيجَةُ قَدْ أَعْطَتْهَا الْعَمَلَ، وَكَانَتْ أَمَلُ تَقِفُ أَمَامَهَا وَتَطْلُبُ شَيْئًا يَبْدُو بَسِيطًا. لَمْ تَكُنْ لِينَا تَعْرِفُ مَنْ قَالَ الْحَقَّ.
Lina did not know how to reply. Khadija had given her the job, while Amal stood before her asking for something that seemed simple. Lina did not know who was telling the truth.
قَالَتْ أَخِيرًا: «لَنْ أَكْتُبَ اسْمًا جَدِيدًا هَذِهِ السَّاعَةَ. وَلَكِنِّي أَحْتَاجُ إِلَى أَنْ أَفْهَمَ». هَزَّتْ أَمَلُ رَأْسَهَا. «هَذَا حَسَنٌ. أَنَا لَا أَطْلُبُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ».
At last she said, “I won’t paint a new name right now. But I need to understand.” Amal nodded. “Good. I’m not asking for more than that.”
أَخَذَتْ أَمَلُ كُوبَ الشَّايِ، ثُمَّ عَادَتْ إِلَى عَرَبَتِهَا. قَبْلَ أَنْ تَذْهَبَ، رَفَعَتْ مَرْطَبَانًا صَغِيرًا وَقَالَتْ لِصَبَاحَ: «هَذَا لَكِ. مِنَ الْمُخَلَّلِ الَّذِي تُحِبِّينَهُ».
Amal took her tea, then returned to her cart. Before leaving, she lifted a small jar and said to Sabah, “This is for you. It’s the pickle you like.”
قَالَتْ صَبَاحُ: «وَأَنَا لَمْ أَدْفَعْ لَكِ ثَمَنَ آخِرِ مَرْطَبَانٍ بَعْدُ». أَجَابَتْ أَمَلُ: «إِذًا صَارَ عِنْدَكِ مَرْطَبَانَانِ لَمْ تَدْفَعِي ثَمَنَهُمَا». ضَحِكَتْ صَبَاحُ، وَابْتَسَمَتْ لِينَا رَغْمَ تَعَبِهَا.
“And I still haven’t paid you for the last jar,” Sabah said. “Then you now have two jars you haven’t paid for,” Amal replied. Sabah laughed, and Lina smiled despite her weariness.
بَعْدَ أَنْ ذَهَبَتْ أَمَلُ، نَظَرَتْ صَبَاحُ إِلَى ابْنَتِهَا. لَمْ تَقُلْ لَهَا مَا يَجِبُ أَنْ تَفْعَلَهُ. سَأَلَتْ فَقَطْ: «هَلْ تَرَكْتِ الشَّايَ يَبْرُدُ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى؟»
After Amal left, Sabah looked at her daughter. She did not tell her what to do. She only asked, “Have you let your tea go cold again?”
عَادَتْ لِينَا إِلَى عَمَلِهَا. وَضَعَتْ لَوْحَةَ أَمَلَ بِجَانِبِ الْحَائِطِ، بَعِيدًا عَنِ اللَّوْحَاتِ الَّتِي سَتَذْهَبُ إِلَى السُّوقِ الْجَدِيدِ. لَمْ تَمْسَحِ الِاسْمَ، وَلَمْ تَكْتُبْ فَوْقَهُ اسْمَ حَامِدٍ.
Lina went back to work. She set Amal’s sign beside the wall, away from the signs that would go to the new market. She did not erase the name or paint Hamid’s over it.
ثُمَّ غَسَلَتْ فُرْشَاتَهَا فِي كُوبِ مَاءٍ نَظِيفٍ. كَانَ هَذَا عَمَلًا تَعْرِفُهُ جَيِّدًا. أَمَّا الْكَلَامُ مَعَ النَّاسِ عَنْ وُعُودِهِمْ، فَلَمْ يَكُنْ سَهْلًا عَلَيْهَا. كَانَتْ تَتَمَنَّى أَنْ يَكُونَ كُلُّ شَيْءٍ بِوُضُوحِ الْحُرُوفِ عَلَى الْخَشَبِ.
Then she washed her brush in a cup of clean water. That was work she knew well. Talking with people about their promises was not so easy for her. She wished everything could be as clear as letters on wood.
عِنْدَ الظُّهْرِ، مَرَّتْ خَدِيجَةُ أَمَامَ مَكَانِهَا مَرَّةً أُخْرَى. رَفَعَتْ يَدَهَا لِتُسَلِّمَ، ثُمَّ أَشَارَتْ إِلَى اللَّوْحَاتِ الْجَاهِزَةِ. رَفَعَتْ لِينَا يَدَهَا أَيْضًا، وَلَكِنَّهَا لَمْ تَقُلْ شَيْئًا عَنْ لَوْحَةِ الْبَابِ السَّادِسِ.
At noon, Khadija passed her counter again. She raised a hand in greeting and pointed toward the finished signs. Lina raised her hand too, but said nothing about the sign for Door Six.
كَانَتْ تَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ تَسْأَلَ خَدِيجَةَ هُنَاكَ. لَكِنَّ السُّوقَ كَانَ مَلِيئًا بِالنَّاسِ، وَلَمْ تُرِدْ أَنْ تَبْدَأَ خِلَافًا أَمَامَهُمْ. لَمْ تَكُنْ تَعْرِفُ الْقِصَّةَ كُلَّهَا بَعْدُ. وَكَانَ ذَلِكَ سَبَبًا كَافِيًا لِتَنْتَظِرَ.
She could have asked Khadija there and then. But the market was crowded, and she did not want to begin an argument in front of everyone. She did not yet know the whole story. That was reason enough to wait.
فَتَحَتْ لِينَا دَفْتَرَهَا وَنَظَرَتْ إِلَى الْأَسْمَاءِ الَّتِي كَتَبَتْهَا صَبَاحًا. أَمَامَ الرَّقْمِ السَّادِسِ كَانَ اسْمُ حَامِدٍ، وَأَمَامَ الرَّقْمِ التَّاسِعِ اسْمُ أَمَلَ. وَفِي الْجَانِبِ الْآخَرِ مِنَ الْمَكَانِ، بَقِيَتْ لَوْحَةُ أَمَلَ الْقَدِيمَةُ تَنْتَظِرُ.
Lina opened her notebook and looked at the names she had written that morning. Hamid’s name stood beside number Six and Amal’s beside number Nine. On the other side of the stall, Amal’s old sign remained waiting.
أَغْلَقَتِ الدَّفْتَرَ، وَقَالَتْ لِنَفْسِهَا: «غَدًا سَأَسْأَلُ أَمَلَ عَمَّا حَدَثَ». ثُمَّ نَظَرَتْ إِلَى اللَّوْحَةِ مَرَّةً أَخِيرَةً. لَمْ يَكُنْ هُنَاكَ إِلَّا بَابٌ وَاحِدٌ، وَلَكِنْ كَانَ لَهُ اسْمَانِ.
She closed the notebook and told herself, “Tomorrow I’ll ask Amal what happened.” Then she looked at the sign once more. There was only one door, but it had two names.
Chapter vocabulary (113 entries)
- أُمٌّ
- mother
- اِبْنَةٌ
- daughter
- رَجُلٌ
- man
- النَّاسُ
- people
- تَاجِرٌ
- trader; merchant
- التُّجَّارُ
- traders
- دُكَّانٌ
- shop
- تَبِيعُ
- she sells
- الْعَمَلُ
- work
- أُجْرَةٌ
- payment for work
- طَلَبٌ
- order; request
- خِلَافٌ
- disagreement
- يَا أُمِّي
- Mother! (addressing her)
- صَبَاحُ الْخَيْرِ
- good morning
- يُسَاعِدُ
- he helps; he is helping
- السُّوقُ
- market
- السُّوقُ الْقَدِيمُ
- the old market
- السُّوقُ الْجَدِيدُ
- the new market
- بَابٌ
- door
- الْبَابُ السَّادِسُ
- Door Six; the sixth door
- الْبَابُ التَّاسِعُ
- Door Nine; the ninth door
- لَوْحَةٌ
- signboard; panel
- الْخَشَبُ
- wood
- الطِّلَاءُ
- paint
- فُرْشَاةٌ
- paintbrush
- عُلْبَةٌ
- tin; container
- كُوبٌ
- cup
- إِبْرِيقٌ
- kettle; pot
- وَرَقَةٌ
- sheet of paper
- قَائِمَةٌ
- list
- دَفْتَرٌ
- notebook
- حَائِطٌ
- wall
- مَكَانٌ
- place
- طَرِيقٌ
- road; path
- صُنْدُوقٌ
- box
- عَرَبَةٌ
- cart
- خُضْرَوَاتٌ
- vegetables
- مَرْطَبَانٌ
- jar
- الْمُخَلَّلُ
- pickles
- الْقُمَاشُ
- cloth; fabric
- السَّقْفُ
- roof; ceiling
- الِاسْمُ
- name
- الْأَرْقَامُ
- numbers
- سَمِعَ
- he heard
- رَأَى
- he saw
- نَظَرَ إِلَى
- he looked at
- كَتَبَ
- he wrote
- قَرَأَ
- he read
- سَأَلَ
- he asked
- أَجَابَ
- he answered
- قَالَ
- he said
- وَضَعَ
- he put; placed
- أَخَذَ
- he took
- أَعْطَى
- he gave
- جَاءَ
- he came
- دَخَلَ
- he entered
- ذَهَبَ
- he went
- عَادَ
- he returned
- وَجَدَ
- he found
- وَقَفَ
- he stood; stopped
- بَقِيَ
- he remained
- حَمَلَ
- he carried
- تَرَكَ
- he left (something)
- أَشَارَ إِلَى
- he pointed to
- تَوَقَّفَ
- he stopped
- أَغْلَقَ
- he closed
- فَتَحَ
- he opened
- انْتَهَى
- he finished
- ابْتَسَمَ
- he smiled
- ضَحِكَ
- he laughed
- غَسَلَ
- he washed
- مَسَحَ
- he wiped; erased
- وَافَقَ عَلَى
- he agreed to
- صَبَاحٌ
- morning
- الظُّهْرُ
- noon
- الْمَسَاءُ
- evening
- أَمْسِ
- yesterday
- غَدًا
- tomorrow
- أُسْبُوعٌ
- week
- قَبْلَ
- before
- بَعْدَ
- after
- ثُمَّ
- then
- لَكِنَّ
- but; however
- لِأَنَّ
- because
- هَادِئٌ
- quiet
- صَغِيرٌ
- small
- كَبِيرٌ
- large
- جَدِيدٌ
- new
- قَدِيمٌ
- old
- ثَقِيلٌ
- heavy
- وَاضِحٌ
- clear
- سَهْلٌ
- easy
- دَافِئٌ
- warm
- جَافٌّ
- dry
- حُلْوٌ
- sweet
- مُنْخَفِضٌ
- low; quiet (of voice)
- أَخِيرًا
- finally
- مَرَّةً أُخْرَى
- once again
- هَلِ انْتَهَتْ لَوْحَاتُ الْأَبْوَابِ؟
- Are the door signs finished?
- أَلَمْ يَكُنْ لِأَمَلَ؟
- Wasn’t it Amal’s?
- هُنَاكَ تَغْيِيرٌ
- There is a change
- هَذَا مَا أَقُولُهُ
- This is what I am saying
- لَمْ أُوَافِقْ
- I did not agree
- لَا تَتَأَخَّرِي
- Don’t be late / don’t delay (to a woman)
- لَمْ تَكُنْ لِينَا تَعْرِفُ
- Lina did not know
- أَنَا لَا أَطْلُبُ أَكْثَرَ
- I am not asking for more
- حَتَّى نَفْهَمَ
- until we understand
- كُلُّ مَا أُرِيدُهُ
- all that I want
- أَنْ أَفْهَمَ
- to understand
- بِدُونِ غَضَبٍ
- without anger
- حَتَّى يَجِفَّ الطِّلَاءُ
- until the paint dries
- فِي هَذَا الصَّبَاحِ
- this morning
- فِي تِلْكَ اللَّحْظَةِ
- at that moment
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CHAPTER 02 / 12
الرَّقْمُ السَّادِسُ
Number Six
فِي صَبَاحِ الْيَوْمِ التَّالِي، وَصَلَتْ لِينَا إِلَى طَاوِلَةِ عَمَلِهَا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَصِلَ أَوَّلُ الزَّبَائِنِ. بَقِيَتْ سِتَّةُ أَيَّامٍ عَلَى افْتِتَاحِ السُّوقِ الْجَدِيدِ. وَكَانَ عَلَيْهَا أَنْ تُنْهِيَ لَوْحَاتٍ كَثِيرَةً.
The following morning, Lina arrived at her worktable before the first customers. Six days remained until the new market opened, and she still had many signs to finish.
وَضَعَتْ دَفْتَرَهَا عَلَى الطَّاوِلَةِ. أَمْسِ قَرَّرَتْ أَنْ تَسْأَلَ أَمَلَ عَمَّا حَدَثَ. لَكِنَّ أَمَلَ لَمْ تَصِلْ بَعْدُ، وَكَانَ أَمَامَ لِينَا عَمَلٌ يَنْتَظِرُهَا.
She put her notebook on the table. Yesterday she had decided to ask Amal what had happened. But Amal had not arrived yet, and Lina had work waiting for her.
كَانَتْ لَوْحَةُ أَمَلَ مَا زَالَتْ عِنْدَ الْحَائِطِ، فِي الْمَكَانِ الَّذِي تَرَكَتْهَا فِيهِ أَمْسِ. لَمْ تَضَعْ لِينَا فَوْقَهَا شَيْئًا. وَكَأَنَّهَا لَا تُرِيدُ أَنْ يَخْتَفِيَ الِاسْمُ تَحْتَ الْخَشَبِ.
Amal's sign was still by the wall, where Lina had left it yesterday. Lina had not stacked anything on top of it, as though she did not want the name to disappear beneath the wood.
جَاءَتْ صَبَاحُ وَمَعَهَا كُوبُ شَايٍ. قَالَتْ: «وَضَعْتُ السُّكَّرَ الْيَوْمَ. لَا تَنْظُرِي إِلَيَّ هَكَذَا». قَالَتْ لِينَا: «لَمْ أَقُلْ شَيْئًا». فَأَجَابَتْ أُمُّهَا: «وَهَذَا مَا يُقْلِقُنِي».
Sabah came with a cup of tea. “I put sugar in it today. Don't look at me like that.” “I didn't say anything,” Lina replied. “That's what worries me,” her mother said.
ابْتَسَمَتْ لِينَا وَأَخَذَتِ الْكُوبَ. كَانَتْ صَبَاحُ تَعْرِفُ وَجْهَ ابْنَتِهَا جَيِّدًا. وَلَكِنَّهَا لَمْ تَسْأَلْ عَنْ أَمَلَ أَوْ خَدِيجَةَ. بَدَأَ النَّاسُ يَطْلُبُونَ الشَّايَ، فَعَادَتْ إِلَى عَمَلِهَا.
Lina smiled and took the cup. Sabah knew her daughter's face well, but she did not ask about Amal or Khadija. People were beginning to order tea, so she returned to her work.
كَانَتْ لِينَا تَحْتَفِظُ بِأَلْوَاحِ الْخَشَبِ فِي صُنْدُوقٍ كَبِيرٍ خَلْفَ الطَّاوِلَةِ. فِيهِ أَلْوَاحٌ جَدِيدَةٌ، وَأُخْرَى عَلَيْهَا أَسْمَاءٌ قَدِيمَةٌ. وَفِي أَسْفَلِهِ وَرَقٌ وَقِطَعٌ صَغِيرَةٌ مِنَ الْخَشَبِ.
Lina kept wooden boards in a large box behind the table. There were new boards and others bearing old names. At the bottom were papers and small pieces of wood.
فَتَحَتِ الصُّنْدُوقَ وَأَخْرَجَتْ لَوْحَتَيْنِ لَمْ تَكْتُبْ عَلَيْهِمَا بَعْدُ. وَعِنْدَمَا رَفَعَتْ لَوْحَةً ثَالِثَةً، رَأَتْ رَقْمًا صَغِيرًا عَلَى ظَهْرِهَا. كَانَ الرَّقْمُ «٦».
She opened the box and took out two boards she had not yet painted. When she lifted a third, she saw a small number on its back: “6.”
قَلَبَتْ لِينَا اللَّوْحَةَ. كَانَ وَجْهُهَا خَالِيًا، وَكَانَ خَشَبُهَا نَاعِمًا. هِيَ الَّتِي كَتَبَتِ الرَّقْمَ عَلَى الظَّهْرِ بِقَلَمِ رَصَاصٍ عِنْدَمَا وَصَلَ الْخَشَبُ. لَكِنَّهَا نَسِيَتْ هَذِهِ اللَّوْحَةَ.
Lina turned the board over. Its front was blank and its wood smooth. She herself had written the number on the back in pencil when the wood arrived, but she had forgotten about this board.
«لَوْحَةٌ أُخْرَى لِلْبَابِ السَّادِسِ؟» قَالَتْ ذَلِكَ بِصَوْتٍ مُنْخَفِضٍ. لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي الْأَمْرِ شَيْءٌ خَطِيرٌ. فِي أَيَّامِ الِانْتِقَالِ، طَلَبَ التُّجَّارُ أَشْيَاءَ كَثِيرَةً، ثُمَّ غَيَّرُوا رَأْيَهُمْ.
“Another board for Door Six?” she said quietly. There was nothing alarming about that. During the move, traders had ordered many things and then changed their minds.
أَخَذَتْ دَفْتَرَ الطَّلَبَاتِ وَقَلَّبَتْ صَفَحَاتِهِ. كَانَتْ تَكْتُبُ فِيهِ مَا يَطْلُبُهُ النَّاسُ، وَتَارِيخَ كُلِّ طَلَبٍ. لَمْ تُحِبَّ أَنْ تَنْسَى وَعْدًا، وَلَا أَنْ تَطْلُبَ ثَمَنَ عَمَلٍ مَرَّتَيْنِ.
She took her order book and turned its pages. She wrote down what people ordered and the date of each order. She disliked forgetting a promise—or charging twice for the same job.
وَجَدَتْ سَطْرًا قَصِيرًا كَتَبَتْهُ بِيَدِهَا: «خَدِيجَةُ — لَوْحَةٌ جَدِيدَةٌ لِلْبَابِ ٦». وَبِجَانِبِ السَّطْرِ كَانَ تَارِيخٌ قَدِيمٌ.
She found a short line in her own handwriting: “Khadija — new board for Door 6.” Beside the line was an earlier date.
حَسَبَتْ لِينَا الْأَيَّامَ بِأَصَابِعِهَا. كَانَتْ خَدِيجَةُ قَدْ طَلَبَتْ هَذِهِ اللَّوْحَةَ قَبْلَ افْتِتَاحِ السُّوقِ بِسِتَّةَ عَشَرَ يَوْمًا. أَيْ مُنْذُ عَشَرَةِ أَيَّامٍ.
Lina counted on her fingers. Khadija had ordered the board sixteen days before the market opening—ten days ago.
تَذَكَّرَتْ لِينَا ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ. كَانَتْ خَدِيجَةُ مُسْتَعْجِلَةً، وَطَلَبَتْ خَشَبًا جَدِيدًا لِلْبَابِ السَّادِسِ. لَمْ تَذْكُرْ اسْمًا. وَظَنَّتْ لِينَا أَنَّهَا تُرِيدُ لَوْحَةً إِضَافِيَّةً إِذَا فَسَدَتْ لَوْحَةٌ أُخْرَى.
Lina remembered that day. Khadija had been in a hurry and asked for new wood for Door Six. She had not mentioned a name. Lina assumed she wanted a spare board in case another was damaged.
وَضَعَتْ لِينَا اللَّوْحَةَ عَلَى الطَّاوِلَةِ، ثُمَّ أَعَادَتْهَا إِلَى الصُّنْدُوقِ. لَمْ تَفْهَمْ لِمَاذَا تَحْتَاجُ خَدِيجَةُ إِلَى لَوْحَتَيْنِ لِلْبَابِ نَفْسِهِ. لَكِنَّ هَذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ سُؤَالَهَا الْأَوَّلَ الْيَوْمَ.
Lina set the board on the table, then returned it to the box. She did not understand why Khadija needed two boards for the same door. But it was not the first question she wanted answered today.
كَانَ عَلَيْهَا أَنْ تَكْتُبَ اسْمَ تَاجِرٍ آخَرَ قَبْلَ الظُّهْرِ. جَلَسَتْ وَفَتَحَتْ عُلْبَةَ الطِّلَاءِ. وَلَمَّا لَمَسَتِ الْفُرْشَاةُ الْخَشَبَ، سَمِعَتْ صَوْتًا يَقُولُ: «صَبَاحُ الْخَيْرِ. هَلْ عِنْدَكِ لَوْحَاتٌ جَاهِزَةٌ؟»
She had another trader's name to paint before noon. She sat down and opened her paint tin. As her brush touched the wood, she heard someone say, “Good morning. Do you have any finished signs?”
كَانَ رَامِي وَاقِفًا أَمَامَ الطَّاوِلَةِ، وَفِي يَدَيْهِ وَرَقَةٌ وَحَبْلٌ طَوِيلٌ. كَانَ يَعْمَلُ فِي مَكْتَبِ التُّجَّارِ، وَيُسَاعِدُ فِي تَرْتِيبِ أَشْيَائِهِمْ لِلسُّوقِ الْجَدِيدِ.
Rami stood in front of the table with a sheet of paper and a long piece of string in his hands. He worked in the traders' office and helped organise their things for the new market.
قَالَتْ لِينَا: «أَهْلًا، يَا رَامِي. اِحْذَرِ الطِّلَاءَ، فَهُوَ لَمْ يَجِفَّ بَعْدُ». اقْتَرَبَ وَنَظَرَ إِلَى اللَّوْحَاتِ. «جِئْتُ لِآخُذَ مَا انْتَهَيْتِ مِنْهُ. نُرِيدُ أَنْ نَضَعَ بَعْضَ اللَّوْحَاتِ فِي السُّوقِ الْجَدِيدِ الْيَوْمَ».
“Hello, Rami. Watch the paint—it hasn’t dried yet,” Lina said. He came closer and looked at the signs. “I've come for the ones you've finished. We want to put some of them in the new market today.”
رَفَعَتْ لِينَا ثَلَاثَ لَوْحَاتٍ مِنْ فَوْقِ الرَّفِّ. كَانَ الطِّلَاءُ عَلَيْهَا جَافًّا. مَدَّ رَامِي الْحَبْلَ، وَسَاعَدَتْهُ لِينَا عَلَى رَبْطِهَا. كَانَ يَعُدُّهَا بِصَوْتٍ خَافِتٍ.
Lina lifted three signs from the shelf. Their paint had dried. Rami laid out the string, and Lina helped him tie them together. He counted them under his breath.
جَاءَتْ صَبَاحُ مِنْ دُكَّانِ الشَّايِ وَسَأَلَتْهُ: «أَلَا تُرِيدُ كُوبًا؟» قَالَ رَامِي: «بَعْدَ أَنْ أُنْهِيَ هَذَا الْعَمَلَ». فَقَالَتْ: «هَذَا مَا تَقُولُهُ كُلَّ مَرَّةٍ». وَلَمْ يَرُدَّ، لِأَنَّهُ كَانَ يُمْسِكُ طَرَفَ الْحَبْلِ بِأَسْنَانِهِ.
Sabah came over from the tea stall. “Don't you want a cup?” she asked. “After I finish this work,” Rami said. “That's what you say every time.” He did not reply, because he was holding one end of the string between his teeth.
لَمَّا انْتَهَى، نَظَرَ رَامِي حَوْلَهُ. «وَأَيْنَ لَوْحَةُ الْبَابِ السَّادِسِ؟» سَأَلَ. وَقَعَ بَصَرُهُ عَلَى لَوْحَةِ أَمَلَ عِنْدَ الْحَائِطِ. «أَهَذِهِ هِيَ؟»
When he finished, Rami looked around. “And where is the sign for Door Six?” he asked. His eyes fell on Amal's sign by the wall. “Is that it?”
قَالَتْ لِينَا: «هَذِهِ اللَّوْحَةُ عَلَيْهَا اسْمُ أَمَلَ. خَدِيجَةُ طَلَبَتْ مِنِّي أَنْ أَكْتُبَ اسْمَ حَامِدٍ، وَلَكِنِّي لَمْ أَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ بَعْدُ». وَأَعَادَتِ الْفُرْشَاةَ إِلَى الْكُوبِ.
“That sign has Amal's name on it. Khadija asked me to paint Hamid's name, but I haven't done that yet,” Lina said, putting her brush back in the cup.
تَوَقَّفَ رَامِي عَنِ الْعَمَلِ. ثُمَّ قَالَ: «فِي الْقَائِمَةِ الْجَدِيدَةِ اسْمُ حَامِدٍ أَمَامَ الرَّقْمِ السَّادِسِ». كَانَ صَوْتُهُ هَادِئًا، وَكَأَنَّهُ يَقْرَأُ مِنْ وَرَقَةٍ.
Rami stopped working. Then he said, “On the new list, Hamid's name is beside number Six.” His voice was calm, as though he were reading from a sheet of paper.
قَالَتْ لِينَا: «أَعْرِفُ. قَرَأْتُ الْقَائِمَةَ أَمْسِ. وَلَكِنَّ أَمَلَ تَقُولُ إِنَّهَا لَمْ تُوَافِقْ عَلَى هَذَا التَّغْيِيرِ». نَظَرَ رَامِي إِلَى الطَّرِيقِ الْمَمْلُوءِ بِالنَّاسِ، ثُمَّ إِلَى اللَّوْحَاتِ الْمَرْبُوطَةِ.
“I know. I read the list yesterday. But Amal says she didn't agree to this change.” Rami looked at the crowded passage and then at the tied-up signs.
«خَدِيجَةُ تَقُولُ إِنَّ الْأَمْرَ انْتَهَى»، قَالَ رَامِي. سَأَلَتْ لِينَا: «وَهَلْ هَذَا مَا تَعْرِفُهُ أَنْتَ؟» سَكَتَ قَلِيلًا، ثُمَّ أَجَابَ: «أَعْرِفُ مَا فِي الْقَائِمَةِ».
“Khadija says the matter is settled,” Rami said. “And is that what you know yourself?” Lina asked. He was quiet for a moment, then replied, “I know what's on the list.”
لَمْ يَقُلْ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ. وَلَمْ تَرْفَعْ لِينَا صَوْتَهَا. كَانَ رَامِي يَحْمِلُ لَوْحَاتٍ، وَلَمْ يَكُنْ مِنَ الْعَدْلِ أَنْ تَطْلُبَ مِنْهُ جَوَابًا عَنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ.
He said no more, and Lina did not raise her voice. Rami was carrying signs; it would not be fair to demand that he answer for everything.
سَأَلَ رَامِي: «هَلْ سَتَكُونُ اللَّوْحَةُ الْجَدِيدَةُ جَاهِزَةً غَدًا؟» أَجَابَتْ لِينَا: «سَأُنْهِي مَا أَسْتَطِيعُ. أَمَّا اسْمُ الْبَابِ السَّادِسِ، فَلَنْ أَكْتُبَهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ أَفْهَمَ».
“Will the new sign be ready tomorrow?” Rami asked. “I'll finish what I can. But I won't paint a name for Door Six until I understand,” Lina said.
نَظَرَ إِلَيْهَا رَامِي نَظْرَةً قَصِيرَةً، ثُمَّ أَخَذَ اللَّوْحَاتِ وَخَرَجَ. بَعْدَ خُطْوَاتٍ تَوَقَّفَ لِيُصْلِحَ الْحَبْلَ عَلَى كَتِفِهِ. وَبَعْدَ ذَلِكَ مَشَى بِهَا نَحْوَ السُّوقِ الْجَدِيدِ.
Rami gave her a brief look, took the signs and left. A few steps away, he stopped to adjust the string on his shoulder, then carried them toward the new market.
عَادَتْ صَبَاحُ بِالْإِبْرِيقِ الْفَارِغِ. سَأَلَتْ: «لِمَاذَا لَمْ يَأْخُذْ لَوْحَةَ أَمَلَ؟» قَالَتْ لِينَا: «لِأَنَّهَا لَمْ تَعُدْ فِي الْقَائِمَةِ لِلْبَابِ السَّادِسِ».
Sabah returned with the empty kettle. “Why didn't he take Amal's sign?” she asked. “Because she's no longer listed for Door Six,” Lina said.
«وَلَكِنَّ اسْمَهَا مَا زَالَ عَلَى الْخَشَبِ»، قَالَتْ صَبَاحُ. «نَعَمْ»، أَجَابَتْ لِينَا. نَظَرَتِ الْأُمُّ إِلَى ابْنَتِهَا لَحْظَةً، ثُمَّ ذَهَبَتْ لِتَمْلَأَ الْإِبْرِيقَ بِالْمَاءِ.
“But her name is still on the wood,” Sabah said. “Yes,” Lina replied. Her mother looked at her for a moment, then went to refill the kettle.
حَاوَلَتْ لِينَا أَنْ تَعُودَ إِلَى الطِّلَاءِ، وَلَكِنَّهَا وَجَدَتْ نَفْسَهَا تَقْرَأُ دَفْتَرَ الطَّلَبَاتِ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى. كَانَ السَّطْرُ قَصِيرًا جِدًّا. لَمْ يَكُنْ فِيهِ اسْمُ أَمَلَ وَلَا اسْمُ حَامِدٍ.
Lina tried to go back to painting, but found herself reading the order book again. The line was very short. It contained neither Amal's name nor Hamid's.
فَكَّرَتْ: رُبَّمَا كَانَتِ اللَّوْحَةُ الْجَدِيدَةُ لِحَالَةٍ عَادِيَّةٍ. رُبَّمَا كَانَتْ خَدِيجَةُ تُرِيدُ لَوْحَةً إِضَافِيَّةً فَقَطْ. وَمَعَ ذَلِكَ، وَضَعَتْ لِينَا عَلَامَةً صَغِيرَةً بِقَلَمِهَا عِنْدَ التَّارِيخِ.
Perhaps the extra board was for an ordinary reason, she thought. Perhaps Khadija simply wanted a spare. Still, Lina made a small pencil mark beside the date.
بَعْدَ سَاعَةٍ، خَرَجَتْ لِينَا لِتَبْحَثَ عَنْ أَمَلَ. كَانَ الطَّرِيقُ بَيْنَ الدَّكَاكِينِ مَمْلُوءًا بِالصَّنَادِيقِ. هُنَاكَ رَجُلٌ يَحْمِلُ كُرْسِيًّا، وَامْرَأَةٌ تَعُدُّ أَكْيَاسَ الدَّقِيقِ أَمَامَ مَكَانِهَا.
An hour later, Lina went to look for Amal. The passage between the shops was crowded with boxes. A man carried a chair, and a woman counted bags of flour outside her stall.
رَأَتْ لِينَا بَعْضَ الْخُضْرَوَاتِ عَلَى طَاوِلَةِ أَمَلَ، وَلَكِنَّهَا لَمْ تَرَ أَمَلَ. تَوَقَّفَتْ وَانْتَظَرَتْ قَلِيلًا. وَبِجَانِبِهَا كَانَ بَائِعٌ يَجْمَعُ صَنَادِيقَهُ. بَدَا أَنَّ السُّوقَ كُلَّهُ يَسْتَعِدُّ لِتَرْكِ مَكَانِهِ الْقَدِيمِ.
Lina saw vegetables on Amal's table, but Amal was not there. She stopped and waited a little. Nearby, a trader was gathering his boxes. It seemed that the whole market was preparing to leave its old home.
ثُمَّ رَأَتْ أَمَلَ تَعُودُ وَهِيَ تَدْفَعُ عَرَبَتَهَا الثَّقِيلَةَ. كَانَتْ تَسِيرُ بِبُطْءٍ بَيْنَ الصَّنَادِيقِ، وَتَطْلُبُ مِنَ النَّاسِ أَنْ يَتْرُكُوا لَهَا طَرِيقًا. وَقَفَتْ لِينَا قُرْبَ الْحَائِطِ لِتَفْتَحَ لَهَا الْمَكَانَ.
Then she saw Amal returning, pushing her heavy cart. She moved slowly between the boxes, asking people to make way. Lina stood close to the wall to give her room.
قَالَتْ أَمَلُ: «شُكْرًا. لَوْ كَانَتِ الصَّنَادِيقُ تَسْتَطِيعُ الْمَشْيَ، لَأَرْسَلْتُهَا إِلَى السُّوقِ الْجَدِيدِ وَحْدَهَا». ضَحِكَتْ لِينَا. وَكَانَتْ هَذِهِ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ تَسْمَعُ فِيهَا أَمَلَ تَمْزَحُ عَنْ الِانْتِقَالِ.
“Thank you. If boxes could walk, I'd send them to the new market by themselves,” Amal said. Lina laughed. It was the first time she'd heard Amal joke about the move.
سَأَلَتْ لِينَا: «هَلْ عِنْدَكِ وَقْتٌ بَعْدَ الظُّهْرِ؟ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَفْهَمَ مَاذَا حَدَثَ لِلْبَابِ السَّادِسِ». نَظَرَتْ أَمَلُ إِلَى الزَّبَائِنِ الَّذِينَ بَدَؤُوا يَصِلُونَ.
“Do you have time after noon? I want to understand what happened with Door Six,” Lina asked. Amal glanced at the customers who were starting to arrive.
قَالَتْ أَمَلُ: «تَعَالَيْ بَعْدَ أَنْ أُنْهِيَ الْبَيْعَ. عِنْدِي وَرَقَةٌ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُرِيَكِ إِيَّاهَا». ثُمَّ وَضَعَتْ يَدَهَا عَلَى الْقُمَاشِ فَوْقَ الْعَرَبَةِ، وَأَصْلَحَتْ طَرَفَهُ كَمَا فَعَلَتْ أَمْسِ.
“Come when I've finished selling. There's a paper I want to show you,” Amal said. Then she put her hand on the cloth over the cart and straightened its edge, just as she had yesterday.
أَرَادَتْ لِينَا أَنْ تَسْأَلَ عَنْ هَذِهِ الْوَرَقَةِ، وَلَكِنَّ امْرَأَةً وَقَفَتْ لِتَشْتَرِيَ الطَّمَاطِمَ. تَرَكَتْ لِينَا أَمَلَ مَعَ زَبُونَتِهَا، وَعَادَتْ إِلَى طَاوِلَةِ عَمَلِهَا. كَانَ لَدَيْهَا مَا تَفْعَلُهُ حَتَّى الظُّهْرِ.
Lina wanted to ask about the paper, but a woman stopped to buy tomatoes. She left Amal with her customer and returned to her worktable. She had plenty to do until noon.
عِنْدَ الطَّاوِلَةِ، فَتَحَتْ لِينَا دَفْتَرَهَا مِنْ جَدِيدٍ. كَتَبَتْ تَحْتَ تَارِيخِ طَلَبِ خَدِيجَةَ: «لَوْحَةُ الْبَابِ ٦ — بِلَا اسْمٍ». ثُمَّ كَتَبَتْ فِي صَفْحَةٍ أُخْرَى: «أَسْأَلُ أَمَلَ بَعْدَ الظُّهْرِ».
Back at her table, Lina opened her notebook again. Beneath the date of Khadija's order, she wrote: “Door 6 board — no name.” On another page she wrote: “Ask Amal after noon.”
لَمْ تَعْرِفْ لِينَا مَا الَّذِي سَتُثْبِتُهُ وَرَقَةُ أَمَلَ. وَلَمْ تَعْرِفْ لِمَاذَا طَلَبَتْ خَدِيجَةُ لَوْحَةً ثَانِيَةً مُبَكِّرًا. كَانَ عِنْدَهَا سُؤَالَانِ، وَلَمْ يَكُنْ عِنْدَهَا جَوَابٌ وَاحِدٌ بَعْدُ.
Lina did not know what Amal’s paper would prove, or why Khadija had ordered a second board so early. She now had two questions, and still not a single answer.
وَأَخَذَتْ فُرْشَاتَهَا وَعَادَتْ إِلَى الْحُرُوفِ الَّتِي تَعْرِفُ كَيْفَ تَكْتُبُهَا. وَبِجَانِبِ الْحَائِطِ بَقِيَتْ لَوْحَةُ أَمَلَ فِي مَكَانِهَا. أَمَّا اللَّوْحَةُ الثَّانِيَةُ، فَبَقِيَتْ فِي الصُّنْدُوقِ، وَعَلَى ظَهْرِهَا الرَّقْمُ نَفْسُهُ: «٦».
She picked up her brush and returned to the letters she knew how to paint. Beside the wall, Amal's sign remained where it was. The second board stayed in the box, bearing the same number on its back: “6.”
Chapter vocabulary (138 entries)
- أُمٌّ
- mother
- زَبُونٌ
- customer (male)
- زَبُونَةٌ
- customer (female)
- تَاجِرٌ
- trader
- التُّجَّارُ
- traders
- بَائِعٌ
- seller
- النَّاسُ
- people
- مَكَانُ الْعَمَلِ
- workplace
- طَاوِلَةُ الْعَمَلِ
- worktable
- عَمَلٌ
- work / task
- طَلَبٌ
- order / request
- الطَّلَبَاتُ
- orders
- ثَمَنٌ
- price / payment
- الْبَيْعُ
- selling
- الزَّبَائِنُ
- customers
- مَكْتَبُ التُّجَّارِ
- traders’ office
- الْحُرُوفُ
- letters (written characters)
- الِانْتِقَالُ
- moving to a new place
- صَبَاحُ الْخَيْرِ
- good morning
- السُّوقُ الْقَدِيمُ
- the old market
- السُّوقُ الْجَدِيدُ
- the new market
- بَابٌ
- door
- الْبَابُ السَّادِسُ
- Door Six
- لَوْحَةٌ
- sign / board
- لَوْحَتَانِ
- two boards / signs
- الْخَشَبُ
- wood
- صُنْدُوقٌ
- box
- الصَّنَادِيقُ
- boxes
- الطَّاوِلَةُ
- the table
- دَفْتَرٌ
- notebook
- دَفْتَرُ الطَّلَبَاتِ
- order book
- صَفْحَةٌ
- page
- سَطْرٌ
- line of writing
- قَلَمُ رَصَاصٍ
- pencil
- رَقْمٌ
- number
- اسْمٌ
- name
- تَارِيخٌ
- date
- وَرَقَةٌ
- sheet of paper
- قَائِمَةٌ
- list
- الطِّلَاءُ
- paint
- فُرْشَاةٌ
- paintbrush
- عُلْبَةُ الطِّلَاءِ
- paint tin
- حَبْلٌ
- rope / string
- رَفٌّ
- shelf
- حَائِطٌ
- wall
- إِبْرِيقٌ
- kettle
- كُوبُ شَايٍ
- cup of tea
- عَرَبَةٌ
- cart
- الْخُضْرَوَاتُ
- vegetables
- الطَّمَاطِمُ
- tomatoes
- الْقُمَاشُ
- cloth / fabric
- طَرِيقٌ
- road / passage
- وَصَلَ
- he arrived
- وَضَعَ
- he put / placed
- قَرَّرَ
- he decided
- سَأَلَ
- he asked
- حَمَلَ
- he carried
- فَتَحَ
- he opened
- أَخْرَجَ
- he took out
- رَفَعَ
- he lifted
- قَلَبَ
- he turned over
- كَتَبَ
- he wrote
- سَمِعَ
- he heard
- تَذَكَّرَ
- he remembered
- نَسِيَ
- he forgot
- ظَنَّ
- he thought / assumed
- حَسَبَ
- he counted / calculated
- وَجَدَ
- he found
- انْتَهَى
- he finished / ended
- انْتَظَرَ
- he waited
- أَجَابَ
- he replied
- ابْتَسَمَ
- he smiled
- عَادَ
- he returned
- جَاءَ
- he came
- نَظَرَ إِلَى
- he looked at
- تَوَقَّفَ
- he stopped
- اقْتَرَبَ
- he came closer
- رَبَطَ
- he tied
- ضَحِكَ
- he laughed
- وَافَقَ عَلَى
- he agreed to
- خَرَجَ
- he went out
- تَرَكَ
- he left / let
- بَقِيَ
- he remained
- فَهِمَ
- he understood
- مَشَى
- he walked
- أَمْسَكَ
- he held
- حَاوَلَ
- he tried
- أَصْلَحَ
- he adjusted / fixed
- دَفَعَ
- he pushed
- عَرَفَ
- he knew
- بَحَثَ عَنْ
- he searched for
- أَرَادَ
- he wanted
- الْيَوْمُ التَّالِي
- the next day
- أَوَّلُ
- first of
- سِتَّةُ أَيَّامٍ
- six days
- أَمْسِ
- yesterday
- الْمَسَاءُ
- evening
- قَبْلَ
- before
- بَعْدَ
- after
- مُنْذُ
- since / ago
- كَثِيرٌ
- much / many
- قَلِيلٌ
- a little / few
- قَصِيرٌ
- short
- طَوِيلٌ
- long
- نَاعِمٌ
- smooth / soft
- خَالٍ
- empty / blank
- ثَقِيلٌ
- heavy
- مُسْتَعْجِلٌ
- in a hurry
- مُنْخَفِضٌ
- low (voice)
- هَادِئٌ
- calm / quiet
- جَافٌّ
- dry
- قَدِيمٌ
- old
- جَدِيدٌ
- new
- مُبَكِّرًا
- early
- أَمَامَ
- in front of
- خَلْفَ
- behind
- بَيْنَ
- between
- فَوْقَ
- on top of
- بِجَانِبِ
- beside
- لَمْ تَصِلْ بَعْدُ
- she has not arrived yet
- مَا زَالَتْ
- she is still / it is still
- لَا تَنْظُرِي إِلَيَّ هَكَذَا
- don’t look at me like that
- لَمْ أَقُلْ شَيْئًا
- I didn’t say anything
- هَذَا مَا يُقْلِقُنِي
- that is what worries me
- لِمَاذَا؟
- why?
- فِي الْقَائِمَةِ الْجَدِيدَةِ
- on the new list
- قَبْلَ افْتِتَاحِ السُّوقِ
- before the market opens
- اِحْذَرِ الطِّلَاءَ
- watch out for the paint
- هَلْ سَتَكُونُ جَاهِزَةً غَدًا؟
- will it be ready tomorrow?
- هَلْ عِنْدَكِ وَقْتٌ؟
- do you have time?
- قَبْلَ أَنْ أَفْهَمَ
- before I understand
- عِنْدِي وَرَقَةٌ
- I have a paper / document
- رُبَّمَا
- perhaps / maybe
- وَمَعَ ذَلِكَ
- nevertheless / even so
- بَعْدَ أَنْ أُنْهِيَ الْبَيْعَ
- after I finish selling
- لَمْ تُوَافِقْ عَلَى هَذَا التَّغْيِيرِ
- she did not agree to this change
- حَتَّى الظُّهْرِ
- until noon
- لَمْ يَكُنْ عِنْدَهَا جَوَابٌ
- she did not have an answer
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CHAPTER 03 / 12
وَرَقَةٌ قَدِيمَةٌ
An Old Paper
بَعْدَ الظُّهْرِ، هَدَأَ السُّوقُ الْقَدِيمُ قَلِيلًا. بَقِيَ بَعْضُ التُّجَّارِ أَمَامَ دَكَاكِينِهِمْ، وَبَدَأَ آخَرُونَ يُغْلِقُونَ صَنَادِيقَهُمْ. نَظَرَتْ لِينَا إِلَى السَّاعَةِ، ثُمَّ غَسَلَتْ فُرْشَاتَهَا وَقَامَتْ.
After noon, the old market grew a little quieter. Some traders remained outside their stalls, while others began closing their boxes. Lina looked at the clock, washed her brushes, and got up.
كَانَتْ صَبَاحُ تَضَعُ الْأَكْوَابَ النَّظِيفَةَ عَلَى رَفٍّ. سَأَلَتْ: «هَلْ سَتَذْهَبِينَ إِلَى أَمَلَ؟» هَزَّتْ لِينَا رَأْسَهَا. قَالَتْ أُمُّهَا: «كُلِي شَيْئًا أَوَّلًا. الْأَسْئِلَةُ لَا تُشْبِعُ الْبَطْنَ».
Sabah was putting clean cups on a shelf. “Are you going to Amal?” she asked. Lina nodded. “Eat something first. Questions don't fill your stomach,” her mother said.
أَخَذَتْ لِينَا قِطْعَةَ خُبْزٍ مِنْ أُمِّهَا. وَهِيَ تَأْكُلُ، رَأَتْ لَوْحَةَ أَمَلَ عِنْدَ الْحَائِطِ. كَانَ الطِّلَاءُ جَافًّا، وَكَانَ الِاسْمُ وَاضِحًا. لَمْ تَمَسَّ اللَّوْحَةَ.
Lina took a piece of bread from her mother. As she ate, she saw Amal's sign against the wall. The paint was dry and the name was clear. She did not touch the sign.
وَصَلَتْ إِلَى دُكَّانِ أَمَلَ فَوَجَدَتْهَا تَزِنُ الطَّمَاطِمَ لِرَجُلٍ مُسِنٍّ. وَكَانَ الرَّجُلُ قَدِ اشْتَرَى أَيْضًا كِيسًا مِنَ الْبَصَلِ. أَعْطَاهَا نُقُودًا، فَعَدَّتْهَا وَأَعَادَتْ إِلَيْهِ قِطْعَةً صَغِيرَةً. قَالَ: «هَذِهِ لَكِ». فَقَالَتْ: «وَهَذِهِ لَكَ».
Lina reached Amal's stall and found her weighing tomatoes for an elderly man, who had also bought a bag of onions. He handed her some coins. She counted them and returned a small coin to him. “Keep it,” he said. “It belongs to you,” Amal replied.
ضَحِكَ الرَّجُلُ وَأَخَذَ نُقُودَهُ. ثُمَّ رَحَلَ بِكِيسِ الطَّمَاطِمِ، وَنَسِيَ كِيسَ الْبَصَلِ عَلَى الطَّاوِلَةِ. نَظَرَتْ أَمَلُ إِلَى لِينَا وَقَالَتْ: «وَعَدْتُكِ أَنْ أُرِيَكِ وَرَقَةً، أَلَيْسَ كَذَلِكَ؟» أَجَابَتْ لِينَا: «نَعَمْ، وَلَكِنْ أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَنْتَظِرَ».
The man laughed, took his change, and left with his tomatoes, forgetting the onions on the table. Amal looked at Lina. “I promised to show you a paper, didn't I?” “Yes, but I can wait,” Lina answered.
«لَا تَنْتَظِرِي. سَاعِدِينِي فِي هَذِهِ الْأَكْيَاسِ أَوَّلًا». أَشَارَتْ أَمَلُ إِلَى ثَلَاثَةِ أَكْيَاسٍ مِنَ الْبَصَلِ. حَمَلَتْ لِينَا كِيسًا، فَقَالَتْ أَمَلُ: «لَيْسَ ذَلِكَ الْكِيسَ. هَذَا لِزَبُونٍ سَيَعُودُ».
“Don't wait. Help me with these bags first.” Amal pointed to three bags of onions. Lina lifted one, and Amal said, “Not that one. A customer is coming back for it.”
أَعَادَتْ لِينَا الْكِيسَ إِلَى مَكَانِهِ. ثُمَّ حَمَلَتِ الْكِيسَيْنِ الْآخَرَيْنِ إِلَى الْعَرَبَةِ. قَالَتْ أَمَلُ: «الْخُضْرَوَاتُ لَا تَغْضَبُ إِذَا أَخْطَأْتِ، وَلَكِنَّ الزَّبَائِنَ يَغْضَبُونَ». ابْتَسَمَتْ لِينَا.
Lina put the bag back, then carried the other two to the cart. “Vegetables don't get angry when you make a mistake,” Amal said, “but customers do.” Lina smiled.
وَضَعَتْ أَمَلُ قُمَاشًا نَظِيفًا فَوْقَ مَا بَقِيَ مِنَ الْخُضْرَوَاتِ. ثُمَّ جَلَسَتْ خَلْفَ طَاوِلَتِهَا، وَأَخْرَجَتْ حَقِيبَةً صَغِيرَةً مِنْ تَحْتِهَا. «هُنَا أَحْفَظُ أَوْرَاقِي وَنُقُودِي»، قَالَتْ.
Amal covered the remaining vegetables with a clean cloth. Then she sat behind her table and took a small bag from underneath it. “I keep my papers and money here,” she said.
فَتَحَتِ الْحَقِيبَةَ بِبُطْءٍ، وَأَخْرَجَتْ وَرَقَتَيْنِ. كَانَتِ الْأُولَى كَبِيرَةً، وَفِي طَرَفِهَا لَوْنٌ بُنِّيٌّ مِنَ الْمَاءِ. أَمَّا الثَّانِيَةُ فَكَانَتْ أَصْغَرَ وَأَقْرَبَ إِلَى الْبَيَاضِ.
She opened the bag slowly and took out two papers. The first was large, with a brown water stain along one edge. The second was smaller and much whiter.
مَدَّتْ أَمَلُ الْوَرَقَةَ الْكَبِيرَةَ إِلَى لِينَا. «هَذِهِ نُسْخَتِي مِنَ الْوَرَقَةِ الَّتِي أَخَذْتُهَا مِنْ مَكْتَبِ التُّجَّارِ. اِقْرَئِي مَا فِيهَا». وَضَعَتْ لِينَا الْوَرَقَةَ عَلَى الطَّاوِلَةِ لِتَرَاهَا جَيِّدًا.
Amal handed Lina the larger sheet. “This is my copy of the paper I received from the traders' office. Read what it says.” Lina laid it on the table so she could see it clearly.
فِي أَعْلَى الْوَرَقَةِ اسْمُ السُّوقِ الْجَدِيدِ. وَفِي وَسَطِهَا كَلِمَاتٌ قَصِيرَةٌ: «الْبَابُ السَّادِسُ — أَمَلُ». وَكَانَ هُنَاكَ تَارِيخٌ قَبْلَ نَحْوِ ثَلَاثَةِ أَشْهُرٍ.
At the top was the name of the new market. In the middle were a few words: “Door Six — Amal.” There was also a date from almost three months earlier.
قَرَأَتْ لِينَا السَّطْرَ مَرَّتَيْنِ. وَفِي أَسْفَلِ الْوَرَقَةِ رَأَتِ اسْمَ أَمَلَ وَاسْمَ خَدِيجَةَ. وَقُرْبَ كُلِّ اسْمٍ تَوْقِيعٌ. كَانَ الْمَاءُ قَدْ أَفْسَدَ بَعْضَ الْحُرُوفِ عِنْدَ الطَّرَفِ، لَكِنَّهُ لَمْ يُخْفِ الْأَسْمَاءَ أَوِ الرَّقْمَ.
Lina read the line twice. At the bottom she saw Amal's and Khadija's names, with a signature beside each. Water had damaged some letters near the edge, but it had not hidden the names or the number.
سَأَلَتْ لِينَا: «مَتَى ابْتَلَّتْ هَذِهِ الْوَرَقَةُ؟» قَالَتْ أَمَلُ: «فِي شَهْرِ الْمَطَرِ. دَخَلَ الْمَاءُ مِنْ سَقْفِ دُكَّانِي الْقَدِيمِ. بَلَّلَ الْخُبْزَ وَهَذِهِ الْوَرَقَةَ أَيْضًا».
“When did this paper get wet?” Lina asked. “During the rainy month. Water came through the roof of my old stall. It soaked the bread—and this paper too,” Amal said.
قَالَتْ لِينَا: «وَلِمَاذَا تَحْفَظِينَ الْوَرَقَتَيْنِ فِي هَذِهِ الْحَقِيبَةِ؟» رَفَعَتْ أَمَلُ الْحَقِيبَةَ. «اشْتَرَيْتُهَا بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ. الْمَاءُ يُعَلِّمُ الْإِنْسَانَ أَشْيَاءَ مُفِيدَةً».
“Why do you keep the papers in this bag?” Lina asked. Amal lifted it. “I bought it after that day. Water teaches a person some useful lessons.”
رَدَّتْ لِينَا الْوَرَقَةَ إِلَى مَكَانِهَا عَلَى الطَّاوِلَةِ. «فِيهَا اسْمُكِ وَالرَّقْمُ السَّادِسُ وَتَوْقِيعَانِ. هَذَا وَاضِحٌ». نَظَرَتْ أَمَلُ إِلَيْهَا. «إِذَنْ لِمَاذَا يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ الْبَابَ لِحَامِدٍ؟»
Lina set the paper back on the table. “It has your name, number Six, and two signatures. That much is clear.” Amal looked at her. “Then why are they saying the door belongs to Hamid?”
لَمْ تُجِبْ لِينَا فَوْرًا. كَانَتْ تَعْرِفُ أَنَّ الْقَائِمَةَ الْجَدِيدَةَ تَقُولُ شَيْئًا آخَرَ. وَلَكِنَّهَا لَمْ تَرَ وَرَقَةَ حَامِدٍ، وَلَمْ تَعْرِفْ مَنْ غَيَّرَ الْقَائِمَةَ أَوْ لِمَاذَا.
Lina did not answer at once. She knew the new list said something different. But she had not seen Hamid's paper, and she did not know who had changed the list or why.
أَخَذَتْ أَمَلُ الْوَرَقَةَ الصَّغِيرَةَ. «وَهَذَا إِيصَالٌ. دَفَعْتُ الْمَالَ لِلْجَمْعِيَّةِ عِنْدَمَا أَخَذْتُ الْبَابَ». نَظَرَتْ لِينَا إِلَيْهِ. كَانَ فِيهِ اسْمُ أَمَلَ وَالْمَالُ الَّذِي دَفَعَتْهُ وَالتَّارِيخُ.
Amal picked up the smaller paper. “And this is a receipt. I paid the association when I got the stall.” Lina examined it. It showed Amal's name, the amount she had paid, and the date.
سَأَلَتْ لِينَا: «أَيْنَ رَقْمُ الْبَابِ فِي هَذَا الْإِيصَالِ؟» قَلَبَتْ أَمَلُ الْوَرَقَةَ، ثُمَّ أَعَادَتِ النَّظَرَ إِلَى وَجْهِهَا. لَمْ تَجِدِ الرَّقْمَ.
“Where is the door number on this receipt?” Lina asked. Amal turned it over, then looked again at the front. She could not find the number.
قَالَتْ أَمَلُ: «وَلَكِنِّي دَفَعْتُ الْمَالَ!» أَجَابَتْ لِينَا: «نَعَمْ. هَذَا الْإِيصَالُ يَقُولُ إِنَّكِ دَفَعْتِ. أَمَّا الْوَرَقَةُ الْأُولَى فَتَقُولُ إِنَّ الْبَابَ السَّادِسَ لَكِ».
“But I did pay!” Amal said. “Yes. This receipt shows you paid. The first paper says Door Six was assigned to you,” Lina replied.
بَقِيَتْ أَمَلُ سَاكِتَةً قَلِيلًا. ثُمَّ أَخَذَتِ الْإِيصَالَ وَوَضَعَتْهُ فَوْقَ الْوَرَقَةِ الْكَبِيرَةِ. قَالَتْ: «أَنَا أَحْفَظُهُمَا مَعًا، لِأَنَّنِي لَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَفْقِدَ شَيْئًا».
Amal fell silent for a moment. Then she placed the receipt on top of the larger paper. “I keep them together because I don't want to lose anything,” she said.
مَرَّ صَبِيٌّ أَمَامَ الدُّكَّانِ، وَنَادَى: «يَا أَمَلُ! أُمِّي تَسْأَلُ عَنِ الْخِيَارِ». وَقَفَتْ أَمَلُ وَأَشَارَتْ إِلَى صُنْدُوقٍ قَرِيبٍ. «قُلْ لَهَا إِنَّ الْخِيَارَ انْتَهَى الْيَوْمَ. سَيَصِلُ غَدًا».
A boy passed the stall and called, “Amal! My mother wants to know about cucumbers.” Amal stood and pointed to a nearby box. “Tell her we're out today. There'll be more tomorrow.”
رَكَضَ الصَّبِيُّ بَعِيدًا. جَمَعَتْ أَمَلُ بَعْضَ الْبَصَلِ الْمُتَنَاثِرِ عَلَى الطَّاوِلَةِ. لَمْ تَسْأَلْهَا لِينَا سُؤَالًا جَدِيدًا حَتَّى جَلَسَتْ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى.
The boy ran off. Amal gathered a few onions scattered across the table. Lina did not ask another question until she sat down again.
قَالَتْ لِينَا: «هَلْ عِنْدَ مَكْتَبِ التُّجَّارِ وَرَقَةٌ مِثْلُ هَذِهِ؟» أَجَابَتْ أَمَلُ: «نَعَمْ. عِنْدَمَا وَقَّعْنَا، أَخَذَ الْمَكْتَبُ الْوَرَقَةَ الْأُولَى، وَأَعْطَانِي هَذِهِ النُّسْخَةَ».
“Does the traders' office have a paper like this one?” Lina asked. “Yes. When we signed, the office kept the original and gave me this copy,” Amal said.
«وَهَلْ رَأَيْتِ الْوَرَقَةَ الْأُولَى بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ؟» «لَا. هُنَاكَ مَلَفٌّ لِلْأَوْرَاقِ الْقَدِيمَةِ فِي الْمَكْتَبِ. لَكِنِّي لَا أَعْرِفُ أَيْنَ وَضَعُوا وَرَقَتِي الْآنَ».
“Have you seen the original since then?” “No. There's a folder for old papers at the office, but I don't know where they've put my paper now.”
نَظَرَتْ لِينَا إِلَى الْوَرَقَتَيْنِ. كَانَتْ لَدَيْهَا الآنَ مَعْلُومَاتٌ أَكْثَرُ مِنْ أَمْسِ. وَلَكِنْ بَقِيَ سُؤَالٌ مُهِمٌّ: هَلْ حَدَثَ تَغْيِيرٌ بَعْدَ التَّوْقِيعِ الْأَوَّلِ؟
Lina looked at the two papers. She now had more information than yesterday. But one important question remained: had the allocation been changed after the original signing?
سَأَلَتْ: «هَلْ تَحَدَّثْتِ مَعَ خَدِيجَةَ عَنْ بَابٍ آخَرَ؟» تَوَقَّفَتْ يَدُ أَمَلَ فَوْقَ الْوَرَقَةِ. «تَحَدَّثْنَا عَنِ السُّوقِ الْجَدِيدِ. تَحَدَّثْنَا عَنْ أَشْيَاءَ كَثِيرَةٍ».
“Did you talk to Khadija about another door?” Lina asked. Amal's hand stopped above the paper. “We talked about the new market. We talked about many things.”
«وَهَلْ وَافَقْتِ عَلَى أَنْ تَأْخُذِي بَابًا آخَرَ؟» رَفَعَتْ أَمَلُ عَيْنَيْهَا. «قُلْتُ لَكِ أَمْسِ إِنَّنِي لَمْ أُوَافِقْ. هَلْ تَظُنِّينَ أَنِّي لَا أَقُولُ الصِّدْقَ؟»
“And did you agree to take another door?” Amal looked up. “I told you yesterday that I didn't agree. Do you think I'm not telling the truth?”
شَعَرَتْ لِينَا بِالْحَرَجِ. لَمْ تُرِدْ أَنْ تُغْضِبَ أَمَلَ. لَكِنَّهَا لَمْ تُرِدْ أَيْضًا أَنْ تَعِدَهَا بِشَيْءٍ لَا تَعْرِفُهُ. قَالَتْ: «أَنَا أُصَدِّقُ أَنَّكِ تَقُولِينَ مَا تَعْرِفِينَهُ. وَأُرِيدُ أَنْ أَفْهَمَ مَا حَدَثَ».
Lina felt embarrassed. She did not want to upset Amal. But she also did not want to promise what she couldn't know. “I believe you're telling me what you know,” she said. “And I want to understand what happened.”
نَظَرَتْ أَمَلُ إِلَى عَرَبَتِهَا الثَّقِيلَةِ. «أَنَا أَعْمَلُ بِهَذِهِ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ. لَيْسَ كُلُّ مَكَانٍ نَافِعًا لِي. وَهَذَا أَمْرٌ يَعْرِفُهُ مَنْ يَشْتَرِي مِنِّي».
Amal glanced at her heavy cart. “I work with this every day. Not every place is suitable for me. People who buy from me know that.”
سَأَلَتْ لِينَا: «لِمَاذَا لَمْ تَذْهَبِي إِلَى خَدِيجَةَ مَعَ هَذِهِ الْوَرَقَةِ؟» قَالَتْ أَمَلُ: «ذَهَبْتُ إِلَيْهَا وَتَكَلَّمْتُ مَعَهَا. قَالَتْ إِنَّ الْقَائِمَةَ الْجَدِيدَةَ صَحِيحَةٌ».
“Why didn't you go to Khadija with this paper?” Lina asked. “I did go and speak to her. She said the new list was correct,” Amal replied.
«وَلِمَاذَا لَمْ تَتَكَلَّمِي أَمَامَ التُّجَّارِ؟» نَظَرَتْ أَمَلُ إِلَى الطَّرِيقِ. «أَنَا هُنَا مُنْذُ سَنَةٍ وَنِصْفٍ فَقَطْ. وَهُمْ يَعْرِفُونَ خَدِيجَةَ مُنْذُ سِنِينَ».
“Why didn't you speak in front of the traders?” Amal looked toward the market passage. “I've been here only a year and a half. They've known Khadija for years.”
ثُمَّ قَالَتْ بِصَوْتٍ أَخْفَضَ: «أَخَافُ أَنْ يَقُولَ النَّاسُ إِنَّ أَمَلَ تُحِبُّ الْمُشْكِلَاتِ. أَنَا لَا أُرِيدُ مُشْكِلَةً. أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَبِيعَ خُضْرَوَاتِي فِي الْمَكَانِ الَّذِي وَعَدُونِي بِهِ».
Then she lowered her voice. “I'm afraid people will say Amal likes causing trouble. I don't want trouble. I want to sell my vegetables in the place they promised me.”
أَرَادَتْ لِينَا أَنْ تَقُولَ لَهَا إِنَّ النَّاسَ سَيَفْهَمُونَ. وَلَكِنَّهَا لَمْ تَقُلْ ذَلِكَ. كَانَتْ هِيَ نَفْسُهَا تَخَافُ أَنْ تَغْضَبَ خَدِيجَةُ مِنْهَا.
Lina wanted to tell her that people would understand. But she did not say it. She herself was afraid of making Khadija angry.
قَالَتْ أَمَلُ: «وَلَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ يَتَكَلَّمَ النَّاسُ عَنِّي وَأَنَا لَسْتُ مَعَهُمْ. إِذَا كَانَ هُنَاكَ سُؤَالٌ عَنْ بَابِي، فَاسْأَلُونِي أَنَا». هَزَّتْ لِينَا رَأْسَهَا بِبُطْءٍ.
“And I don't want people talking about me when I'm not there. If there's a question about my stall, ask me,” Amal said. Lina nodded slowly.
«هَلْ تُرِيدِينَ أَنْ أَذْهَبَ مَعَكِ إِلَى الْمَكْتَبِ؟» سَأَلَتْ لِينَا. فَكَّرَتْ أَمَلُ قَلِيلًا. «لَيْسَ الْيَوْمَ. عِنْدِي عَمَلٌ كَثِيرٌ، وَلَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَذْهَبَ غَاضِبَةً. وَلَكِنِّي لَنْ أَتْرُكَ الْأَمْرَ».
“Would you like me to go to the office with you?” Lina asked. Amal thought for a moment. “Not today. I've got a lot to do, and I don't want to go while I'm angry. But I'm not dropping this.”
قَبِلَتْ لِينَا جَوَابَهَا. لَمْ تَكُنِ الْوَرَقَةُ بِحَاجَةٍ إِلَى صَوْتٍ عَالٍ حَتَّى تُقْرَأَ. وَمَعَ ذَلِكَ، لَمْ تَعْرِفْ لِينَا بَعْدُ إِنْ كَانَتْ هُنَاكَ وَرَقَةٌ أُخْرَى كُتِبَتْ بَعْدَهَا.
Lina accepted her answer. The paper did not need anyone to shout for its words to be read. Still, Lina did not yet know whether another paper had been written afterward.
أَعَادَتْ أَمَلُ الْوَرَقَتَيْنِ إِلَى الْحَقِيبَةِ. ثُمَّ فَتَحَتْهَا مَرَّةً أُخْرَى وَنَظَرَتْ دَاخِلَهَا. سَأَلَتْ لِينَا: «هَلْ نَسِيتِ شَيْئًا؟» قَالَتْ أَمَلُ: «لَا. أَتَأَكَّدُ فَقَطْ».
Amal put the two papers back in her bag. Then she opened it again and looked inside. “Did you forget something?” Lina asked. “No. I'm only checking,” Amal said.
وَصَلَ الرَّجُلُ الْمُسِنُّ مِنْ جَدِيدٍ. كَانَ قَدْ نَسِيَ كِيسَ الْبَصَلِ الَّذِي اشْتَرَاهُ. أَعْطَتْهُ أَمَلُ الْكِيسَ، فَقَالَ: «مِنَ الْحَسَنِ أَنَّكِ تَذْكُرِينَ أَشْيَاءِي أَكْثَرَ مِنِّي».
The elderly man returned. He had forgotten the bag of onions he bought earlier. Amal handed it to him. “It's a good thing you remember my things better than I do,” he said.
أَجَابَتْ أَمَلُ: «لَوْ نَسِيتُ أَشْيَاءَ النَّاسِ، لَمَا بَقِيَ عِنْدِي دُكَّانٌ». ضَحِكَ الرَّجُلُ وَمَشَى. وَضَحِكَتْ لِينَا أَيْضًا، ثُمَّ وَدَّعَتْ أَمَلَ وَعَادَتْ إِلَى عَمَلِهَا.
“If I forgot people's things, I wouldn't have a stall left,” Amal replied. The man laughed and walked away. Lina laughed too, said goodbye to Amal, and returned to her work.
فِي الطَّرِيقِ، رَأَتْ لِينَا السُّوقَ الْقَدِيمَ كَمَا تَرَاهُ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ: أَبْوَابًا صَغِيرَةً، وَصَنَادِيقَ، وَأَصْوَاتَ بَائِعِينَ. وَلَكِنَّهَا كَانَتْ تَعْرِفُ الْآنَ أَنَّ تَغْيِيرَ رَقْمٍ وَاحِدٍ يُمْكِنُ أَنْ يُغَيِّرَ عَمَلَ إِنْسَانٍ.
On the way back, Lina saw the old market as she always did: small doors, boxes, and traders' voices. But she now understood that changing a single number could change someone's working life.
عِنْدَ طَاوِلَتِهَا، فَتَحَتْ دَفْتَرَ الطَّلَبَاتِ. كَتَبَتْ تَحْتَ مُلَاحَظَاتِهَا: «وَرَقَةُ أَمَلَ: الْبَابُ ٦. إِيصَالُهَا: دَفَعَتِ الْمَالَ. الْقَائِمَةُ: حَامِدٌ ٦». وَتَوَقَّفَتْ عِنْدَ الِاسْمِ الْأَخِيرِ.
At her table, Lina opened her order book. Beneath her notes she wrote: “Amal's paper: Door 6. Her receipt: payment made. The list: Hamid, 6.” She stopped at the last name.
تَذَكَّرَتْ قَوْلَ رَامِي فِي الصَّبَاحِ: «أَعْرِفُ مَا فِي الْقَائِمَةِ». كَانَتْ هِيَ الْآنَ تَعْرِفُ مَا فِي وَرَقَةِ أَمَلَ أَيْضًا. لَكِنَّ مَا عِنْدَ حَامِدٍ بَقِيَ مَجْهُولًا لَهَا.
She remembered what Rami had said that morning: “I know what's on the list.” Now she also knew what Amal's paper said. But she still did not know what Hamid had.
نَظَرَتْ إِلَى اللَّوْحَةِ عِنْدَ الْحَائِطِ. لَمْ تَتَغَيَّرِ الْحُرُوفُ الْمَكْتُوبَةُ عَلَيْهَا. ثُمَّ كَتَبَتْ فِي دَفْتَرِهَا سَطْرًا جَدِيدًا: «أَسْأَلُ حَامِدًا عَمَّا مَعَهُ». وَتَرَكَتِ الدَّفْتَرَ مَفْتُوحًا.
She looked at the sign against the wall. The painted letters had not changed. Then she wrote a new line in her notebook: “Ask Hamid what he has.” She left the book open.
Chapter vocabulary (161 entries)
- سُوقٌ
- market
- دُكَّانٌ
- shop; market stall
- تَاجِرٌ
- trader
- بَائِعٌ
- seller
- زَبُونٌ
- customer
- رَجُلٌ مُسِنٌّ
- elderly man
- صَبِيٌّ
- boy
- أُمٌّ
- mother
- بَابٌ
- door; numbered stall in this story
- رَقْمٌ
- number
- لَوْحَةٌ
- sign; wooden signboard
- حَائِطٌ
- wall
- طِلَاءٌ
- paint
- فُرْشَاةٌ
- paintbrush
- رَفٌّ
- shelf
- طَاوِلَةٌ
- table
- صُنْدُوقٌ
- box
- كِيسٌ
- bag; sack
- خُبْزٌ
- bread
- طَمَاطِمُ
- tomatoes
- بَصَلٌ
- onions
- خِيَارٌ
- cucumbers
- خُضْرَوَاتٌ
- vegetables
- نُقُودٌ
- coins; money
- مَالٌ
- money
- قِطْعَةٌ
- piece; coin (here)
- كُوبٌ
- cup
- قُمَاشٌ
- cloth
- عَرَبَةٌ
- cart
- حَقِيبَةٌ
- bag (for personal items)
- وَرَقَةٌ
- sheet of paper; document
- نُسْخَةٌ
- copy
- إِيصَالٌ
- receipt
- تَوْقِيعٌ
- signature
- مَكْتَبٌ
- office
- مَلَفٌّ
- file; folder
- قَائِمَةٌ
- list
- جَمْعِيَّةٌ
- association
- سَقْفٌ
- roof
- مَطَرٌ
- rain
- مَاءٌ
- water
- تَارِيخٌ
- date
- سَطْرٌ
- line of writing
- حَرْفٌ
- letter (of the alphabet)
- اسْمٌ
- name
- سُؤَالٌ
- question
- وَعْدٌ
- promise
- عَمَلٌ
- work
- مَكَانٌ
- place
- مُشْكِلَةٌ
- problem; trouble
- هَدَأَ
- became quieter; calmed down
- بَقِيَ
- remained; stayed
- أَغْلَقَ
- closed
- نَظَرَ إِلَى
- looked at
- غَسَلَ
- washed
- قَامَ
- got up; stood
- وَضَعَ
- put; placed
- سَأَلَ
- asked
- هَزَّ رَأْسَهُ
- nodded (literally: shook his head)
- أَكَلَ
- ate
- وَصَلَ
- arrived; reached
- وَجَدَ
- found
- وَزَنَ
- weighed
- أَعْطَى
- gave
- عَدَّ
- counted
- أَعَادَ
- returned; put back
- أَخَذَ
- took
- رَحَلَ
- left; departed
- اِنْتَظَرَ
- waited
- سَاعَدَ
- helped
- أَشَارَ إِلَى
- pointed to
- حَمَلَ
- carried
- ضَحِكَ
- laughed
- فَتَحَ
- opened
- أَخْرَجَ
- took out
- مَدَّ
- handed out; extended
- قَرَأَ
- read
- وَقَّعَ
- signed
- أَفْسَدَ
- damaged; spoiled
- أَخْفَى
- hid; concealed
- اِبْتَلَّ
- became wet
- اِشْتَرَى
- bought
- دَفَعَ
- paid; pushed (depending on context)
- وَافَقَ عَلَى
- agreed to
- تَكَلَّمَ
- spoke
- ظَنَّ
- thought; supposed
- أَجَابَ
- answered
- فَكَّرَ
- thought; considered
- خَافَ
- feared
- غَضِبَ
- became angry
- أَغْضَبَ
- made someone angry
- سَكَتَ
- fell silent
- تَذَكَّرَ
- remembered
- نَسِيَ
- forgot
- رَكَضَ
- ran
- جَمَعَ
- gathered
- وَدَّعَ
- said goodbye to
- عَادَ
- returned
- صَدَّقَ
- believed
- تَأَكَّدَ
- made sure; checked
- قَدِيمٌ
- old
- جَدِيدٌ
- new
- كَبِيرٌ
- large
- صَغِيرٌ
- small
- نَظِيفٌ
- clean
- ثَقِيلٌ
- heavy
- وَاضِحٌ
- clear
- بُنِّيٌّ
- brown
- مُسِنٌّ
- elderly
- مُهِمٌّ
- important
- صَحِيحٌ
- correct
- نَافِعٌ
- useful; suitable
- جَافٌّ
- dry
- مَكْتُوبٌ
- written
- مَجْهُولٌ
- unknown
- غَاضِبٌ
- angry
- سَاكِتٌ
- silent
- قَرِيبٌ
- nearby; close
- بَعِيدٌ
- far away
- أَكْثَرُ
- more
- قَلِيلًا
- a little
- بَعْدَ الظُّهْرِ
- after noon
- قَبْلَ
- before
- بَعْدَ
- after
- أَمْسِ
- yesterday
- غَدًا
- tomorrow
- أَوَّلًا
- first
- مَرَّتَيْنِ
- twice
- مِنْ جَدِيدٍ
- again
- فَقَطْ
- only
- مَعًا
- together
- فَوْرًا
- immediately
- مُنْذُ سَنَةٍ وَنِصْفٍ
- for a year and a half
- هَلْ سَتَذْهَبِينَ إِلَى أَمَلَ؟
- Are you going to Amal?
- كُلِي شَيْئًا أَوَّلًا
- Eat something first (said to a woman)
- الْأَسْئِلَةُ لَا تُشْبِعُ الْبَطْنَ
- Questions don't fill the stomach
- وَعَدْتُكِ أَنْ أُرِيَكِ وَرَقَةً
- I promised to show you a paper
- أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَنْتَظِرَ
- I can wait
- لَيْسَ ذَلِكَ الْكِيسَ
- Not that bag
- هَذَا لِزَبُونٍ سَيَعُودُ
- This is for a customer who will return
- اِقْرَئِي مَا فِيهَا
- Read what's in it (addressed to a woman)
- الْبَابُ السَّادِسُ
- Door Six
- فِي أَعْلَى الْوَرَقَةِ
- at the top of the paper
- فِي أَسْفَلِ الْوَرَقَةِ
- at the bottom of the paper
- لَمْ يُخْفِ الْأَسْمَاءَ
- it did not hide the names
- هَذَا وَاضِحٌ
- This is clear
- لَمْ تُجِبْ فَوْرًا
- She did not answer immediately
- دَفَعْتُ الْمَالَ
- I paid the money
- هَذَا الْإِيصَالُ يَقُولُ
- This receipt shows / says
- لَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَفْقِدَ شَيْئًا
- I don't want to lose anything
- لَا أَعْرِفُ أَيْنَ
- I don't know where
- هَلْ وَافَقْتِ؟
- Did you agree? (said to a woman)
- لَمْ أُوَافِقْ
- I did not agree
- هَلْ تَظُنِّينَ أَنِّي لَا أَقُولُ الصِّدْقَ؟
- Do you think I'm not telling the truth?
- أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَفْهَمَ مَا حَدَثَ
- I want to understand what happened
- أَخَافُ أَنْ يَقُولَ النَّاسُ
- I'm afraid people will say
- لَا أُرِيدُ مُشْكِلَةً
- I don't want trouble
- لَيْسَ الْيَوْمَ
- Not today
- لَنْ أَتْرُكَ الْأَمْرَ
- I won't drop the matter
- أَتَأَكَّدُ فَقَطْ
- I'm only checking
- أَسْأَلُ حَامِدًا عَمَّا مَعَهُ
- Ask Hamid what he has
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CHAPTER 04 / 12
وَعْدُ الْأَخِ
A Brother's Promise
فِي آخِرِ النَّهَارِ، كَانَ دَفْتَرُ لِينَا مَفْتُوحًا عَلَى الطَّاوِلَةِ. قَرَأَتْ مَا كَتَبَتْهُ قَبْلَ قَلِيلٍ: «أَسْأَلُ حَامِدًا عَمَّا مَعَهُ». أَغْلَقَتِ الدَّفْتَرَ، وَأَخَذَتْ حَقِيبَتَهَا الصَّغِيرَةَ.
Late in the day, Lina’s notebook lay open on the table. She read what she had written a short while earlier: “Ask Hamid what he has.” She closed the notebook and took her small bag.
كَانَتْ صَبَاحُ تَجْمَعُ الْأَكْوَابَ مِنْ طَاوِلَةِ الشَّايِ. سَأَلَتْ: «إِلَى أَيْنَ هَذِهِ الْمَرَّةَ؟» قَالَتْ لِينَا: «سَأَذْهَبُ إِلَى حَامِدٍ. لَدَيَّ سُؤَالٌ آخَرُ». تَنَهَّدَتْ أُمُّهَا، وَلَكِنَّهَا لَمْ تَمْنَعْهَا.
Sabah was gathering cups from the tea table. “Where to this time?” she asked. “I’m going to Hamid. I have another question,” Lina said. Her mother sighed, but did not stop her.
كَانَ مَكَانُ عَمَلِ حَامِدٍ عِنْدَ طَرَفِ السُّوقِ الْقَدِيمِ. لَمْ يَكُنْ دُكَّانًا كَبِيرًا؛ كَانَتْ هُنَاكَ طَاوِلَةٌ خَشَبِيَّةٌ، وَكُرْسِيَّانِ، وَصُنْدُوقٌ لِلْأَدَوَاتِ. وَفَوْقَ الْمَكَانِ سَقْفٌ صَغِيرٌ يُظِلُّهُ.
Hamid worked at the edge of the old market. It was not a large shop: there was a wooden table, two chairs, and a box for his tools. A small roof provided shade.
وَجَدَتْهُ لِينَا جَالِسًا أَمَامَ كُرْسِيٍّ قَصِيرٍ. كَانَتْ إِحْدَى رِجْلَيِ الْكُرْسِيِّ تَتَحَرَّكُ، وَكَانَ يُحَاوِلُ أَنْ يُصْلِحَهَا. لَمْ يَرْفَعْ رَأْسَهُ عِنْدَمَا سَمِعَ خُطُوَاتِهَا.
Lina found him seated in front of a short stool. One of its legs was loose, and he was trying to repair it. He did not lift his head when he heard her footsteps.
قَالَ: «إِذَا جِئْتِ بِكُرْسِيٍّ آخَرَ، فَضَعِيهِ هُنَاكَ. أَمَّا هَذَا، فَلَمْ يَتَّفِقْ مَعَ رِجْلِهِ بَعْدُ». ضَحِكَتْ لِينَا وَقَالَتْ: «لَيْسَ مَعِي كُرْسِيٌّ. مَعِي سُؤَالٌ».
“If you’ve brought another chair, leave it there. This one still hasn’t made peace with its own leg,” he said. Lina laughed. “I haven’t brought a chair. I’ve brought a question.”
رَفَعَ حَامِدٌ رَأْسَهُ أَخِيرًا. «آهْ، لِينَا صَاحِبَةُ اللَّوْحَاتِ! أَهْلًا بِكِ. أَيُّهُمَا أَصْعَبُ الْيَوْمَ: الْحُرُوفُ أَمِ النَّاسُ؟» أَجَابَتْ: «النَّاسُ، عَلَى مَا أَظُنُّ».
Hamid finally looked up. “Ah, Lina the sign painter! Welcome. Which is harder today: letters or people?” “People, I think,” she replied.
مَسَحَ يَدَيْهِ بِقِطْعَةِ قُمَاشٍ، ثُمَّ أَشَارَ إِلَى الْكُرْسِيِّ الْآخَرِ. «اِجْلِسِي. لَكِنْ لَا تَجْلِسِي عَلَى هَذَا بَعْدُ». جَلَسَتْ لِينَا حَيْثُ أَشَارَ، وَانْتَظَرَتْ حَتَّى وَضَعَ أَدَاتَهُ عَلَى الطَّاوِلَةِ.
He wiped his hands on a cloth and pointed to the other chair. “Sit down—but not on this one yet.” Lina sat where he indicated and waited until he set his tool on the table.
سَأَلَهَا: «هَلْ جِئْتِ بِخَبَرٍ عَنْ لَوْحَةِ الْبَابِ السَّادِسِ؟» قَالَتْ: «لَمْ أَكْتُبْ عَلَيْهَا اسْمًا جَدِيدًا بَعْدُ. أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَفْهَمَ لِمَنْ هَذَا الْبَابُ».
“Have you come with news about the sign for Door Six?” he asked. “I haven’t painted a new name on it yet. I want to understand who the stall belongs to,” she said.
تَغَيَّرَ وَجْهُ حَامِدٍ قَلِيلًا. «قَالَتْ لِي أُخْتِي إِنَّ الْبَابَ لِي. وَهِيَ لَا تَقُولُ هَذَا مِنْ غَيْرِ سَبَبٍ». قَالَتْ لِينَا بِهُدُوءٍ: «هَلْ عِنْدَكَ وَرَقَةٌ تَقُولُ ذَلِكَ؟»
Hamid’s expression changed slightly. “My sister told me the stall is mine. She wouldn’t say that for no reason.” Lina asked calmly, “Do you have a paper saying so?”
نَظَرَ حَامِدٌ إِلَى صُنْدُوقِهِ، ثُمَّ قَامَ وَفَتَحَ دُرْجًا صَغِيرًا فِي الطَّاوِلَةِ. أَخْرَجَ وَرَقَةً مَطْوِيَّةً، وَفَرَدَهَا بِعِنَايَةٍ. «عِنْدِي هَذِهِ. اِقْرَئِيهَا بِنَفْسِكِ».
Hamid glanced toward his box, then stood and opened a small drawer in the table. He took out a folded sheet and smoothed it carefully. “I have this. Read it yourself.”
كَانَتِ الْوَرَقَةُ أَجْدَدَ مِنْ وَرَقَةِ أَمَلَ الَّتِي رَأَتْهَا لِينَا بَعْدَ الظُّهْرِ. وَفِي أَعْلَاهَا كَانَ تَارِيخٌ أَقْرَبُ إِلَى الْيَوْمِ. وَتَحْتَ التَّارِيخِ كُتِبَتْ جُمْلَةٌ وَاضِحَةٌ.
The sheet was newer than Amal’s paper, which Lina had seen after noon. The date at the top was more recent. Beneath it was a clear sentence.
قَرَأَتْ لِينَا الْكَلِمَاتِ بِصَوْتٍ مُنْخَفِضٍ: «أَنَا، خَدِيجَةُ، أَعِدُ حَامِدًا بِالْبَابِ السَّادِسِ فِي السُّوقِ الْجَدِيدِ». وَقَرَأَتِ التَّارِيخَ وَتَوْقِيعَ خَدِيجَةَ. لَمْ تَجِدْ اسْمَ أَمَلَ فِي الْوَرَقَةِ.
Lina read the words quietly: “I, Khadija, promise Hamid Door Six in the new market.” She read the date and Khadija’s signature. Amal’s name did not appear on the paper.
سَأَلَتْ: «مَتَى أَعْطَتْكَ أُخْتُكَ هَذِهِ الْوَرَقَةَ؟» قَالَ: «قَبْلَ أَسَابِيعَ. قَبْلَ أَنْ يَضَعُوا الْقَائِمَةَ الْجَدِيدَةَ عَلَى الْحَائِطِ». وَأَشَارَ بِإِصْبَعِهِ إِلَى التَّارِيخِ.
“When did your sister give you this?” Lina asked. “Weeks ago, before they put the new list on the wall.” He pointed to the date with his finger.
رَأَتْ لِينَا أَنَّ التَّارِيخَ جَاءَ بَعْدَ تَارِيخِ وَرَقَةِ أَمَلَ. كَانَ بَيْنَ التَّارِيخَيْنِ أَكْثَرُ مِنْ شَهْرٍ. وَمَعَ ذَلِكَ، فَكِلْتَاهُمَا تَذْكُرُ الْبَابَ نَفْسَهُ.
Lina saw that this date came after the date on Amal’s paper. More than a month separated the two documents. Yet both referred to the same stall.
أَعَادَتِ الْوَرَقَةَ إِلَى حَامِدٍ. قَالَتْ: «لَا أَقُولُ إِنَّ هَذِهِ الْوَرَقَةَ كَاذِبَةٌ. وَلَكِنِّي رَأَيْتُ الْيَوْمَ وَرَقَةً أُخْرَى». تَوَقَّفَ عَنْ طَيِّهَا وَنَظَرَ إِلَيْهَا.
She handed the paper back to Hamid. “I’m not saying this paper is false. But today I saw another one.” He stopped folding it and looked at her.
«وَرَقَةُ مَنْ؟» سَأَلَ. «وَرَقَةُ أَمَلَ. فِيهَا اسْمُهَا وَالْبَابُ السَّادِسُ، وَفِيهَا تَوْقِيعَانِ». سَكَتَ حَامِدٌ لَحْظَةً، ثُمَّ قَالَ: «رُبَّمَا كَانَتْ وَرَقَتُهَا قَدِيمَةً».
“Whose paper?” he asked. “Amal’s. It has her name, Door Six, and two signatures.” Hamid was silent for a moment. “Perhaps her paper is old,” he said.
قَالَتْ لِينَا: «نَعَمْ، هِيَ أَقْدَمُ مِنْ وَرَقَتِكَ. لَكِنَّ أَمَلَ تَقُولُ إِنَّهَا لَمْ تُوَافِقْ عَلَى تَغْيِيرِ الْبَابِ». ضَغَطَ حَامِدٌ بِإِبْهَامِهِ عَلَى طَرَفِ الْوَرَقَةِ.
“Yes, it is older than yours. But Amal says she did not agree to change stalls.” Hamid pressed his thumb against the edge of his paper.
«خَدِيجَةُ قَالَتْ لِي إِنَّ أَمَلَ سَتَأْخُذُ الْبَابَ التَّاسِعَ، وَإِنَّ الْأَمْرَ قَدِ انْتَهَى». لَمْ يَرْفَعْ صَوْتَهُ. قَالَ الْكَلِمَاتِ كَأَنَّهُ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَسْمَعَهَا مَرَّةً أُخْرَى.
“Khadija told me Amal would take Door Nine, and that the matter was settled.” He did not raise his voice. He said the words as though he wanted to hear them again.
سَأَلَتْهُ لِينَا: «هَلْ تَكَلَّمْتَ مَعَ أَمَلَ عَنِ الْبَابَيْنِ؟» هَزَّ رَأْسَهُ. «لَا. لِمَاذَا أَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ؟ أُخْتِي هِيَ الَّتِي تُنَظِّمُ الْعَمَلَ فِي السُّوقِ».
“Did you speak to Amal about the two stalls?” Lina asked. He shook his head. “No. Why would I? My sister is the one organising the market move.”
لَمْ تُجِبْ لِينَا فَوْرًا. كَانَ جَوَابُهُ مَفْهُومًا، وَلَكِنَّهُ لَمْ يُجِبْ عَنْ سُؤَالِ أَمَلَ. هَلْ يَكْفِي وَعْدُ شَخْصٍ وَاحِدٍ لِتَغْيِيرِ وَرَقَةٍ وَقَّعَ عَلَيْهَا شَخْصَانِ؟
Lina did not answer at once. His explanation was understandable, but it did not answer Amal’s question. Was one person’s promise enough to change a paper signed by two people?
وَقَفَ حَامِدٌ وَعَادَ إِلَى الْكُرْسِيِّ. حَرَّكَ رِجْلَهُ الْقَصِيرَةَ، ثُمَّ أَخَذَ مِطْرَقَةً صَغِيرَةً. ضَرَبَ الْخَشَبَ ضَرْبَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ. سَمِعَتْ لِينَا الصَّوْتَ فِي الْمَكَانِ الْهَادِئِ.
Hamid stood and returned to the stool. He moved its short leg, then picked up a small hammer. He tapped the wood twice. Lina heard the sound in the quiet work area.
قَالَ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْظُرَ إِلَيْهَا: «كَانَ لِي مَكَانٌ عِنْدَ الطَّرِيقِ الْكَبِيرِ. بَقِيتُ هُنَاكَ سَنَوَاتٍ. ثُمَّ طَلَبَ صَاحِبُ الْمَكَانِ أَنْ أَرْحَلَ. أَرَادَ أَنْ يَسْتَعْمِلَهُ لِنَفْسِهِ».
Without looking at her, he said, “I used to have a place by the main road. I worked there for years. Then the owner asked me to leave. He wanted to use the space himself.”
نَظَرَتْ لِينَا إِلَى صُنْدُوقِ الْأَدَوَاتِ وَالْكَرَاسِيِّ الْقَدِيمَةِ. قَالَ حَامِدٌ: «أَعْمَلُ هُنَا الْآنَ، وَلَكِنَّ الْمَكَانَ ضَيِّقٌ. عِنْدَ الْمَطَرِ أَنْقُلُ أَشْيَائِي مِنْ جِهَةٍ إِلَى أُخْرَى».
Lina looked at the tool box and the old chairs. “I work here now,” Hamid said, “but it’s cramped. When it rains, I move my things from one side to the other.”
«وَهَلْ بَحَثْتَ عَنْ مَكَانٍ آخَرَ؟» سَأَلَتْ. «بَحَثْتُ، وَلَكِنَّ الْمَالَ الَّذِي مَعِي لَيْسَ كَثِيرًا. كَانَتْ أُخْتِي تَعْرِفُ ذَلِكَ. وَفِي يَوْمٍ قَالَتْ: عِنْدِي لَكَ خَبَرٌ طَيِّبٌ».
“Did you look for another place?” she asked. “I did, but I don’t have much money. My sister knew that. One day she said, ‘I have good news for you.’”
لَمْ يَضْحَكْ وَهُوَ يَحْكِي ذَلِكَ. «لَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَطْلُبَ مِنْ أُخْتِي كُلَّ شَيْءٍ. هِيَ أُخْتِي الْكُبْرَى، وَلَكِنَّنِي لَسْتُ طِفْلًا». وَأَعَادَ الْمِطْرَقَةَ إِلَى الصُّنْدُوقِ.
He did not laugh as he told her. “I don’t like asking my sister for everything. She’s my older sister, but I’m not a child.” He put the hammer back in its box.
وَصَلَ زَبُونٌ بِكُرْسِيٍّ صَغِيرٍ، وَسَأَلَ حَامِدًا عَنْ ثَمَنِ إِصْلَاحِهِ. نَظَرَ حَامِدٌ إِلَى رِجْلِ الْكُرْسِيِّ، ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ ثَمَنًا بَسِيطًا. لَمْ يَطْلُبْ مِنَ الرَّجُلِ أَنْ يَدْفَعَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَنْتَهِيَ الْعَمَلُ.
A customer arrived with a small chair and asked what the repair would cost. Hamid examined its leg and named a modest price. He did not ask the man to pay before the job was finished.
بَعْدَ أَنْ ذَهَبَ الزَّبُونُ، قَالَ حَامِدٌ: «هَذَا مَا أُحِبُّهُ فِي عَمَلِي. أَعْرِفُ مَا هُوَ مَكْسُورٌ، وَأَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أُصْلِحَهُ». نَظَرَ إِلَى وَرَقَتِهِ، وَأَضَافَ: «أَمَّا الْبَابُ فَلَيْسَ كَذَلِكَ».
After the customer left, Hamid said, “That is what I like about my work. I can see what is broken, and I can repair it.” He looked at his paper and added, “This doorway is not like that.”
فَهِمَتْ لِينَا لِمَاذَا كَانَ وَعْدُ خَدِيجَةَ مُهِمًّا لَهُ. لَمْ يَكُنْ يَبْحَثُ عَنْ رَقْمٍ جَمِيلٍ عَلَى بَابٍ. كَانَ يُرِيدُ مَكَانًا يَضَعُ فِيهِ أَدَوَاتِهِ، وَيَسْتَقْبِلُ فِيهِ زَبَائِنَهُ.
Lina understood why Khadija’s promise mattered to him. He was not looking for an attractive number on a door. He wanted a place for his tools and his customers.
قَالَ حَامِدٌ: «اُنْظُرِي إِلَى هَذَا أَيْضًا». أَشَارَ إِلَى قِطَعٍ طَوِيلَةٍ مِنَ الْخَشَبِ وَضَعَهَا بِجَانِبِ الْحَائِطِ. كَانَتْ مُرَتَّبَةً عَلَى شَكْلِ رَفٍّ، وَلَكِنَّهُ لَمْ يُثَبِّتْهَا بَعْدُ.
“Look at this too,” Hamid said. He pointed to long pieces of wood against the wall. They were arranged into a shelf, but he had not fixed them together yet.
«قِسْتُ الْمَكَانَ عِنْدَ الْبَابِ السَّادِسِ. وَاشْتَرَيْتُ خَشَبًا يَكْفِي لِهَذَا الرَّفِّ. سَيَكُونُ لِأَدَوَاتِي وَالْأَشْيَاءِ الَّتِي أُصْلِحُهَا». مَرَّرَ يَدَهُ عَلَى إِحْدَى الْقِطَعِ.
“I measured the space at Door Six and bought enough wood for this shelf. It’ll hold my tools and the things I repair.” He ran his hand over one of the pieces.
سَأَلَتْ لِينَا: «وَهَلْ تَعْرِفُ إِنْ كَانَ الرَّفُّ يُنَاسِبُ بَابًا آخَرَ؟» أَجَابَ حَامِدٌ: «لَا أَعْرِفُ بَعْدُ. قِسْتُهُ لِلْبَابِ السَّادِسِ، وَلَمْ أُرَكِّبْهُ حَتَّى الْآنَ».
“Do you know whether the shelf would fit another door?” Lina asked. “Not yet,” Hamid replied. “I measured it for Door Six, and I still have not assembled it.”
ثُمَّ ابْتَسَمَ ابْتِسَامَةً صَغِيرَةً. «إِنْ كَانَ الرَّفُّ أَطْوَلَ مِنَ الْبَابِ، فَلَنْ أَقْنَعَهُ بِالْكَلَامِ. سَأَحْتَاجُ إِلَى الْمِنْشَارِ». ابْتَسَمَتْ لِينَا أَيْضًا، ثُمَّ نَظَرَتْ إِلَى الْقِطَعِ الْجَدِيدَةِ.
Then he gave a small smile. “If the shelf is longer than the doorway, talking won’t persuade it to fit. I’ll need the saw.” Lina smiled too, then looked at the new pieces.
بَدَأَتْ تَفْهَمُ أَنَّ هُنَاكَ خَسَارَةً مُمْكِنَةً لِكُلٍّ مِنْهُمَا. أَمَلُ تَحْتَاجُ إِلَى مَكَانٍ لِعَرَبَتِهَا الثَّقِيلَةِ. وَحَامِدٌ صَرَفَ مِنْ مَالِهِ عَلَى خَشَبٍ لَمْ يَسْتَعْمِلْهُ بَعْدُ.
Lina was beginning to understand that both of them could lose something. Amal needed a place for her heavy cart. Hamid had spent his own money on wood he had not yet used.
سَأَلَ حَامِدٌ: «هَلْ تَظُنِّينَ أَنَّ أُخْتِي كَذَبَتْ عَلَيَّ؟» كَانَ السُّؤَالُ مُبَاشِرًا. شَعَرَتْ لِينَا بِالْحَرَجِ، وَاخْتَارَتْ كَلِمَاتِهَا بِعِنَايَةٍ.
“Do you think my sister lied to me?” Hamid asked. The question was direct. Lina felt uncomfortable and chose her words carefully.
«لَا أَعْرِفُ مَا حَدَثَ بَيْنَهَا وَبَيْنَ أَمَلَ»، قَالَتْ. «أَعْرِفُ فَقَطْ أَنَّ أَمَلَ عِنْدَهَا وَرَقَةً، وَأَنَّكَ عِنْدَكَ وَرَقَةً أُخْرَى. وَأَنَّ الْبَابَ وَاحِدٌ».
“I don’t know what happened between her and Amal,” she said. “I only know Amal has one paper and you have another—and there is only one stall.”
حَرَّكَ حَامِدٌ الْكُرْسِيَّ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ. كَانَ ثَابِتًا هَذِهِ الْمَرَّةَ. قَالَ: «أُخْتِي تُسَاعِدُ النَّاسَ مِنْ سِنِينَ. أَنَا أَعْرِفُهَا». ثُمَّ صَمَتَ قَلِيلًا. «وَلَكِنِّي لَمْ أَسْأَلْ أَمَلَ بِنَفْسِي».
Hamid moved the stool across the floor. This time it was steady. “My sister has helped people for years. I know her.” Then he fell quiet. “But I never asked Amal myself.”
قَالَتْ لِينَا: «لَا أَطْلُبُ مِنْكَ أَنْ تَتْرُكَ الْبَابَ الْيَوْمَ. وَلَا أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَعِدَكَ بِهِ. أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَعْرِفَ كَيْفَ يُغَيِّرُ الْمَكْتَبُ أَسْمَاءَ التُّجَّارِ فِي الْأَوْرَاقِ».
“I’m not asking you to give up the stall today,” Lina said. “And I can’t promise it to you either. I want to know how the office changes traders’ names in its records.”
نَظَرَ إِلَيْهَا حَامِدٌ بِدَهْشَةٍ. «أَلَا يَكْفِي تَوْقِيعُ خَدِيجَةَ؟» قَالَتْ: «لَا أَعْرِفُ إِنْ كَانَ يَكْفِي. هَذَا مَا يَجِبُ أَنْ نَسْأَلَ عَنْهُ».
Hamid looked surprised. “Isn’t Khadija’s signature enough?” “I don’t know whether it is,” Lina said. “That is exactly what we need to ask.”
طَوَى حَامِدٌ وَرَقَتَهُ وَأَعَادَهَا إِلَى الدُّرْجِ. ثُمَّ أَغْلَقَ الدُّرْجَ بِبُطْءٍ. «سَأَتَكَلَّمُ مَعَ أُخْتِي»، قَالَ. «لَمْ أَتَوَقَّعْ أَنْ يَصِيرَ الْأَمْرُ هَكَذَا».
Hamid folded his paper and put it back in the drawer. He closed the drawer slowly. “I’ll speak to my sister,” he said. “I didn’t expect it to turn out like this.”
سَأَلَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ: «وَهَلْ سَتَكْتُبِينَ اسْمِي عَلَى اللَّوْحَةِ؟» أَجَابَتْ لِينَا: «لَيْسَ الْآنَ. أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَفْهَمَ الْأَمْرَ قَبْلَ أَنْ أُغَيِّرَ اسْمًا عَلَى بَابٍ».
Then he asked, “Will you paint my name on the sign?” “Not yet,” Lina replied. “I want to understand the matter before I change a name on a door.”
هَزَّ حَامِدٌ رَأْسَهُ، وَلَمْ يُحَاوِلْ أَنْ يُقْنِعَهَا. أَخَذَ الْكُرْسِيَّ الَّذِي أَصْلَحَهُ وَجَلَسَ عَلَيْهِ. قَالَ: «عَلَى الْأَقَلِّ، هَذَا الْكُرْسِيُّ يَقِفُ وَحْدَهُ الْآنَ».
Hamid nodded and did not try to persuade her. He took the repaired stool and sat on it. “At least this stool can stand on its own now,” he said.
ضَحِكَتْ لِينَا ضَحْكَةً خَفِيفَةً. ثُمَّ شَكَرَتْهُ عَلَى الْوَقْتِ وَالْوَرَقَةِ. قَالَ: «إِذَا عَرَفْتِ مَا يَجِبُ أَنْ نَفْعَلَهُ، فَأَخْبِرِينِي. أَنَا لَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَبْنِيَ رَفًّا لِبَابٍ لَيْسَ لِي».
Lina gave a small laugh. She thanked him for his time and for showing her the paper. “If you learn what we should do, tell me,” he said. “I don’t like building a shelf for a stall that isn’t mine.”
خَرَجَتْ لِينَا مِنْ مَكَانِهِ، وَكَانَ الضَّوْءُ يَضْعُفُ فَوْقَ السُّوقِ. مَرَّتْ بِجَانِبِ صَنَادِيقِ الْخُضْرَوَاتِ الْفَارِغَةِ. رَأَتْ أَمَلَ مِنْ بَعِيدٍ تَجْمَعُ أَشْيَاءَهَا، وَلَمْ تَذْهَبْ لِتُكَلِّمَهَا مِنْ جَدِيدٍ.
Lina left his work area as the light over the market was fading. She passed empty vegetable crates. In the distance she saw Amal gathering her things, but did not go to speak to her again.
عِنْدَ طَاوِلَتِهَا، وَجَدَتْ صَبَاحَ تَضَعُ آخِرَ كُوبٍ فِي الصُّنْدُوقِ. سَأَلَتْ أُمُّهَا: «هَلْ وَجَدْتِ جَوَابَكِ؟» قَالَتْ لِينَا: «وَجَدْتُ وَرَقَةً أُخْرَى». نَظَرَتْ صَبَاحُ إِلَيْهَا، ثُمَّ قَالَتْ: «هَذَا لَيْسَ جَوَابًا».
Back at her table, she found Sabah putting the last cup into a box. “Did you find your answer?” her mother asked. “I found another paper.” Sabah looked at her. “That’s not an answer.”
ابْتَسَمَتْ لِينَا، لِأَنَّ أُمَّهَا كَانَتْ عَلَى حَقٍّ. فَتَحَتْ دَفْتَرَهَا، وَكَتَبَتْ: «وَرَقَةُ أَمَلَ أَقْدَمُ. وَعْدُ حَامِدٍ أَحْدَثُ. كِلَاهُمَا عَنِ الْبَابِ السَّادِسِ».
Lina smiled, because her mother was right. She opened her notebook and wrote: “Amal’s paper is older. Hamid’s promise is newer. Both concern Door Six.”
ثُمَّ كَتَبَتْ سُؤَالًا وَاحِدًا تَحْتَ السَّطْرِ: «إِذَا تَغَيَّرَ صَاحِبُ الْبَابِ، فَأَيْنَ وَرَقَةُ التَّغْيِيرِ؟» لَمْ تَضَعْ تَحْتَهُ اسْمَ أَحَدٍ. كَانَتْ تُرِيدُ أَنْ تَسْأَلَ فِي الْمَكْتَبِ غَدًا.
Then she wrote a single question beneath the line: “If the stall was reassigned, where is the paper recording the change?” She wrote no one’s name under it. She intended to ask at the office tomorrow.
أَغْلَقَتِ الدَّفْتَرَ، وَنَظَرَتْ إِلَى لَوْحَةِ أَمَلَ عِنْدَ الْحَائِطِ. لَمْ تَحْتَجْ إِلَى أَنْ تَمْحُوَ حَرْفًا وَاحِدًا هَذَا الْمَسَاءَ. أَمَّا السُّؤَالُ الَّذِي كَتَبَتْهُ، فَلَمْ تَعْرِفْ بَعْدُ مَنْ سَيُجِيبُ عَنْهُ.
She closed the notebook and looked at Amal’s sign against the wall. That evening she did not need to erase a single letter. But she still did not know who would answer the question she had written.
Chapter vocabulary (142 entries)
- لِينَا
- Lina (proper name)
- صَبَاحُ
- Sabah (proper name)
- حَامِدٌ
- Hamid (proper name)
- أَمَلُ
- Amal (proper name)
- خَدِيجَةُ
- Khadija (proper name)
- أُمٌّ
- mother
- أُخْتٌ
- sister
- أُخْتِي
- my sister
- صَاحِبٌ
- owner / person in charge of
- النَّاسُ
- people
- شَخْصٌ
- person
- شَخْصَانِ
- two people
- زَبَائِنُ
- customers
- التُّجَّارُ
- traders
- طِفْلٌ
- child
- بِنَفْسِي
- myself / in person
- صَاحِبَةُ اللَّوْحَاتِ
- the sign painter (lit. owner of signs)
- سُوقٌ
- market
- دُكَّانٌ
- shop / stall
- بَابٌ
- door; numbered market stall
- الْبَابُ السَّادِسُ
- Door Six
- الْبَابُ التَّاسِعُ
- Door Nine
- طَاوِلَةٌ
- table
- حَائِطٌ
- wall
- سَقْفٌ
- roof
- مَكَانٌ
- place / spot
- طَرِيقٌ
- road
- حَقِيبَةٌ
- bag
- صُنْدُوقٌ
- box
- دُرْجٌ
- drawer
- أَدَوَاتٌ
- tools
- أَدَاةٌ
- tool
- خَشَبٌ
- wood
- قِطْعَةٌ
- piece
- قِطَعٌ
- pieces
- رَفٌّ
- shelf
- كُرْسِيٌّ
- chair / stool
- رِجْلَيِ الْكُرْسِيِّ
- two legs of the stool (dual form)
- مِطْرَقَةٌ
- hammer
- مِنْشَارٌ
- saw
- قُمَاشٌ
- cloth
- لَوْحَةٌ
- sign / board
- الْحُرُوفُ
- letters
- وَرَقَةٌ
- sheet / document
- دَفْتَرٌ
- notebook
- قَائِمَةٌ
- list
- تَوْقِيعٌ
- signature
- تَارِيخٌ
- date
- النَّهَارُ
- daytime
- الْمَسَاءُ
- evening
- الضَّوْءُ
- light
- الْمَكْتَبُ
- office
- السُّوقُ الْجَدِيدُ
- new market
- الْمَطَرُ
- rain
- الْخُضْرَوَاتُ
- vegetables
- عَرَبَةٌ
- cart
- كُوبٌ
- cup
- الشَّايُ
- tea
- إِبْهَامٌ
- thumb
- سَطْرٌ
- written line
- سَأَلَ / سَأَلَتْ
- asked / she asked
- قَالَ / قَالَتْ
- said / she said
- أَجَابَ / أَجَابَتْ
- answered / she answered
- أَخْبَرَ
- told / informed
- تَكَلَّمَ
- spoke / talked
- وَعْدٌ
- promise
- أَعِدُ
- I promise
- وَرَقَةُ أَمَلَ
- Amal’s document
- وَافَقَ
- agreed / consented
- تَغْيِيرٌ
- change
- تَغَيَّرَ
- changed
- قَبْلَ
- before
- بَعْدَ
- after
- أَقْدَمُ
- older (in date)
- أَحْدَثُ
- newer (in date)
- كَذَبَ
- lied
- تَوَقَّعَ
- expected
- يَكْفِي
- is enough / is sufficient
- جَوَابٌ
- answer
- سُؤَالٌ
- question
- خَبَرٌ طَيِّبٌ
- good news
- مِنْ غَيْرِ سَبَبٍ
- for no reason
- عَلَى مَا أَظُنُّ
- I think / as far as I believe
- لَا أَعْرِفُ
- I do not know
- هَلْ يُمْكِنُ أَنْ...؟
- Is it possible to…?
- اِتَّفَقَ / يَتَّفِقُ
- agreed / agrees; (in context) came to an agreement
- كَتَبَ / كَتَبَتْ
- wrote / she wrote
- قَرَأَ / قَرَأَتْ
- read / she read
- فَتَحَ / فَتَحَتْ
- opened / she opened
- أَغْلَقَ / أَغْلَقَتْ
- closed / she closed
- أَخَذَ / أَخَذَتْ
- took / she took
- أَعَادَ / أَعَادَتْ
- returned / put back
- وَضَعَ / وَضَعَتْ
- put / placed
- وَجَدَ / وَجَدَتْ
- found / she found
- رَفَعَ
- raised / lifted
- جَلَسَ / جَلَسَتْ
- sat / she sat
- وَقَفَ
- stood
- نَظَرَ / نَظَرَتْ
- looked / she looked
- شَكَرَ / شَكَرَتْ
- thanked / she thanked
- بَحَثَ
- searched / looked for
- أَصْلَحَ
- repaired
- عَمِلَ / أَعْمَلُ
- worked / I work
- قَاسَ / قِسْتُ
- measured / I measured
- اِشْتَرَى / اِشْتَرَيْتُ
- bought / I bought
- يَسْتَعْمِلَهُ
- to use it (as in he wanted to use it)
- يَضَعُ
- he puts / places
- يَبْنِي
- builds
- يَحْتَاجُ
- needs
- سَيُجِيبُ
- will answer
- أُغَيِّرُ
- I change
- تَوَقَّفَ
- stopped
- مَسَحَ
- wiped
- أَشَارَ
- pointed / indicated
- هَادِئٌ
- quiet / calm
- ثَابِتٌ
- steady / stable
- ضَيِّقٌ
- cramped / narrow
- صَغِيرٌ
- small
- جَدِيدٌ
- new
- قَدِيمٌ
- old
- كَبِيرٌ
- large / big
- أَطْوَلُ
- longer
- مُهِمٌّ
- important
- مُمْكِنٌ
- possible
- حَرَجٌ
- embarrassment / discomfort
- دَهْشَةٌ
- surprise
- بِهُدُوءٍ
- calmly
- بِعِنَايَةٍ
- carefully
- بِبُطْءٍ
- slowly
- فَوْرًا
- immediately
- لَحْظَةً
- a moment
- فَقَطْ
- only
- عَلَى الْأَقَلِّ
- at least
- أَهْلًا بِكِ
- welcome (to a woman)
- لِأَنَّ
- because
- وَلَكِنَّ
- but
- رُبَّمَا
- perhaps
- إِذَا
- if / when
- حَتَّى
- until
- مَعَ ذَلِكَ
- nevertheless
- لَيْسَ بَعْدُ
- not yet
- خَسَارَةٌ
- loss
- عَلَى حَقٍّ
- in the right; correct
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CHAPTER 05 / 12
مَا كَتَبَهُ رَامِي
What Rami Wrote
فِي صَبَاحِ الْيَوْمِ التَّالِي، وَصَلَتْ لِينَا إِلَى السُّوقِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَفْتَحَ أَكْثَرُ التُّجَّارِ أَبْوَابَهُمْ. كَانَتْ تَحْمِلُ دَفْتَرَهَا الصَّغِيرَ، وَفِيهِ سُؤَالٌ وَاحِدٌ كَتَبَتْهُ فِي اللَّيْلِ.
The next morning, Lina arrived at the market before most of the traders had opened their doors. She was carrying her small notebook. In it was one question she had written the night before.
إِذَا تَغَيَّرَ صَاحِبُ الْبَابِ، فَأَيْنَ وَرَقَةُ التَّغْيِيرِ؟ قَرَأَتِ السُّؤَالَ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى، ثُمَّ دَخَلَتْ مَكْتَبَ التُّجَّارِ.
If the person assigned to a stall changes, where is the change document? She read the question once more, then entered the traders’ office.
كَانَ الْمَكْتَبُ صَغِيرًا. فِيهِ مَكْتَبٌ خَشَبِيٌّ، وَكُرْسِيَّانِ، وَرَفٌّ عَلَيْهِ دَفَاتِرُ وَمَلَفَّاتٌ. وَقَفَ رَامِي عِنْدَ النَّافِذَةِ، وَكَانَ يُرَتِّبُ بَعْضَ الْأَوْرَاقِ.
The office was small. It had a wooden desk, two chairs, and a shelf with notebooks and folders. Rami was standing by the window, arranging some papers.
رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ وَقَالَ: «صَبَاحُ الْخَيْرِ يَا لِينَا. هَلْ أَحْضَرْتِ اللَّوْحَاتِ الْأُخْرَى؟» قَالَتْ: «لَا، لَيْسَ الْيَوْمَ. أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ عَنْ أَمْرٍ».
He looked up. “Good morning, Lina. Did you bring the other signs?” “No, not today. I want to ask you about something.”
أَشَارَ إِلَى الْكُرْسِيِّ. «تَفَضَّلِي. مَاذَا هُنَاكَ؟» جَلَسَتْ لِينَا، وَفَتَحَتْ دَفْتَرَهَا. لَمْ تُرِدْ أَنْ تَبْدَأَ بِاسْمِ خَدِيجَةَ، وَلَا بِاسْمِ أَمَلَ.
He pointed to the chair. “Please, sit down. What is it?” Lina sat and opened her notebook. She did not want to begin with Khadija’s name or Amal’s.
قَالَتْ: «أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَفْهَمَ طَرِيقَةَ تَغْيِيرِ الْأَبْوَابِ فِي السُّوقِ الْجَدِيدِ. مَنْ يَكْتُبُ الِاسْمَ؟ وَمَتَى يَتَغَيَّرُ؟»
“I want to understand how the stalls are changed in the new market. Who writes the name? And when is it changed?”
نَظَرَ رَامِي إِلَى الدَّفْتَرِ الَّذِي فِي يَدِهَا. ثُمَّ وَضَعَ الْأَوْرَاقَ عَلَى الْمَكْتَبِ. قَالَ: «هُنَاكَ وَرَقَةٌ أَوَّلَى لِكُلِّ تَاجِرٍ. يَكْتُبُ فِيهَا اسْمَهُ وَرَقْمَ بَابِهِ، وَيُوَقِّعُ هُوَ وَخَدِيجَةُ».
Rami looked at the notebook in her hand. Then he put his papers on the desk. “There is an first form for every trader. It has the person’s name and stall number, and both the trader and Khadija sign it.”
«وَإِذَا أَرَادَ التَّاجِرُ بَابًا آخَرَ؟» سَأَلَتْ لِينَا. قَالَ: «لَا يَكْفِي أَنْ نَكْتُبَ اسْمًا جَدِيدًا فِي الْقَائِمَةِ. يَجِبُ أَنْ يُوَافِقَ صَاحِبُ الْبَابِ الْأَوَّلُ عَلَى التَّغْيِيرِ بِالْكِتَابَةِ».
“And what if a trader wants another stall?” Lina asked. “It is not enough to write a new name on the list. The original stallholder must agree to the change in writing.”
كَتَبَتْ لِينَا هَذِهِ الْجُمْلَةَ فِي دَفْتَرِهَا. سَأَلَتْ: «هَلْ هَذِهِ قَاعِدَةٌ جَدِيدَةٌ؟» قَالَ رَامِي: «لَا». ثُمَّ أَخَذَ مَحْضَرَ اجْتِمَاعٍ قَدِيمٍ مِنَ الرَّفِّ، وَأَرَاهَا السَّطْرَ الَّذِي يَذْكُرُ الْمُوَافَقَةَ الْمَكْتُوبَةَ.
Lina wrote the sentence in her notebook. “Is this a new rule?” she asked. “No,” Rami said. He took the minutes of an earlier meeting from the shelf and showed her the line requiring written consent.
سَأَلَتْ: «وَأَيْنَ تَحْفَظُونَ الْوَرَقَاتِ؟» أَجَابَ: «الْأَصْلُ فِي مَلَفِّ الْمَكْتَبِ، وَالتَّاجِرُ يَأْخُذُ نُسْخَةً. عِنْدَنَا أَيْضًا مَلَفٌّ لِلْأَوْرَاقِ الْقَدِيمَةِ. أَمَّا الْقَائِمَةُ الْمُعَلَّقَةُ فَهِيَ لِلْإِعْلَامِ فَقَطْ».
“Where do you keep the papers?” she asked. “The original belongs in the office file and the trader takes a copy. We also have an old-records folder. The posted list is only for information,” he answered.
سَكَتَتْ لِينَا قَلِيلًا. كَانَتْ تَعْرِفُ أَنَّ الْقَائِمَةَ الْجَدِيدَةَ تَضَعُ حَامِدًا فِي الْبَابِ السَّادِسِ، وَأَمَلَ فِي الْبَابِ التَّاسِعِ. لَكِنَّهَا لَمْ تَكُنْ تَعْرِفُ مَا الَّذِي حَدَثَ فِي الْمَكْتَبِ.
Lina was quiet for a moment. She knew that the new list placed Hamid at Door Six and Amal at Door Nine. But she did not know what had happened in the office.
قَالَتْ: «هَلْ رَأَيْتَ وَرَقَةَ مُوَافَقَةٍ مِنْ أَمَلَ؟» تَغَيَّرَ وَجْهُ رَامِي قَلِيلًا. نَظَرَ إِلَى الْمَلَفَّاتِ، ثُمَّ عَادَ بِنَظَرِهِ إِلَيْهَا.
“Have you seen a consent form from Amal?” she asked. Rami’s expression changed slightly. He looked at the folders, then looked back at her.
قَالَ: «لَمْ أَرَ وَرَقَةً بِهَذَا الِاسْمِ». لَمْ تَقُلْ لِينَا إِنَّهَا تَعْرِفُ أَمْرَ الْوَرَقَةِ الْقَدِيمَةِ. سَأَلَتْ فَقَطْ: «فَكَيْفَ وَصَلَ اسْمُ حَامِدٍ إِلَى الْقَائِمَةِ؟»
“I have not seen a form with that name.” Lina did not tell him that she knew about the older document. She only asked, “Then how did Hamid’s name get onto the list?”
أَخَذَ رَامِي نَفَسًا قَصِيرًا. قَالَ: «أَنَا كَتَبْتُ الْقَائِمَةَ الْجَدِيدَةَ. أَعْطَتْنِي خَدِيجَةُ الْأَسْمَاءَ وَالْأَرْقَامَ، وَقُلْتُ إِنِّي سَأُعِدُّهَا».
Rami took a short breath. “I wrote the new list. Khadija gave me the names and numbers, and I said I would prepare it.”
«هَلْ سَأَلْتَ أَمَلَ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَكْتُبَ اسْمَهَا عِنْدَ الْبَابِ التَّاسِعِ؟» سَأَلَتْ. أَجَابَ بَعْدَ لَحْظَةٍ: «لَا. ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّ الْأَمْرَ قَدْ اتَّفَقُوا عَلَيْهِ».
“Did you ask Amal before writing her name beside Door Nine?” she asked. He answered after a moment: “No. I thought they had already agreed.”
قَالَتْ لِينَا: «مَنْ قَالَ لَكَ ذَلِكَ؟» أَجَابَ: «خَدِيجَةُ. كَانَتْ تُنَظِّمُ الْعَمَلَ، وَأَنَا أَثِقُ بِهَا. لَمْ أَظُنَّ أَنَّ عَلَيَّ أَنْ أَسْأَلَ كُلَّ تَاجِرٍ».
“Who told you that?” Lina asked. “Khadija. She was organising the work, and I trust her. I did not think I had to ask every trader.”
لَمْ يَكُنْ صَوْتُهُ غَاضِبًا، وَلَكِنَّهُ لَمْ يَبْدُ مُرْتَاحًا. قَالَ: «رُبَّمَا كَانَ عَلَيَّ أَنْ أَتَأَكَّدَ. كَانَ الْوَقْتُ ضَيِّقًا، وَأَرَدْتُ أَنْ أُنْهِيَ الْقَائِمَةَ قَبْلَ الِانْتِقَالِ».
His voice was not angry, but he did not seem comfortable. “Perhaps I should have checked,” he said. “Time was short, and I wanted to finish the list before the move.”
نَظَرَتْ لِينَا إِلَى يَدَيْهِ. كَانَ يُحَرِّكُ قَلَمًا بَيْنَ أَصَابِعِهِ. لَمْ يَقُلْ إِنَّهُ رَأَى مُوَافَقَةَ أَمَلَ، وَلَمْ يَقُلْ إِنَّهَا وَافَقَتْ. قَالَ إِنَّهُ ظَنَّ ذَلِكَ فَقَطْ.
Lina looked at his hands. He was moving a pen between his fingers. He did not say that he had seen Amal’s consent, or that she had agreed. He said only that he had thought so.
سَأَلَتْ: «إِذَا لَمْ تَكُنْ هُنَاكَ وَرَقَةُ مُوَافَقَةٍ، فَهَلْ تَتَغَيَّرُ الْقَائِمَةُ؟» قَالَ: «لَا. الْقَائِمَةُ لَا تُغَيِّرُ الْوَرَقَةَ الْأَصْلِيَّةَ».
“If there is no consent form, does the list change the allocation?” she asked. “No. The list does not change the original document.”
أَغْلَقَتْ لِينَا دَفْتَرَهَا، ثُمَّ فَتَحَتْهُ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى. كَانَتْ تُرِيدُ أَنْ تَسْأَلَ عَنْ الْمَلَفِّ الْقَدِيمِ، وَلَكِنَّهَا لَمْ تُرِدْ أَنْ تَطْلُبَ فَتْحَهُ لِوَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا وَحْدَهُ.
Lina closed her notebook, then opened it again. She wanted to ask about the old folder, but she did not want to ask for it to be opened for only one of them.
قَالَتْ: «وَإِذَا اخْتَلَفَ تَاجِرَانِ عَلَى بَابٍ وَاحِدٍ، فَمَنْ يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَرَى الْأَصْلَ؟» أَجَابَ رَامِي: «يَطْلُبُ التَّاجِرَانِ ذَلِكَ مَعًا. يَكْتُبَانِ طَلَبًا، وَيُوَقِّعَانِ عَلَيْهِ».
“If two traders disagree over one stall, who may see the original?” she asked. Rami answered, “The two traders must request it together. They write a request and both sign it.”
«وَبَعْدَ ذَلِكَ؟» قَالَ: «نُحَدِّدُ مَوْعِدًا لِمُرَاجَعَةِ الْمَلَفِّ. وَيَحْضُرُ مَعَهُمَا شَخْصٌ مِنَ الْجَمْعِيَّةِ. لَا نَفْتَحُ الْمَلَفَّ لِكُلِّ مَنْ يَسْأَلُ عَنْهُ».
“And after that?” “We set a time to review the folder. Someone from the association attends with them. We do not open the folder for everyone who asks about it.”
كَتَبَتْ لِينَا هَذِهِ الْمَعْلُومَةَ أَيْضًا. لَمْ تَكُنْ هُنَاكَ إِجَابَةٌ نِهَائِيَّةٌ، وَلَكِنَّهَا عَرَفَتْ خُطْوَةً وَاضِحَةً. لَا بُدَّ أَنْ يَطْلُبَ أَمَلُ وَحَامِدٌ مُرَاجَعَةَ الْمَلَفِّ مَعًا.
Lina wrote this information down too. There was no final answer, but now she knew one clear next step. Amal and Hamid would have to request a review of the folder together.
نَظَرَتْ لِينَا إِلَى مَحْضَرِ الِاجْتِمَاعِ الْقَدِيمِ فَوْقَ الْمَكْتَبِ. لَمْ تَكُنِ الْقَاعِدَةُ سِرًّا، وَلَا كَانَتْ خَاصَّةً بِأَمَلَ أَوْ حَامِدٍ. لَقَدْ وَضَعَهَا التُّجَّارُ لِأَنْفُسِهِمْ.
Lina looked at the old meeting minutes on the desk. The rule was no secret, and it had not been written specially for Amal or Hamid. The traders had made it for themselves.
قَالَ رَامِي: «هَلْ تَتَكَلَّمِينَ عَنْ بَابِ أَمَلَ وَحَامِدٍ؟» نَظَرَتْ إِلَيْهِ. «نَعَمْ. لِكُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا وَرَقَةٌ، وَلَا أَعْرِفُ أَيُّهُمَا يَصِفُ مَا حَدَثَ».
Rami asked, “Are you talking about Amal and Hamid’s stall?” She looked at him. “Yes. Each of them has a document, and I do not know which one describes what happened.”
قَالَ: «أَمَلُ غَاضِبَةٌ مِنَ الْقَائِمَةِ». أَجَابَتْ لِينَا: «هِيَ لَا تَقُولُ إِنَّهَا غَاضِبَةٌ فَقَطْ. تَقُولُ إِنَّهَا لَمْ تُوَافِقْ».
“Amal is angry about the list,” he said. Lina replied, “She is not only saying that she is angry. She says she did not agree.”
سَكَتَ رَامِي. بَعْدَ قَلِيلٍ قَالَ: «لَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَظْلِمَ أَحَدًا. كَانَ عَمَلِي أَنْ أَكْتُبَ الْقَائِمَةَ، لَا أَنْ أَخْتَارَ الْأَبْوَابَ».
Rami was silent. After a little while he said, “I do not want to treat anyone unfairly. My job was to write the list, not to choose the stalls.”
قَالَتْ لِينَا: «أَفْهَمُ ذَلِكَ. وَلَكِنَّ الِاسْمَ الَّذِي كَتَبْتَهُ غَيَّرَ مَا يَرَاهُ النَّاسُ. بَعْضُهُمْ يَظُنُّ أَنَّ الْأَمْرَ قَدْ انْتَهَى».
“I understand,” Lina said. “But the name you wrote changed what people see. Some of them think the matter is settled.”
نَظَرَ رَامِي إِلَى الْقَائِمَةِ الْمُعَلَّقَةِ خَارِجَ الْمَكْتَبِ. قَالَ: «هَذَا صَحِيحٌ. كَانَ يَجِبُ أَنْ أَكْتُبَ أَنَّهَا قَائِمَةٌ مُؤَقَّتَةٌ».
Rami looked at the list hanging outside the office. “That is true. I should have written that it was a temporary list.”
لَمْ تَطْلُبْ مِنْهُ لِينَا أَنْ يَغَيِّرَهَا فِي تِلْكَ اللَّحْظَةِ. قَالَتْ: «رُبَّمَا يَجِبُ أَنْ نَنْتَظِرَ حَتَّى يَتَكَلَّمَ أَمَلُ وَحَامِدٌ مَعًا. لَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَتَكَلَّمَ بَدَلًا مِنْهُمَا».
Lina did not ask him to change it at that moment. “Perhaps we should wait until Amal and Hamid speak together. I do not want to speak for them.”
قَامَتْ مِنَ الْكُرْسِيِّ. وَعِنْدَ الْبَابِ، قَالَ رَامِي: «إِذَا وَجَدْتِ خَطَأً فِي الْقَائِمَةِ، فَأَخْبِرِينِي. لَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ يَبْقَى اسْمٌ فِي مَكَانٍ خَاطِئٍ».
She stood up. At the door, Rami said, “If you find a mistake in the list, tell me. I do not want a name to remain in the wrong place.”
خَرَجَتْ لِينَا إِلَى السُّوقِ. كَانَتِ الْأَبْوَابُ تَفْتَحُ وَاحِدًا بَعْدَ وَاحِدٍ، وَكَانَ صَوْتُ التُّجَّارِ يَمْلَأُ الطَّرِيقَ. وَقَفَتْ أَمَامَ الْقَائِمَةِ، وَقَرَأَتِ الِاسْمَيْنِ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى.
Lina went out into the market. The doors were opening one by one, and the traders’ voices filled the lane. She stood in front of the list and read the two names again.
لَمْ يَكُنْ رَامِي قَدْ كَذَبَ عَلَيْهَا. وَلَكِنَّهُ كَتَبَ شَيْئًا لَمْ يَتَأَكَّدْ مِنْهُ. وَكَانَ هَذَا كَافِيًا لِيَجْعَلَ النَّاسَ يَرَوْنَ الْقَائِمَةَ كَأَنَّهَا الْحَقِيقَةُ.
Rami had not lied to her. But he had written something he had not checked. That was enough to make people see the list as though it were the truth.
وَجَدَتْ أَمَلَ عِنْدَ عَرَبَتِهَا. كَانَتْ تُرَتِّبُ الصَّنَادِيقَ، وَتَضَعُ الْخُضْرَوَاتِ فِي مَكَانِهَا. لَمَّا رَأَتْ لِينَا، مَسَحَتْ يَدَيْهَا بِقِطْعَةِ قُمَاشٍ.
Lina found Amal by her cart. She was arranging the boxes and putting the vegetables in their places. When she saw Lina, she wiped her hands with a piece of cloth.
قَالَتْ أَمَلُ: «هَلْ عَرَفْتِ شَيْئًا؟» أَجَابَتْ لِينَا: «نَعَمْ. عَرَفْتُ كَيْفَ يَجِبُ أَنْ يَتِمَّ تَغْيِيرُ الْبَابِ. لَكِنَّنَا لَا نَعْرِفُ بَعْدُ مَاذَا فِي الْمَلَفِّ الْأَصْلِيِّ».
Amal asked, “Did you find anything out?” “Yes. I found out how a stall change must be made. But we still do not know what is in the original folder.”
شَرَحَتْ لَهَا أَنَّ صَاحِبَ الْوَرَقَةِ الْأُولَى لَا يُغَيَّرُ بَابُهُ إِلَّا بِمُوَافَقَتِهِ الْمَكْتُوبَةِ، وَأَنَّ أَمَلًا وَحَامِدًا يَسْتَطِيعَانِ أَنْ يَطْلُبَا رُؤْيَةَ الْمَلَفِّ مَعًا.
She explained that the first allocation cannot be changed without its holder’s written consent, and that Amal and Hamid could request to see the file together.
نَظَرَتْ أَمَلُ إِلَى عَرَبَتِهَا. قَالَتْ: «أَنَا لَا أَرْفُضُ أَنْ أَتَكَلَّمَ مَعَ حَامِدٍ. وَلَكِنِّي لَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ يَأْتِي إِلَيَّ شَخْصٌ آخَرُ وَيَقُولَ إِنَّ الْأَمْرَ قَدْ انْتَهَى».
Amal looked at her cart. “I do not refuse to speak with Hamid. But I do not want another person to come to me and say that the matter is already settled.”
قَالَتْ لِينَا: «إِذًا، يَجِبُ أَنْ يَأْتِي هُوَ بِنَفْسِهِ». أَجَابَتْ أَمَلُ: «نَعَمْ. أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْمَعَ مِنْهُ، وَأَنْ يَسْمَعَ مِنِّي».
“Then he must come himself,” Lina said. Amal replied, “Yes. I want to hear from him, and I want him to hear from me.”
لَمْ تَطْلُبْ أَمَلُ مِنْ لِينَا أَنْ تَذْهَبَ إِلَى حَامِدٍ فَوْرًا. وَلَمْ تَقُلْ إِنَّهَا سَتُوَافِقُ عَلَى الْبَابِ التَّاسِعِ. كَانَتْ تُرِيدُ مُحَادَثَةً وَاضِحَةً، لَا وَعْدًا جَدِيدًا.
Amal did not ask Lina to go to Hamid immediately. Nor did she say she would accept Door Nine. She wanted a clear conversation, not another promise.
عَادَتْ لِينَا إِلَى مَكَانِهَا عِنْدَ أُمِّهَا. وَضَعَتْ دَفْتَرَهَا عَلَى الطَّاوِلَةِ، وَفَتَحَتْ صَفْحَةً جَدِيدَةً. كَتَبَتْ: «الْقَائِمَةُ لَيْسَتْ وَرَقَةَ التَّغْيِيرِ».
Lina returned to her place beside her mother. She put her notebook on the table and opened a new page. She wrote: “The list is not the change document.”
ثُمَّ كَتَبَتْ تَحْتَهَا: «أَمَلُ تُرِيدُ أَنْ تَتَكَلَّمَ مَعَ حَامِدٍ. وَحَامِدٌ قَالَ إِنَّهُ سَيَتَكَلَّمُ مَعَ أُخْتِهِ». تَوَقَّفَتْ عِنْدَ هَذِهِ الْجُمْلَةِ. لَمْ تَعْرِفْ هَلْ تَكَلَّمَ حَامِدٌ مَعَ خَدِيجَةَ بَعْدُ.
Then she wrote beneath it: “Amal wants to speak with Hamid. Hamid said he would speak with his sister.” She paused at that sentence. She did not know whether Hamid had spoken to Khadija yet.
كَانَتْ خُطْوَتُهَا التَّالِيَةُ وَاضِحَةً، وَلَكِنَّهَا لَمْ تَكُنْ سَهْلَةً. عَلَيْهَا أَنْ تَجِدَ وَقْتًا يَجْتَمِعُ فِيهِ أَمَلُ وَحَامِدٌ، وَأَنْ تَتْرُكَ لَهُمَا مَكَانًا لِلْكَلَامِ.
Her next step was clear, but it would not be easy. She had to find a time when Amal and Hamid could meet, and leave them room to speak.
وَفِي آخِرِ الصَّفْحَةِ، كَتَبَتْ سُؤَالًا آخَرَ: «هَلْ يَسْتَطِيعُ النَّاسُ أَنْ يُصَحِّحُوا خَطَأً، إِذَا كَانُوا قَدْ بَدَأُوا يُصَدِّقُونَهُ؟» ثُمَّ أَغْلَقَتِ الدَّفْتَرَ.
At the bottom of the page, she wrote another question: “Can people correct a mistake after they have begun to believe it?” Then she closed the notebook.
Chapter vocabulary (100 entries)
- تَاجِرٌ
- trader / merchant
- مَكْتَبٌ
- office / desk
- السُّوقُ
- the market
- بَابٌ
- door / stall
- قَائِمَةٌ
- list
- وَرَقَةٌ
- paper / document
- مَلَفٌّ
- file / folder
- مَحْضَرُ الِاجْتِمَاعِ
- meeting record / minutes
- نُسْخَةٌ
- copy
- الْأَصْلُ
- the original
- طَلَبٌ
- request
- مُوَافَقَةٌ
- consent / approval
- تَغْيِيرٌ
- change
- مَوْعِدٌ
- appointment / agreed time
- الْجَمْعِيَّةُ
- association
- النَّافِذَةُ
- window
- الرَّفُّ
- shelf
- الطَّاوِلَةُ
- table
- الْكُرْسِيُّ
- chair
- الْعَرَبَةُ
- cart
- صُنْدُوقٌ
- box / crate
- وَصَلَ
- to arrive
- فَتَحَ
- to open
- دَخَلَ
- to enter
- أَشَارَ إِلَى
- to point to
- رَتَّبَ
- to arrange
- سَأَلَ
- to ask
- أَجَابَ
- to answer
- كَتَبَ
- to write
- وَقَّعَ
- to sign
- وَافَقَ عَلَى
- to agree to
- غَيَّرَ
- to change (something)
- حَفِظَ
- to keep / preserve
- ظَنَّ
- to think / suppose
- ثِقَ بِـ
- to trust
- تَأَكَّدَ مِنْ
- to make sure of
- أَعَدَّ
- to prepare
- أَغْلَقَ
- to close
- حَضَرَ
- to attend
- شَرَحَ
- to explain
- رَفَضَ
- to refuse
- جَمَعَ
- to bring together
- صَحَّحَ
- to correct
- بَدَأَ
- to begin
- بَقِيَ
- to remain
- الْحَقِيقَةُ
- the truth
- خَطَأٌ
- mistake / error
- الْحَقُّ
- the right / truth
- الْعَدْلُ
- justice / fairness
- الظُّلْمُ
- unfairness / injustice
- الثِّقَةُ
- trust
- الْخِلافُ
- disagreement
- الْأَمْرُ قَدِ انْتَهَى
- the matter is settled
- بِالْكِتَابَةِ
- in writing
- مَعًا
- together
- بِنَفْسِهِ
- himself
- مَرَّةً أُخْرَى
- once again
- لَا يَكْفِي
- it is not enough
- عَلَى مَهْلٍ
- slowly / without hurry
- لَعَلَّ
- perhaps / maybe
- لَا بُدَّ أَنْ
- it is necessary to / must
- بَعْدَ لَحْظَةٍ
- after a moment
- فِي تِلْكَ اللَّحْظَةِ
- at that moment
- وَاحِدًا بَعْدَ وَاحِدٍ
- one by one
- لَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَتَكَلَّمَ بَدَلًا مِنْهُمَا
- I do not want to speak for them
- صَبَاحٌ
- morning
- يَوْمٌ
- day
- اللَّيْلُ
- night
- سُؤَالٌ
- question
- جُمْلَةٌ
- sentence
- اسْمٌ
- name
- رَقْمٌ
- number
- مَكَانٌ
- place
- نَافِذَةٌ
- window
- قَلَمٌ
- pen
- أَصَابِعُ
- fingers
- وَجْهٌ
- face / expression
- صَوْتٌ
- voice
- نَظَرَ
- to look
- قَرَأَ
- to read
- جَلَسَ
- to sit
- قَامَ
- to stand up
- حَمَلَ
- to carry
- وَضَعَ
- to put / place
- أَخَذَ
- to take
- عَرَفَ
- to know / find out
- فَهِمَ
- to understand
- بَحَثَ عَنْ
- to look for
- تَكَلَّمَ مَعَ
- to speak with
- اِنْتَظَرَ
- to wait
- أَرَادَ
- to want
- يَجِبُ
- it is necessary / must
- مُؤَقَّتٌ
- temporary
- مُعْلَنٌ
- announced / public
- وَاضِحٌ
- clear
- قَدِيمٌ
- old
- جَدِيدٌ
- new
- صَغِيرٌ
- small
- قَلِيلٌ
- a little / few
- آخَرُ
- another / other
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CHAPTER 06 / 12
كَلَامٌ مَعَ الْأُمِّ
Talking to Mother
فِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ، عَادَتْ لِينَا مِنْ مَكْتَبِ التُّجَّارِ وَهِيَ تَحْمِلُ دَفْتَرَهَا. كَانَتْ صَبَاحُ تَغْسِلُ الْأَكْوَابَ عِنْدَ طَاوِلَةِ الشَّايِ.
That day Lina returned from the traders’ office carrying her notebook. Sabah was washing cups at the tea table.
قَالَتْ صَبَاحُ: «تَأَخَّرْتِ. هَلْ طَلَبَ مِنْكِ رَامِي لَوْحَاتٍ جَدِيدَةً؟» أَجَابَتْ لِينَا: «لَا. سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ طَرِيقَةِ تَغْيِيرِ الْأَبْوَابِ».
“You took a long time,” Sabah said. “Did Rami order more signs?” “No,” Lina answered. “I asked him how stall allocations are changed.”
تَوَقَّفَتْ يَدُ صَبَاحَ فَوْقَ الْمَاءِ. «مَا زِلْتِ تَسْأَلِينَ عَنِ الْبَابِ السَّادِسِ؟» قَالَتْ لِينَا: «نَعَمْ. عَرَفْتُ أَنَّ الْقَائِمَةَ وَحْدَهَا لَا تَكْفِي».
Sabah's hand stopped above the water. “Are you still asking about Door Six?” “Yes. I learned that the posted list alone is not enough.”
جَفَّفَتْ صَبَاحُ كُوبًا بِقِطْعَةِ قُمَاشٍ. «أَنْتِ تَكْتُبِينَ الْأَسْمَاءَ عَلَى الْخَشَبِ. لَسْتِ رَئِيسَةَ الْجَمْعِيَّةِ». كَانَ صَوْتُهَا هَادِئًا، وَلَكِنَّ وَجْهَهَا لَمْ يَكُنْ هَادِئًا.
Sabah dried a cup with a cloth. “You paint names on wood. You are not the association chair.” Her voice was calm, but her face was not.
قَالَتْ لِينَا: «وَأَنَا لَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَكُونَ رَئِيسَةً. لَكِنَّ الْخَشَبَ الَّذِي أَكْتُبُ عَلَيْهِ سَيُعَلَّقُ فَوْقَ بَابِ شَخْصٍ مَا».
“And I do not want to be chair,” Lina said. “But the wood I paint will hang above somebody's doorway.”
جَلَسَتْ صَبَاحُ عَلَى كُرْسِيٍّ صَغِيرٍ. أَشَارَتْ إِلَى السُّوقِ: «هَلْ تَرَيْنَ هَؤُلَاءِ النَّاسَ؟ خَدِيجَةُ تَعْرِفُهُمْ جَمِيعًا، وَهُمْ يَسْمَعُونَ لَهَا».
Sabah sat on a small chair and pointed toward the market. “Do you see these people? Khadija knows all of them, and they listen to her.”
«وَهِيَ سَاعَدَتْنَا أَيْضًا»، أَضَافَتْ صَبَاحُ. «عِنْدَمَا قَلَّ عَمَلُكِ فِي الشِّتَاءِ، أَحْضَرَتْ لَكِ ثَلَاثَ لَوْحَاتٍ لِتَكْتُبِيهَا. لَا أَنْسَى ذَلِكَ».
“She helped us too,” Sabah added. “When your work was scarce in winter, she brought you three signs to paint. I have not forgotten that.”
أَجَابَتْ لِينَا: «وَأَنَا لَمْ أَنْسَ. لِذَلِكَ لَا أَتَّهِمُهَا. أَنَا أَسْأَلُ فَقَطْ عَنِ الْوَرَقَةِ الَّتِي تُغَيِّرُ الْبَابَ».
“Neither have I,” Lina replied. “That is why I am not accusing her. I am only asking about the paper that changes a stall.”
وَضَعَتْ صَبَاحُ الْكُوبَ عَلَى الطَّاوِلَةِ بِصَوْتٍ أَعْلَى مِنَ الْعَادَةِ. «السُّؤَالُ أَحْيَانًا يُصْبِحُ خِلَافًا، حَتَّى إِنْ لَمْ تَقْصِدِي ذَلِكَ».
Sabah set the cup on the table more loudly than usual. “Sometimes a question becomes a quarrel, even when you do not mean it to.”
تَذَكَّرَتْ لِينَا قِصَّةً قَدِيمَةً. قَبْلَ سَنَوَاتٍ، اخْتَلَفَ تَاجِرَانِ عَلَى مَكَانٍ لِطَاوِلَةٍ. قَالَتْ صَبَاحُ يَوْمَهَا إِنَّ الْمَكَانَ لَيْسَ لِأَحَدٍ مِنْهُمَا.
Lina remembered an old story. Years earlier, two traders had argued over space for a table. Sabah had said that the space belonged to neither of them.
لَمْ يَكُنْ ذَلِكَ الْخِلَافُ كَهَذَا الْخِلَافِ. وَلَكِنَّ بَعْضَ الزَّبَائِنِ ابْتَعَدُوا عَنْ طَاوِلَةِ صَبَاحَ أَشْهُرًا. كَانَتْ تَعْمَلُ كَثِيرًا وَتَبِيعُ قَلِيلًا.
That dispute was not like this one. But some customers had stayed away from Sabah's table for months. She worked hard and sold little.
قَالَتْ صَبَاحُ: «أَنْتِ تَتَذَكَّرِينَ تِلْكَ الْأَيَّامَ. لَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ نَعُودَ إِلَيْهَا». أَجَابَتْ لِينَا: «أَتَذَكَّرُهَا، وَلَكِنَّ أَمَلًا لَهَا عَمَلٌ أَيْضًا».
“You remember those days,” Sabah said. “I do not want us to return to them.” “I remember,” Lina answered, “but Amal has a livelihood too.”
«وَحَامِدٌ لَهُ عَمَلٌ»، قَالَتْ صَبَاحُ. «وَخَدِيجَةُ أُخْتُهُ». قَالَتْ لِينَا: «هَذَا هُوَ السَّبَبُ الَّذِي يَجْعَلُ الْأَمْرَ صَعْبًا».
“And Hamid has work,” Sabah said. “And Khadija is his sister.” “That is exactly what makes this difficult,” Lina replied.
جَاءَ زَبُونٌ يَطْلُبُ شَايًا. سَكَتَتِ الْمَرْأَتَانِ، وَعَمِلَتْ صَبَاحُ كَأَنَّ شَيْئًا لَمْ يَحْدُثْ. أَمَّا لِينَا فَرَسَمَتْ خَطًّا أَعْوَجَ فِي طَرَفِ وَرَقَةٍ.
A customer came for tea. Both women fell silent, and Sabah worked as though nothing had happened. Lina drew a crooked line at the edge of a sheet of paper.
بَعْدَ أَنْ ذَهَبَ الزَّبُونُ، قَالَتْ صَبَاحُ: «أَخَافُ أَنْ تَخْسَرِي عَمَلَكِ. لَيْسَ عِنْدَنَا مَالٌ كَثِيرٌ لِشَهْرٍ بِدُونِ زَبَائِنَ».
After the customer left, Sabah said, “I am afraid you will lose your work. We do not have enough money for a month without customers.”
رَفَعَتْ لِينَا رَأْسَهَا. «وَأَنَا أَخَافُ أَنْ أَضَعَ اسْمًا غَلَطًا عَلَى بَابٍ، ثُمَّ أَقُولَ إِنَّ هَذَا لَيْسَ شَأْنِي».
Lina looked up. “And I am afraid of putting the wrong name on a door and then saying it is none of my concern.”
«لَا تَجْعَلِي كَلَامِي كَأَنِّي لَا أَهْتَمُّ بِالْحَقِّ»، قَالَتْ صَبَاحُ. وَكَانَ فِي صَوْتِهَا غَضَبٌ هَذِهِ الْمَرَّةَ.
“Do not make my words sound as though I do not care about what is right,” Sabah said. This time there was anger in her voice.
أَجَابَتْ لِينَا بِسُرْعَةٍ: «لَمْ أَقُلْ ذَلِكَ». ثُمَّ سَكَتَتْ. عَرَفَتْ أَنَّ سُرْعَةَ جَوَابِهَا لَمْ تُسَاعِدْ أُمَّهَا.
“I did not say that,” Lina replied quickly. Then she went quiet. She knew her quick answer had not helped her mother.
كَانَتْ لِينَا تَعْرِفُ أَنَّ أُمَّهَا لَا تُحِبُّ أَنْ يَتَكَلَّمَ النَّاسُ عَنْهُمَا. فِي السُّوقِ الصَّغِيرِ، يَسْمَعُ الْجَارُ كَلَامَ جَارِهِ، وَتَصِلُ الْقِصَّةُ إِلَى بَيْتٍ آخَرَ قَبْلَ الْمَسَاءِ.
Lina knew her mother disliked being the subject of talk. In the small market, neighbours heard one another, and a story could reach another home before evening.
وَكَانَتْ لِينَا نَفْسُهَا تَخَافُ ذَلِكَ. تَذَكَّرَتْ يَوْمًا سَكَتَتْ فِيهِ، حِينَ لَامَ النَّاسُ عَامِلَةً شَابَّةً عَلَى خَطَإٍ لَمْ تَفْعَلْهُ. لَمْ تَنْسَ وَجْهَ تِلْكَ الْعَامِلَةِ.
Lina herself feared that. She remembered a day when she had stayed quiet while people blamed a young worker for a mistake she had not made. She had not forgotten that worker's face.
لَمْ تُرِدْ لِينَا أَنْ تُصْبِحَ الْحَادِثَةُ الْجَدِيدَةُ مِثْلَ تِلْكَ الْحَادِثَةِ. وَمَعَ ذَلِكَ، لَمْ يَكُنْ عِنْدَهَا دَلِيلٌ عَلَى أَنَّ خَدِيجَةَ تَعَمَّدَتِ الظُّلْمَ. كَانَتْ تَعْرِفُ مَا قِيلَ لَهَا فَقَطْ.
She did not want the new affair to become like that one. Still, she had no proof that Khadija had deliberately been unfair. She knew only what people had told her.
رَأَتْ مِنْ مَكَانِهَا خَدِيجَةَ تُسَاعِدُ تَاجِرًا عَلَى رَفْعِ صُنْدُوقٍ. وَفِي اللَّحْظَةِ نَفْسِهَا، تَذَكَّرَتْ اسْمَ أَمَلَ عَلَى اللَّوْحَةِ الَّتِي لَمْ تَكْتَمِلْ قِصَّتُهَا.
From her place she saw Khadija helping a trader lift a box. At that same moment, she remembered Amal's name on the sign whose story remained unsettled.
لَمَّا بَدَأَتْ لِينَا تَعْمَلُ، وَقَفَتْ صَبَاحُ قُرْبَهَا وَقَالَتْ: «لَا أَطْلُبُ مِنْكِ أَنْ تُكَذِّبِي أَمَلًا. أَطْلُبُ مِنْكِ أَلَّا تَنْسَيْ نَفْسَكِ».
When Lina began working again, Sabah stood near her. “I am not asking you to call Amal a liar. I am asking you not to forget yourself.”
أَنْزَلَتْ لِينَا الْفُرْشَاةَ. «أَفْهَمُ خَوْفَكِ، يَا أُمِّي. وَأُرِيدُ أَنْ أَفْهَمَ خَوْفَ أَمَلَ أَيْضًا». لَمْ تَجِدْ صَبَاحُ جَوَابًا سَرِيعًا، فَعَادَتْ إِلَى أَكْوَابِهَا.
Lina put down her brush. “I understand your fear, Mother. I want to understand Amal's fear too.” Sabah had no quick answer and went back to her cups.
أَخَذَتْ صَبَاحُ الْإِبْرِيقَ وَذَهَبَتْ إِلَى الْمَاءِ. تَرَكَتْ لِينَا كُوبَ الشَّايِ عَلَى الطَّاوِلَةِ. لَمْ تَكُنْ تُرِيدُ أَنْ تَذْهَبَ وَهُمَا غَاضِبَتَانِ.
Sabah carried the kettle to the water. Lina left her tea on the table. She did not want to go while they were both angry.
عِنْدَمَا عَادَتْ صَبَاحُ، قَالَتْ لِينَا: «سَأَسْأَلُ أَمَلَ غَدًا أَنْ تُرِيَنِي الْبَابَ التَّاسِعَ. فِي النَّهَارِ، أَمَامَ النَّاسِ. لَنْ أَدْخُلَ الْمَكْتَبَ وَحْدِي».
When Sabah returned, Lina said, “Tomorrow I’ll ask Amal to show me Door Nine. In daylight, in front of people. I won’t enter the office alone.”
نَظَرَتْ صَبَاحُ إِلَيْهَا. «وَمَاذَا سَيُغَيِّرُ النَّظَرُ إِلَى بَابٍ؟» قَالَتْ لِينَا: «رُبَّمَا لَا شَيْءَ. وَلَكِنِّي لَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَقُولَ إِنَّ الْبَابَيْنِ مِثْلُ بَعْضِهِمَا دُونَ أَنْ أَرَاهُمَا».
Sabah looked at her. “What will looking at a doorway change?” “Perhaps nothing,” Lina said. “But I do not want to say that the two doors are alike without seeing them.”
مَدَّتْ صَبَاحُ إِلَيْهَا قِطْعَةَ خُبْزٍ. «كُلِي. لَمْ تَأْكُلِي مُنْذُ الصَّبَاحِ». أَخَذَتْهَا لِينَا، وَلَمْ تَعْرِفْ إِنْ كَانَ ذَلِكَ صُلْحًا أَمْ وَقْفًا لِلْكَلَامِ.
Sabah passed her a piece of bread. “Eat. You have eaten nothing since morning.” Lina took it, unsure whether it was peace or simply a pause in the argument.
حَمَلَتْ لِينَا لَوْحَةً صَغِيرَةً وَعَادَتْ إِلَى عَمَلِهَا. وَلَمَّا أَخْطَأَتْ فِي حَرْفٍ، مَسَحَتِ الطِّلَاءَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَجِفَّ. كَانَ إِصْلَاحُ هَذَا الْخَطَإِ سَهْلًا.
Lina picked up a small sign and returned to work. When she made a mistake in a letter, she wiped off the paint before it dried. Correcting this mistake was easy.
فِي آخِرِ النَّهَارِ، مَرَّتْ أَمَلُ بِعَرَبَتِهَا. سَأَلَتْهَا لِينَا: «هَلْ تَسْتَطِيعِينَ أَنْ تَأْتِيَ مَعِي غَدًا إِلَى السُّوقِ الْجَدِيدِ؟ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَرَى الْبَابَ التَّاسِعَ».
At the end of the day Amal passed with her cart. Lina asked, “Can you come with me tomorrow to the new market? I want to see Door Nine.”
نَظَرَتْ أَمَلُ إِلَيْهَا بِحَذَرٍ. «لَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ يَظُنَّ أَحَدٌ أَنَّنِي قَبِلْتُهُ». قَالَتْ لِينَا: «النَّظَرُ إِلَى بَابٍ لَيْسَ مُوَافَقَةً عَلَيْهِ».
Amal looked at her cautiously. “I do not want anyone thinking I have accepted it.” “Looking at a door is not agreeing to it,” Lina replied.
قَالَتْ أَمَلُ: «حَسَنًا. بَعْدَ أَنْ أَبِيعَ الْخُضْرَوَاتِ فِي الصَّبَاحِ، سَأَذْهَبُ مَعَكِ». ثُمَّ أَصْلَحَتِ الْقُمَاشَ الَّذِي عَلَى عَرَبَتِهَا.
“All right,” Amal said. “After I sell vegetables in the morning, I’ll go with you.” Then she smoothed the cloth on her cart.
عَادَتْ لِينَا إِلَى طَاوِلَتِهَا. كَانَتْ صَبَاحُ تُرَتِّبُ الْأَكْوَابَ بِدُونِ أَنْ تَنْظُرَ إِلَيْهَا. قَالَتْ: «هَلْ أُعِدُّ لَكِ شَايًا؟»
Lina went back to her table. Sabah was arranging cups without looking at her. “Shall I make you some tea?” she asked.
أَجَابَتْ لِينَا: «نَعَمْ، إِنْ وَضَعْتِ فِيهِ السُّكَّرَ». قَالَتْ صَبَاحُ: «هَذَا شَرْطٌ صَعْبٌ». ابْتَسَمَتَا قَلِيلًا، وَلَكِنَّ الْخِلَافَ لَمْ يَخْتَفِ.
“Yes, if you put sugar in it,” Lina answered. “That is a difficult condition,” Sabah said. They smiled a little, but the disagreement had not disappeared.
فَتَحَتْ لِينَا دَفْتَرَهَا وَكَتَبَتْ: «غَدًا: الْبَابُ التَّاسِعُ. لَا وَعْدَ جَدِيدًا، وَلَا اسْمَ جَدِيدًا». ثُمَّ أَغْلَقَتْهُ وَبَدَأَتْ تَغْسِلُ فُرْشَاتَهَا.
Lina opened her notebook and wrote: “Tomorrow: Door Nine. No new promises, no new names.” Then she closed it and began washing her brushes.
Chapter vocabulary (131 entries)
- أُمٌّ
- mother
- النَّاسُ
- people
- التُّجَّارُ
- traders
- طَلَبٌ
- order; request
- خِلَافٌ
- disagreement
- السُّوقُ
- market
- بَابٌ
- door
- لَوْحَةٌ
- signboard; panel
- الْخَشَبُ
- wood
- الطِّلَاءُ
- paint
- فُرْشَاةٌ
- paintbrush
- كُوبٌ
- cup
- إِبْرِيقٌ
- kettle; pot
- وَرَقَةٌ
- sheet of paper
- قَائِمَةٌ
- list
- مَكَانٌ
- place
- طَرِيقٌ
- road; path
- صُنْدُوقٌ
- box
- خُضْرَوَاتٌ
- vegetables
- الْقُمَاشُ
- cloth; fabric
- جَاءَ
- he came
- ذَهَبَ
- he went
- عَادَ
- he returned
- صَبَاحٌ
- morning
- غَدًا
- tomorrow
- ثُمَّ
- then
- لَكِنَّ
- but; however
- زَبُونٌ
- customer (male)
- عَمَلٌ
- work / task
- الزَّبَائِنُ
- customers
- الطَّاوِلَةُ
- the table
- اسْمٌ
- name
- الْخُضْرَوَاتُ
- vegetables
- رَفَعَ
- he lifted
- مُنْذُ
- since / ago
- كَثِيرٌ
- much / many
- فَوْقَ
- on top of
- رُبَّمَا
- perhaps / maybe
- سُوقٌ
- market
- طِلَاءٌ
- paint
- طَاوِلَةٌ
- table
- خُبْزٌ
- bread
- مَالٌ
- money
- قِطْعَةٌ
- piece; coin (here)
- قُمَاشٌ
- cloth
- مَكْتَبٌ
- office
- مَاءٌ
- water
- حَرْفٌ
- letter (of the alphabet)
- سُؤَالٌ
- question
- وَعْدٌ
- promise
- غَضِبَ
- became angry
- فَقَطْ
- only
- لِينَا
- Lina (proper name)
- أَمَلُ
- Amal (proper name)
- أُخْتٌ
- sister
- شَخْصٌ
- person
- زَبَائِنُ
- customers
- خَشَبٌ
- wood
- قِطَعٌ
- pieces
- كُرْسِيٌّ
- chair / stool
- النَّهَارُ
- daytime
- الْمَكْتَبُ
- office
- الشَّايُ
- tea
- أَعِدُ
- I promise
- لَحْظَةً
- a moment
- حَتَّى
- until
- مُوَافَقَةٌ
- consent / approval
- الْجَمْعِيَّةُ
- association
- خَطَأٌ
- mistake / error
- الْخِلافُ
- disagreement
- يَوْمٌ
- day
- وَجْهٌ
- face / expression
- صَوْتٌ
- voice
- نَظَرَ
- to look
- آخَرُ
- another / other
- الْقَائِمَةُ
- posted list
- الْفُرْشَاةُ
- paintbrush
- الْجَارُ
- neighbour
- كَتَبَتْ
- she wrote
- عَادَتْ
- she returned
- رَأَتْ
- she saw
- أُرِيدُ
- I want
- عَرَفْتُ
- I learned; I knew
- مَنْ؟
- who?
- مَاذَا؟
- what?
- تَبِيعُ
- she sells
- جَدِيدٌ
- new
- قَدِيمٌ
- old
- أَمَامَ
- in front of
- جَمْعِيَّةٌ
- association
- قَلِيلًا
- a little
- حَامِدٌ
- Hamid (proper name)
- خَدِيجَةُ
- Khadija (proper name)
- تَغْيِيرٌ
- change
- تَغَيَّرَ
- changed
- وَلَكِنَّ
- but
- قَالَتْ
- she said
- سَأَلَتْ
- she asked
- أَجَابَتْ
- she answered
- وَقَفَتْ
- she stood
- نَظَرَتْ
- she looked
- أَخَذَتْ
- she took
- وَضَعَتْ
- she placed
- تَذَكَّرَتْ
- she remembered
- تَوَقَّفَتْ
- she stopped
- أَغْلَقَتْ
- she closed
- فَتَحَتْ
- she opened
- حَمَلَتْ
- she carried
- سَكَتَتْ
- she fell silent
- اِخْتَلَفَ
- to disagree
- تُرِيدُ
- she wants
- أَفْهَمُ
- I understand
- الْمَسَاءُ
- evening
- قَبْلَ
- before
- بَعْدَ
- after
- صَغِيرٌ
- small
- الْحَقُّ
- the right / truth
- الظُّلْمُ
- unfairness / injustice
- الْخَطَأُ
- mistake
- يَا أُمِّي
- Mother! (addressing her)
- السُّوقُ الْجَدِيدُ
- the new market
- الْبَابُ السَّادِسُ
- Door Six; the sixth door
- الْبَابُ التَّاسِعُ
- Door Nine; the ninth door
- نَظَرَ إِلَى
- he looked at
- أَنْ أَفْهَمَ
- to understand
- مَكْتَبُ التُّجَّارِ
- traders’ office
- وَمَعَ ذَلِكَ
- nevertheless / even so
- مَعَ ذَلِكَ
- nevertheless
- دُونَ أَنْ
- without (doing)
- فِي الصَّبَاحِ
- in the morning
- مَا زِلْتُ
- I still...
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CHAPTER 07 / 12
الدَّرَجَتَانِ
The Two Steps
فِي صَبَاحِ الْيَوْمِ التَّالِي، أَخَذَتْ لِينَا مِسْطَرَةً صَغِيرَةً مِنْ طَاوِلَتِهَا. سَأَلَتْهَا صَبَاحُ: «هَلْ سَتَرْسُمِينَ لَوْحَةً عَلَى الْأَرْضِ؟» قَالَتْ: «سَأَنْظُرُ إِلَى بَابٍ».
The following morning Lina took a small ruler from her table. “Are you going to paint a sign on the ground?” Sabah asked. “I’m going to look at a door,” Lina said.
كَانَتْ أَمَلُ قَدْ بَاعَتْ أَكْثَرَ خُضْرَوَاتِهَا. وَلَكِنَّهَا تَرَكَتْ صُنْدُوقَيْنِ عَلَى عَرَبَتِهَا حَتَّى تَكُونَ ثَقِيلَةً كَمَا تَكُونُ فِي الصَّبَاحِ.
Amal had sold most of her vegetables, but she left two crates on her cart so that it would be heavy as it was in the morning.
قَالَتْ أَمَلُ: «هَذَا لَيْسَ كُلَّ مَا أَحْمِلُهُ عَادَةً». نَظَرَتْ لِينَا إِلَى الْعَرَبَةِ. «إِذًا لَنْ يَكُونَ الْيَوْمُ سَهْلًا عَلَيْهَا».
“This is not everything I usually carry,” Amal said. Lina looked at the cart. “Then today will not be easy on it.”
سَارَتَا إِلَى السُّوقِ الْجَدِيدِ. كَانَ السَّقْفُ الْجَدِيدُ يَلْمَعُ فِي الشَّمْسِ، وَكَانَتِ الْأَبْوَابُ الْعَشَرَةُ فِي صَفٍّ وَاحِدٍ. عِنْدَ بَعْضِهَا وَقَفَ تُجَّارٌ يُنَظِّمُونَ صَنَادِيقَهُمْ.
They walked to the new market. The new roof shone in the sun and the ten doors stood in one row. At some of them, traders were arranging boxes.
وَصَلَتَا إِلَى الْبَابِ السَّادِسِ أَوَّلًا. كَانَ مَدْخَلُهُ وَاسِعًا، وَالْأَرْضُ أَمَامَهُ فِي مُسْتَوَى الْأَرْضِ دَاخِلَهُ. أَشَارَتْ أَمَلُ إِلَيْهِ دُونَ كَلَامٍ.
They reached Door Six first. Its entrance was broad, and the ground outside was level with the floor inside. Amal pointed to it without speaking.
دَفَعَتْ أَمَلُ عَرَبَتَهَا قَلِيلًا. تَحَرَّكَتِ الْعَجَلَاتُ فَوْقَ الْأَرْضِ بِسُهُولَةٍ. تَوَقَّفَتْ عِنْدَ الْبَابِ، ثُمَّ أَعَادَتْهَا إِلَى الطَّرِيقِ.
Amal pushed her cart a short distance. The wheels rolled easily over the ground. She stopped at the door, then pulled the cart back to the path.
قَالَتْ: «أَفْتَحُ هَذَا الْبَابَ، وَأُدْخِلُ الْعَرَبَةَ، ثُمَّ أَبْدَأُ الْبَيْعَ. لَا أَحْتَاجُ إِلَى أَنْ أَحْمِلَ كُلَّ صُنْدُوقٍ وَحْدَهُ».
“I open this door, bring the cart in, and begin selling,” she said. “I do not need to carry every crate separately.”
مَشَتَا إِلَى الْبَابِ التَّاسِعِ. كَانَ أَصْغَرَ قَلِيلًا، وَأَمَامَهُ دَرَجَتَانِ مِنَ الْحَجَرِ. لَمْ تَكُنِ الدَّرَجَتَانِ عَالِيَتَيْنِ، لَكِنَّهُمَا كَانَتَا وَاضِحَتَيْنِ.
They walked to Door Nine. It was a little smaller, and two stone steps stood before it. The steps were not tall, but they were clearly there.
وَقَفَتْ أَمَلُ بِعَرَبَتِهَا أَمَامَ الدَّرَجَتَيْنِ. دَفَعَتْهَا حَتَّى لَمَسَتِ الْعَجَلَتَانِ الْحَجَرَ، ثُمَّ تَوَقَّفَتْ. لَمْ تُحَاوِلْ رَفْعَ الْعَرَبَةِ الثَّقِيلَةِ.
Amal stopped the cart at the steps. She pushed until the wheels touched the stone, then stopped. She did not try to lift the heavy cart.
قَالَتْ: «أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَحْمِلَ الصَّنَادِيقَ وَاحِدًا بَعْدَ وَاحِدٍ. ثُمَّ أَرْفَعُ الْعَرَبَةَ الْفَارِغَةَ بِمُسَاعَدَةِ شَخْصٍ آخَرَ».
“I can carry the crates one by one,” she said. “Then someone else can help me lift the empty cart.”
حَسَبَتْ لِينَا الصَّنَادِيقَ فِي رَأْسِهَا. سَأَلَتْ: «كَمْ مَرَّةً سَتَفْعَلِينَ ذَلِكَ؟» قَالَتْ أَمَلُ: «كُلَّ صَبَاحٍ. وَعِنْدَ الْإِغْلَاقِ أَيْضًا».
Lina counted the crates in her head. “How often would you have to do that?” she asked. “Every morning,” Amal said. “And again at closing.”
أَخَذَتْ أَمَلُ صُنْدُوقًا وَاحِدًا مِنَ الْعَرَبَةِ، وَحَمَلَتْهُ إِلَى أَعْلَى الدَّرَجَتَيْنِ. ثُمَّ وَضَعَتْهُ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ وَعَادَتْ. كَانَ ذَلِكَ مُمْكِنًا، وَلَكِنَّهُ أَخَذَ وَقْتًا.
Amal took one crate from the cart, carried it up the steps and set it down. Then she came back. It was possible, but it took time.
قَالَتْ أَمَلُ: «لَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَقُولَ إِنَّنِي لَا أَسْتَطِيعُ الْعَمَلَ هُنَا. أَسْتَطِيعُهُ، وَلَكِنْ بِعَمَلٍ أَكْثَرَ وَوَقْتٍ أَطْوَلَ».
“I do not want to say I cannot work here,” Amal said. “I can, but it would mean more work and more time.”
وَضَعَتْ لِينَا مِسْطَرَتَهَا فِي حَقِيبَتِهَا. لَمْ تَحْتَجْ إِلَيْهَا. لَمْ يَكُنِ الْفَرْقُ بَيْنَ الْبَابَيْنِ صَغِيرًا كَمَا ظَنَّتْ.
Lina put her ruler back in her bag. She did not need it. The difference between the two doors was not as small as she had imagined.
سَمِعَتْ صَوْتَ خَشَبٍ وَرَاءَهَا. كَانَ حَامِدٌ يَحْمِلُ قِطْعَةً طَوِيلَةً إِلَى مَكَانٍ قُرْبَ الْبَابِ السَّادِسِ. رَآهُمَا وَتَوَقَّفَ.
She heard wood moving behind her. Hamid was carrying a long piece to a spot near Door Six. He saw them and stopped.
قَالَ حَامِدٌ: «صَبَاحُ الْخَيْرِ. هَلْ تُرِيدَانِ أَنْ أُصْلِحَ الدَّرَجَتَيْنِ؟» أَجَابَتْ أَمَلُ: «الدَّرَجَتَانِ لَيْسَتَا مَكْسُورَتَيْنِ. هَذِهِ هِيَ الْمُشْكِلَةُ».
“Good morning,” Hamid said. “Would you like me to repair the steps?” “The steps are not broken,” Amal replied. “That is the problem.”
لَمْ يَضْحَكْ حَامِدٌ فَوْرًا. نَظَرَ إِلَى الْعَرَبَةِ، ثُمَّ إِلَى الصُّنْدُوقِ الَّذِي وَضَعَتْهُ أَمَلُ عِنْدَ الْبَابِ. «هَلْ جَرَّبْتِ إِدْخَالَهَا؟» سَأَلَ.
Hamid did not laugh at once. He looked at the cart, then the crate Amal had set near the door. “Did you try getting it inside?” he asked.
قَالَتْ أَمَلُ: «لَا. لَنْ أَرْفَعَ عَرَبَةً مُمْتَلِئَةً عَلَى دَرَجَتَيْنِ. أَنَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَعْمَلَ غَدًا أَيْضًا».
“No. I am not lifting a loaded cart up two steps,” Amal said. “I want to be able to work tomorrow too.”
أَنْزَلَ حَامِدٌ الْخَشَبَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ. قَالَ: «مِنَ السَّهْلِ أَنْ أَحْمِلَ مِطْرَقَتِي إِلَى هَذَا الْبَابِ. وَلَكِنَّ عَرَبَتَكِ أَثْقَلُ مِنْ كُلِّ أَدَوَاتِي».
Hamid set the wood down. “It is easy for me to carry my hammer to this door,” he said. “But your cart is heavier than all my tools.”
نَظَرَتْ لِينَا إِلَى قِطَعِ الْخَشَبِ. سَأَلَتْ: «مَتَى بَدَأْتَ تُعِدُّ هَذَا الرَّفَّ؟» أَجَابَ حَامِدٌ: «قَبْلَ أَنْ تَظْهَرَ الْقَائِمَةُ الْجَدِيدَةُ بِأَيَّامٍ».
Lina looked at the wood. “When did you start preparing that shelf?” she asked. “Days before the new list appeared,” Hamid answered.
«أَعْطَتْنِي خَدِيجَةُ الْإِذْنَ»، قَالَ. «قَاسَتْ مَعِي الْمَكَانَ، ثُمَّ اشْتَرَيْتُ الْخَشَبَ. ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ قَدْ تَمَّ».
“Khadija told me to go ahead,” he said. “She measured the space with me, then I bought the wood. I thought everything had been settled.”
تَذَكَّرَتْ لِينَا لَوْحَةً فَارِغَةً فِي صُنْدُوقِهَا، وَصَفْحَةً قَدِيمَةً فِي دَفْتَرِ الطَّلَبَاتِ. طَلَبَتْ خَدِيجَةُ اللَّوْحَةَ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَظْهَرَ الْقَائِمَةُ أَيْضًا.
Lina remembered a blank panel in her box and an old page in her order book. Khadija had ordered the panel before the list appeared too.
لَمْ تَكُنْ لِينَا تَعْرِفُ مَاذَا يَعْنِي ذَلِكَ بَعْدُ. قَدْ يَسْتَعِدُّ النَّاسُ لِعَمَلٍ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَنْتَهِيَ اتِّفَاقُهُمْ. وَلَكِنَّ السُّؤَالَ بَقِيَ فِي رَأْسِهَا.
Lina did not yet know what that meant. People might prepare for work before an agreement was complete. But the question remained in her mind.
قَالَتْ أَمَلُ لِحَامِدٍ: «هَلْ أَخْبَرَتْكَ أُخْتُكَ أَنِّي وَافَقْتُ عَلَى الْبَابِ التَّاسِعِ؟» نَظَرَ إِلَيْهَا، وَقَالَ: «نَعَمْ، هَذَا مَا فَهِمْتُهُ».
“Did your sister tell you I agreed to Door Nine?” Amal asked Hamid. He looked at her. “Yes. That is what I understood.”
قَالَتْ أَمَلُ: «أَنَا لَمْ أُوَقِّعْ عَلَى تَغْيِيرٍ». قَالَ حَامِدٌ: «وَعِنْدِي وَرَقَةٌ مِنْ خَدِيجَةَ. لَا أَقُولُ إِنَّكِ كَاذِبَةٌ».
“I did not sign any change,” Amal said. “And I have a paper from Khadija,” Hamid replied. “I am not saying you are lying.”
نَظَرَتْ لِينَا إِلَى وَجْهِ أَمَلَ. بَدَا أَنَّهَا تُرِيدُ أَنْ تَقُولَ شَيْئًا آخَرَ، ثُمَّ غَيَّرَتْ رَأْيَهَا. لَمْ تَسْأَلْهَا لِينَا أَمَامَ حَامِدٍ.
Lina looked at Amal. She seemed about to say something more, then changed her mind. Lina did not question her in front of Hamid.
سَأَلَ حَامِدٌ: «هَلْ تَظُنَّانِ أَنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَخُذَ مَكَانَ أَحَدٍ؟» أَجَابَتْ لِينَا: «أَظُنُّ أَنَّكَ تُرِيدُ مَكَانًا لِعَمَلِكَ. هَذَا كُلُّ مَا أَعْرِفُهُ».
“Do you think I want to take someone's place?” Hamid asked. “I think you want a place to work,” Lina said. “That is all I know.”
وَضَعَ حَامِدٌ يَدَهُ عَلَى الْخَشَبِ. «هَذِهِ الْقِطَعُ كَلَّفَتْنِي مَالًا. وَلَكِنَّنِي لَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ تَدْخُلَ أَمَلُ مِنْ هَذَا الْبَابِ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ وَهِيَ تُعَانِي».
Hamid put a hand on the wood. “These pieces cost me money. But I do not want Amal to have to struggle to enter this door every day.”
قَالَتْ أَمَلُ: «وَأَنَا لَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ تَخْسَرَ مَالَكَ». تَوَقَّفَتْ قَلِيلًا، ثُمَّ أَضَافَتْ: «لَكِنِّي لَا أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَدْفَعَ ثَمَنَ وَعْدٍ لَمْ أَقْطَعْهُ».
“And I do not want you to lose your money,” Amal said. She paused. “But I cannot pay the price of a promise I never made.”
سَكَتُوا. مَرَّ تَاجِرٌ بِصُنْدُوقٍ صَغِيرٍ، وَاعْتَذَرَ لِيَمُرَّ بَيْنَهُمْ. أَبْعَدَ حَامِدٌ الْخَشَبَ عَنِ الطَّرِيقِ.
They fell silent. A trader carrying a small box came by and asked to pass between them. Hamid moved the wood out of the way.
قَالَتْ لِينَا: «فِي الْمَكْتَبِ وَرَقَةٌ أَصْلِيَّةٌ يَجِبُ أَنْ نَرَاهَا بِطَلَبٍ مِنْكُمَا مَعًا». أَجَابَ حَامِدٌ: «أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَتَكَلَّمَ مَعَ أُخْتِي أَوَّلًا».
“There is an original document in the office that you can both request to see,” Lina said. “I want to speak to my sister first,” Hamid replied.
قَالَتْ أَمَلُ: «تَكَلَّمْ مَعَهَا. ثُمَّ تَعَالَ وَتَكَلَّمْ مَعِي. أَنَا لَا أُرِيدُ رَسَائِلَ مِنْ شَخْصٍ إِلَى شَخْصٍ».
“Speak to her. Then come and speak to me,” Amal said. “I do not want messages being passed from one person to another.”
هَزَّ حَامِدٌ رَأْسَهُ. لَمْ يَعِدْ بِشَيْءٍ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ. أَعَادَ قِطَعَ الْخَشَبِ إِلَى جَانِبِهِ، وَتَرَكَ الرَّفَّ غَيْرَ مُرَكَّبٍ.
Hamid nodded. He did not promise anything beyond that. He returned the wood pieces to his side and left the shelf unassembled.
سَاعَدَتْ لِينَا أَمَلَ عَلَى إِعَادَةِ الصُّنْدُوقِ إِلَى الْعَرَبَةِ. قَالَتْ أَمَلُ: «الْخُضْرَوَاتُ لَا تَنْتَظِرُ حَتَّى يَتَّفِقَ النَّاسُ».
Lina helped Amal put the crate back on the cart. “Vegetables do not wait for people to reach an agreement,” Amal said.
عِنْدَمَا عَادَتْ لِينَا إِلَى طَاوِلَتِهَا، فَتَحَتْ دَفْتَرَ طَلَبَاتِهَا. وَجَدَتْ تَارِيخَ لَوْحَةِ الْبَابِ السَّادِسِ الْفَارِغَةِ. قَرَأَتْهُ مَرَّتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ أَغْلَقَتِ الدَّفْتَرَ.
When Lina returned to her table, she opened her order book and found the date of the blank Door Six panel. She read it twice, then closed the book.
لَمْ تَكْتُبِ اتِّهَامًا. كَتَبَتْ فَقَطْ: «الْبَابُ التَّاسِعُ: دَرَجَتَانِ. الرَّفُّ: بَدَأَ قَبْلَ الْقَائِمَةِ. اللَّوْحَةُ: طُلِبَتْ قَبْلَهَا أَيْضًا».
She wrote no accusation. Only: “Door Nine: two steps. Shelf: begun before the list. Panel: ordered before it too.”
لَمْ يَكُنْ أَحَدٌ قَدْ غَيَّرَ الْقَائِمَةَ. وَلَكِنَّ لِينَا لَمْ تَعُدْ تَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ تَقُولَ إِنَّ الْبَابَيْنِ مُتَسَاوِيَانِ.
No one had changed the list. But Lina could no longer say that the two doors were equal.
Chapter vocabulary (139 entries)
- النَّاسُ
- people
- الْعَمَلُ
- work
- طَلَبٌ
- order; request
- السُّوقُ
- market
- بَابٌ
- door
- لَوْحَةٌ
- signboard; panel
- الْخَشَبُ
- wood
- وَرَقَةٌ
- sheet of paper
- قَائِمَةٌ
- list
- مَكَانٌ
- place
- طَرِيقٌ
- road; path
- صُنْدُوقٌ
- box
- عَرَبَةٌ
- cart
- خُضْرَوَاتٌ
- vegetables
- السَّقْفُ
- roof; ceiling
- سَأَلَ
- he asked
- قَالَ
- he said
- وَضَعَ
- he put; placed
- أَخَذَ
- he took
- عَادَ
- he returned
- وَقَفَ
- he stood; stopped
- بَقِيَ
- he remained
- تَرَكَ
- he left (something)
- صَبَاحٌ
- morning
- غَدًا
- tomorrow
- ثُمَّ
- then
- لَكِنَّ
- but; however
- ثَقِيلٌ
- heavy
- عَمَلٌ
- work / task
- الطَّلَبَاتُ
- orders
- ثَمَنٌ
- price / payment
- الْبَيْعُ
- selling
- الصَّنَادِيقُ
- boxes
- صَفْحَةٌ
- page
- الْخُضْرَوَاتُ
- vegetables
- رَفَعَ
- he lifted
- طَوِيلٌ
- long
- بَيْنَ
- between
- فَوْقَ
- on top of
- سُوقٌ
- market
- قِطْعَةٌ
- piece; coin (here)
- مَكْتَبٌ
- office
- سَقْفٌ
- roof
- سُؤَالٌ
- question
- وَعْدٌ
- promise
- مُشْكِلَةٌ
- problem; trouble
- مَرَّتَيْنِ
- twice
- فَقَطْ
- only
- لِينَا
- Lina (proper name)
- أَمَلُ
- Amal (proper name)
- أُخْتٌ
- sister
- أُخْتِي
- my sister
- شَخْصٌ
- person
- خَشَبٌ
- wood
- قِطَعٌ
- pieces
- الْمَكْتَبُ
- office
- إِذَا
- if / when
- حَتَّى
- until
- الرَّفُّ
- shelf
- الْعَرَبَةُ
- cart
- غَيَّرَ
- to change (something)
- بَدَأَ
- to begin
- يَوْمٌ
- day
- وَجْهٌ
- face / expression
- صَوْتٌ
- voice
- نَظَرَ
- to look
- يَجِبُ
- it is necessary / must
- آخَرُ
- another / other
- الدَّرَجَتَانِ
- the two steps
- مِسْطَرَةٌ
- ruler
- الْعَجَلَاتُ
- wheels
- الْإِغْلَاقُ
- closing
- مُتَسَاوِيَانِ
- equal (two, masculine)
- الدَّفْتَرُ
- notebook; register
- الْقَائِمَةُ
- posted list
- الصُّنْدُوقُ
- box; crate
- كَتَبَتْ
- she wrote
- عَادَتْ
- she returned
- أُرِيدُ
- I want
- مَنْ؟
- who?
- مَاذَا؟
- what?
- مَتَى؟
- when?
- تَاجِرٌ
- trader; merchant
- دَفْتَرٌ
- notebook
- أَجَابَ
- he answered
- تَوَقَّفَ
- he stopped
- جَدِيدٌ
- new
- قَدِيمٌ
- old
- تَارِيخٌ
- date
- أَصْلَحَ
- he adjusted / fixed
- أَمَامَ
- in front of
- أَعَادَ
- returned; put back
- تَكَلَّمَ
- spoke
- أَكْثَرُ
- more
- قَلِيلًا
- a little
- أَوَّلًا
- first
- فَوْرًا
- immediately
- حَامِدٌ
- Hamid (proper name)
- خَدِيجَةُ
- Khadija (proper name)
- أَدَوَاتٌ
- tools
- تَغْيِيرٌ
- change
- أَطْوَلُ
- longer
- وَلَكِنَّ
- but
- قَالَتْ
- she said
- سَأَلَتْ
- she asked
- أَجَابَتْ
- she answered
- وَقَفَتْ
- she stood
- نَظَرَتْ
- she looked
- أَخَذَتْ
- she took
- وَضَعَتْ
- she placed
- وَجَدَتْ
- she found
- تَذَكَّرَتْ
- she remembered
- سَمِعَتْ
- she heard
- تَوَقَّفَتْ
- she stopped
- قَرَأَتْ
- she read
- أَغْلَقَتْ
- she closed
- فَتَحَتْ
- she opened
- دَفَعَتْ
- she pushed
- حَمَلَتْ
- she carried
- وَافَقَتْ
- she agreed
- تُرِيدُ
- she wants
- قَبْلَ
- before
- بَعْدَ
- after
- صَغِيرٌ
- small
- سَهْلٌ
- easy
- صَبَاحُ الْخَيْرِ
- good morning
- السُّوقُ الْجَدِيدُ
- the new market
- الْبَابُ السَّادِسُ
- Door Six; the sixth door
- الْبَابُ التَّاسِعُ
- Door Nine; the ninth door
- نَظَرَ إِلَى
- he looked at
- لَمْ تَكُنْ لِينَا تَعْرِفُ
- Lina did not know
- دَفْتَرُ الطَّلَبَاتِ
- order book
- الْيَوْمُ التَّالِي
- the next day
- عِنْدِي وَرَقَةٌ
- I have a paper / document
- مَعًا
- together
- وَاحِدًا بَعْدَ وَاحِدٍ
- one by one
- تَكَلَّمَ مَعَ
- to speak with
- فِي الصَّبَاحِ
- in the morning
- عِنْدَ الْبَابِ
- at the door
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CHAPTER 08 / 12
لَمْ أَقُلْ نَعَمْ
I Did Not Say Yes
فِي الْيَوْمِ التَّالِي، وَجَدَتْ لِينَا أَمَلَ تَبِيعُ الْخُضْرَوَاتِ قُرْبَ مَدْخَلِ السُّوقِ الْقَدِيمِ. كَانَتْ أَمَلُ تُعِيدُ النُّقُودَ إِلَى امْرَأَةٍ، وَتُرَتِّبُ الْبَاقِيَ فِي صُنْدُوقٍ صَغِيرٍ.
The next day Lina found Amal selling vegetables near the old market entrance. Amal was giving change to a woman and arranging the rest in a small box.
انْتَظَرَتْ لِينَا حَتَّى ذَهَبَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ. ثُمَّ قَالَتْ: «سَأَسْأَلُكِ سُؤَالًا. إِذَا لَمْ تُرِيدِي أَنْ تُجِيبِي، فَلَا تُجِيبِي».
Lina waited until the woman had left. “I want to ask a question. If you do not want to answer, you do not have to.”
نَظَرَتْ أَمَلُ إِلَى يَدَيْهَا. كَانَتَا تَحْمِلَانِ رَائِحَةَ النَّعْنَاعِ. «اسْأَلِي»، قَالَتْ، وَأَصْلَحَتْ طَرَفَ الْقُمَاشِ عَلَى الْعَرَبَةِ.
Amal looked at her hands, which smelled of mint. “Ask,” she said, smoothing the cloth at the edge of the cart.
قَالَتْ لِينَا: «هَلْ حَدَثَ أَنِ اقْتَرَحَتْ خَدِيجَةُ عَلَيْكِ الْبَابَ التَّاسِعَ، حَتَّى لَوْ لَمْ تُوَافِقِي؟»
“Did Khadija ever suggest Door Nine to you, even if you did not agree?” Lina asked.
رَفَعَتْ أَمَلُ وَجْهَهَا. سَكَتَتْ طَوِيلًا، ثُمَّ قَالَتْ: «نَعَمْ. كَانَ ذَلِكَ قَبْلَ أَسَابِيعَ». لَمْ تَحَاوِلْ أَنْ تَتْرُكَ الْكَلِمَةَ وَحْدَهَا.
Amal raised her face. She was quiet for a long while, then said, “Yes. It was weeks ago.” She did not leave the answer at that.
«قَالَتْ لِي إِنَّ حَامِدًا يَحْتَاجُ إِلَى مَكَانٍ لِعَمَلِهِ. وَقَالَتْ إِنَّ الْبَابَ التَّاسِعَ قَرِيبٌ مِنَ الطَّرِيقِ. طَلَبَتْ مِنِّي أَنْ أُفَكِّرَ فِي التَّبْدِيلِ».
“She said Hamid needed a place to work. She said Door Nine was near the road. She asked me to consider a swap.”
سَأَلَتْ لِينَا: «وَمَاذَا قُلْتِ؟» أَجَابَتْ أَمَلُ بِبُطْءٍ: «قُلْتُ: سَأُفَكِّرُ فِي الْأَمْرِ». ثُمَّ نَظَرَتْ إِلَى لِينَا. «هَذِهِ كَلِمَاتِي كَمَا أَتَذَكَّرُهَا».
“What did you say?” Lina asked. “I said: I will think about it,” Amal answered slowly. She looked at Lina. “Those are the words as I remember them.”
«هَلْ عُدْتِ إِلَيْهَا بِجَوَابٍ؟» سَأَلَتْ لِينَا. قَالَتْ أَمَلُ: «لَا. بَعْدَ أَنْ رَأَيْتُ الدَّرَجَتَيْنِ، عَرَفْتُ أَنَّ الْبَابَ لَا يُنَاسِبُنِي. وَلَمْ تَأْتِ خَدِيجَةُ لِتَسْأَلَنِي مَرَّةً أُخْرَى».
“Did you go back to her with an answer?” “No. After I saw the steps, I knew that door did not suit me. Khadija did not come to ask me again.”
قَالَتْ لِينَا: «لِمَاذَا لَمْ تُخْبِرِينِي بِذَلِكَ مِنَ الْبِدَايَةِ؟» نَظَرَتْ أَمَلُ إِلَى الصُّنْدُوقِ، ثُمَّ أَجَابَتْ: «لِأَنَّنِي خَجِلْتُ مِنْ تَرَدُّدِي».
“Why did you not tell me that at the beginning?” Lina asked. Amal looked at the crate. “Because I felt ashamed of my hesitation,” she answered.
«أَنَا جَدِيدَةٌ نِسْبِيًّا فِي هَذَا السُّوقِ»، أَضَافَتْ. «خِفْتُ أَنْ يَقُولَ النَّاسُ إِنَّنِي قَبِلْتُ أَوَّلًا، ثُمَّ غَيَّرْتُ رَأْيِي. وَلَكِنَّنِي لَمْ أَقُلْ نَعَمْ».
“I am still fairly new to this market,” she added. “I feared people would say I had accepted first and then changed my mind. But I did not say yes.”
قَالَتْ لِينَا: «التَّفْكِيرُ لَيْسَ مُوَافَقَةً». أَجَابَتْ أَمَلُ: «أَعْرِفُ. لَكِنَّ النَّاسَ أَحْيَانًا يَسْمَعُونَ مِنَ الْكَلَامِ مَا يُرِيدُونَ».
“Thinking is not agreeing,” Lina said. “I know,” Amal answered. “But sometimes people hear in words what they want to hear.”
فِي تِلْكَ اللَّحْظَةِ، لَمْ تَكُنْ لِينَا تَعْرِفُ هَلْ كَانَتْ خَدِيجَةُ قَدْ فَهِمَتْ كَلَامَ أَمَلَ بِطَرِيقَةٍ أُخْرَى، أَمْ تَعَمَّدَتْ أَنْ تَتَجَاهَلَهُ.
At that moment Lina did not know whether Khadija had understood Amal's words differently or had chosen to ignore them.
قَالَتْ لِينَا: «سَأَسْأَلُ خَدِيجَةَ عَنْ وَرَقَةِ التَّغْيِيرِ. لَنْ أَقُولَ لَهَا إِنَّكِ كَذَبْتِ، وَلَنْ أَقُولَ إِنَّهَا كَذَبَتْ».
“I will ask Khadija about the change document,” Lina said. “I will not tell her you lied, and I will not tell her she lied.”
أَجَابَتْ أَمَلُ: «اسْأَلِيهَا. وَلَكِنْ قُولِي لَهَا أَنِّي مُسْتَعِدَّةٌ لِلْكَلَامِ أَمَامَ حَامِدٍ». قَالَتْ لِينَا: «سَأَقُولُ ذَلِكَ».
“Ask her,” Amal answered. “But tell her I am ready to speak in front of Hamid.” “I will,” Lina said.
وَجَدَتْ لِينَا خَدِيجَةَ عِنْدَ مَحَلِّ الْقُمَاشِ. كَانَتْ تَطْوِي قِطْعَةً زَرْقَاءَ، وَتَتَكَلَّمُ مَعَ تَاجِرٍ عَنْ نَقْلِ صَنَادِيقِهِ. انْتَظَرَتْ لِينَا حَتَّى فَرَغَتْ.
Lina found Khadija at her fabric stall. She was folding blue cloth and speaking to a trader about moving his crates. Lina waited until she finished.
قَالَتْ خَدِيجَةُ: «هَلْ جَهَزْتِ لَوْحَةَ حَامِدٍ؟ لَمْ يَبْقَ إِلَّا ثَلَاثَةُ أَيَّامٍ». قَالَتْ لِينَا: «لَا. أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْأَلَ عَنْ مُوَافَقَةِ أَمَلَ».
“Have you prepared Hamid's sign? Only three days remain,” Khadija said. “No. I want to ask about Amal's agreement,” Lina replied.
تَوَقَّفَتْ خَدِيجَةُ عَنْ طَيِّ الْقُمَاشِ. «أَلَمْ أَقُلْ لَكِ إِنَّنَا اتَّفَقْنَا؟» سَأَلَتْ. كَانَتْ كَلِمَاتُهَا قَصِيرَةً كَالْعَادَةِ.
Khadija stopped folding the cloth. “Did I not tell you we had agreed?” she asked. Her words were as brief as usual.
أَجَابَتْ لِينَا: «قَالَ رَامِي إِنَّ تَغْيِيرَ الْبَابِ يَحْتَاجُ إِلَى مُوَافَقَةٍ مَكْتُوبَةٍ مِنْ صَاحِبِهِ الْأَوَّلِ. هَلْ وَقَّعَتْ أَمَلُ عَلَى وَرَقَةٍ؟»
“Rami said changing a stall needs the first holder’s written agreement,” Lina answered. “Did Amal sign a paper?”
وَضَعَتْ خَدِيجَةُ الْقُمَاشَ عَلَى الطَّاوِلَةِ. «كُلُّ هَذِهِ الْأَسْئِلَةِ، وَالنَّاسُ يَنْقُلُونَ بَضَائِعَهُمْ. لَا يُمْكِنُنَا أَنْ نُؤَخِّرَ السُّوقَ مِنْ أَجْلِ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ».
Khadija laid the cloth on the table. “All these questions, while people are moving their goods. We cannot delay the market over every matter.”
قَالَتْ لِينَا: «لَا أُرِيدُ تَأْخِيرَ السُّوقِ. أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَعْرِفَ هَلْ هُنَاكَ وَرَقَةٌ». لَمْ تُجِبْ خَدِيجَةُ عَنِ السُّؤَالِ مُبَاشَرَةً.
“I do not want to delay the market,” Lina said. “I want to know whether there is a paper.” Khadija did not answer the question directly.
«أَمَلُ قَالَتْ إِنَّهَا سَتُفَكِّرُ، ثُمَّ وَافَقَتْ عَلَى الْبَابِ التَّاسِعِ قَبْلَ الِافْتِتَاحِ بِاثْنَيْ عَشَرَ يَوْمًا»، قَالَتْ خَدِيجَةُ. «أَنَا أَتَذَكَّرُ ذَلِكَ».
“Amal said she would think, then agreed to Door Nine twelve days before the opening,” Khadija said. “I remember that.”
كَانَ ذَلِكَ خَبَرًا جَدِيدًا عَلَى لِينَا. لَمْ تَذْكُرْ أَمَلُ مُحَادَثَةً ثَانِيَةً، بَلْ قَالَتْ إِنَّهَا لَمْ تَعُدْ إِلَى خَدِيجَةَ بِجَوَابٍ.
This was new information to Lina. Amal had mentioned no second conversation; she had said she never returned to Khadija with an answer.
سَأَلَتْ لِينَا: «وَهَلْ كَتَبَتْ أَمَلُ مُوَافَقَتَهَا؟» تَغَيَّرَ صَوْتُ خَدِيجَةَ. «هَلْ سَتَقُولِينَ إِنَّ كَلِمَتِي لَا تَكْفِي؟»
“And did Amal write down her agreement?” Lina asked. Khadija’s voice changed. “Are you going to say my word is not enough?”
شَعَرَتْ لِينَا بِالْحَرَجِ. لَقَدْ أَعْطَتْهَا خَدِيجَةُ عَمَلًا فِي أَوْقَاتٍ صَعْبَةٍ. وَكَانَتْ لِينَا تُرِيدُ أَنْ تَحْتَرِمَهَا. لَكِنَّهَا لَمْ تَسْتَطِعْ تَرْكَ السُّؤَالِ.
Lina felt embarrassed. Khadija had given her work during difficult times, and Lina wanted to respect her. But she could not leave the question unasked.
قَالَتْ: «كَلِمَتُكِ مُهِمَّةٌ. وَوَرَقَةُ أَمَلَ مُهِمَّةٌ أَيْضًا. وَهِيَ تَقُولُ إِنَّهَا لَمْ تُوَافِقْ».
“Your word matters,” she said. “And Amal's document matters too. And Amal says she did not agree.”
نَظَرَتْ خَدِيجَةُ إِلَى الطَّرِيقِ، ثُمَّ قَالَتْ: «أَخْبَرْتُ حَامِدًا أَنْ يُعِدَّ رَفَّهُ لِلْبَابِ السَّادِسِ. كَانَ قَدْ خَسِرَ مَكَانَ عَمَلِهِ. أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أُسَاعِدَهُ».
Khadija looked out at the path. “I told Hamid to prepare his shelf for Door Six. He had lost his workplace. I wanted to help him.”
قَالَتْ لِينَا: «أَفْهَمُ سَبَبَ مُسَاعَدَتِكِ لَهُ. لَكِنَّ أَمَلًا تَحْتَاجُ إِلَى بَابٍ وَاسِعٍ لِعَرَبَتِهَا». قَالَتْ خَدِيجَةُ: «النَّاسُ يَجِدُونَ حُلُولًا».
“I understand why you helped him,” Lina said. “But Amal needs a wide doorway for her cart.” “People find solutions,” Khadija said.
رَأَتْ لِينَا يَدَ خَدِيجَةَ تُرَتِّبُ الْقُمَاشَ الَّذِي رَتَّبَتْهُ قَبْلَ قَلِيلٍ. لَمْ تَفْتَحِ الْمَلَفَّ، وَلَمْ تَقُلْ إِنَّ عِنْدَهَا تَوْقِيعًا مِنْ أَمَلَ.
Lina watched Khadija straighten the cloth she had already arranged. She did not open the file and did not say she had Amal's signature.
قَالَتْ خَدِيجَةُ: «الْمَكْتَبُ لَهُ طَرِيقَتُهُ. إِنْ كَانَ هُنَاكَ سُؤَالٌ، فَلْيَتَكَلَّمِ التَّاجِرَانِ. أَمَّا أَنْتِ فَأَنْهِي لَوْحَاتِكِ».
“The office has its procedure,” Khadija said. “If there is a question, let the two traders speak. As for you, finish your signs.”
أَجَابَتْ لِينَا: «سَيَتَكَلَّمَانِ، إِذَا وَجَدَا وَقْتًا لِلْكَلَامِ». ثُمَّ شَكَرَتْ خَدِيجَةَ وَانْصَرَفَتْ. لَمْ تَكُنْ قَدْ حَصَلَتْ عَلَى جَوَابٍ عَنْ تَوْقِيعِ أَمَلَ.
“They will speak, if they find a time to talk,” Lina said. She thanked Khadija and left. She had received no answer about Amal's signature.
عِنْدَ آخِرِ السُّوقِ، رَأَتْ خَدِيجَةَ تَخْرُجُ مِنْ مَحَلِّهَا لِتُسَاعِدَ امْرَأَةً كَبِيرَةً فِي حَمْلِ قُمَاشٍ ثَقِيلٍ. لَمْ تَتَوَقَّفْ لِتُخْبِرَ أَحَدًا بِمَا فَعَلَتْهُ.
At the far end of the market, Lina saw Khadija leave her stall to help an elderly woman carry heavy cloth. Khadija did not stop to tell anyone what she had done.
وَجَدَتْ لِينَا نَفْسَهَا تَتَمَنَّى أَنْ تَكُونَ الْإِجَابَةُ سَهْلَةً. كَيْفَ تُسَاعِدُ امْرَأَةٌ النَّاسَ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ، ثُمَّ تَكُونُ فِي قَلْبِ هَذَا الْخِلَافِ؟ لَمْ تَجِدْ جَوَابًا.
Lina found herself wishing for an easy answer. How could a woman help people every day yet be at the centre of this dispute? She found no answer.
فِي الْمَسَاءِ، وَضَعَتْ لِينَا دَفْتَرَ طَلَبَاتِهَا بِجَانِبِ دَفْتَرِهَا الصَّغِيرِ. كَتَبَتْ أَنَّ خَدِيجَةَ تَقُولُ إِنَّ أَمَلَ وَافَقَتْ قَبْلَ الِافْتِتَاحِ بِاثْنَيْ عَشَرَ يَوْمًا.
That evening Lina placed her order book beside her small notebook. She wrote that Khadija said Amal had agreed twelve days before the opening.
ثُمَّ كَتَبَتْ تَحْتَ ذَلِكَ: «أَمَلُ تَقُولُ إِنَّهَا لَمْ تَقُلْ نَعَمْ. لَا أُوَقِّعُ بَدَلًا مِنْهَا، وَلَا أُقَرِّرُ بَدَلًا مِنْ حَامِدٍ».
Under that she wrote: “Amal says she did not say yes. I cannot sign for her or decide for Hamid.”
أَغْلَقَتْ لِينَا الدَّفْتَرَيْنِ. بَقِيَتْ ثَلَاثَةُ أَيَّامٍ عَلَى الِافْتِتَاحِ، وَكَانَ عَلَيْهَا أَنْ تَجِدَ طَرِيقَةً يَتَكَلَّمُ بِهَا الْأَصْحَابُ أَنْفُسُهُمْ.
Lina closed both notebooks. Three days remained before opening, and she needed to find a way for the people concerned to speak for themselves.
Chapter vocabulary (120 entries)
- النَّاسُ
- people
- خِلَافٌ
- disagreement
- السُّوقُ
- market
- بَابٌ
- door
- لَوْحَةٌ
- signboard; panel
- وَرَقَةٌ
- sheet of paper
- مَكَانٌ
- place
- طَرِيقٌ
- road; path
- صُنْدُوقٌ
- box
- عَرَبَةٌ
- cart
- خُضْرَوَاتٌ
- vegetables
- الْقُمَاشُ
- cloth; fabric
- رَأَى
- he saw
- قَالَ
- he said
- حَمَلَ
- he carried
- تَرَكَ
- he left (something)
- ثُمَّ
- then
- لَكِنَّ
- but; however
- ثَقِيلٌ
- heavy
- عَمَلٌ
- work / task
- الطَّاوِلَةُ
- the table
- الْخُضْرَوَاتُ
- vegetables
- أَوَّلُ
- first of
- بِجَانِبِ
- beside
- لِمَاذَا؟
- why?
- سُوقٌ
- market
- طَاوِلَةٌ
- table
- نُقُودٌ
- coins; money
- قِطْعَةٌ
- piece; coin (here)
- قُمَاشٌ
- cloth
- مَكْتَبٌ
- office
- مَلَفٌّ
- file; folder
- سُؤَالٌ
- question
- مَكْتُوبٌ
- written
- لِينَا
- Lina (proper name)
- أَمَلُ
- Amal (proper name)
- صَاحِبٌ
- owner / person in charge of
- قِطَعٌ
- pieces
- الْمَكْتَبُ
- office
- حَرَجٌ
- embarrassment / discomfort
- بِبُطْءٍ
- slowly
- لَحْظَةً
- a moment
- إِذَا
- if / when
- حَتَّى
- until
- مُوَافَقَةٌ
- consent / approval
- الْعَرَبَةُ
- cart
- الْخِلافُ
- disagreement
- يَوْمٌ
- day
- صَوْتٌ
- voice
- آخَرُ
- another / other
- الْكَلَامُ
- speech; conversation
- الصُّنْدُوقُ
- box; crate
- كَتَبَتْ
- she wrote
- شَعَرَتْ
- she felt
- انْتَظَرَتْ
- she waited
- رَأَتْ
- she saw
- أُرِيدُ
- I want
- عَرَفْتُ
- I learned; I knew
- مَنْ؟
- who?
- مَاذَا؟
- what?
- كَيْفَ؟
- how?
- تَاجِرٌ
- trader; merchant
- تَبِيعُ
- she sells
- دَفْتَرٌ
- notebook
- أَجَابَ
- he answered
- جَدِيدٌ
- new
- قَدِيمٌ
- old
- تَذَكَّرَ
- he remembered
- قَلِيلٌ
- a little / few
- قَصِيرٌ
- short
- أَمَامَ
- in front of
- تَوْقِيعٌ
- signature
- قَرِيبٌ
- nearby; close
- أَوَّلًا
- first
- حَامِدٌ
- Hamid (proper name)
- خَدِيجَةُ
- Khadija (proper name)
- تَغْيِيرٌ
- change
- تَغَيَّرَ
- changed
- جَوَابٌ
- answer
- يَحْتَاجُ
- needs
- وَلَكِنَّ
- but
- خَجِلْتُ
- I felt ashamed
- تَرَدُّدِي
- my hesitation
- قَالَتْ
- she said
- سَأَلَتْ
- she asked
- أَجَابَتْ
- she answered
- نَظَرَتْ
- she looked
- وَضَعَتْ
- she placed
- وَجَدَتْ
- she found
- تَوَقَّفَتْ
- she stopped
- أَغْلَقَتْ
- she closed
- أَخْبَرَتْ
- she told
- وَقَّعَتْ
- she signed
- وَافَقَتْ
- she agreed
- سَكَتَتْ
- she fell silent
- بَقِيَتْ
- she remained
- تُرِيدُ
- she wants
- أَفْهَمُ
- I understand
- سَأُفَكِّرُ
- I will think
- الْمَسَاءُ
- evening
- قَبْلَ
- before
- بَعْدَ
- after
- صَغِيرٌ
- small
- كَبِيرٌ
- large
- سَهْلٌ
- easy
- مُهِمٌّ
- important
- السُّوقُ الْقَدِيمُ
- the old market
- الْبَابُ التَّاسِعُ
- Door Nine; the ninth door
- مَرَّةً أُخْرَى
- once again
- لَمْ تَكُنْ لِينَا تَعْرِفُ
- Lina did not know
- فِي تِلْكَ اللَّحْظَةِ
- at that moment
- الْيَوْمُ التَّالِي
- the next day
- وَرَقَةُ أَمَلَ
- Amal’s document
- تَكَلَّمَ مَعَ
- to speak with
- مُوَافَقَةٌ مَكْتُوبَةٌ
- written consent
- قَبْلَ الِافْتِتَاحِ
- before opening
- وَرَقَةُ التَّغْيِيرِ
- change document
- بَدَلًا مِنْ
- instead of
- فِي الْمَسَاءِ
- in the evening
- لَمْ أَقُلْ نَعَمْ
- I did not say yes
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CHAPTER 09 / 12
طَلَبُ الْحَقِّ
Asking for What Is Right
بَقِيَ يَوْمَانِ عَلَى افْتِتَاحِ السُّوقِ الْجَدِيدِ. كَانَتْ لِينَا تَكْتُبُ اسْمًا عَلَى لَوْحَةٍ لِبَابٍ آخَرَ، وَلَا تَنْظُرُ إِلَى لَوْحَةِ الْبَابِ السَّادِسِ عِنْدَ الْحَائِطِ.
Two days remained before the new market opened. Lina was painting a name on a sign for another stall, trying not to look at the Door Six sign against the wall.
جَاءَ رَامِي وَحَمَلَ دَفْتَرًا صَغِيرًا. سَأَلَ: «هَلْ أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَتَكَلَّمَ مَعَكِ قَلِيلًا؟» وَضَعَتْ لِينَا الْفُرْشَاةَ فِي الْمَاءِ.
Rami came carrying a small notebook. “May I speak with you for a moment?” he asked. Lina put her brush in water.
قَالَ رَامِي: «قُلْتُ لَكِ إِنِّي كَتَبْتُ الْقَائِمَةَ. وَقُلْتُ إِنِّي ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّ أَمَلًا وَافَقَتْ. لَكِنْ هُنَاكَ شَيْءٌ لَمْ أَقُلْهُ بِوُضُوحٍ».
“I told you I wrote the list,” Rami said. “And that I thought Amal had agreed. But there is something I did not say clearly.”
نَظَرَتْ لِينَا إِلَيْهِ دُونَ أَنْ تُسَاعِدَهُ عَلَى إِكْمَالِ الْجُمْلَةِ. حَرَّكَ رَامِي الْقَلَمَ بَيْنَ أَصَابِعِهِ، كَمَا فَعَلَ فِي الْمَكْتَبِ.
Lina looked at him without helping him finish. Rami turned the pen between his fingers, as he had done in the office.
قَالَ: «عِنْدَمَا أَعْطَتْنِي خَدِيجَةُ الْأَسْمَاءَ الْجَدِيدَةَ، سَأَلْتُ نَفْسِي أَيْنَ وَرَقَةُ مُوَافَقَةِ أَمَلَ. لَكِنَّنِي لَمْ أَسْأَلْ خَدِيجَةَ عَنْهَا».
“When Khadija gave me the new names,” he said, “I wondered where Amal's consent paper was. But I did not ask Khadija for it.”
«لِمَاذَا؟» سَأَلَتْ لِينَا. قَالَ: «كُنْتُ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُنْهِيَ الْقَائِمَةَ، وَكُنْتُ أَخَافُ أَنْ تَقُولَ خَدِيجَةُ إِنِّي لَا أَفْهَمُ عَمَلِي».
“Why not?” Lina asked. “I wanted to finish the list, and I feared Khadija would say I did not understand my job.”
تَوَقَّفَ رَامِي ثُمَّ أَضَافَ: «لَمْ أَخْتَرِ الْبَابَ لِحَامِدٍ. وَلَكِنِّي كَتَبْتُ اسْمَهُ، وَصَارَ النَّاسُ يَقْرَؤُونَهُ كَأَنَّهُ قَرَارٌ».
Rami paused. “I did not choose Hamid's stall. But I wrote his name, and people began reading it as though it were a decision.”
قَالَتْ لِينَا: «أَعْرِفُ أَنَّكَ لَمْ تَخْتَرْ. لَكِنَّ عَلَيْكَ أَنْ تُخْبِرَ التُّجَّارَ مَا فَعَلْتَهُ، لَا أَنْ تَتْرُكَهُمْ يَظُنُّونَ أَنَّكَ رَأَيْتَ الْمُوَافَقَةَ».
“I know you did not choose,” Lina said. “But you must tell the traders what you did, instead of letting them think you saw the consent.”
سَأَلَ رَامِي: «أَمَامَ الْجَمِيعِ؟» أَجَابَتْ: «عِنْدَ الِاجْتِمَاعِ، إِذَا وَصَلَ الْأَمْرُ إِلَيْهِ. لَا تَحْتَاجُ إِلَى خُطْبَةٍ طَوِيلَةٍ».
“In front of everyone?” Rami asked. “At the meeting, if it comes to that. You do not need a long speech.”
حَاوَلَ رَامِي أَنْ يَبْتَسِمَ. «هَذَا جَيِّدٌ. أَنَا لَا أَنْجَحُ فِي الْخُطَبِ الطَّوِيلَةِ». لَمْ تَضْحَكْ لِينَا، وَلَكِنَّهَا أَشَارَتْ إِلَى الْكُرْسِيِّ.
Rami tried to smile. “That is good. I am not successful at long speeches.” Lina did not laugh, but she offered him a chair.
قَالَتْ: «أَمَلُ مُسْتَعِدَّةٌ لِلْكَلَامِ مَعَ حَامِدٍ. هَلْ تَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ تُعِدَّ طَلَبًا صَغِيرًا لِمُرَاجَعَةِ الْمَلَفِّ، إِذَا وَافَقَا كِلَاهُمَا؟»
“Amal is ready to speak with Hamid,” she said. “Can you prepare a simple request to review the file, if they both agree?”
قَالَ رَامِي: «نَعَمْ. هَذَا مِنْ عَمَلِي. لَكِنَّنِي لَنْ أَفْتَحَ الْمَلَفَّ دُونَ حُضُورِهِمَا وَحُضُورِ شَخْصٍ مِنَ الْجَمْعِيَّةِ».
“Yes. That is part of my work. But I will not open the file without both of them and someone from the association present.”
ذَهَبَتْ لِينَا إِلَى أَمَلَ، وَسَأَلَتْهَا عَنْ وَقْتٍ لِلْكَلَامِ. أَجَابَتْ أَمَلُ: «بَعْدَ الظُّهْرِ. سَأَكُونُ قَدْ أَنْهَيْتُ الْبَيْعَ».
Lina went to Amal and asked for a time to speak. “After noon,” Amal said. “I will have finished selling.”
ثُمَّ وَجَدَتْ حَامِدًا عِنْدَ طَاوِلَةِ الْإِصْلَاحِ. كَانَ يُصْلِحُ رِجْلَ كُرْسِيٍّ صَغِيرٍ. سَأَلَتْهُ: «هَلْ تَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ تَأْتِيَ إِلَى الْمَكْتَبِ بَعْدَ الظُّهْرِ؟»
She found Hamid at his repair bench, fixing a small chair leg. “Can you come to the office after noon?” she asked.
قَالَ: «هَلْ سَتَكُونُ أَمَلُ هُنَاكَ؟» أَجَابَتْ: «نَعَمْ. وَيُمْكِنُكَ أَنْ تَقُولَ لَهَا مَا تُرِيدُ بِنَفْسِكَ».
“Will Amal be there?” he asked. “Yes. And you can say what you want to her yourself.”
وَضَعَ حَامِدٌ الْكُرْسِيَّ عَلَى جَانِبِهِ. «تَكَلَّمْتُ مَعَ أُخْتِي أَمْسِ. قَالَتْ إِنَّ الْأَمْرَ مُنْتَهٍ. لَكِنَّنِي رَأَيْتُ عَرَبَةَ أَمَلَ عِنْدَ الدَّرَجَتَيْنِ».
Hamid set the chair aside. “I spoke to my sister yesterday. She said the matter was settled. But I saw Amal's cart at those steps.”
لَمْ تَسْأَلْهُ لِينَا عَمَّا قَالَتْ أُخْتُهُ بِالضَّبْطِ. كَانَتْ تُرِيدُ أَنْ يَحْدُثَ الْكَلَامُ الْمُهِمُّ وَأَمَلُ حَاضِرَةٌ.
Lina did not ask exactly what his sister had said. She wanted the important conversation to happen with Amal present.
بَعْدَ الظُّهْرِ، جَلَسَتْ أَمَلُ وَحَامِدٌ فِي الْمَكْتَبِ. بَقِيَتْ لِينَا قُرْبَ الْبَابِ، وَوَضَعَ رَامِي وَرَقَةَ الطَّلَبِ عَلَى الطَّاوِلَةِ، دُونَ أَنْ يَدْفَعَهَا إِلَى أَحَدٍ.
After noon, Amal and Hamid sat in the office. Lina stayed near the door. Rami placed the request form on the table without pushing it toward either of them.
قَالَ حَامِدٌ: «وَعَدَتْنِي خَدِيجَةُ بِالْبَابِ السَّادِسِ، وَكَتَبَتْ ذَلِكَ لِي. لَمْ أَعْلَمْ أَنَّكِ لَمْ تُوَافِقِي».
“Khadija promised me Door Six and wrote it down for me,” Hamid said. “I did not know you had not agreed.”
قَالَتْ أَمَلُ: «عِنْدِي وَرَقَةٌ أَقْدَمُ بِاسْمِي. قُلْتُ لِأُخْتِكَ إِنَّنِي سَأُفَكِّرُ فِي التَّبْدِيلِ. لَمْ أَقُلْ إِنِّي وَافَقْتُ، وَلَمْ أُوَقِّعْ».
“I have an earlier paper in my name,” Amal said. “I told your sister I would think about a swap. I did not say I agreed, and I did not sign.”
سَأَلَ حَامِدٌ: «هَلْ تَكَلَّمْتِ مَعَهَا مَرَّةً أُخْرَى قَبْلَ الِافْتِتَاحِ بِاثْنَيْ عَشَرَ يَوْمًا؟» أَجَابَتْ: «لَا. لَمْ نَتَكَلَّمْ ثَانِيَةً عَنِ الْبَابِ».
“Did you speak with her again twelve days before opening?” Hamid asked. “No,” Amal replied. “We did not speak about the stall again.”
تَغَيَّرَ وَجْهُ حَامِدٍ. قَالَ: «أُخْتِي لَمْ تَقُلْ لِي إِنَّ الْمُوَافَقَةَ لَمْ تُكْتَبْ». لَمْ يَقُلْ إِنَّهَا كَذَبَتْ، وَلَكِنَّهُ لَمْ يَدْفَعْ عَنِ الْقَائِمَةِ الْجَدِيدَةِ كَمَا فَعَلَ مِنْ قَبْلُ.
Hamid's expression changed. “My sister did not tell me the agreement was not written down.” He did not call her a liar, but he no longer defended the new list as he had before.
قَالَتْ أَمَلُ: «أَعْرِفُ أَنَّكَ اشْتَرَيْتَ الْخَشَبَ. وَلَكِنَّ الْبَابَ السَّادِسَ كُتِبَ لِي أَوَّلًا. أُرِيدُ أَنْ نَرَى الْأَصْلَ مَعًا».
“I know you bought wood,” Amal said. “But Door Six was first written down for me. I want us to see the original together.”
نَظَرَ حَامِدٌ إِلَى الْوَرَقَةِ أَمَامَهُ. «وَإِذَا كَانَ الْأَصْلُ بِاسْمِكِ، فَمَاذَا أَفْعَلُ بِرَفِّي؟» قَالَتْ أَمَلُ: «لَا أَعْرِفُ. وَهَذَا سُؤَالٌ عَادِلٌ».
Hamid looked at the paper. “And if the original is in your name, what do I do with my shelf?” “I do not know,” Amal answered. “And that is a fair question.”
كَانَتْ لِينَا تُرِيدُ أَنْ تَقْتَرِحَ حَلًّا. لَكِنَّهَا بَقِيَتْ سَاكِتَةً. لَمْ يَطْلُبْ مِنْهَا أَحَدٌ أَنْ تَخْتَارَ لَهُمَا بَابًا.
Lina wanted to propose a solution. But she stayed silent. Neither trader had asked her to choose a stall for them.
أَخَذَ حَامِدٌ الْقَلَمَ. قَرَأَ الطَّلَبَ بِبُطْءٍ: «نَطْلُبُ رُؤْيَةَ الْوَرَقَةِ الْأَصْلِيَّةِ لِلْبَابِ السَّادِسِ، وَأَيِّ وَرَقَةٍ تُغَيِّرُهَا». ثُمَّ نَظَرَ إِلَى أَمَلَ.
Hamid took the pen. He read the request slowly: “We ask to see the original document for Door Six and any document changing it.” Then he looked at Amal.
قَالَتْ أَمَلُ: «هَذَا مَا أُرِيدُهُ». وَقَّعَ حَامِدٌ عَلَى الطَّلَبِ، ثُمَّ وَقَّعَتْ أَمَلُ. لَمْ يَعِدْ أَحَدُهُمَا بِالتَّنَازُلِ عَنِ الْبَابِ.
“That is what I want,” Amal said. Hamid signed, and then Amal signed. Neither had promised to give up the stall.
قَالَ رَامِي: «سَنَفْتَحُ الْمَلَفَّ غَدًا صَبَاحًا. سَيَحْضُرُ مَعَنَا عُضْوٌ آخَرُ مِنَ الْجَمْعِيَّةِ. وَسَنُسَجِّلُ مَا نَجِدُهُ».
“We will open the file tomorrow morning,” Rami said. “Another association member will be present, and we will record what we find.”
سَأَلَ حَامِدٌ: «هَلْ سَتَحْضُرُ خَدِيجَةُ؟» قَالَ رَامِي: «سَنَسْمَعُ مِنْهَا فِي اجْتِمَاعِ التُّجَّارِ. أَمَّا مُرَاجَعَةُ الْوَرَقِ فَسَتَكُونُ بِحُضُورِ شَاهِدٍ آخَرَ».
“Will Khadija be there?” Hamid asked. “We will hear from her at the traders’ meeting,” Rami said. “The records review will have another witness.”
أَخَذَتْ أَمَلُ حَقِيبَتَهَا. كَانَتْ وَرَقَتُهَا الْقَدِيمَةُ فِي دَاخِلِهَا. وَأَبْقَى حَامِدٌ وَرَقَتَهُ عِنْدَهُ بَعْدَ أَنْ أَخْرَجَهَا مِنْ دُرْجِهِ لِيُحْضِرَهَا غَدًا.
Amal picked up her bag; her old document was inside. Hamid kept his own paper with him after taking it from his drawer so he could bring it tomorrow.
خَرَجَ حَامِدٌ مَعَ أَمَلَ. مَشَيَا قَلِيلًا دُونَ كَلَامٍ، ثُمَّ سَأَلَهَا عَنْ وَقْتِ بَيْعِ الْخُضْرَوَاتِ فِي السُّوقِ الْجَدِيدِ. كَانَ سُؤَالًا صَغِيرًا، وَلَكِنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ عَنِ الْوَرَقِ.
Hamid left with Amal. They walked a little in silence, then he asked what time she would sell vegetables in the new market. It was a small question, but it was not about paperwork.
بَقِيَتْ لِينَا مَعَ رَامِي. قَالَتْ: «لَا تَنْسَ أَنْ تُخْبِرَ النَّاسَ كَيْفَ كَتَبْتَ الْقَائِمَةَ». أَجَابَ: «لَنْ أَنْسَى. هَذَا الْجُزْءُ مِنَ الْقِصَّةِ لِي».
Lina remained with Rami. “Do not forget to tell people how you wrote the list.” “I will not forget,” he answered. “That part of the story belongs to me.”
فِي الْمَسَاءِ، أَخْبَرَتْ لِينَا أُمَّهَا أَنَّ التَّاجِرَيْنِ وَقَّعَا عَلَى الطَّلَبِ. قَالَتْ صَبَاحُ: «هَذَا أَفْضَلُ مِنْ أَنْ تَكْتُبِي أَنْتِ الطَّلَبَ بِاسْمَيْهِمَا».
In the evening Lina told her mother the two traders had signed the request. “That is better than writing a request in their names yourself,” Sabah said.
أَجَابَتْ لِينَا: «لَمْ أُرِدْ أَنْ أَخْتَارَ عَنْهُمَا». وَضَعَتْ صَبَاحُ أَمَامَهَا كُوبَ شَايٍ، وَهَذِهِ الْمَرَّةَ كَانَ فِيهِ سُكَّرٌ.
“I did not want to choose for them,” Lina said. Sabah set a cup of tea before her. This time it contained sugar.
أَغْلَقَتْ لِينَا دَفْتَرَهَا. غَدًا سَيُفْتَحُ الْمَلَفُّ الَّذِي لَمْ تَرَهُ بَعْدُ. لَمْ تَكُنْ تَعْرِفُ مَا فِيهِ، وَلَكِنَّ هَذِهِ الْمَرَّةَ لَنْ يَفْتَحَهُ أَحَدٌ وَحْدَهُ.
Lina closed her notebook. Tomorrow the file she had never seen would be opened. She did not know its contents, but this time no one would open it alone.
Chapter vocabulary (126 entries)
- رَجُلٌ
- man
- النَّاسُ
- people
- التُّجَّارُ
- traders
- طَلَبٌ
- order; request
- السُّوقُ
- market
- بَابٌ
- door
- لَوْحَةٌ
- signboard; panel
- الْخَشَبُ
- wood
- فُرْشَاةٌ
- paintbrush
- كُوبٌ
- cup
- وَرَقَةٌ
- sheet of paper
- قَائِمَةٌ
- list
- عَرَبَةٌ
- cart
- خُضْرَوَاتٌ
- vegetables
- كَتَبَ
- he wrote
- قَرَأَ
- he read
- سَأَلَ
- he asked
- قَالَ
- he said
- وَضَعَ
- he put; placed
- أَخَذَ
- he took
- جَاءَ
- he came
- بَقِيَ
- he remained
- حَمَلَ
- he carried
- صَبَاحٌ
- morning
- الظُّهْرُ
- noon
- أَمْسِ
- yesterday
- غَدًا
- tomorrow
- ثُمَّ
- then
- لَكِنَّ
- but; however
- عَمَلٌ
- work / task
- الْبَيْعُ
- selling
- الطَّاوِلَةُ
- the table
- اسْمٌ
- name
- الْخُضْرَوَاتُ
- vegetables
- وَصَلَ
- he arrived
- خَرَجَ
- he went out
- طَوِيلٌ
- long
- بَيْنَ
- between
- لِمَاذَا؟
- why?
- سُوقٌ
- market
- طَاوِلَةٌ
- table
- مَكْتَبٌ
- office
- مَلَفٌّ
- file; folder
- مَاءٌ
- water
- سُؤَالٌ
- question
- وَقَّعَ
- signed
- لِينَا
- Lina (proper name)
- أَمَلُ
- Amal (proper name)
- أُخْتٌ
- sister
- أُخْتِي
- my sister
- شَخْصٌ
- person
- دُرْجٌ
- drawer
- خَشَبٌ
- wood
- كُرْسِيٌّ
- chair / stool
- الْمَكْتَبُ
- office
- بِبُطْءٍ
- slowly
- إِذَا
- if / when
- الْأَصْلُ
- the original
- مُوَافَقَةٌ
- consent / approval
- الْجَمْعِيَّةُ
- association
- الْكُرْسِيُّ
- chair
- جُمْلَةٌ
- sentence
- قَلَمٌ
- pen
- وَجْهٌ
- face / expression
- نَظَرَ
- to look
- آخَرُ
- another / other
- الْمُوَافَقَةُ
- agreement; consent
- الْقَائِمَةُ
- posted list
- الْكَلَامُ
- speech; conversation
- الْفُرْشَاةُ
- paintbrush
- الِاجْتِمَاعُ
- meeting
- كَتَبَتْ
- she wrote
- أُرِيدُ
- I want
- مَنْ؟
- who?
- مَاذَا؟
- what?
- كَيْفَ؟
- how?
- حَائِطٌ
- wall
- أَجَابَ
- he answered
- تَوَقَّفَ
- he stopped
- جَدِيدٌ
- new
- قَدِيمٌ
- old
- حَاوَلَ
- he tried
- أَمَامَ
- in front of
- جَمْعِيَّةٌ
- association
- سَاكِتٌ
- silent
- قَلِيلًا
- a little
- أَوَّلًا
- first
- حَامِدٌ
- Hamid (proper name)
- خَدِيجَةُ
- Khadija (proper name)
- تَغَيَّرَ
- changed
- أَقْدَمُ
- older (in date)
- وَلَكِنَّ
- but
- أَصَابِعُ
- fingers
- قَالَتْ
- she said
- سَأَلَتْ
- she asked
- أَجَابَتْ
- she answered
- نَظَرَتْ
- she looked
- أَخَذَتْ
- she took
- وَضَعَتْ
- she placed
- وَجَدَتْ
- she found
- أَغْلَقَتْ
- she closed
- أَخْبَرَتْ
- she told
- وَقَّعَتْ
- she signed
- وَافَقَتْ
- she agreed
- بَقِيَتْ
- she remained
- تُرِيدُ
- she wants
- أَفْهَمُ
- I understand
- سَأُفَكِّرُ
- I will think
- الْمَسَاءُ
- evening
- قَبْلَ
- before
- بَعْدَ
- after
- صَغِيرٌ
- small
- مُهِمٌّ
- important
- السُّوقُ الْجَدِيدُ
- the new market
- الْبَابُ السَّادِسُ
- Door Six; the sixth door
- نَظَرَ إِلَى
- he looked at
- مَرَّةً أُخْرَى
- once again
- كُوبُ شَايٍ
- cup of tea
- عِنْدِي وَرَقَةٌ
- I have a paper / document
- بَعْدَ الظُّهْرِ
- after noon
- مَعًا
- together
- لَا أَعْرِفُ
- I do not know
- تَكَلَّمَ مَعَ
- to speak with
- دُونَ أَنْ
- without (doing)
- قَبْلَ الِافْتِتَاحِ
- before opening
- فِي الْمَسَاءِ
- in the evening
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CHAPTER 10 / 12
خَلْفَ اللَّوْحَةِ
Behind the Sign
فِي صَبَاحِ الْيَوْمِ الَّذِي يَسْبِقُ افْتِتَاحَ السُّوقِ، وَصَلَتْ لِينَا إِلَى الْمَكْتَبِ وَهِيَ تَحْمِلُ دَفْتَرَيْنِ. كَانَ أَحَدُهُمَا لِأَفْكَارِهَا، وَالْآخَرُ لِطَلَبَاتِ اللَّوْحَاتِ وَأَثْمَانِهَا.
On the morning before the market opened, Lina arrived at the office carrying two notebooks: one for her thoughts and the other for sign orders and their prices.
كَانَتْ أَمَلُ هُنَاكَ، وَحَقِيبَتُهَا فِي يَدِهَا. وَكَانَ حَامِدٌ يَحْمِلُ وَرَقَتَهُ الْمَطْوِيَّةَ. وَجَلَسَ رَامِي قُرْبَ رَفِّ الْمَلَفَّاتِ.
Amal was there with her bag. Hamid held his folded paper. Rami sat beside the shelf of files.
حَضَرَ أَيْضًا عُضْوٌ آخَرُ مِنَ الْجَمْعِيَّةِ لِيَشْهَدَ الْمُرَاجَعَةَ. قَرَأَ طَلَبَ أَمَلَ وَحَامِدٍ، وَنَظَرَ إِلَى التَّوْقِيعَيْنِ، ثُمَّ أَوْمَأَ لِرَامِي أَنْ يَبْدَأَ.
Another association member attended to witness the review. The member read Amal and Hamid's request, examined both signatures and nodded for Rami to begin.
قَالَ رَامِي: «سَنَبْحَثُ عَنِ الْوَرَقَةِ الْأُولَى، ثُمَّ عَنْ أَيِّ تَغْيِيرٍ مَكْتُوبٍ بَعْدَهَا. وَسَأَكْتُبُ مَا نَجِدُهُ».
“We will look for the first allocation and then any written change after it,” Rami said. “I will record what we find.”
فَتَحَ مَلَفَّ الْأَبْوَابِ الْحَالِيَّةِ. وَضَعَ الْوَرَقَاتِ عَلَى الطَّاوِلَةِ وَاحِدَةً بَعْدَ وَاحِدَةٍ. وَجَدَ أَسْمَاءً وَأَرْقَامًا، وَلَكِنَّهُ لَمْ يَجِدْ وَرَقَةَ أَمَلَ الْأُولَى.
He opened the current-allocation file and placed the sheets on the table one by one. He found names and numbers, but not Amal's first document.
قَالَ حَامِدٌ: «هَلْ هَذَا يَعْنِي أَنَّهَا لَيْسَتْ هُنَا؟» أَجَابَ رَامِي: «لَا. عِنْدَنَا مَلَفٌّ آخَرُ لِلْأَوْرَاقِ الْقَدِيمَةِ».
“Does that mean it is not here?” Hamid asked. “No,” Rami said. “We also have another folder for older papers.”
كَانَتْ لِينَا قَدْ رَأَتْ هَذِهِ الْمَلَفَّاتِ مِنْ قَبْلُ. وَلَمْ تَكُنْ قَدْ فَتَحَتْ وَاحِدًا مِنْهَا. تَقَدَّمَ رَامِي إِلَى الرَّفِّ وَأَخَذَ مَلَفَّ الْأَوْرَاقِ الْقَدِيمَةِ.
Lina had seen the folders before but had never opened one. Rami went to the shelf and took down the old-records folder.
كَانَ الْمَلَفُّ ثَقِيلًا بِأَوْرَاقٍ لِأَبْوَابٍ وَمَحَالَّ مِنَ السُّوقِ الْقَدِيمِ. نَشَرَ رَامِي بَعْضَ الْأَوْرَاقِ عَلَى الطَّاوِلَةِ، وَبَدَأَ يَقْرَأُ التَّوَارِيخَ.
The folder was thick with papers for doors and shops from the old market. Rami spread some sheets on the table and began reading dates.
سَكَتَ الْجَمِيعُ إِلَّا مِنْ صَوْتِ الْوَرَقِ. كَانَتْ لِينَا تَرَى يَدَ رَامِي تَتَوَقَّفُ عِنْدَ كُلِّ اسْمٍ، ثُمَّ تَنْتَقِلُ إِلَى الِاسْمِ الَّذِي بَعْدَهُ.
Everyone was quiet except for the sound of paper. Lina watched Rami's hand pause at each name and then move to the next.
فَجْأَةً قَالَ رَامِي: «هُنَا». وَضَعَ وَرَقَةً عَلَى الطَّاوِلَةِ، وَقَرَأَ: «أَمَلُ — الْبَابُ السَّادِسُ». ثُمَّ قَرَأَ التَّارِيخَ الْقَدِيمَ.
Suddenly Rami said, “Here.” He laid down a sheet and read: “Amal — Door Six.” Then he read the earlier date.
أَخْرَجَتْ أَمَلُ نُسْخَتَهَا مِنَ الْحَقِيبَةِ. كَانَتْ عَلَيْهَا بُقَعٌ مِنَ الْمَاءِ، وَلَكِنَّ اسْمَهَا وَرَقْمَ الْبَابِ وَالتَّارِيخَ وَالتَّوْقِيعَيْنِ كَانَتْ وَاضِحَةً.
Amal took her copy from her bag. It bore water stains, but her name, the door number, the date and both signatures were clear.
وَضَعَ رَامِي النُّسْخَةَ بِجَانِبِ الْأَصْلِ. كَانَ الْكَلَامُ نَفْسَهُ عَلَى الْوَرَقَتَيْنِ. قَالَ شَاهِدُ الْجَمْعِيَّةِ: «هَذَا هُوَ الْأَصْلُ الَّذِي وُقِّعَ أَوَّلًا».
Rami placed the copy beside the original. The wording matched on both pages. The association witness said, “This is the original that was signed first.”
سَأَلَ حَامِدٌ: «وَهَلْ هُنَاكَ وَرَقَةٌ تُغَيِّرُهُ؟» رَاجَعَ رَامِي بَقِيَّةَ الْمَلَفِّ، ثُمَّ الْأَوْرَاقَ الْحَالِيَّةَ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى. لَمْ يَجِدْ تَوْقِيعَ أَمَلَ عَلَى تَغْيِيرٍ.
“Is there a paper changing it?” Hamid asked. Rami checked the rest of the folder, then the current papers again. He found no signature from Amal approving a change.
قَالَ رَامِي: «لَا أَرَى تَغْيِيرًا مَكْتُوبًا. وَسَأَكْتُبُ أَنَّنَا بَحَثْنَا فِي الْمَلَفَّيْنِ». أَوْمَأَ الشَّاهِدُ، وَكَتَبَ مَعَهُ مَا تَمَّتْ مُرَاجَعَتُهُ.
“I can see no written change,” Rami said. “I will record that we searched both folders.” The witness nodded and noted what had been reviewed.
أَخْرَجَ حَامِدٌ وَرَقَتَهُ. كَانَ فِيهَا وَعْدُ خَدِيجَةَ بِالْبَابِ السَّادِسِ، وَتَارِيخٌ بَعْدَ تَارِيخِ أَمَلَ. قَرَأَهَا بِصَوْتٍ مُنْخَفِضٍ.
Hamid took out his paper. It contained Khadija's promise of Door Six and a date later than Amal's. He read it quietly.
سَأَلَ: «هَلْ هَذِهِ الْوَرَقَةُ حَقِيقِيَّةٌ؟» أَجَابَ رَامِي: «نَعَمْ، هِيَ وَعْدٌ مَكْتُوبٌ مِنْ خَدِيجَةَ لَكَ. لَكِنَّهَا لَيْسَتْ مُوَافَقَةَ أَمَلَ عَلَى التَّغْيِيرِ».
“Is this paper genuine?” Hamid asked. “Yes, it is a written promise from Khadija to you,” Rami answered. “But it is not Amal's consent to a change.”
لَمْ يَتَكَلَّمْ حَامِدٌ لِبُرْهَةٍ. ثُمَّ طَوَى وَرَقَتَهُ بِعِنَايَةٍ، وَوَضَعَهَا فِي جَيْبِهِ. لَمْ يُمْزِقْهَا، وَلَمْ يُلْقِهَا عَلَى الطَّاوِلَةِ.
Hamid did not speak for a while. Then he carefully folded his paper and put it in his pocket. He did not tear it up or throw it on the table.
سَأَلَتْ أَمَلُ: «مَاذَا عَنِ الْإِيصَالِ الَّذِي أَعْطَانِي إِيَّاهُ رَامِي؟» أَخْرَجَتْهُ مِنْ حَقِيبَتِهَا، وَوَضَعَتْهُ قُرْبَ النُّسْخَةِ.
“What about the receipt Rami gave me?” Amal asked. She took it from her bag and laid it near the copy.
قَالَ رَامِي: «هَذَا يَدُلُّ عَلَى أَنَّكِ دَفَعْتِ الْمَبْلَغَ. وَلَا يَكْتُبُ رَقْمَ بَابٍ». أَعَادَ الْإِيصَالَ إِلَيْهَا. لَمْ يَجْعَلْ مِنْهُ دَلِيلًا عَلَى الْبَابِ.
“This shows that you paid the amount,” Rami said. “It does not state a door number.” He handed the receipt back. He did not treat it as proof of a stall.
عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ فَتَحَتْ لِينَا دَفْتَرَ الطَّلَبَاتِ. قَالَتْ: «عِنْدِي تَارِيخٌ آخَرُ. لَا يُغَيِّرُ الْوَرَقَةَ الْأَصْلِيَّةَ، وَلَكِنْ رُبَّمَا يُسَاعِدُنَا عَلَى فَهْمِ وَقْتِ التَّغْيِيرِ».
Lina opened the order book. “I have another date,” she said. “It does not change the original document, but it may help us understand when the change was being prepared.”
أَشَارَتْ إِلَى سَطْرٍ كَتَبَتْهُ بِيَدِهَا: «لَوْحَةٌ جَدِيدَةٌ فَارِغَةٌ لِلْبَابِ السَّادِسِ — طَلَبُ خَدِيجَةَ». وَكَانَ التَّارِيخُ قَبْلَ الِافْتِتَاحِ بِسِتَّةَ عَشَرَ يَوْمًا.
She pointed to a line in her own handwriting: “New blank panel for Door Six — Khadija's order.” The date was sixteen days before opening.
قَالَتْ لِينَا: «خَدِيجَةُ تَقُولُ إِنَّ أَمَلًا وَافَقَتْ قَبْلَ الِافْتِتَاحِ بِاثْنَيْ عَشَرَ يَوْمًا. أَمَّا اللَّوْحَةُ فَطُلِبَتْ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ بِأَرْبَعَةِ أَيَّامٍ».
“Khadija says Amal agreed twelve days before opening,” Lina said. “But the panel was ordered four days before that.”
سَأَلَ حَامِدٌ: «هَلْ هَذَا يَعْنِي أَنَّهَا كَانَتْ تَعْرِفُ أَنَّ أَمَلًا لَنْ تُوَافِقَ؟» أَجَابَتْ لِينَا: «لَا أَعْرِفُ مَا كَانَتْ تَعْلَمُهُ».
“Does that mean she knew Amal would not agree?” Hamid asked. “I do not know what she knew,” Lina answered.
أَضَافَتْ: «رُبَّمَا كَانَتْ تَسْتَعِدُّ لِتَغْيِيرٍ تَرْجُوهُ. لَكِنَّ الطَّلَبَ كُتِبَ قَبْلَ الْيَوْمِ الَّذِي قَالَتْ إِنَّ الْمُوَافَقَةَ حَدَثَتْ فِيهِ».
“Perhaps she was preparing for a change she hoped would happen. But the order was written before the day she says the agreement took place.”
قَالَ الشَّاهِدُ: «الْوَرَقَةُ الْأُولَى وَاضِحَةٌ، وَلَا نَرَى وَرَقَةَ تَغْيِيرٍ. أَمَّا سَبَبُ نَقْلِ الْأَصْلِ إِلَى هَذَا الْمَلَفِّ، فَعَلَيْنَا أَنْ نَسْأَلَ خَدِيجَةَ عَنْهُ».
The witness said, “The first allocation is clear, and we see no change paper. But we must ask Khadija why the original was moved to this folder.”
تَذَكَّرَتْ لِينَا أَنَّ الْمَلَفَّ الْقَدِيمَ كَانَ لِأَوْرَاقٍ لَمْ يَعُدْ يُعْمَلُ بِهَا عَادَةً. وَرَقَةُ أَمَلَ لَمْ تَكُنْ مِنْ تِلْكَ الْأَوْرَاقِ.
Lina remembered that the old folder normally held papers no longer in active use. Amal's allocation was not one of those.
قَالَ رَامِي: «سَنَضَعُ الْأَصْلَ فِي مَكَانٍ وَاضِحٍ أَمَامَ الشَّاهِدِ، وَسَنَحْفَظُ الْمَلَفَّ حَتَّى الِاجْتِمَاعِ. لَنْ نُغَيِّرَ شَيْئًا فِيهِ الْيَوْمَ».
“We will place the original in a clearly marked place with the witness watching and keep the folder for the meeting,” Rami said. “We will not alter anything in it today.”
قَالَتْ أَمَلُ: «أَنَا أُرِيدُ بَابِي، وَلَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ يُقَالَ إِنَّ حَامِدًا سَرَقَهُ». نَظَرَتْ إِلَى حَامِدٍ. «لَمْ تَكُنْ عِنْدَكَ وَرَقَتِي».
“I want my stall,” Amal said, “and I do not want people saying Hamid stole it.” She looked at him. “You did not have my document.”
قَالَ حَامِدٌ: «وَلَا كُنْتُ أَعْرِفُ أَنَّ الْوَرَقَةَ هُنَا. أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْمَعَ مِنْ أُخْتِي لِمَاذَا حَدَثَ ذَلِكَ».
“And I did not know the paper was here,” Hamid said. “I want to hear from my sister why this happened.”
قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْرُجُوا، قَرَأَ رَامِي مَا كَتَبَهُ عَنِ الْمُرَاجَعَةِ. صَحَّحَتْ أَمَلُ تَارِيخًا صَغِيرًا، وَقَرَأَهُ الشَّاهِدُ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى.
Before they left, Rami read aloud his notes on the review. Amal corrected a small date, and the witness read it again.
قَالَ رَامِي: «سَيَكُونُ اجْتِمَاعُ التُّجَّارِ هَذَا الْمَسَاءَ. سَنُقَدِّمُ الْوَرَقَاتِ كَمَا وَجَدْنَاهَا، وَسَنَسْمَعُ مِنْ خَدِيجَةَ».
“The traders’ meeting will be this evening,” Rami said. “We will present the papers as we found them, and we will hear from Khadija.”
خَرَجَتْ لِينَا إِلَى الضَّوْءِ. كَانَ السُّوقُ يُعِدُّ نَفْسَهُ لِلِافْتِتَاحِ غَدًا. كُلُّ بَابٍ يَحْتَاجُ إِلَى اسْمٍ، وَلَكِنَّ الْأَسْمَاءَ لَمْ تَعُدْ مُجَرَّدَ طِلَاءٍ عِنْدَهَا.
Lina stepped into the daylight. The market was preparing to open tomorrow. Every door needed a name, but names no longer seemed like mere paint to her.
أَخَذَتْ دَفْتَرَ طَلَبَاتِهَا إِلَى طَاوِلَتِهَا. هَذِهِ الْمَرَّةَ عَرَفَتْ مَا تُثْبِتُهُ الْأَوْرَاقُ، وَمَا لَا تَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ تُخْبِرَهَا بِهِ عَنْ قَلْبِ خَدِيجَةَ.
She carried her order book back to her table. This time she knew what the papers proved—and what they could not tell her about Khadija's heart.
Chapter vocabulary (118 entries)
- التُّجَّارُ
- traders
- طَلَبٌ
- order; request
- السُّوقُ
- market
- بَابٌ
- door
- لَوْحَةٌ
- signboard; panel
- وَرَقَةٌ
- sheet of paper
- مَكَانٌ
- place
- الِاسْمُ
- name
- كَتَبَ
- he wrote
- قَرَأَ
- he read
- سَأَلَ
- he asked
- قَالَ
- he said
- وَضَعَ
- he put; placed
- أَخَذَ
- he took
- عَادَ
- he returned
- وَجَدَ
- he found
- بَقِيَ
- he remained
- فَتَحَ
- he opened
- صَبَاحٌ
- morning
- غَدًا
- tomorrow
- ثُمَّ
- then
- لَكِنَّ
- but; however
- مُنْخَفِضٌ
- low; quiet (of voice)
- الطَّلَبَاتُ
- orders
- الطَّاوِلَةُ
- the table
- سَطْرٌ
- line of writing
- رَقْمٌ
- number
- اسْمٌ
- name
- رَفٌّ
- shelf
- فَهِمَ
- he understood
- أَوَّلُ
- first of
- بِجَانِبِ
- beside
- لِمَاذَا؟
- why?
- رُبَّمَا
- perhaps / maybe
- سُوقٌ
- market
- طِلَاءٌ
- paint
- طَاوِلَةٌ
- table
- نُسْخَةٌ
- copy
- إِيصَالٌ
- receipt
- مَكْتَبٌ
- office
- مَلَفٌّ
- file; folder
- مَاءٌ
- water
- وَعْدٌ
- promise
- وَقَّعَ
- signed
- سَكَتَ
- fell silent
- مَكْتُوبٌ
- written
- لِينَا
- Lina (proper name)
- أَمَلُ
- Amal (proper name)
- أُخْتٌ
- sister
- أُخْتِي
- my sister
- الضَّوْءُ
- light
- الْمَكْتَبُ
- office
- بِعِنَايَةٍ
- carefully
- حَتَّى
- until
- الْأَصْلُ
- the original
- مُوَافَقَةٌ
- consent / approval
- الْجَمْعِيَّةُ
- association
- الرَّفُّ
- shelf
- حَضَرَ
- to attend
- بَدَأَ
- to begin
- يَوْمٌ
- day
- صَوْتٌ
- voice
- نَظَرَ
- to look
- جَلَسَ
- to sit
- آخَرُ
- another / other
- الْمُوَافَقَةُ
- agreement; consent
- الْكَلَامُ
- speech; conversation
- الِاجْتِمَاعُ
- meeting
- كَتَبَتْ
- she wrote
- رَأَتْ
- she saw
- أُرِيدُ
- I want
- عَرَفْتُ
- I learned; I knew
- مَنْ؟
- who?
- مَاذَا؟
- what?
- دَفْتَرٌ
- notebook
- أَجَابَ
- he answered
- جَدِيدٌ
- new
- قَدِيمٌ
- old
- وَاضِحٌ
- clear
- تَارِيخٌ
- date
- أَخْرَجَ
- he took out
- أَمَامَ
- in front of
- حَقِيبَةٌ
- bag (for personal items)
- تَوْقِيعٌ
- signature
- جَمْعِيَّةٌ
- association
- أَعَادَ
- returned; put back
- أَوَّلًا
- first
- حَامِدٌ
- Hamid (proper name)
- خَدِيجَةُ
- Khadija (proper name)
- تَغْيِيرٌ
- change
- تَغَيَّرَ
- changed
- يَحْتَاجُ
- needs
- وَلَكِنَّ
- but
- قَالَتْ
- she said
- سَأَلَتْ
- she asked
- أَجَابَتْ
- she answered
- نَظَرَتْ
- she looked
- أَخَذَتْ
- she took
- وَضَعَتْ
- she placed
- تَذَكَّرَتْ
- she remembered
- فَتَحَتْ
- she opened
- دَفَعَتْ
- she pushed
- وَافَقَتْ
- she agreed
- خَرَجَتْ
- she went out
- وَصَلَتْ
- she arrived
- الْمَسَاءُ
- evening
- قَبْلَ
- before
- بَعْدَ
- after
- السُّوقُ الْقَدِيمُ
- the old market
- الْبَابُ السَّادِسُ
- Door Six; the sixth door
- نَظَرَ إِلَى
- he looked at
- مَرَّةً أُخْرَى
- once again
- دَفْتَرُ الطَّلَبَاتِ
- order book
- بَحَثَ عَنْ
- he searched for
- وَرَقَةُ أَمَلَ
- Amal’s document
- لَا أَعْرِفُ
- I do not know
- الْمَلَفُّ الْقَدِيمُ
- old file
- قَبْلَ الِافْتِتَاحِ
- before opening
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CHAPTER 11 / 12
أَمَامَ النَّاسِ
Before the People
فِي مَسَاءِ الْيَوْمِ نَفْسِهِ، امْتَلَأَ مَكْتَبُ التُّجَّارِ بِالْكَرَاسِيِّ. وَلَمَّا لَمْ يَبْقَ مَكَانٌ، وَقَفَ بَعْضُ النَّاسِ عِنْدَ الْبَابِ. جَلَسَتْ لِينَا فِي الْخَلْفِ وَدَفْتَرُهَا عَلَى رُكْبَتَيْهَا.
That evening the traders’ office filled with chairs. When there was no room left, some people stood at the doorway. Lina sat in the back with her notebook on her knees.
جَاءَتْ صَبَاحُ وَجَلَسَتْ بِجَانِبِ ابْنَتِهَا. لَمْ تَقُلْ إِنَّهَا جَاءَتْ لِتُسَاعِدَهَا، وَلَمْ تَسْأَلْهَا أَنْ تَعُودَ إِلَى الْبَيْتِ. وَضَعَتْ فَقَطْ كُوبَ مَاءٍ أَمَامَهَا.
Sabah came and sat beside her daughter. She did not say she had come to help, nor ask her to go home. She merely set a cup of water before her.
كَانَتْ خَدِيجَةُ تَجْلِسُ قُرْبَ الطَّاوِلَةِ، وَبِجَانِبِهَا قِطَعٌ صَغِيرَةٌ مِنَ الْقُمَاشِ كَانَتْ قَدْ أَحْضَرَتْهَا مِنْ عَمَلِهَا. أَمَّا حَامِدٌ فَجَلَسَ بَعِيدًا عَنْهَا قَلِيلًا.
Khadija sat near the table, beside small pieces of cloth she had brought from work. Hamid sat a little apart from her.
بَدَأَ اجْتِمَاعُ التُّجَّارِ بِكَلَامٍ عَنْ افْتِتَاحِ السُّوقِ غَدًا. سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ عَنْ مَكَانِ الصَّنَادِيقِ، وَسَأَلَتِ امْرَأَةٌ عَنْ وَقْتِ فَتْحِ الْأَبْوَابِ.
The meeting began with talk about tomorrow's opening. One man asked where boxes would go, and a woman asked what time the doors would open.
ثُمَّ قَامَ رَامِي وَقَالَ: «عِنْدَنَا خِلَافٌ عَلَى الْبَابِ السَّادِسِ. وَقَدْ رَاجَعْنَا الْوَرَقَاتِ هَذَا الصَّبَاحَ بِحُضُورِ أَمَلَ وَحَامِدٍ وَشَاهِدٍ مِنَ الْجَمْعِيَّةِ».
Then Rami stood. “We have a dispute over Door Six,” he said. “We reviewed the papers this morning with Amal, Hamid and an association witness present.”
كَانَ صَوْتُ رَامِي مُرْتَجِفًا قَلِيلًا. قَرَأَ مِنْ وَرَقَتِهِ أَنَّ الْأَصْلَ الْمُوَقَّعَ كَانَ بِاسْمِ أَمَلَ، وَأَنَّهُمْ لَمْ يَجِدُوا مُوَافَقَةً مَكْتُوبَةً عَلَى تَغْيِيرِهِ.
Rami's voice shook a little. He read that the signed original named Amal and that they had found no written consent changing it.
رَفَعَ رَامِي الْقَائِمَةَ الْجَدِيدَةَ. «أَنَا كَتَبْتُ هَذِهِ الْقَائِمَةَ. أَعْطَتْنِي خَدِيجَةُ الْأَسْمَاءَ، وَلَمْ أَرْجِعْ إِلَى الْوَرَقَةِ الْأُولَى. هَذَا خَطَئِي».
Rami held up the newer list. “I wrote this list. Khadija gave me the names, and I did not check the first allocation. That was my mistake.”
سَأَلَهُ تَاجِرٌ: «هَلْ قَرَّرْتَ أَنْ تَأْخُذَ أَمَلُ الْبَابَ التَّاسِعَ؟» أَجَابَ: «لَا. لَمْ يَكُنْ ذَلِكَ مِنْ سُلْطَتِي. لَكِنَّ خَطِّي جَعَلَ الْقَرَارَ يَبْدُو كَأَنَّهُ صَحِيحٌ».
A trader asked, “Did you decide Amal should take Door Nine?” “No,” Rami answered. “That was not my authority. But my handwriting made the decision look official.”
قَالَتِ امْرَأَةٌ مِنَ الْخَلْفِ: «لَكِنَّ خَدِيجَةَ سَاعَدَتْنَا جَمِيعًا. رُبَّمَا هُنَاكَ سَبَبٌ». قَالَ شَخْصٌ آخَرُ: «وَرُبَّمَا يَجِبُ أَنْ نَسْمَعَ أَمَلَ أَوَّلًا».
A woman at the back said, “But Khadija has helped us all. Perhaps there is a reason.” Someone else said, “Perhaps we should hear Amal first.”
وَقَفَتْ أَمَلُ. لَمْ تَحْمِلْ مَعَهَا إِلَّا نُسْخَتَهَا الَّتِي عَلَيْهَا بُقَعُ الْمَاءِ. قَالَتْ: «وُعِدْتُ بِالْبَابِ السَّادِسِ، وَوَقَّعْتُ عَلَى هَذِهِ الْوَرَقَةِ».
Amal stood, carrying only her water-stained copy. “I was allocated Door Six, and I signed this paper,” she said.
«سَأَلَتْنِي خَدِيجَةُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ إِنْ كُنْتُ أُرِيدُ الْبَابَ التَّاسِعَ. قُلْتُ إِنَّنِي سَأُفَكِّرُ. لَمْ أَقُلْ نَعَمْ، وَلَمْ أُوَقِّعْ عَلَى تَغْيِيرٍ».
“Later Khadija asked if I wanted Door Nine. I said I would think about it. I did not say yes, and I did not sign a change.”
سَأَلَتْ خَدِيجَةُ بِصَوْتٍ قَصِيرٍ: «أَوَلَمْ نَتَكَلَّمْ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى؟» أَجَابَتْ أَمَلُ: «لَا. لَمْ نَتَكَلَّمْ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى عَنْ هَذَا الْبَابِ».
“Did we not speak once more?” Khadija asked sharply. “No,” Amal replied. “We did not speak again about that stall.”
رَأَتْ لِينَا يَدَ خَدِيجَةَ تَمُدُّ طَرَفَ قِطْعَةِ قُمَاشٍ عَلَى الطَّاوِلَةِ. كَانَتْ تُسَوِّي طَرَفًا مُسْتَقِيمًا أَصْلًا.
Lina saw Khadija pull the edge of a piece of cloth across the table, straightening an edge that was already straight.
وَقَفَ حَامِدٌ بَعْدَ أَمَلَ. قَالَ: «أَعْطَتْنِي أُخْتِي وَرَقَةً حَقِيقِيَّةً بِوَعْدٍ لِلْبَابِ السَّادِسِ. صَدَّقْتُهَا. وَاشْتَرَيْتُ خَشَبًا لِرَفٍّ يَنْقُصُهُ الْعَمَلُ حَتَّى الْآنَ».
Hamid stood after Amal. “My sister gave me a genuine written promise of Door Six. I believed her. I bought wood for a shelf that is still unfinished.”
«لَمْ أَتَكَلَّمْ مَعَ أَمَلَ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ عَنْ تَغْيِيرِ بَابِهَا. كُنْتُ أَظُنُّ أَنَّ أُخْتِي قَدْ أَنْهَتِ الْأَمْرَ. أَمَّا الْآنَ فَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ الْوَرَقَاتِ».
“I did not speak with Amal about changing her stall. I thought my sister had settled it. Now I have seen the papers.”
سَأَلَ تَاجِرٌ: «وَهَلْ تَرْضَى بِالْبَابِ التَّاسِعِ؟» أَجَابَ حَامِدٌ: «أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَعْمَلَ فِيهِ. لَكِنَّ هَذَا لَا يَمْحُو الْمَالَ الَّذِي دَفَعْتُهُ».
“Can you accept Door Nine?” a trader asked. “I can work there,” Hamid answered. “But that does not erase the money I spent.”
حِينَ جَاءَ دَوْرُ لِينَا، لَمْ تَقُمْ فَوْرًا. نَظَرَتْ إِلَى صَبَاحَ، فَوَجَدَتْ أُمَّهَا تُحَرِّكُ كُوبَ الْمَاءِ نَحْوَهَا. ثُمَّ قَامَتْ.
When it was Lina's turn, she did not stand immediately. She looked at Sabah, who moved the cup of water closer to her. Then Lina got up.
قَالَتْ: «أَنَا أَكْتُبُ اللَّوْحَاتِ فَقَطْ. لَكِنَّ عِنْدِي دَفْتَرًا يَحْفَظُ تَوَارِيخَ الطَّلَبَاتِ. طَلَبَتْ خَدِيجَةُ لَوْحَةً فَارِغَةً جَدِيدَةً لِلْبَابِ السَّادِسِ قَبْلَ الِافْتِتَاحِ بِسِتَّةَ عَشَرَ يَوْمًا».
“I only paint signs,” she said. “But I keep an order book with dates. Khadija ordered a new blank panel for Door Six sixteen days before opening.”
«وَخَدِيجَةُ تَقُولُ إِنَّ أَمَلًا وَافَقَتْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ بِأَرْبَعَةِ أَيَّامٍ. لَا أَعْرِفُ لِمَاذَا طَلَبَتِ اللَّوْحَةَ مُبَكِّرًا. لَكِنَّ التَّارِيخَيْنِ مَكْتُوبَانِ».
“Khadija says Amal agreed four days after that. I do not know why the panel was ordered early. But the two dates are recorded.”
قَالَتْ لِينَا: «الْوَرَقَةُ الْأَصْلِيَّةُ وَالْقَاعِدَةُ الْمَكْتُوبَةُ أَوْضَحُ مِنْ تَخْمِينِي. أَمَّا عَمَلِي فَلَا يَجِبُ أَنْ يُغَيِّرَ حَقَّ أَحَدٍ». ثُمَّ جَلَسَتْ.
“The original paper and the written rule are clearer than my guesses,” Lina said. “My work should not change anyone's rights.” Then she sat.
بَقِيَتْ خَدِيجَةُ صَامِتَةً. سَأَلَهَا عُضْوُ الْجَمْعِيَّةِ الَّذِي حَضَرَ مُرَاجَعَةَ الصَّبَاحِ: «هَلْ نُقِلَتْ وَرَقَةُ أَمَلَ مِنَ الْمَلَفِّ الْحَالِيِّ بِعِلْمِكِ؟»
Khadija remained silent. The association member who had attended the morning review asked, “Was Amal's paper moved from the current file with your knowledge?”
أَجَابَتْ خَدِيجَةُ: «كُنَّا نُحَاوِلُ أَنْ نُنْهِيَ الِانْتِقَالَ. حَامِدٌ خَسِرَ مَكَانَهُ، وَأَمَلُ كَانَتْ قَدْ قَالَتْ إِنَّهَا سَتُفَكِّرُ. ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّنَا سَنَجِدُ حَلًّا».
“We were trying to finish the move,” Khadija said. “Hamid lost his place, and Amal had said she would think about it. I thought we would find a solution.”
سَأَلَ الْعُضْوُ: «وَلَكِنْ هَلْ وَافَقَتْ بِالْكِتَابَةِ؟» نَظَرَتْ خَدِيجَةُ إِلَى أَمَلَ، ثُمَّ إِلَى حَامِدٍ. أَجَابَتْ: «لَا».
“But did she agree in writing?” the member asked. Khadija looked at Amal, then at Hamid. “No,” she answered.
لَمْ يَتَكَلَّمْ أَحَدٌ لِبُرْهَةٍ. ثُمَّ قَالَتْ خَدِيجَةُ: «وَعَدْتُ أَخِي بِالْبَابِ السَّادِسِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَتِمَّ التَّغْيِيرُ. وَخِفْتُ أَنْ أُخْبِرَهُ أَنِّي لَا أَسْتَطِيعُ الْوَفَاءَ بِالْوَعْدِ».
No one spoke for a while. Khadija continued, “I promised my brother Door Six before the change was agreed. I was afraid to tell him I could not keep that promise.”
«نَقَلْتُ وَرَقَةَ أَمَلَ إِلَى مَلَفِّ الْأَوْرَاقِ الْقَدِيمَةِ، وَطَلَبْتُ مِنْ رَامِي أَنْ يَكْتُبَ قَائِمَةً جَدِيدَةً. وَقُلْتُ إِنَّ أَمَلًا وَافَقَتْ، وَهِيَ لَمْ تُوَافِقْ».
“I moved Amal's paper into the old-records folder and asked Rami to write a new list. I said Amal had agreed, and she had not.”
أَنْزَلَتْ خَدِيجَةُ رَأْسَهَا قَلِيلًا. «لَمْ أُزَوِّرْ تَوْقِيعًا. لَكِنِّي أَخْفَيْتُ الْوَرَقَةَ فِي مَكَانٍ يَجْعَلُ النَّاسَ يَظُنُّونَ أَنَّهَا لَمْ تَعُدْ مُهِمَّةً. هَذَا مَا فَعَلْتُهُ».
Khadija lowered her head a little. “I did not forge a signature. But I hid the paper where people would think it was no longer important. That is what I did.”
نَظَرَتْ لِينَا إِلَى حَامِدٍ. كَانَ وَجْهُهُ ثَابِتًا، وَلَكِنَّ يَدَيْهِ كَانَتَا مَشْدُودَتَيْنِ. لَمْ يَنْظُرْ إِلَى أُخْتِهِ فِي تِلْكَ اللَّحْظَةِ.
Lina looked at Hamid. His face was still, but his hands were tense. He did not look at his sister then.
قَالَتْ أَمَلُ: «لَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ يَعَاقِبَهَا أَحَدٌ مِنْ أَجْلِي. وَلَكِنْ لَا أُرِيدُ أَيْضًا أَنْ يُطْلَبَ مِنِّي تَرْكُ بَابِي لِأَنَّ شَخْصًا آخَرَ وَعَدَ بِهِ».
“I do not want anyone punished for my sake,” Amal said. “But I also do not want to be asked to give up my stall because someone else promised it away.”
تَكَلَّمَ بَعْضُ التُّجَّارِ عَنْ بَدْءِ الْعَمَلِ غَدًا، وَعَنْ حَقِّ أَمَلَ فِي وَرَقَتِهَا. اخْتَلَفُوا فِي الْكَلَامِ، وَلَكِنَّهُمْ رَجَعُوا إِلَى قَاعِدَةِ الْجَمْعِيَّةِ الَّتِي اتَّفَقُوا عَلَيْهَا مِنْ قَبْلُ.
Some traders spoke about starting work tomorrow and about Amal's signed paper. They disagreed in their comments but returned to the association rule they had agreed upon earlier.
فِي آخِرِ الِاجْتِمَاعِ، أُقِرَّ أَنْ يَبْقَى الْبَابُ السَّادِسُ لِأَمَلَ، وَأَنْ يَأْخُذَ حَامِدٌ الْبَابَ التَّاسِعَ. وَطُلِبَ مِنْ رَامِي أَنْ يُصَحِّحَ الْقَائِمَةَ بِحُضُورِ شَاهِدٍ.
By the end of the meeting, it was agreed that Door Six would remain Amal's and Hamid would take Door Nine. Rami was asked to correct the list with a witness present.
قَالَتْ خَدِيجَةُ: «لَنْ أَرْأَسَ عَمَلَ الِانْتِقَالِ غَدًا. لِيُكْمِلْهُ غَيْرِي». لَمْ يَطْلُبْ مِنْهَا أَحَدٌ أَنْ تَقُولَ أَكْثَرَ فِي تِلْكَ اللَّحْظَةِ.
“I will not chair tomorrow's move,” Khadija said. “Someone else should complete it.” No one asked her to say more at that moment.
قَالَ حَامِدٌ بِصَوْتٍ وَاضِحٍ: «أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَعْرِفَ مَنْ سَيَدْفَعُ ثَمَنَ الْخَشَبِ الَّذِي لَا يَنْفَعُ لِرَفِّ الْبَابِ التَّاسِعِ». لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي صَوْتِهِ غَضَبٌ صَاخِبٌ، بَلْ تَعَبٌ.
“I want to know who will pay for the wood that cannot be used for the Door Nine shelf,” Hamid said clearly. He sounded tired rather than loudly angry.
أَجَابَتْ خَدِيجَةُ: «أَنَا الَّتِي وَعَدْتُكَ. وَلَا أَطْلُبُ مِنَ الْجَمْعِيَّةِ أَنْ تَدْفَعَ عَنْ خَطَئِي. سَنَتَكَلَّمُ عَنِ الْمَبْلَغِ بَعْدَ الِاجْتِمَاعِ».
“I was the one who promised you,” Khadija replied. “I am not asking the association to pay for my mistake. We will speak about the amount after the meeting.”
عِنْدَمَا خَرَجَ النَّاسُ، بَقِيَتْ خَدِيجَةُ تُرَتِّبُ قِطَعَ الْقُمَاشِ الصَّغِيرَةَ. مَرَّتْ لِينَا بِقُرْبِهَا، فَرَفَعَتْ خَدِيجَةُ عَيْنَيْهَا وَقَالَتْ: «لَمْ أَكُنْ أُرِيدُ هَذَا».
As the people left, Khadija remained arranging the small pieces of cloth. Lina passed her. Khadija looked up and said, “This was not what I wanted.”
أَجَابَتْ لِينَا: «أَفْهَمُ». وَكَانَتْ تَعْرِفُ أَنَّ الْفَهْمَ لَا يَعْنِي أَنَّ الْخَطَأَ قَدْ اخْتَفَى. لَمْ تَعِدْ خَدِيجَةَ بِأَنْ يَعُودَ كُلُّ شَيْءٍ كَمَا كَانَ.
“I understand,” Lina replied. She knew understanding did not mean the mistake had vanished. She did not promise Khadija that everything would be as before.
خَارِجَ الْمَكْتَبِ، وَجَدَتْ لِينَا صَبَاحَ تَنْتَظِرُهَا. قَالَتِ الْأُمُّ: «غَدًا عِنْدَكِ لَوْحَتَانِ لِتُكْمِلِيهِمَا». أَجَابَتْ لِينَا: «نَعَمْ. وَحَرْفَانِ سَيَأْخُذَانِ وَقْتًا طَوِيلًا».
Outside the office Lina found Sabah waiting. “You have two signs to finish tomorrow,” her mother said. “Yes,” Lina replied. “And two letters that will take a long time.”
سَارَتَا إِلَى طَاوِلَةِ الشَّايِ دُونَ أَنْ تَتَكَلَّمَا عَنِ الِانْتِصَارِ. لَمْ يَنْتَصِرْ أَحَدٌ بِسُهُولَةٍ. وَلَكِنَّ الِاسْمَ الَّذِي سَيُكْتَبُ فَوْقَ الْبَابِ السَّادِسِ صَارَ مَعْرُوفًا.
They walked to the tea table without speaking of victory. No one had won easily. But the name to be written above Door Six was now settled.
Chapter vocabulary (144 entries)
- رَجُلٌ
- man
- النَّاسُ
- people
- التُّجَّارُ
- traders
- الْعَمَلُ
- work
- طَلَبٌ
- order; request
- خِلَافٌ
- disagreement
- السُّوقُ
- market
- بَابٌ
- door
- لَوْحَةٌ
- signboard; panel
- الْخَشَبُ
- wood
- كُوبٌ
- cup
- وَرَقَةٌ
- sheet of paper
- قَائِمَةٌ
- list
- مَكَانٌ
- place
- الْقُمَاشُ
- cloth; fabric
- الِاسْمُ
- name
- قَرَأَ
- he read
- سَأَلَ
- he asked
- قَالَ
- he said
- جَاءَ
- he came
- وَقَفَ
- he stood; stopped
- تَرَكَ
- he left (something)
- فَتَحَ
- he opened
- صَبَاحٌ
- morning
- غَدًا
- tomorrow
- ثُمَّ
- then
- لَكِنَّ
- but; however
- لِأَنَّ
- because
- عَمَلٌ
- work / task
- الطَّلَبَاتُ
- orders
- ثَمَنٌ
- price / payment
- الِانْتِقَالُ
- moving to a new place
- لَوْحَتَانِ
- two boards / signs
- الصَّنَادِيقُ
- boxes
- الطَّاوِلَةُ
- the table
- اسْمٌ
- name
- رَفَعَ
- he lifted
- خَرَجَ
- he went out
- فَهِمَ
- he understood
- أَوَّلُ
- first of
- مُبَكِّرًا
- early
- خَلْفَ
- behind
- فَوْقَ
- on top of
- بِجَانِبِ
- beside
- لِمَاذَا؟
- why?
- رُبَّمَا
- perhaps / maybe
- سُوقٌ
- market
- طَاوِلَةٌ
- table
- مَالٌ
- money
- قِطْعَةٌ
- piece; coin (here)
- قُمَاشٌ
- cloth
- مَكْتَبٌ
- office
- مَلَفٌّ
- file; folder
- مَاءٌ
- water
- وَعْدٌ
- promise
- قَامَ
- got up; stood
- غَضِبَ
- became angry
- صَحِيحٌ
- correct
- مَكْتُوبٌ
- written
- فَقَطْ
- only
- لِينَا
- Lina (proper name)
- أَمَلُ
- Amal (proper name)
- أُخْتٌ
- sister
- أُخْتِي
- my sister
- شَخْصٌ
- person
- خَشَبٌ
- wood
- قِطَعٌ
- pieces
- الْمَكْتَبُ
- office
- الشَّايُ
- tea
- لَحْظَةً
- a moment
- حَتَّى
- until
- الْأَصْلُ
- the original
- مُوَافَقَةٌ
- consent / approval
- الْجَمْعِيَّةُ
- association
- غَيَّرَ
- to change (something)
- حَضَرَ
- to attend
- بَدَأَ
- to begin
- خَطَأٌ
- mistake / error
- بِالْكِتَابَةِ
- in writing
- يَوْمٌ
- day
- وَجْهٌ
- face / expression
- صَوْتٌ
- voice
- جَلَسَ
- to sit
- يَجِبُ
- it is necessary / must
- آخَرُ
- another / other
- الْقَائِمَةُ
- posted list
- الْكَلَامُ
- speech; conversation
- الِاجْتِمَاعُ
- meeting
- حَقٌّ
- right
- كَتَبَتْ
- she wrote
- رَأَتْ
- she saw
- أُرِيدُ
- I want
- مَنْ؟
- who?
- مَاذَا؟
- what?
- تَاجِرٌ
- trader; merchant
- أَجَابَ
- he answered
- جَدِيدٌ
- new
- قَدِيمٌ
- old
- وَاضِحٌ
- clear
- قَصِيرٌ
- short
- جَمْعِيَّةٌ
- association
- تَكَلَّمَ
- spoke
- أَكْثَرُ
- more
- قَلِيلًا
- a little
- أَوَّلًا
- first
- فَوْرًا
- immediately
- حَامِدٌ
- Hamid (proper name)
- خَدِيجَةُ
- Khadija (proper name)
- أَخْبَرَ
- told / informed
- تَغْيِيرٌ
- change
- وَلَكِنَّ
- but
- قَالَتْ
- she said
- سَأَلَتْ
- she asked
- أَجَابَتْ
- she answered
- وَقَفَتْ
- she stood
- نَظَرَتْ
- she looked
- وَضَعَتْ
- she placed
- وَجَدَتْ
- she found
- دَفَعَتْ
- she pushed
- وَقَّعَتْ
- she signed
- وَافَقَتْ
- she agreed
- بَقِيَتْ
- she remained
- أَفْهَمُ
- I understand
- سَأُفَكِّرُ
- I will think
- قَبْلَ
- before
- بَعْدَ
- after
- صَغِيرٌ
- small
- مُهِمٌّ
- important
- الْخَطَأُ
- mistake
- الْبَابُ السَّادِسُ
- Door Six; the sixth door
- الْبَابُ التَّاسِعُ
- Door Nine; the ninth door
- نَظَرَ إِلَى
- he looked at
- مَرَّةً أُخْرَى
- once again
- فِي تِلْكَ اللَّحْظَةِ
- at that moment
- مَكْتَبُ التُّجَّارِ
- traders’ office
- هَلْ وَافَقْتِ؟
- Did you agree? (said to a woman)
- وَرَقَةُ أَمَلَ
- Amal’s document
- لَا أَعْرِفُ
- I do not know
- تَكَلَّمَ مَعَ
- to speak with
- مُوَافَقَةٌ مَكْتُوبَةٌ
- written consent
- دُونَ أَنْ
- without (doing)
- قَبْلَ الِافْتِتَاحِ
- before opening
- عِنْدَ الْبَابِ
- at the door
- لَمْ أَقُلْ نَعَمْ
- I did not say yes
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CHAPTER 12 / 12
صَبَاحٌ آخَرُ
Another Morning
بَعْدَ أُسْبُوعٍ مِنِ افْتِتَاحِ السُّوقِ الْجَدِيدِ، وَصَلَتْ لِينَا إِلَى الْأَبْوَابِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَمْتَلِئَ الطَّرِيقُ بِالنَّاسِ. كَانَ السَّقْفُ يُظِلُّ الْمَكَانَ، وَكَانَ صَوْتُ الْمَاءِ يَأْتِي مِنْ طَاوِلَةِ صَبَاحَ.
A week after the new market opened, Lina arrived before the lane filled with people. The roof shaded the stalls, and water could be heard at Sabah's tea table.
عَلَى الْبَابِ السَّادِسِ كَانَ اسْمُ «أَمَل» بِالطِّلَاءِ الْأَزْرَقِ. وَعَلَى الْبَابِ التَّاسِعِ كَانَ اسْمُ «حَامِد». كَتَبَتْ لِينَا الِاسْمَيْنِ بَعْدَ الِاجْتِمَاعِ، وَعُلِّقَتِ اللَّوْحَتَانِ عِنْدَ الِافْتِتَاحِ.
Door Six bore the name “Amal” in blue paint; Door Nine bore “Hamid.” Lina had painted both names after the meeting, and the signs had been hung for opening day.
جَاءَتِ الْيَوْمَ لِتُصْلِحَ طَرَفَ حَرْفٍ صَغِيرٍ عَلَى لَوْحَةِ أَمَلَ. لَمْ يَكُنْ الْحَرْفُ خَاطِئًا، وَلَكِنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ جَمِيلًا كَمَا تُرِيدُ لِينَا.
Today she had come to touch up the edge of a small letter on Amal's sign. The letter was not wrong, but it was not as neat as Lina wanted.
كَانَتْ أَمَلُ قَدْ فَتَحَتْ بَابَهَا. دَفَعَتِ الْعَرَبَةَ الْمُحَمَّلَةَ بِالْخُضْرَوَاتِ فَوْقَ الْأَرْضِ الْمُسْتَوِيَةِ، وَأَدْخَلَتْهَا دُونَ أَنْ تَرْفَعَ صُنْدُوقًا وَاحِدًا.
Amal had opened her door. She pushed her vegetable-laden cart across the level floor and brought it inside without lifting a single crate.
قَالَتْ لِلِينَا: «وَجَدْتُ طَرِيقًا جَيِّدًا لِعَرَبَتِي مِنْ خَلْفِ السُّوقِ. أَقَلُّ زِحَامًا مِنَ الطَّرِيقِ الْأَمَامِيِّ».
“I found a good route for my cart behind the market,” she told Lina. “It is less crowded than the front path.”
قَالَتْ لِينَا: «إِذًا صَارَ الْبَابُ السَّادِسُ لَهُ طَرِيقَانِ». أَجَابَتْ أَمَلُ: «نَعَمْ، وَلَكِنَّهُ لَا يَحْتَاجُ إِلَى دَرَجَتَيْنِ». ضَحِكَتَا قَلِيلًا.
“Then Door Six has two routes now,” Lina said. “Yes, but neither needs two steps,” Amal replied. They laughed softly.
كَانَتْ لِينَا تَعْرِفُ أَنَّ أَمَلًا لَمْ تَنْسَ الْأُسْبُوعَ الصَّعْبَ. لَمْ تَعُدْ تَتَكَلَّمُ عَنْهُ كُلَّ صَبَاحٍ، وَلَكِنَّهُ لَمْ يَخْتَفِ مِنْ حَيَاتِهَا.
Lina knew Amal had not forgotten the difficult week. She no longer talked about it every morning, but it had not vanished from her life.
عِنْدَ الْبَابِ التَّاسِعِ، كَانَ حَامِدٌ يَضَعُ كُرْسِيًّا قَدِيمًا عَلَى طَاوِلَةِ الْإِصْلَاحِ. صَارَتْ أَدَوَاتُهُ الصَّغِيرَةُ فِي صُنْدُوقٍ يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَحْمِلَهُ عَلَى الدَّرَجَتَيْنِ.
At Door Nine, Hamid was placing an old chair on his repair bench. His small tools were now in a box he could carry up the two steps.
لَمْ يَضَعْ رَفَّهُ الطَّوِيلَ فِي هَذَا الْمَكَانِ. كَانَ الْخَشَبُ الَّذِي اشْتَرَاهُ لِلْبَابِ السَّادِسِ مَا زَالَ عِنْدَ الْحَائِطِ. بَعْضُهُ يُمْكِنُ قَطْعُهُ، وَبَعْضُهُ لَا يَنْفَعُ هُنَا.
He had not installed his long shelf here. The wood bought for Door Six still leaned against the wall. Some pieces could be cut down; others were of no use here.
رَفَعَ حَامِدٌ رَأْسَهُ وَقَالَ: «صَبَاحُ الْخَيْرِ. هَلْ جِئْتِ لِتَكْتُبِي اسْمًا جَدِيدًا فَوْقَ اسْمِي؟» أَجَابَتْ لِينَا: «لَا. جِئْتُ لِأَتَأَكَّدَ أَنَّ اسْمَكَ مَا زَالَ مَقْرُوءًا».
Hamid looked up. “Good morning. Have you come to paint a new name over mine?” “No,” Lina replied. “I came to make sure yours can still be read.”
ابْتَسَمَ حَامِدٌ، ثُمَّ سَأَلَ أَمَلَ مِنْ بَعِيدٍ: «هَلْ عِنْدَكِ وَقْتٌ لِحَمْلِ هَذَا الْكُرْسِيِّ؟ هُوَ أَخَفُّ مِنْ عَرَبَتِكِ بِكَثِيرٍ».
Hamid smiled, then called to Amal. “Do you have time to help carry this chair? It is much lighter than your cart.”
نَظَرَتْ أَمَلُ إِلَى كُرْسِيِّهِ، ثُمَّ إِلَى زَبُونَتِهَا الَّتِي كَانَتْ تَخْتَارُ الطَّمَاطِمَ. قَالَتْ: «بَعْدَ أَنْ أُعْطِيَ هَذِهِ السَّيِّدَةَ بَاقِيَ النُّقُودِ».
Amal looked at the chair, then at a customer choosing tomatoes. “After I give this lady her change,” she said.
بَعْدَ قَلِيلٍ، جَاءَتْ أَمَلُ وَحَمَلَتْ مَعَ حَامِدٍ الْكُرْسِيَّ إِلَى مَكَانِهِ. لَمْ يَكُنْ ذَلِكَ اعْتِذَارًا، وَلَمْ يَكُنْ نِسْيَانًا لِمَا حَدَثَ. كَانَ كُرْسِيًّا يَحْتَاجُ إِلَى يَدَيْنِ.
A little later Amal came and helped Hamid carry the chair into place. It was not an apology and not a forgetting of what had happened. It was a chair that needed two pairs of hands.
كَانَتْ خَدِيجَةُ تَفْتَحُ مَحَلَّ الْقُمَاشِ فِي الطَّرَفِ الْآخَرِ. مَرَّتْ بِجَانِبِ أَمَلَ، وَقَالَتْ: «صَبَاحُ الْخَيْرِ». أَجَابَتْ أَمَلُ بِالتَّحِيَّةِ، ثُمَّ عَادَتْ إِلَى خُضْرَوَاتِهَا.
At the other end, Khadija was opening her fabric stall. She passed Amal and said good morning. Amal returned the greeting and went back to her vegetables.
لَمْ تَعُدْ خَدِيجَةُ تَرْأَسُ تَرْتِيبَ الْأَبْوَابِ بَعْدَ الِاجْتِمَاعِ. وَكَانَتْ مَا زَالَتْ تُسَاعِدُ فِي حَمْلِ الصَّنَادِيقِ حِينَ يَطْلُبُ مِنْهَا أَحَدٌ ذَلِكَ. لَمْ يَقْبَلِ الْجَمِيعُ عَوْدَةَ الْأُمُورِ بِسُرْعَةٍ.
Khadija was no longer in charge of arranging the stalls after the meeting. She still helped carry crates when asked. Not everyone was quick to treat things as normal again.
رَأَتْ لِينَا خَدِيجَةَ تَقْتَرِبُ مِنْ حَامِدٍ بَعْدَ أَنْ بَدَأَ الْعَمَلَ. أَخْرَجَتْ مِنْ حَقِيبَتِهَا مَظْرُوفًا صَغِيرًا، وَأَعْطَتْهُ إِيَّاهُ.
Lina saw Khadija approach Hamid after work had begun. She took a small envelope from her bag and handed it to him.
قَالَتْ خَدِيجَةُ: «هَذِهِ أَوَّلُ دَفْعَةٍ مِنْ ثَمَنِ الْخَشَبِ الَّذِي لَا تَسْتَطِيعُ اسْتِعْمَالَهُ. سَأُعْطِيكَ دَفْعَةً أُخْرَى فِي الشَّهْرِ الْقَادِمِ».
“This is the first payment toward the wood you cannot use,” Khadija said. “I will give you another payment next month.”
فَتَحَ حَامِدٌ الْمَظْرُوفَ وَعَدَّ خَمْسَ أَوْرَاقٍ نَقْدِيَّةٍ. ثُمَّ أَغْلَقَهُ وَقَالَ: «شُكْرًا. سَأَكْتُبُ مَا أَخَذْتُهُ حَتَّى لَا نَخْتَلِفَ عَلَيْهِ».
Hamid opened the envelope and counted five banknotes. Then he closed it. “Thank you. I will write down what I received so we do not disagree about it.”
هَزَّتْ خَدِيجَةُ رَأْسَهَا. لَمْ تَقُلْ إِنَّهُ لَا يَحْتَاجُ إِلَى الْكِتَابَةِ، كَمَا كَانَتْ رُبَّمَا تَقُولُ مِنْ قَبْلُ. قَالَتْ فَقَطْ: «اُكْتُبْهُ».
Khadija nodded. She did not say he had no need to write it down, as she might have done before. She simply said, “Write it down.”
عِنْدَ الْمَكْتَبِ، كَانَ رَامِي يَجْلِسُ مَعَ تَاجِرَيْنِ آخَرَيْنِ. أَرَادَ أَحَدُهُمَا أَنْ يَنْتَقِلَ إِلَى بَابٍ آخَرَ، وَكَانَ صَاحِبُ ذَلِكَ الْبَابِ مُوَافِقًا عَلَى التَّبْدِيلِ.
At the office, Rami was sitting with two other traders. One wanted to move to a different stall, and the holder of that stall agreed to exchange places.
لَمْ يَكْتُبْ رَامِي اسْمًا جَدِيدًا عَلَى الْقَائِمَةِ فَوْرًا. أَحْضَرَ الْوَرَقَتَيْنِ الْأُولَيَيْنِ، وَطَلَبَ مِنَ التَّاجِرَيْنِ أَنْ يَقْرَآ التَّغْيِيرَ وَيُوَقِّعَاهُ مَعًا.
Rami did not immediately write new names on the list. He brought out the two original allocations and asked both traders to read and sign the change together.
بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ، وَضَعَ وَرَقَةَ التَّغْيِيرِ بِجَانِبِ الْوَرَقَتَيْنِ الْأُولَيَيْنِ فِي السِّجِلِّ. ثُمَّ قَالَ: «الْآنَ أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أُغَيِّرَ الْقَائِمَةَ».
Then he placed the change paper beside the two originals in the register. “Now I can change the posted list,” he said.
سَمِعَتْ لِينَا كَلَامَهُ وَهِيَ تَمُرُّ مِنْ خَارِجِ الْمَكْتَبِ. لَمْ يَكُنْ هُنَاكَ اجْتِمَاعٌ كَبِيرٌ، وَلَا صَوْتٌ عَالٍ. كَانَ عَمَلًا صَغِيرًا يَتِمُّ بِطَرِيقَةٍ أَفْضَلَ.
Lina heard him as she passed outside the office. There was no large meeting and no raised voices. It was a small task being done in a better way.
عَادَتْ إِلَى طَاوِلَتِهَا وَوَجَدَتْ صَبَاحَ تُعِدُّ الشَّايَ. قَالَتْ صَبَاحُ: «يَبْدُو أَنَّ الْحَرْفَ الصَّغِيرَ عَلَى لَوْحَةِ أَمَلَ أَخَذَ مِنْكِ صَبَاحًا كَامِلًا».
Lina returned to her table and found Sabah making tea. “It seems that small letter on Amal's sign has taken you all morning,” Sabah said.
أَجَابَتْ لِينَا: «كَانَ عَلَيَّ أَنْ أَتَأَكَّدَ مِنْ أَنَّ الْخَطَّ مُسْتَقِيمٌ». قَالَتْ صَبَاحُ: «وَهَلْ أَصْبَحَ مُسْتَقِيمًا؟» قَالَتْ لِينَا: «أَكْثَرَ مِنْ قَبْلُ».
“I had to make sure the line was straight,” Lina replied. “And is it straight now?” Sabah asked. “Straighter than before,” Lina said.
نَظَرَتْ صَبَاحُ إِلَى كُمِّ ابْنَتِهَا. كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِ بُقْعَةٌ صَغِيرَةٌ مِنَ الطِّلَاءِ الْأَزْرَقِ. «أَمَّا كُمُّكِ فَلَمْ يَتَغَيَّرْ»، قَالَتْ.
Sabah looked at her daughter's sleeve. There was a small blue paint stain on it. “Your sleeve, at least, has not changed,” she said.
ضَحِكَتْ لِينَا، وَأَخَذَتْ كُوبَ الشَّايِ. كَانَ حُلْوًا هَذِهِ الْمَرَّةَ. تَذَكَّرَتْ كَمْ كَانَتْ تُحِبُّ هَذَا الْوَقْتَ الْهَادِئَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَمْتَلِئَ السُّوقُ بِالنَّاسِ.
Lina laughed and took her tea. It was sweet this time. She remembered how much she loved the quiet hour before the market filled with people.
قَبْلَ أَنْ تُغْلِقَ عُلْبَةَ الطِّلَاءِ، ذَهَبَتْ لِينَا لِتَنْظُرَ إِلَى اللَّوْحَتَيْنِ مَرَّةً أَخِيرَةً. بَقِيَتْ حَافَةٌ صَغِيرَةٌ مِنَ الْخَشَبِ حَوْلَ كُلِّ اسْمٍ.
Before closing her paint tin, Lina went to look once more at the two signs. A small border of bare wood remained around each name.
كَانَتْ تَعْرِفُ أَنَّ الْخَشَبَ يُمْكِنُ أَنْ يُطْلَى مَرَّةً أُخْرَى فِي الْمُسْتَقْبَلِ. لَكِنَّهَا تَمَنَّتْ أَنْ يَتَكَلَّمَ النَّاسُ وَيَتَّفِقُوا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَطْلُبُوا مِنْهَا اسْمًا جَدِيدًا.
She knew the wood could be painted again in the future. But she hoped people would speak and agree before asking her for a new name.
تَرَكَتْ لِينَا اللَّوْحَتَيْنِ فَوْقَ الْبَابَيْنِ، وَعَادَتْ إِلَى عَمَلِهَا. فِي السُّوقِ أَصْوَاتٌ وَرَوَائِحُ خُبْزٍ وَشَايٍ وَخَشَبٍ جَدِيدٍ. وَفَوْقَ الْبَابِ السَّادِسِ كَانَ اسْمٌ وَاحِدٌ وَاضِحٌ.
Lina left the signs above their doors and returned to work. The market held voices and the smells of bread, tea and new wood. Above Door Six, one name stood clearly.
Chapter vocabulary (133 entries)
- النَّاسُ
- people
- الْعَمَلُ
- work
- طَلَبٌ
- order; request
- السُّوقُ
- market
- بَابٌ
- door
- لَوْحَةٌ
- signboard; panel
- الْخَشَبُ
- wood
- الطِّلَاءُ
- paint
- عُلْبَةٌ
- tin; container
- كُوبٌ
- cup
- وَرَقَةٌ
- sheet of paper
- قَائِمَةٌ
- list
- مَكَانٌ
- place
- طَرِيقٌ
- road; path
- صُنْدُوقٌ
- box
- عَرَبَةٌ
- cart
- خُضْرَوَاتٌ
- vegetables
- الْقُمَاشُ
- cloth; fabric
- السَّقْفُ
- roof; ceiling
- سَأَلَ
- he asked
- قَالَ
- he said
- وَضَعَ
- he put; placed
- أَخَذَ
- he took
- حَمَلَ
- he carried
- فَتَحَ
- he opened
- ابْتَسَمَ
- he smiled
- صَبَاحٌ
- morning
- أُسْبُوعٌ
- week
- ثُمَّ
- then
- لَكِنَّ
- but; however
- عَمَلٌ
- work / task
- ثَمَنٌ
- price / payment
- لَوْحَتَانِ
- two boards / signs
- الصَّنَادِيقُ
- boxes
- اسْمٌ
- name
- الْخُضْرَوَاتُ
- vegetables
- الطَّمَاطِمُ
- tomatoes
- رَفَعَ
- he lifted
- دَفَعَ
- he pushed
- أَوَّلُ
- first of
- كَثِيرٌ
- much / many
- طَوِيلٌ
- long
- خَلْفَ
- behind
- فَوْقَ
- on top of
- بِجَانِبِ
- beside
- رُبَّمَا
- perhaps / maybe
- سُوقٌ
- market
- طِلَاءٌ
- paint
- طَاوِلَةٌ
- table
- خُبْزٌ
- bread
- طَمَاطِمُ
- tomatoes
- نُقُودٌ
- coins; money
- قُمَاشٌ
- cloth
- مَكْتَبٌ
- office
- سَقْفٌ
- roof
- مَاءٌ
- water
- حَرْفٌ
- letter (of the alphabet)
- وَعْدٌ
- promise
- فَقَطْ
- only
- لِينَا
- Lina (proper name)
- أَمَلُ
- Amal (proper name)
- صَاحِبٌ
- owner / person in charge of
- خَشَبٌ
- wood
- قِطَعٌ
- pieces
- كُرْسِيٌّ
- chair / stool
- الْمَكْتَبُ
- office
- الشَّايُ
- tea
- يَضَعُ
- he puts / places
- أُغَيِّرُ
- I change
- إِذَا
- if / when
- حَتَّى
- until
- الْكُرْسِيُّ
- chair
- الْعَرَبَةُ
- cart
- بَدَأَ
- to begin
- يَوْمٌ
- day
- صَوْتٌ
- voice
- آخَرُ
- another / other
- الْقَائِمَةُ
- posted list
- الِاجْتِمَاعُ
- meeting
- كَتَبَتْ
- she wrote
- عَادَتْ
- she returned
- رَأَتْ
- she saw
- مَنْ؟
- who?
- حَائِطٌ
- wall
- أَعْطَى
- he gave
- أَغْلَقَ
- he closed
- جَدِيدٌ
- new
- وَاضِحٌ
- clear
- أَرَادَ
- he wanted
- قَلِيلٌ
- a little / few
- أَمَامَ
- in front of
- بَعِيدٌ
- far away
- أَكْثَرُ
- more
- قَلِيلًا
- a little
- فَوْرًا
- immediately
- حَامِدٌ
- Hamid (proper name)
- خَدِيجَةُ
- Khadija (proper name)
- أَدَوَاتٌ
- tools
- تَغْيِيرٌ
- change
- يَحْتَاجُ
- needs
- وَلَكِنَّ
- but
- قَالَتْ
- she said
- أَجَابَتْ
- she answered
- نَظَرَتْ
- she looked
- أَخَذَتْ
- she took
- وَجَدَتْ
- she found
- تَذَكَّرَتْ
- she remembered
- سَمِعَتْ
- she heard
- فَتَحَتْ
- she opened
- دَفَعَتْ
- she pushed
- حَمَلَتْ
- she carried
- وَصَلَتْ
- she arrived
- بَقِيَتْ
- she remained
- تُرِيدُ
- she wants
- قَبْلَ
- before
- بَعْدَ
- after
- هَادِئٌ
- quiet
- صَغِيرٌ
- small
- كَبِيرٌ
- large
- صَبَاحُ الْخَيْرِ
- good morning
- السُّوقُ الْجَدِيدُ
- the new market
- الْبَابُ السَّادِسُ
- Door Six; the sixth door
- الْبَابُ التَّاسِعُ
- Door Nine; the ninth door
- نَظَرَ إِلَى
- he looked at
- مَرَّةً أُخْرَى
- once again
- عُلْبَةُ الطِّلَاءِ
- paint tin
- مَا زَالَتْ
- she is still / it is still
- هَلْ عِنْدَكِ وَقْتٌ؟
- do you have time?
- مَعًا
- together
- تَأَكَّدَ مِنْ
- to make sure of
- دُونَ أَنْ
- without (doing)
- وَرَقَةُ التَّغْيِيرِ
- change document
- عِنْدَ الْبَابِ
- at the door
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