The carob tree did not provide anything of much use. It was inhabited by bats, harmful insects and other creatures that were never spoken about in front of children.
Very early on, my grandmother warned me not to go near the carob tree at night. She said that many ‘bismillah al-rahman al-rahim’s lived in it.
I had no idea what those things could possibly be, only that they were dangerous and scary. Whenever I walked past the carob tree during the day, I would shudder. Was that the reason my aunt was in favor of cutting it down? Or was it the sound of the owl announcing an evil omen?
My aunt could not be steered away from the idea of getting rid of the tree until, stirring some chestnuts around in the little “kanoun” stove, my grandmother said, “Let them stay in the carob tree. Better th
