【】noih,hisarrestingontheirshoulders.heledtheohere.likehee.babathahe.</p>

“ipiyself,”assefsaid.tanyasfailed,unnvingly,andblinked.iiced.</p>

“stillplayingsoer,assefjan”babasaid.hedaletobefriendshassef.</p>

assefsled.itadeitlook.“ofurse,kakajan.”</p>

“rightall”</p>

“aegoodplayers.”</p>

babanodded.“youknoerforoowheniwasyoung.”</p>

“illbetyoustilluldifyouedto,”assefsaid.hefavoredbabahagoodnaturedwink.</p>

babaretuedtheousflatteringostknoelevel,theirshteheitriedtofakeasle,butalliuldhstochyfatherbondinghassef.</p>

assefshiftedhiseyesto.“alareheretoo.theyissyourbirthdayforanything,”hesaid,laughterlurkingjustbehesurfaoddedsilently.</p>

“eofvolleyballtorroyhouse,”assefsaid.“ybeyoulljoinus.bringhassanifyouto.”</p>

“thatsoundsfun,”babasaid,beang.“ir”</p>

“idontreallylikevolleyball,”ittered.isafortablesilencefollowed.</p>

“sorry,assefjan,”babasaid,shrugging.thatstung,hisapologizingfor.</p>

“nay,noharone,”assefsaid.“butyouhaveanopeninvitation,arjan.anyyfavorites.”heextendedae.“happybirthday.”</p>

heelledoflogneandhisblondhairbedbaentofeveryparentsdreaastrong,tall,anneredboyentionthee,hiseyesbetrayedhi,thefaadnesshidingbehindthe</p>

“arentyougoingtotakeit,ar”babawassaying.“huh”</p>

“yourpresent,”hesaidtestily.“assefjanisgivingyouapresent.”</p>

“oh,”isaid.itooktheboxfrossefandloygaze.iyrooybooks,athesepeople.</p>

“well”babasaid.</p>

“”</p>