What had he been yesterday? His father had wanted to make of him a cart driver like himself, but the sheikh of the local Qur’an school said to him, “Put your trust in God, Mr. Bayyumi, and enroll the boy at the primary school.”

His father did not seem to comprehend.

“Has he not learned enough Qur’an for him to perform the prayers?” he asked.

“The boy is clever and intelligent. One day he could make a civil servant,” replied the sheikh.

Mr. Bayyumi guffawed incredulously.

“Try the charity schools. He might be accepted free,” the sheikh said.

Mr. Bayyumi had hesitated for a while, but eventually the miracle took place. At school Othman achieved astonishing success until he finally obtained the Primary Certificate. He drew ahead of his barefooted playmates from the alley and was acutely aware of the first holy spark from his throbbing heart. He was certain that God had blessed his footsteps and that the gates of infinity lay open before him. He joined a secondary school, also free, and achieved greater success than anyone in al-Husayni Alley could believe. But when he was still in the second form, his father contracted a terminal illness. He felt miserable at what he had “done” to his son.

“I am leaving you behind a helpless schoolboy,” he said to him. “Who will drive the cart? Who will provide for the family?”