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>