elionwyr | snippet

I wandered up to a store yesterday that I rarely get to visit due to its location. The sidewalk outside was lined with $10 ponchos, hippy-styled skirts, and varied scarves.

Pleased that the owner was still in business, I went inside.

The tiny shop's walls were lined with hookas, scarves, cheap knives, and jewelry. Two young men were talking animatedly about the knives, posturing to each other about their need and appreciation for the weapons.

I stayed out of their way and peered closer at the Middle-eastern looking necklaces.

"Hello, pretty lady," the shopkeeper said during a pause in the discussion with the would-be knife buyers. I looked up, smiled, returned to my browsing.

As his customers left with their shiny sharp purchases, the shop keeper half-looked over his shoulder at me. "I have a headache. I've been doing this for twelve years. It's too long."

"My sympathies. Maybe you just need good earplugs."

He laughed. "What can I help you with?"

I gestured at a delicate crescent-shaped necklace. "What can you tell me about this?"

"It's Afghani. Those stones are lapis."

"They look like serpentine to me..?"

He peered closer. "Oh. Yes, they are. The other necklace like it is lapis." He plucked at some of the clunkier pieces in the shop. "And these are all Moroccan."

"What are these glass bottles? They're too big for perfume.."

He smiled. "You can use them for that! But no. They're for kohl. Women in Morocco use that as an eyeliner - put it in the bottle and this little stick here is the applicator." He mimicked the application of the make-up, using the small stick. "They're $15. I give it to you for $10. I have them in lots of colours - green, blue, clear.." He stopped in mid-sentence to check on his sidewalk sales.

When he returned, I asked about some of the other items - bangle bracelets, coin scarves - and was told, "I usually have more of these. But I'm going to back to Morocco to buy more. August 17, I leave."

I sighed, and talked about almost having gotten to go to Egypt.

"Oh! No no, don't go to Egypt. It's dirty. You can't breathe there. Too dirty. Go to my country. Morocco is a huge bazaar."

"I hope I get the chance." I looked down at what was in my hands. "I think..just the necklace."

"For you, the bottle is $5."

"Sold."

I hugged him as I prepared to leave his store. "Have a wonderful time on your trip!"

Surprised, he hugged me back. "Come to Morocco. Be safe, pretty lady."