【】fiuldsit,butbabae.etoe.idsitbythedoor,kneesdrayesisatthereforanhour,sotisteningtotheirlaughter,theirchatter.

thelivingrooobuiltygrandfatherandkingnadirshahtakenin1931,typarentsytheraslingyoungprinilingiababyinthatphotographandbabaisholding,lookingtiredandgriinhisar,butitsrahihanspinkyfingersarecurledaround.

theyfatherstasteforextravagantparties,itdidjustthatalsteveryarblefireplace,ale.

alargeslidingglassdooropeoaseint,peppers,andarohatneverreallytook.hassanandiusedtocallit“theo.”

ohendofthegarden,intheshadoe,adestlittledhuthhisfather.

itytherdiedgivingbirthto.

ieehatilivedinthathouse,isteppedintohassanandalisquartersonlyahandfuloftis.udshaps.thereattressesonoppositesidesoftherooaingtheashad.

itallshaoherherrhagedtodeathduringchildbirth,hassanlosthislessthanaostafghansnsideredfarhah:sheranoffhaoftravelingsingersanddancers.

hassaalkedabouthisther,asifshedneverexisted.ialedabouther,abouteether.didheaetoneday,fathershousetoilitarybarrae.sa,andcalledhassan.

“hey,you”hesaid.“iknowyou.”

before.heane.“justkeeputteredtohassan.

“youthehazaralookattalkingtoyou”thesoldierbarked.hehandedhis,deaiddlefingerofhisotherhandthroughthele.pokeditinandout.inandout.“ikher,didyouknobehindbythatcreekoverthere.”

thesoldierslaughed.oheadeasquealingsound.itoldhassantokeepwalking,keepwalking.

“e,yarroundhipulledhishoulder.“hetookyouforsooneelse,”ieoneelse.”

ioldnooneanerizedthekoran,rriedsanaubar,aannieenyearsyounger,abeautifulbutnotoriouslyunscrupulousanandahnichazara.sheusinandthereforeanaturalefor

aspouse.butbeyondthosesilarities,aliandsanaubarhadlittleiofalltheirrespepteduntlessnintosin,alihadaalparalysisofhislousuosleahierpetuallygriaced.itileororetruethahroughhiseyes.

ihaveheardthatsanaubarssuggestivestrideandoseeroneday,etothebazaartobuysonaan.i,huing,tryingtoitatehisspossiblythteverytiheplahatfoot.itseedaniggling.alituedaround,caughtapinghihedidntsayanything.notthen,notever.hejustkeptwalking.

alisfadhiswalk

...