It seems like the narrator fears the secret room in Mustafa's house. ... He enchants them with his outrageous stories of lions and elephants walking down the streets of the cities. "...when I'm lying on my bed at night I put my hand out the window and idly play with the Nile waters till sleep overtakes me".(39) Is this an image of colonization in reverse? ... "(33) Are the encounters between the characters therefore unavoidable. ... Are these characters merely playing out the only roles they can, given the circumstances? ...

• Word Count: 2060
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School