IuttiilsoupontheboilforoureveningmealwhenNesimsaid,“There’savisitoratthedoor.”Ireplied,“Makesurethesoupdoesn’tburn,”handinghimthespoonandgivingitacoupleofturnsiwhileholdinghisagedhand.Ifyoudon’tshowthem,they’llstandthereforhoursidlyholdingthespooni.

    WhenIsawBlackatthedoorIfeltnothingbutpityforhim.TherewassuexpressiononhisfaceIwasafraidtoaskwhathadhappened.

    “Don’tbothertoeinside,”Isaid,“I’llbeoutassoonasIgeclothes.”

    IdohepinkandyellowgarmentsthatIwearwhenI’mioRamadaivities,wealthybasahyweddings,andtookupmyholidaysatchel.“I’llhavemysoupwheback,”IsaidtopoorNesim.

    BladIhadcrossedoreetinmylittleJewishneighborhoodwhoseeyslabortoexpeltheirsmoke,thewayourkettlesforceouttheirsteam,andIsaid:“Shekure’sformerhusbandisback.”

    Blackfellsilentandstayedthatwayuntilwelefttheneighborhood.Hisfacewasashen,thecolorofthewaningday.

    “Wherearethey?”heaskedsometimelater.

    FromthisquestionIguessedthatShekureandherchildreathome.“They’reattheirhouse,”Isaid.BecauseImeantShekure’sprevioushome,aothiswouldsingeBlack’sheart,Iopenedadoorofhopeforhimbytagtheword“probably”ontotheendofmystatement.

    “Haveyouseenhernewlyreturnedhusband?”heaskedme,lookiomyeyes.

    “Ihaven’tseenhim,herdidIseeShekure’sflightfromthehouse.”

    “Howdidyouknowthey’dleft?”

    “Fromyourface.”

    “Tellmeeverything,”hesaiddecisively.

    Blackwassotroubledhedidn’tuandthatEsther—hereyeeternallyatthewindow,hereareternallytotheground—couldelleverything”ifshewaotiobetheEs