Summary

In the opening pages, Raja situates the reader in his present-day life in Beirut in 2023. He lives with his 85-year-old mother, Zalfa, in a modest apartment where he has become her hairdresser, nurse, and constant audience. One morning, he wraps her in an old checked tablecloth and dyes her hair. While he works, Zalfa studies herself in the mirror, adjusting every angle, and demands reassurance about her appearance. Raja notes that she has maintained an intimate relationship with mirrors since her youth and that he has “suffered for her elegance” for decades (5).

Their conversation moves easily from trivial complaints to sharp barbs. Raja jokes about his insomnia and cannabis-aided attempts to sleep, while his mother rehashes grievances about doctors and hairdressers who disappointed her in the past. He mentions Mr. Cat, a beloved pet from long ago, and the two current cats, Monet and...