vehisbrokenenglish.buthesffedattheidea.“ybeillspelleandshoble.</p>

onesundayinthespringof1983,iallbookstorethatsoldusedpaperbaovietheaterjusttrakontboulevard.itoldbabaidbeoutiesandheshrugged.hehadbeenontandhadthedayoff.ijayontboulevardaerfast&easy,alittlegroeseuple,.ands.heyed.“heslikesix</p>

lliondollarnnoe,laughingtoothlessly.“reersixlliondollarn,ar”then.ion.</p>

irsteryingandglassbreaking.idroppedthebookandhurriedacrossthestreet.ifoundthenguyensbehier,allthesagazinerack,abrokenjarofbeefjerky,andshardsofglassatbabasfeet.</p>

ittuedoutthatbabahadhadnoforthees.hedylioneyinhispocketandthesonofadogylise”</p>

“baba,itsnotpersonal,”isaid,slingatthenguyens.“theyresupposedtoaskforanid.”</p>

“idonte.</p>

“yourenianbutyourfather,hesore.”</p>

“doeshethinkithief”babasaid,hisvoicerising.peoplehadgatheredoutside.theyaring.“kindofauntryisthisnoorustsanybody”</p>

“irs.nguyensaid,pokingoutherface.“yougetoutorie.”</p>

“please,s.nguyen,dontho.justdontcallthepolice,okayplease”</p>

“yes,youtakehio.goodidea,”.nguyensaid.hiseyes,behindhisdbifoagazineonhisadehirosehefathere.igaves.nguyenourtelephonenuerandaddress,andtoldhertogetaeforthedages.“pleasers.ookthesheetofpaperfroeandnodded.isaorethanusual,andthatdeangryatbaba,hiscausinganoldantoshakelikethat.</p>

“fatherisstilladjustingtolifeinarica,”isaid,byion.</p>

ithat,inkabul,aker.hedes.attheendofthenth,fatherpaidhiorthenuerofnotk.that.ions.noid.</p>

butididheithanked.nguyenfoote.hesulkedahebalnyaderik</p>