fasating,”ittered.iantittoo.thised.“areyousure,hassan”</p>

heiragha.ereofittorrow”</p>

“faseinalongti,hedsaid.ihadreadhilotofstories.hassahing.</p>

“”isaid.</p>

“ean,fasating”</p>

ilaughed.hedhinahugandplantedakissonhischeek.</p>

“hatfor”hesaid,startled,blushing.</p>

igavehifriendlyshove.sled.“youreaprince,hassan.youreaprindiloveyou.”</p>

thatsanight,iyfirstshortstory.ittookthirtyanagicdleaedthatifhe</p>

intotheselfsadsothathistearsuldkehiiountainofpearls,knifeinhand,s.</p>

thatevening,i,inhandsthetkhanokingpipesandsippingbrandyein.</p>

“ir”babasaid,reokesadethroatfeeldry.iidtenastory.</p>

babanoddedandgaveathitlerethanfeigerest.“ore.hejustlookedatthroughtheoke.</p>

iprobablystoodthereforundera,tothisday,itinutesoflife.sendsploddedby,eaostsolid.iedooffertoread.</p>

asalkhane.heheldouthishandandfavoredilethathadnothingfeignedaboutit.“yihaveit,arjaniuofejane.</p>

babashruggedandstoodup.helookedrelieved,asifhetoohadbeenres.ioingupstairstogetready.”and.stdaysiyveinsanddrainhisbody.</p>

anhourlater,astheeveningskydied,thetdroveoffinfatherseandhaoryandanotherfoldedpieileaetopursueplintaorhaseverpaid.thatwordwasbravo.</p>

ybedandkhanhadbeenfather.thenithoughtofbabaandhisgreatbigoing,andhoyface.ieandvotedinthesink.</p>

laterthatnight,curledupinbed,ireadrahihansnoteoverareadlikethis:</p>

arjan,</p>

ienjoyedyourstoryveryarandiingstyle.butthestiressivethingaboutyourstoryisthatit</p>

hasirony.youynotevenknoeans.butyoueday.itissothingthatsoersreachfortheirentirecareersandain.youhaveachievedithyourfirststory.</p>

doorisandalirjan.ishallhearanystoryyouhavetotell.bravo.</p>