to　act　like　my　mother—I　sequestered　myself　in　my　room　and　lay　on

my　mattress；　giving　myself　over　to　visions　of　Shekure。

Allow me the amusement of describing the sounds I’d heard in Enishte’s

house。　On　my　second　visit　after　twelve　years；　she　didn’t　show　herself。　She　did

succeed；　however；　in　so　magically　endowing　me　with　her　presence　that　I　was

certain of being； somehow； continually under her watch； while she sized me

up　as　a　future　husband；　amusing　herself　all　the　while　as　if　playing　a　game　of

logic。　Knowing　this；　I　also　imagined　I　was　continually　able　to　see　her。　Thus　was

I　better　able　to　understand　Ibn　Arabi’s　notion　that　love　is　the　ability　to　make

the　invisible　visible　and　the　desire　always　to　feel　the　invisible　in　one’s　midst。

I could infer that Shekure was continually watching me because I’d been

listening　to　the　sounds　ing　from　within　the　house　and　to　the　creaking　of

its wood boards。 At one point； I was absolutely certain she was with her

children in the next room； which opened onto the wide hallway…cum…

anteroom；　I　could　hear　the　children　pushing；　shoving　and　sparring　with　each

other while their mother； perhaps； tried to quiet them with gestures；

threatening　glances　and　knit　brows。　Once　in　a　while　I　heard　them　whispering

quite unnaturally； not as one would whisper to avoid dist