“tellyourstory,”herepeated,crushingaflakeofasholyarrangeddeskhhisindexfinger,fligitintothetrash.</p>

igavehiheversionihadyheadsinoneyandtopakistan.</p>

“youaretheboyshalfuncle”</p>

“yes.”</p>

hekedhisatoplantsonthesill.“kothat”</p>

“yes,butidontknohereheisnow.”</p>

hetuedtoandriedtoreadhisfaduldnt.iriedthoselittlehandsofhisatpoker.</p>

“iassugettingyourjaent,”hesaid.uggedinpeshawar.</p>

“ofurse,”hesaid.usli</p>

“yes.”</p>

“practig”</p>

“yes.”intruth,ididhelasttiihadlaidforeheadtothegroundinprayer.thenididreer:thedaydr.anigavebabahisprognosis.ihadkheprayerrug,reeringonlyfragntsofversesihadleaedinschool.</p>

“helpsyouruch,”hesaid,scratgaspotontheflainhissandyhair.</p>

“ean”iasked.ireaetoandrews.</p>

“theresalonganssureillendupgivingittoyou.youtheshortonefirst”</p>

“iguess,”isaid.</p>

ae,hislipspursed.“giveitup.”</p>

“iorry”</p>

“yourpetitiontoadoptthisyoungfelloyadvicetoyou.”</p>

“dulynoted,”isaid.“noewhy.”</p>

“thatansyoupassive,opalasifheethestoryyougaveistrue,thoughidbetpensionagooddealofitiseitherfabriitted.notthatiatters.evenso,yourpetitionfacessignifitobstacles,nottheleastofhatthischildisnotanorphan.”</p>

“ofurseheis.”</p>

“notlegallyheisnt.”</p>

“hisparehestreet.theneighborssa,”isaid,gladwewerespeakinginenglish.</p>

“youhavedeathates”</p>

“deathatesthisisafghanistanostpeopletheredonthavebirthates.”</p>

hisglassyeyesdidntsoakethelaragenothstanding,youstilloprovetheparentsaredeceased.theboyhastobedeclaredalegalorphan.”</p>

“but”</p>

“yougivingittoyou.youextproblesthatyouheoperationofthebassyinkabul.thatkesthirelyplipossib</p>

...</p>