Amarji The Website of Syrian Author Ammar Abdulhamid

The Shoes

Act one / scene two

[A TRADITIONAL ARABIAN SUQ: FEET SHUFFLING, THE CRIES OF PEDDLERS, WHISPERS OF THE PASSERSBY, BRAYING OF DONKEYS]

The potter: Come in dear lady, come in. Honor me with your presence in my modest shop. Sample my wares, oh please do. My craftsmanship is famous even in China where, I assure you, I am known by name. “Abû Ahmad’s work,” they say, “or bust.” So come on in, dear lady, and see my work for yourself.

Peddler one: As soft and beautiful as a babe’s fingers, my mouthwatering cucumbers.

The perfume-maker: Come sir, I have a new perfume just for you, you won’t find it anywhere else in town, because I make it myself sir, for my own special customers. I use a unique blind of herbs and a rare variety of musk imported especially from India. Come, sir. You won’t regret it, I assure you. You have my word of honor.

[Abû Qâsim gets on stage and heads slowly but directly to the shoemaker’s shop, dragging his donkey behind him]

Abû Qâsim: Come Hâfî, come my old friend, this is gong to be a beautiful day, can’t you feel it already? [HÂFÎ BRAYS]. Good, good. I am glad you agree. Now come, let’s go immediately to Abû Hâdî’s place and buy these shoes. I want to start my day with them cradling my feet. We’ll go to our corner and peddle our stuff afterwards. Come now Hâfî, come. [HÂFÎ BRAYS].

Peddler one: (addressing peddler two)

Look, look over there, there is Abû Qâsim, late as usual. He is not going to his corner, though. What is he up to this time?

Peddler two: Same as every time. Don’t you see him heading towards the shoemaker’s shop. He will select a new pair of shoes, they will haggle over the price, they will not agree, and then, he will leave in total disgust and spend the rest of the day sulking, cursing and blaspheming. Poor devil. I hope I don’t live to be his age. People his age are so difficult to deal with.

The Shoemaker: (addressing Abû Qâsim)
You again. May God help me and have mercy on my soul and forgive all my past and future sins. Look hajjî, the price of the shoes you want is still the same. So, if you still can’t afford it, please spare me and yourself the pains of the meaningless haggles we usually have. I can’t handle it today. I really can’t. I…

Abû Qâsim: Don’t work yourself up over nothing now Abû Hâdî, live up to your name and be calm. I am really going to do it this time.

The Shoemaker: You always say that.

Abû Qâsim: But this time, I really mean it.

The shoemaker: Sure? By your honor? Would you swear to it by all the Holy Names of God Almighty.

Abû Qâsim: I swear.

The Shoemaker: Well, then, Abû Qâsim, my dear friend, good morning to you, and to your beloved Hâfî. Please take a seat, won’t you?

Abû Qâsim: Yes, yes, why not? I can’t be long though, I have to peddle my eggplants, I have. I am late enough as it is. Soon, there won’t be any buyers left. The Sûq is teeming with peddlers.

The Shoemaker: A few minutes won’t make much of a difference surely Abû Qâsim. For as you know, life passes away, but work never does. Now, Abû Qâsim, pray tell me, what is the secret behind this change of attitude of yours? Did you inherit a fortune, eh? Or did you stumble upon some buried treasure near your hut? They do say, jinn live near your hut, you know? Some say even in your hut. And where there are jinn, there is always a treasure to be found. (Laughs)

Abû Qâsim: (UNDISTURBED BY THE SHOEMAKER’S RIDICULE)
There is nothing you can do or say today that can make me lose my temper. I am hear to buy the best pair of shoes you have, then I will go to my usual corner, and peddle my stuff. So don’t waste my time and yours, bring on the shoes I want and let me see the fit.

The shoemaker: So be it, Abû Qâsim, so be it. You really seem to mean business this time, and that suits me well. Let me get those shoes for you then.

[HÂFÎ BRAYS. THE PRDDLERS KEEP ON ADVERTISING THEIR STUFF]

Peddler two: Angels’ hair this parsley.

The slave-woman: Angels’ hair it may be, but it comes with Devil’s own prices.

[The other peddlers and some passersby laugh, the peddler tries to recuperate]

Peddler two: Come on sweet thing, you know you don’t have to worry about prices with me. You just give me a nice wet peck on the cheek and you can take a couple of bundles for free.

The slave-woman: (addressing the crowd)
See what I mean? The Devil’s own prices.

[again the people laugh. at this stage, Abû Qâsim steps into his corner wearing his new shoes, and goes about setting up his stuff]

Abû Qâsim: Now, Hâfî let me unload these eggplants off of you, time for you to relax, and for me to get to work. Ah yes, that’s the way things should be. Your loads are heavy, but with these new shoes, everything feels so light. We’ve made the right decision, Hâfî, oh yes we have, yes we have.

And now let’s call in the customers. The Devil’s own testicles those eggplants.

[UPON HEARING ABÛ QÂSIM’S CRY, THE PEOPLE IN THE SUQ BEGIN TO LAUGH. THE OLD MAN IS ANNOYED]

Abû Qâsim: Why are they laughing? Why are you all laughing? How dare you laugh at an eighty-year old man! May God Almighty strike you down where you stand, and never forgive any of your sins.

Peddler one: Calm down Abû Qâsim, calm down, it’s just that we’ve had enough of the Devil for one day.

Peddler two: Moreover, old man. You should be happy today, you should celebrate, I mean you have finally done it. You have finally bought those new shoes you’ve always been wanting to buy, haven’t you?

Abû Qâsim: (suddenly a lot calmer)
Well, well, yes I have. Look! They are fine shoes too, and not some cheap substitute for my old pair. Nothing but the best for me. And I deserve it, too. I mean, after all those years of drudgery, some fine and luxurious thing has finally entered into my life. See? See how they sparkle? They are made of the finest leather money can buy.

Peddler two: (battling laughter)
Yes, yes indeed, you are right, of course. They do sparkle, and you do deserve them. But, how about giving us a little dance to show us how good they really are.

Peddler one: Oh, yes please. Do dance for us, why don’t you, that’ll bring a little sparkle into out lives too.

[the two peddlers now join in an uproarious laughter]

Abû Qâsim: (INCENSED)
Oh, so you mock an eighty-year old man, don’t you? You think it funny, don’t you? You think an eighty-year old man can’t dance? Well I am not just any eighty-year old. I am Abû Qâsim al-Tanbûrî I am, and I can dance much better than all of you put together, you lazy disrespecting youths of these accursed and scandalous times. Oh yes, I can dance, especially now with these new shoes of mine. Observe, you fools, observe with envy.

[Abû Qâsim begins to dance energetically as the peddlers and the passersby applaud him and cheer him on]

Abû Qâsim: Two steps here, two steps there, let the ground quake under my feet. How about this people? Hey, hey, hey. Come and join me Hâfî. Hey, hey, hey. Yalla, yalla, yalla.

Peddler two: Go Abû Qâsim, my dear eighty-year old man, go. Show us what kind of magic these new shoes of yours can provide.

Peddler one: Oh, yes old man, you’re putting us all to shame with this energy of yours. Oh, god, your shoes are beautiful. Look at them sparkle.

Peddler two: How about your old shoes, old man? What are you planning to do with your old shoes?

Abû Qâsim: Do you want to know what I am planning to do with my old shoes? Do you really want to know? Does it really interest you to know, does it? Well, I’ll show you what I am planning to do with my old shoes, and all things that lost their sparkle, not to mention usefulness. I’ll show you all.

[ABÛ QÂSIM TAKES HIS OLD SHOES FROM INSIDE HIS DONKEY’S SADDLE]

Abû Qâsim: Now watch, watch carefully as I dance…as I spin…and I spin… and I fling. See? That’s what I’ll do with these retched things. Go get them boy, go get them, young man.

[the old man bursts into an uproarious laughter. As for the shoes…]

The potter: Oh, my jars, my beautiful jars. Oh, what have you done to my jars, you foolish old man? Oh, what have you done, o Abû Qâsim?

The Controller: Ah, my head, my head.

Peddler one: Oh, what have you done, you silly old man? Look, look, you broke Abû Sâfî’s jars, and you dropped a shoe on the controller’s very head. Woe is you, woe is you. I don’t like to be in your place right now. I certainly don’t. Oh, you silly, silly old man.

The Controller: [WHISPERING TO ONE OF HIS GUARDS]
Finally, we’re going to have ourselves a bit of fun. Gather the people around. Announce a trial.

[SOME MARSHAL TYPE MUSIC, SOUNDS OF PEOPLE HUMMING AND WHISPERING, WONDERING WHAT WAS GOING ON]

The Guard: In the Name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Oh, people. Hear and obey. There will be a trial held right now, right here for the one called Abû Qâsim al-Tanbûrî accused of the wanton destruction of the potter’s property, as you all have witnessed, and of committing an act of disgrace against the honorable person of your market Controller. You are all invited to stay where you are and attend the trial.

[SAME SOUND EFFECTS AS PEOPLE GATHER AROUND THE CONTROLLER AND THE ACCUSED]

The Controller: An eighty-year old man. A dancing, eggplant-peddling eighty-year old man. Give an eggplant peddling eighty-year old man a new pair of shoes, and what will become of him? He will become a whirling dervish. Oh yes, a whirling dervish, a whirling dervish of some sort of apocalypse, mind you, bringing on destruction and havoc everywhere.

[people begin to snicker and laugh]

The Controller: Give an eighty-year old man a new pair of shoes, and what will he do? He will lose all the respect he should have for authority. Fulfill one of his simple wishes, and he will become a madman. Make one of his cherished dreams come true, and he will disgrace himself. Oh yes. He will disgrace himself, he will destroy property, he will set a bad example for our young, and he will disrespect authority.

[people are listening now with a certain amount of awe. STILL THERE ARE SOME SNICKERING GOING ON]

The Controller: Give an eighty-year old man a new pair of shoes, and he will turn his old one into a weapon of destruction and mayhem. Hmm. And what are we supposed to do when that happens? Huh? Forgive and forget?

The people: No.

The Controller: Reward him with a new robe, perhaps, and hope he’ll hang someone with his old one.

The people: (laughing) No.

The Controller: Or should we meet out justice regardless of his age, for that is, indeed, our duty.

The people: Yes.

The Controller: Well then, old man, the people seem to want justice, what do you think justice should mean in your case?

Abû Qâsim: (STAMMERING, DAZED) I have some money still saved, I will pay the cost of the jars I broke. And I do hereby apologize most profusely to you, most noble and excellent and just sir. And I pledge, by my honor, by Hâfî, that I will never do something like that again.

The Controller: As for the money, well, it has, indeed, to be paid. And as for the apology, and the pledge…well, they, too, are necessary. But, is all this enough, I wonder? Is it enough?

[the people remain quiet this time, perhaps anticipating what was about to happen]

The Controller: (angrily)
No. I dare say it isn’t. For you, you silly old man, you have insulted the state herself as represented in my person. You have insulted the Ruler himself, the Ruler himself, and that, that, you poor bastard, cannot be easily forgiven, not in these troubled times. No, no, I dare say, a simple apology in this case cannot do…will not do. Take him away.

[THE PEOPLE HUM AND WHISPER AS ABÛ QÂSIM IS BEING DRAGGED AWAY. HÂFÎ BRAYS, AND ABÛ QÂSIM SHOUTS]

Abû Qâsim: Where are you taking me you miserable lot. Oh, most honorable sir, I apologize. I swear I do. I will never do something like that again. There, there, you can even have my new shoes.

The Controller: Now what could I possibly do with your shoes old man? Keep them, keep them, let them comfort you where you are going. God knows you will need comforting where you are going. May God Almighty help you old man, had these been different times, I might have treated you differently, but things being what they are… may God help you old man, may God help you and have mercy upon your soul.

Now people back to your affairs.

Abû Qâsim: But sir, I beg of you, I am an eighty-year old man, it was just a foolish mistake. I didn’t mean it. I did not mean it. I have nothing but the utmost respect for our Ruler, may God protect him, speed up his recovery and prolong his reign. I beg of you sir. I beg of you.

[HÂFÎ BRAYS CONTINUOUSLY AS ABÛ QÂSIM IS DRAGGED AWAY BY THE GUARDS]

Peddler two: Oh that poor, poor old man, oh, what have we done to him? What have we done? I had no idea things might get that far.

Peddler one: Neither did I, old fellow, and I dare say, neither did any of us. None of us knew what was going to happen, except for the Controller, of course, may God curse his very soul.

Peddler two: That’s the last we are ever going to see of this dear old man, you know? From where he is going, people never come back. I wonder, who should take care of his donkey now?

The Shoes

Act One: Scene One
Act One: Scene Three
Act One: Scene Four
Act Two: Scene One
Act Two: Scene Two
Act Two: Scene Three

lust

for

salvation,

Brother,

though

were

woman,

and

man.

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