“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>