Aglanceleadstoasmile,asmiletoarendezvous:everylovestorybeginsthesameway.Thesenarrativesarestoredinsongsandpoemsandliveonbeyondtheirinevitableendings,asShakespeare’stitularsonnet18alsosuggests.InMohammadShawkyHassan’smetafictionalessay,afemalenarratorwhowishestotellthestoryofalovebetweentwomenencountersapolyamorouschorusoflovers,andthisoft-toldtaleismultiplied.InClubScheherazade,thereisnoprotagonist,andeverysonghasvariousversions.Heteronormativedramaturgyischallengedpolyphonicallyandacrossarangeofmedia:loversaskeachotheraboutthreesomes,Grindrcontactsandpastdates.Popclichésaretwisted,heartachepermeatesthemen’ssinging,andpoemsbyWadihSaadeharereadoutwhilealover’sdirtylaundryisaired.Thenarratormischievouslytriesforahappyendingashercharactersexitthestory.“Ifpaincouldbeforgottenthroughwords,”wehearatonepoint,“noloverwouldeverhavetowalkawaywounded.”
