A Map of Tripoli, 1967

A Map of Tripoli, 1967 Summary | Section 1 Summary

"A Map of Tripoli, 1967" is Marlene Reed Wetzel's story about the relationship between an American diplomat's wife, Carla, and an Italian Jewish shopkeeper, Mantini, in Tripoli, a major port city in Libya, prior to the Six Day War between Israel, Egypt, Jordan and Syria in June of 1967.

As the story begins, Mantini opens his crystal shop, Cristalli Imports, on the Giaddat Istiklal. Mantini calls to his shop boy, Mohammed, to bring coffee, while Mantini decides whether to think about his dead wife, Lucia, that day.

At the same time, Carla is making her way to Mantini's store for the first time, noting landmarks to help her find her way back home. Frustrated with the traffic, Carla has left her Volkswagen on the street and walks with the directions provided by the shop boy, Mohammed, who works in her home one day each week. Mohammed has promised that Cristalli Imports has all Carla will need for entertaining in her new home.

Carla had met Mohammed, when he bicycled to her home one day, offering to do ironing. Carla had been on her hands and knees trying to remove spattered paint from the terrazzo floors of yet one more temporary home during her husband, Ben's, diplomatic career.

Carla has been in Tripoli only 33 days, including the day Ben picked her up at the airport and gave her the embassy number where she could find any information she might need to settle in. Ben, who has been living here for a little while, leaves Carla the next day for a work assignment in Egypt.

The house where she and Ben will live does not quite meet Ben's glowing descriptions. Carla is left to set up household and find her way around on her own, shunning the company of other embassy wives.

Carla enters the crystal shop and is greeted by Mantini, who speaks to her in Italian. Carla can reply only with a brief greeting in halting Italian. Mantini takes Carla's hands, as she inquires about the brands of crystal he sells. Carla finds Mantini charming and wonders why he still holds her hands that she realizes are rough from all the work at the house.

Mantini thinks to himself that he would love to pamper Carla's hands with some scented Parisian crime, but speaks instead of the thousands of pieces of crystal that he has available in the shop. Carla mentions Mohammed, and Mantini offers the fact that his late wife, Lucia, had sent Mohammed to iron Ben's shirts once a week, prior to Carla arriving in Tripoli.

Carla remembers hearing about Lucia, who had died a few months ago after giving birth to a daughter. Mantini waves away Carla's words of sympathy and makes a joke about being a Jewish shopkeeper, who may cheat her. Mantini also makes wine. Carla comments that it is good, although she had tried it and was not impressed with its flavor.

Mantini calls for more coffee, as Carla selects a Baccarat crystal goblet. Mantini promises that the glasses are in stock, which should please her, because he knows that Americans do not like to wait. Mantini comments on the red rooster adorning Carla's denim skirt. She remembers that Ben told her the skirt was too ostentatious for this area, but she likes to wear it anyway.

Carla nearly passes out after swallowing the cup of coffee in one drink, mirroring Mantini's style. Carla imagines that she is dying and would like to be buried in the small cemetery that she had seen outside of town. However, it is too late to tell anyone, now. Mantini holds Carla on the floor and wipes her brow, until she regains her lucidity.

Mantini speaks softly to Carla and tells her that he understands her unhappiness about being forced to live in a place where she does not want to be. Mantini shares with her the fact that he and his family have moved around much, too. Carla is brought to tears from his compassion.

Mantini advises Carla to stay away from the embassy wives, take many naps, and visit him, whenever she needs a friend. The crystal goblets arrive the next day, along with a bouquet of flowers.