第74节

    【】blahishesaid.“i,ar.ireallydo.”

    “soraya”

    “yeah.”

    “dostetdaru”iloveyou.

    “iloveyouback,”shesaid.iuldhearthesleinherareful.”

    “iorething.donttellyourparentsefroe.”

    “okay.”

    wehungup.

    thelaerieassyinislabadoabad:flataertheyjaetal

    deteiledyna.sheanidseenihingotherthanaburqaorashaleez.shelookedupontheappointntlist,tappingtheeraserendofherpenynaandaskedtotakeaseat.

    “elenade”sheasked.

    “nonefor,thanks,”isaid.

    “hoyourson”

    “excuse”

    “thehandsoyoulen,”shesaid,slingatsohrab.

    “oh.thatdbehankyou.”

    sohrabandisatontheblaeriagazinefroheglasstopffeetable.heflippedthepages,notreallylookingatthepictures.

    “”sohrabsaid.

    “sorry”

    “youresling.”

    “ihinkingaboutyou,”isaid.

    hegaveanervoussle.piagazineandflippedthroughitihirtysends.

    “dontbeafraid,”isaid,touyoyseat,untyingayingshoelaonadehitheffeetable.“thereyougo.”

    sohrabsledshyly.“thankyouverych,”hesaidinenglish.itcaoutas“tankyouatch.”ite,thatand“haveaniceday.”

    shelaughed.“youreste.”sheoherdesk,highheelscligonthefloor.

    “haveaniceday,”sohrabsaid.

    rayndandred,eaisérablesposterapoftheu.s.apotoftotoplantsbaskedinthesunonthewindowsill.

    “ske”heasked,hisvoiceadeepbaritohatoddshhisslightstature.

    “nothanks,”isaid,notptypathesadraatoplantsasherubbedlotionintohishands,outh.thenheeyourstory.”

    ifeltlikejeanvaljeansittingajavert.irendedselfthatierie.“ibacktothestatese,”isaid.

    “tellyourstory,”herepeated,crushingaflakeofasholyarrangeddeskhhisindexfinger,fligitintothetrash.

    igavehiheversionihadyheadsinoneyandtopakistan.

    “youaretheboyshalfuncle”

    “yes.”

    hekedhisatoplantsonthesill.“kothat”

    “yes,butidontknohereheisnow.”

    hetuedtoandriedtoreadhisfaduldnt.iriedthoselittlehandsofhisatpoker.

    “iassugettingyourjaent,”hesaid.uggedinpeshawar.

    “ofurse,”hesaid.usli

    “yes.”

    “practig”

    “yes.”intruth,ididhelasttiihadlaidforeheadtothegroundinprayer.thenididreer:thedaydr.anigavebabahisprognosis.ihadkheprayerrug,reeringonlyfragntsofversesihadleaedinschool.

    “helpsyouruch,”hesaid,scratgaspotontheflainhissandyhair.

    “ean”iasked.ireaetoandrews.

    “theresalonganssureillendupgivingittoyou.youtheshortonefirst”

    “iguess,”isaid.

    ae,hislipspursed.“giveitup.”

    “iorry”

    “yourpetitiontoadoptthisyoungfelloyadvicetoyou.”

    “dulynoted,”isaid.“noewhy.”

    “thatansyoupassive,opalasifheethestoryyougaveistrue,thoughidbetpensionagooddealofitiseitherfabriitted.notthatiatters.evenso,yourpetitionfacessignifitobstacles,nottheleastofhatthischildisnotanorphan.”

    “ofurseheis.”

    “notlegallyheisnt.”

    “hisparehestreet.theneighborssa,”isaid,gladwewerespeakinginenglish.

    “youhavedeathates”

    “deathatesthisisafghanistanostpeopletheredonthavebirthates.”

    hisglassyeyesdidntsoakethelaragenothstanding,youstilloprovetheparentsaredeceased.theboyhastobedeclaredalegalorphan.”

    “but”

    “yougivingittoyou.youextproblesthatyouheoperationofthebassyinkabul.thatkesthirelyplipossib

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