In Egypt, Upper Crust Gets the Bread

Egyptians share bread at a protest in Cairo against rising prices for the staple and perceived government inaction. (By Nasser Nasser -- Associated Press)

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Throughout the morning, men who had money to tip the bread workers pushed through the crowds. They swung wooden bread racks at each other, arguing over places in line and shouting curses. Women hissed the same, but they gave way when the old and infirm of Zelzal arrived to accept free bread from the bakers.

By 9 a.m., the sun had eaten away the last bit of shade under the bakery's tin eaves. Ibrahim emerged flushed and jubilant from the line 20 minutes later. On her tray were the 30 small, round loaves that were all the bakery allowed most customers to buy at once.

But Ibrahim needed 40 of the loaves, to round out the potatoes and broad beans that would feed her unemployed son, his wife, newly delivered of a second son, and their older boy. Sitting on the flat rock by the bakery, Ibrahim breathed heavily and steeled herself to enter the line again.

"Bless you, sweetheart! Bless you!" she cried when a neighbor girl handed her 10 loaves from her purchases. Ibrahim lifted the tray of brown bread onto her head to carry.

The next morning, her daughter-in-law would do it all again.

"The strong take," Ibrahim said, setting off for home. "And the weak wait."

Special correspondent Nora Younis contributed to this report.