At dinner tonight, my grandmother handed me a small wrapped package. With my mom acting as translator and encourager, she told me that the box I was holding was my early graduation present. "I think she understands that you don't graduate until June," she said, more for Nonnie's benefit than for anyone else's. "Open it."
The box was rectangular and thin. Maybe 3 inches by 6 inches, and half an inch thick, with two small hinges at the back. Inside, a string of beautiful warm pearls lay loose, their confining strings cut or broken long ago.
"Even the clasp has a pearl set in it," I marveled as I held them up to the light for my family to see.
"My sister bought them for me a long time ago. I thought it was just about time to find someone else to give them to."

thebes // cairo