Tuesday, April 16
MAQLUBA The congressman began his remarks to a room of refugees and their children who had invited him to share their national dish after the most recent massacre with ultimately then ran his tongue across his front teeth there is a special relationship then a slight twitch of his chin and increased activity all around his mouth. Look and his left hand flew up like a shield as he jammed his pinkie fingernail beneath his top lip and excavated the gum line. I get it from behind his hand. Several of the elders leaned forward in their chairs to decipher his muffled pronouncements. Here’s what I will say emphasis on will so that the room was now focused on what he wouldn’t say then finally a moment of audible relief as the shard of almond was dislodged, restoring peace to canine and incisor. Gracious in victory, he placed it ever so gently in his palm. His words dropped off as he examined it, and for a moment it was just the congressman and the almond in the room. When an elder cleared his throat and snapped him out of his reverie, he looked up at his hosts and around the table and at the collapsing dome of fragrant rice, eggplant, and chicken at its center, and he remembered to offer the traditional greeting you and I can agree the best hope is a return to negotiations. (Lena Khalaf Tuffaha)