【】k,afavoritebookstore.ireerbeggingbabatotakeustoirajohnenandenes,butes.heachvieexikidsburiedcharlesbronso,iraher.

ustysllingbazaarsofthesharenauseertsandthebeggars,pedcalaandrosetoppedhcrushedpistachios.

duringthesyselfoutofbedaothebathroohassanhadalreadyoingnazybreakfast:hotblaarlade,alllyplaeadebed,polishedshoes,irofitfortheday,pasingingtohielfinthefoyerasheironed,singingoldhazarasongsinhisnasalvoiustangaonths.hassanstayedhoandhelpedalitodryintheyard,sthebazaar,rinatingatfordinner,eringthelawn.

aftersetup,grabbedabook,andtrottedupaboyfatherspropertyinherewasanold

abaery.onesuerday,iusedoneofaliskitesonit:“arandhassaansofkabul.”thoseadeitforl:thetreebeditsbranegranates.afterenthefruitandhegrass,iohassan.

sittingthegroundasireadhitoriesheuldntreadforhielf.thathassanosthazarashadbeehehadbeennpoeandstories,sotisriddlesthoughistoppedreadingthosethaniunblingllahnasruddinandhisdonkey.orechapter.

favoritepartofreadingtohassaneae,iallahnasruddinstoryaopped.“doesthatean”

“hone”

“iecile.”

“youdontknoeans”isaid,grinning.

“nay,aragha.”

“butitssuword”

“still,idontknoytease,hisslingfacedidntsho.

“ysbecile.itanssrt,intelligent.illuseitienceforyou.estobecile.”

“aaah,”hesaid,nodding.

iakeupforitbygivinghineofoldshirtsorabrokentoy.iyselfthatendsenoughforaharessprank.

hassansfavoritebookbyfarah,thetenthine,andsohrab,”thetaleofthegreatandhisfleetfootedhorse,rakhsh.rostaortallyesis,sohrab,inbattle,onlytodisverthatsohrabishislonglostson.strihearshissonsdyingwords:

ifthouartiher,thenhastthoustaihysploredoftheethyna,forithoughttobeholdiokeedofther.butiappealeduntothyheartinvain,andnoegoneforeting...

“readitagainplease,aragha,”hassaistearspooledinhassanseyesasireadhihispassage,andialhesfate.afterall,didntallfathersintheirsecretheartsharboradesiretokilltheirsons

oneday,injuly1973,iplayedatletrithethebook,flippingpagesregularly,butihadabahetextaltogether,takehestory,anddeupo,thebleofdes,indecipherable,sterious.ythroat,oclap.

“areyoudoing”isaid.

“thateinalongti,”hesaid,stillclapping.

ilaughed.“really”

“really.”

“thats

...