第21节

    【】thefirsttiinlife,iuldntf.

    ryoftherestofthateerie.,visitkakahoyounorkakafaruq.sotisrahihainhisstudyandsiptea.hedevenhavereadhioofstories.itonthsafterthekitetouant,babaandiiersedourselvesinasadeoftissuepaper,glue,andbaoouldsohobetweenus.

    butyselfinrooireadabookeveryupleofdays,estories,leaedtodrawhorses.idhear

    hassanshufflingarouintheihekingofsilverydar,iledthedateofthefirstdayofschoolandbeganauntdown.

    todisy,hassaryingtorekihieerthelastti.iyrooreadinganabbreviatedfarsitranslationofivanhoe,ydoor.

    “isit”

    “ioingtothebakertobuynaan,”hesaidfroheotherside.“iealong.”

    “ithinkiustgoingtoread,”isaid,rubbingtelestely,everytihassantingaheadache.

    “itsasunnyday,”hesaid.

    “iseethat.”

    “ghtbefuntogoforawalk.”

    “yougo.”

    “iealong,”hesaid.paused.sothingthuedagainstthedoor,ybehisforehead.“idontknha.ie.idontknoore.”

    “youhaventdohing,hassan.justgo.”

    “youtell,illstopdoingit.”

    iburiedheadinlap,squeezedtelesyknees,likeavice.“illtellyouiyoutostopdoing,”isaid,eyespressedshut.

    “anything.”

    “ie.ie,breakthedooropenandtelloffitadethingseasier,better.buthedidntdoanythinglikethat,andier,heybed,buriedheaduhepilloried.

    hassanlledabouttheperipheryoflifeafterthat.idesureourpathsydaythat.ydoor,intheedonuny.

    earlythatspring,afeeltedandthehillsin

    thenorthoing,andbabae,diggingthesoilandplantingthebulbsihaohiheehoostpeoplethoughtiterightoutandsaidit.“baba,haveyoueverthoughtaboutgettingnes”

    hedroppedthetulipbulbandburiedthetro.“chididyousay”

    “ihatsall.”

    “odothat”babasaidcurtly.

    “youurr.i.

    “isthisaboutyouandhassanikhinggoingoayingoutofit.”

    “iorry,baba.”

    heputonhisglovesagain.“igrein,helovedalilikehisoyfaly.foddayears.andyouthinkiustgoingtothroout”hetuedtonoir,butyoueversaythatagain...”helookedaesha.andhassan...hassansnotgoinganyand”

    ilookeddoyfingers.

    “isaid,doyouuand”babaroared.

    iflinched.“yes,baba.”

    “hassansnotgoinganyeandily.dontyoueveraskthatquestionagain”

    “isorry.”

    edtherestofthetulipsinsilence.

    ibledabouttheurtyard,kiiheoldusterildforfearrassnt.thatainess.babadroveahoutsayinggoodbye.

    ibypassedthecustoryparingofkitefightingscarsandstoodihebellrangandarchedtoourassignedclass,filedininpairs.isatinthebackroework.

    seanexyrhours.and,forayndoffyselfontuatoandiuedtothealley.tohassansbroostblack.

    onesluggish,hazyafteoonearlythatsuer,iaskedhassantogoupthehille.toldhianeoryidteodryintheyardandisaheharriedhejob.

    bedthehill,kingslltalk.heaskedabout

    ...