第23节

    【】noih,hisarrestingontheirshoulders.heledtheohere.likehee.babathahe.

    “ipiyself,”assefsaid.tanyasfailed,unnvingly,andblinked.iiced.

    “stillplayingsoer,assefjan”babasaid.hedaletobefriendshassef.

    assefsled.itadeitlook.“ofurse,kakajan.”

    “rightall”

    “aegoodplayers.”

    babanodded.“youknoerforoowheniwasyoung.”

    “illbetyoustilluldifyouedto,”assefsaid.hefavoredbabahagoodnaturedwink.

    babaretuedtheousflatteringostknoelevel,theirshteheitriedtofakeasle,butalliuldhstochyfatherbondinghassef.

    assefshiftedhiseyesto.“alareheretoo.theyissyourbirthdayforanything,”hesaid,laughterlurkingjustbehesurfaoddedsilently.

    “eofvolleyballtorroyhouse,”assefsaid.“ybeyoulljoinus.bringhassanifyouto.”

    “thatsoundsfun,”babasaid,beang.“ir”

    “idontreallylikevolleyball,”ittered.isafortablesilencefollowed.

    “sorry,assefjan,”babasaid,shrugging.thatstung,hisapologizingfor.

    “nay,noharone,”assefsaid.“butyouhaveanopeninvitation,arjan.anyyfavorites.”heextendedae.“happybirthday.”

    heelledoflogneandhisblondhairbedbaentofeveryparentsdreaastrong,tall,anneredboyentionthee,hiseyesbetrayedhi,thefaadnesshidingbehindthe

    “arentyougoingtotakeit,ar”babawassaying.“huh”

    “yourpresent,”hesaidtestily.“assefjanisgivingyouapresent.”

    “oh,”isaid.itooktheboxfrossefandloygaze.iyrooybooks,athesepeople.

    “well”babasaid.

    “”

    babaspokeinalobarrassedhinpublic.“arentyougoingtothankassefjanthat.”

    ithat.hoe“arjan”“thanks,”isaid.assefstherlookedatlikesheething,butshedidnt,andirealizedthatherofassefsparentshadsaidabarrassselfandbabaastlytogetaassefandhisgrinisteppedaing,”isaid.

    isquirdourhouse,therekhanthatajudgehadboughtthelandandthatanarthedesign.foohelot,stones,andweeds.

    itoretheassefspresentandtiltedthebookverintheonlight.itidatangleofweeds.

    ileanedagainsttheneighborsychest,lookingupatthestars,ingforthenighttobeover.

    “shouldntyoubeeainingyuests”afaliarvoicesaid.rahihanealongthewall.

    “theydontneedforthat.babasthere,reer”isaid.theirahihansdrinkkede.“ididntknowyoudrank.”

    “tusoutido,”hesaid.elboeplayfully.“butonlyoiortantoasions.”

    isled.“thanks.”

    hetippedhisdrinktoandtookasip.helitaarriedonce”

    “really”isaid,slingalittleatthenotionofrahihaingrried.idalasbabasquietalterego,entor,pal,theoneeasouvenir,asaughat,atripabroad.butahusban**ther

    henodded.“itstrue.ieaira.sheetis.”heteetsebarrassingyou,arjan”

    “alittle,”isaid.

    “itilyandfriendsfroabultokandahar.iazatthesque,everyoheeahdyaschedourkidsplayhtheirusins...”

    hetookalonggulpofhisstyfathersfaysisterssplashedherfaybrotherjalala.”rahihanbarkedabitterlaughter.“itairaandagainsttheirjan:ihesjustthehings.”

    “sohappened”

    “thatsaday,fatherputhoiraandherfalyonalorryahefftohazarajat.ineversawheragain.”

    “iorry,”isaid.

    “probablyforthebest,though,”rahihansaid,shrugging.“

    ...