Jo Page

In Abraham Verghese’s novel, Cutting for Stone, the miserly, mythical Baghad merchant, Abu Kassem, wore tattered and torn slippers—objects of derision to himself and those around him—for many, many years. One day, he decides to get rid of them. And he tries to. Over and over. But each time he does, they return. And they bring trouble every time, real trouble: He throws them out the window, they land on the head of a pregnant woman who miscarries. He tosses them in the canal a