SALEEG

Sixty-year-old Hajer is preparing saleeg – Jeddah’s famous rice dish – for a special dinner with her son. Needing vegetables, she rushes outside when she hears the Indian grocer’s bell, but neglects to cover the pot. She wrangles with the vegetable seller; then her son calls to say he isn’t coming. Meanwhile in the kitchen, the rice has fallen into the boiling water where it has expanded, overflowed and is soon billowing through the house and out into the yard, carrying Hajer with it. At last, the neighbours see what is happening and rush to help, shovelling saleeg on to every available plate. After which, everyone being gathered, they join Hajer for a meal that turns out to be special after all.