littleblaotebookbers.</p>

helookedupthetaheris.dialed.broughtthereyheartychest.</p>

“jalajansalaalayku”hesaid.heintroduberthat,thankyou.isgeneralsahibho”pause.“thankyou.”</p>

hiseyesfli.ibroughttheballofhandtouthandbitonit.babalaughedsoftlythroughhisnose.</p>

“generalsahib,salaalayku..yes,aypayyouandkhanuaheriavisittorrooing.itsanhonorabletter...yes...elevenokisjustfiilthen.khodahfez.”</p>

hehungup.eachother.iburstintogiggles.babajoinedin.</p>

bababeditbayselfthinkofsothingelse.heygraduation,hungoverhiooeltedaore.ihadtorollupthesleeves.istoopedandtiedhisshoela.</p>

thetaherislivedinaflat,ooryhouseiheresidentialareasiknoberofafghans.ithadbays.thegeneralsgrayvanhedriveway.</p>

ihelpedbabaoutofthefordandslippedbackbehindthee,illcallyouinanhour.”</p>

“okay,baba,”isaid.“goodluck.”</p>

hesled.</p>

idroveairror,babahetaherisdrivefatherlyduty.</p>

ipaofourapartnteikeptgoingtothekit,chegtheovenk.</p>

thephjustbeforenoon.itwasbaba.</p>

“well”</p>

“thegeneralaepted.”</p>

iletoutaburstofair.satdoyhandswereshaking.“hedid”</p>

“yes,butsorayajanisupstairsinherrooshestotalktoyoufirst.”</p>

“okay.”</p>

babasaidsothingtosooherelickashehungup.</p>

“ar”sorayasvoice.“salaa”</p>

“fathersaidyes.”</p>

“iknoiling.“iohappyidontknotosay.”</p>

“iappytoo,ar.i...tbelievethisishappening.”</p>

ilaughed.“iknow.”</p>