Sett Sana
the dekkéné (corner-shop) owner
“3a-l-daftar? wala yhimmak”
Says hello يا مية هلا دكانتي إلك رح نسجل عالدفتر ولا يهمك أبدا. ya miyyet hala, dekkénti ilak, ra7 nsajjil 3a-l-daftar wala yhimmak abadan. A hundred welcomes, my shop is yours, we will record on the tab and do not worry at all.
A force of nature behind a counter stacked to the ceiling, Sett Sana feeds the whole square and teaches you money one price at a time. When you cannot quite cover the bill she waves you onto the daftar, the running tab you never asked for and are not allowed to refuse. Her stall is the beating market heart of the neighbourhood.
