An Event

The woman sits at the corner of the market, holding a child. The child is crying, and the woman is holding out her hand, asking for dirhams. Footsteps on concrete. Men call for items from the vendor. They walk by her, looking up into the sky or focusing on their cell phone conversations. Children play in the street outside as rain falls lightly on the concrete. They kick a plastic soccer ball back and forth. The baby continues to cry. Someone walks into the market and passes the woman. Apples are bought, as are cheese and bread. Someone walks by the woman, stops, then turns around, goes to the vendor, and buys milk. Footsteps past the woman with the crying child. The bag of milk is dropped. The woman tries to thank the person, but he places a finger over his mouth, telling her not to make a big deal out of it. The person walks away as the woman rips open the plastic bag of milk and feeds her chlid. The crying stops. Someone walks away, feet crashing against the pools of water that have formed on the street.