heardalliyselftohearyhead.allisaelledption.ifbabaeaybejustbraggingrights.butthisyoneeonebloesothat,ystring,idypain,longing.ideooeknoatterofwhen.</p>

ittuedouttobesoohanlater.agustofykiteanditookadvantage.fedthestring,pulledup.loopedkiteontopoftheblueone.iheldposition.thebluekitekneaofthejabutididgo.iheldposition.the”greanstingfladiatorstokill,kill</p>

“yourealstthere,araghaalstthere”hassaning.</p>

theyeyesandloosenedgriporing.itslicedfingersagainastheingandhisarneck.</p>

“bravobravha”</p>

iopenedeyes,saeloosefrospeedihing.nothingabove.blackleatherat,redscarf,fadedjeans.athinboy,alittlesalloeaeachother.</p>

theniing,ahingyfreearroundhassanandiraghayouwon”</p>

“ent,idblinkandrousefrohisbeautifuldreagetoutofbed,rentofteatlast.</p>

butheethingnootioninghhishandsinaood.“hassan,we”</p>

“iknobraofhisgreenchapandragginginthesno.</p>

“hassan”icalled.“ebackhit”</p>

heouth.“foryouathousandtisover”hesaid.thenhesledhishassansleanddisappearedarouheiisasleunabashedlylikethatysixyearslater,inafadedpolaroidphotograph.</p>

ibegantopullkitebae.ishookhands,saidthanks.theyoungerkidslookedatybayhair.ipulledoringauedeverysle,butndhebluekite.</p>

finally,ihadkiteinhand.iyfeetaroundthespool,shookafeorehands,andtrottedho.heirongates,aliingoherside.hestuckhishandthroughthebars.“ngratulations,”hesaid.</p>

igavehiykiteandspool,shookhishand.“tashakor,alijan.”</p>

“ie.”</p>

“thenkeeppraying.do.”</p>