Owing in part to a tenacious case of psychological unpleasantness, I have fled Egypt to in southern Italy, this time to join my sister, her husband and my three-year-old nephew, Nicholas, who since last I saw him has attained the status of a properly functioning-and screaming-human being.



As far as I can tell, a straight one, too. I quizzed him on the various superlatives of the superheroes. Who’s the strongest? “Batman!” (Nick’s batman, so that was his answer for most things.) Who’s the fastest? “Superman!” (I’m Superman.) Who fights the most bad guys? “Batman!” Who’s … the most handsome? (Pause.) “Wonder Woman!” My sister mentioned he’s going through some oedipal shit.