Summary

The short story “The Lunatics’ Eclipse” opens with a nine-year old girl, Qamar, on the rooftop of an apartment building. She holds a rope and intends to pull the moon down. Her 24-year-old neighbor, Metwalli, promised he would be hers if she brings him the moon, but he did not think Qamar would take his words seriously. The neighbors tell Qamar the moon requires ten sleepless nights. On the tenth night, the moon vanishes. Qamar believes she fell asleep for an instant and another neighborhood girl stole the moon—and Metwalli’s heart. Qamar’s effort was captured in the local Alexandria, Egypt papers and caught the attention of a young boy, Hilal. Hilal had tried to catch the moon’s reflection in a fishing net. At 13, Qamar is a top ballerina, her actor-parents send her for training in St. Petersburg. On a...