Arak*
‘Take Khalil for instance. Does he ever hesitate to open his jaws to swallow a stream of money? An amazing image! Khalil, with his thick lips, and his moustache, more like an old toothbrush, shuts his eyes and opens his jaws – more and more, and suddenly, money gushes forth like dirt and settles in his throat and on his tongue, and then all of a sudden he’s coughing, spitting, sputtering and cursing this and that man’s honor, and wishing he could sink his dirty teeth into their women, honor and good name – all of ’em!
‘I only slept three hours last night. I went to Fadila. Fadila! God forgive her parents. I’m gonna name my daughter Khati’a just so she’ll be aware of her true essence.** I couldn’t sleep ’cause I was thinking about virtue and vice. Where should we place Khalil, for e
