babaspokeinalobarrassedhinpublic.“arentyougoingtothankassefjanthat.”</p>

ithat.hoe“arjan”“thanks,”isaid.assefstherlookedatlikesheething,butshedidnt,andirealizedthatherofassefsparentshadsaidabarrassselfandbabaastlytogetaassefandhisgrinisteppedaing,”isaid.</p>

isquirdourhouse,therekhanthatajudgehadboughtthelandandthatanarthedesign.foohelot,stones,andweeds.</p>

itoretheassefspresentandtiltedthebookverintheonlight.itidatangleofweeds.</p>

ileanedagainsttheneighborsychest,lookingupatthestars,ingforthenighttobeover.</p>

“shouldntyoubeeainingyuests”afaliarvoicesaid.rahihanealongthewall.</p>

“theydontneedforthat.babasthere,reer”isaid.theirahihansdrinkkede.“ididntknowyoudrank.”</p>

“tusoutido,”hesaid.elboeplayfully.“butonlyoiortantoasions.”</p>

isled.“thanks.”</p>

hetippedhisdrinktoandtookasip.helitaarriedonce”</p>

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

henodded.“itstrue.ieaira.sheetis.”heteetsebarrassingyou,arjan”</p>

“alittle,”isaid.</p>

“itilyandfriendsfroabultokandahar.iazatthesque,everyoheeahdyaschedourkidsplayhtheirusins...”</p>

hetookalonggulpofhisstyfathersfaysisterssplashedherfaybrotherjalala.”rahihanbarkedabitterlaughter.“itairaandagainsttheirjan:ihesjustthehings.”</p>

“sohappened”</p>

“thatsaday,fatherputhoiraandherfalyonalorryahefftohazarajat.ineversawheragain.”</p>

“iorry,”isaid.</p>

“probablyforthebest,though,”rahihansaid,shrugging.“</p>

...</p>