وَرَقَةٌ قَدِيمَةٌ

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.