littleblacknotebookbers
helookedupthetaherisdialedbroughtthereyheartychest“jalajansalaalayku”hesaidheintroduberthat,thankyouisgeneralsahibho”pause“thankyou”hiseyesfliibroughttheballofhandtouthandbitonitbabalaughedsoftlythroughhisnose“generalsahib,salaalaykuyes,aypayyouandkhanuaheriavisittorrooingitsanhonorabletteryeselevenoclockisjustfineuntilthenkhodahfez”hehungupeachotheriburstintogigglesbabajoinedinbababeditbayselfthinkofsothingelseheygraduation,hungoverhiooeltedaoreihadtorollupthesleevesistoopedandtiedhisshoelathetaherislivedinaflat,onestoryhouseinoneoftheresidentialareasinfrentknoberofafghansithadbaysthegeneralsgrayvanhedrivewayihelpedbabaoutofthefordandslippedbackbehindthee,illcallyouinanhour”“okay,baba,”isaid“goodluck”
hesled
idroveairror,babahetaherisdrivefatherlydutyipaofourapartnteikeptgoingtothekitchen,checkingtheovenclockthephonerangjustbeforenoonitwasbaba
“well”
“thegeneralaccepted”
iletoutaburstofairsatdoyhandswereshaking“hedid”“yes,butsorayajanisupstairsinherrooshestotalktoyoufirst”“okay”
babasaidsothingtosooneandtherelickashehungup“ar”sorayasvoice“salaa”
“fathersaidyes”
“iknoiling“iohappyidontknotosay”
“iappytoo,aricantbelievethisishappening”ilaughed“iknow”
“listen,”shesaid,“iethingsothingyouhavetoknowbefore”“idontcareitis”
“youneedtokno”
“ifitakeyoufeelbetter,tellbutitchangeanything”thereanierebelliousstupid,andheostanthalltheafghansinvirginiaalkingaboutit“padareventuallyfoundusheshoadeehoiingsayingihatedhi“anyehoand”shee”iheardherputthephonedoebae,isaytherhadhadastroke,therightsideofherfacesoguiltyshedidntdeservethat“padarvedustocalifoiashortlyafter”asilencefollowed“hoheow”isaid
“eforthatdayireallybelievehesaved”shepaused“so,doesitoldyoubotheryou”“alittle,”isaidioypride,iftikhar,an,antobeditdidbotherabit,butihadponderedthisquitealotintheebacktoeonefortheirpast“doesitbotheryouenoughtoind”
“no,sorayanotevenclose,”isaid“nothingyousaidchangesanythingiarry”shebrokeintofreshtears
ienviedherherseosttoldherhoout,anddestroyedafortyyearrelationshipbetanyeuragethirteen
onyof“givingdefrohastegariicheckedtieintherearvieirror“youlookkhoshteep,”babasaidhandso
“thankyou,babaareyouallrightdoyoufeeluptothis”“uptothisitsthehappiestdayoflife,ar,”hesaid,slingtiredlyiuldhearusieouedoffthesic
khanuaheriopenedthedoor“salaalayku”shesaid,beangshedperdherhair,isaoistened“yourebarelyinthehouseanditodothenightbeforesheledusthroughabrightlylithallontheeneily:ayoungbouffanthairedkhanuaheriandthegeneralniagarafallsinthebataheriinaseaessdress,thegeneralinanarroiling,thesunglintingoffthesilverilitaryoutfit,shakinghandshkinghusseinofjordanaportraitofzahirshahthelivingrooabouttsseatedonchairsplacedalongthewal
