第29节

    【】doetal.

    “thinkofsothinggood,”babasaidinear.“sothinghappy.”

    sothinggood.sothinghappy.iletnde:

    fridayafteooninpaghn.anopenfieldofgrassspe.hassanandistandankledeepinuntadgrass,iauggingonthelihespoolspinninginhassansories,peoplethesabreast.abreezestirsthegrassandhassahespoolroll.thekitespins,dips,steadies.ourtsousiiliar,ithinkitsyaeoneesovertheeforteaandcake.

    ididhthaterylivedin,aperfeapsulatedrselofagoodpast,abrushstrokeofloronthegray,barrenvasthatourliveshadbee.

    therestofthatrideisserythateandgo,stofitsoundsandslls:gsrpastoverhead;staeit,and**.

    eeextistheblindinglightofearlyingasieertuingfaceuptothesky,squinting,breathingliketheofair.

    ilayonthesideofthedirtroadoarooingsky,thankfulforair,thankfulfht,thankfultobealive.

    “ir,”babasaid.hee.“kariaysheotakeustopeshawar.”

    irolledontochest,stilllyingontheoldirt,andsabingdoallvillagestrungoutatopasunbakedslope.

    eyesretuedtooursuitedof,thistionofhislife:onedisappointingsonandtcases.

    sooneing.no,n.eoneelsesaidittoo.theuedintoathroatrippingsh.

    babaandihurriedtothepaalsfathertingcrossleggedierofthele,rogbadforth,kissinghissonsashenface.

    “healslifelessbodylayonhisfatherslap.hisrighthand,unofhisfatherssobs.“boyhebreathe”

    babakbesidehindalsfathershovedhiutteredasurprisedalsfathersguninhishand.

    “dontshoot”kariried.

    butbeforeanyofusuldsayordoathing,kalsfathershovedthebarrelinhisoouth.illneverfettheechoofthatofred.

    idoubledainanddryheavedonthesideoftheroad.

    eleven

    frent,califoia.1980s

    babalovedtheideaofarica.

    itericathatgavehinulcer.

    ireerthetont,afeourapartnt,ahisir,”hedsay.hedunttheffonhisfingers:ari”heusedtoakeaphhtsound“theyrelikegossipingolden.”

    thebitaboutisraelusedtodraontofbeingproje.babaeettheorteaahingaboutittakea.yourearabs,helpthepalestinians,then”

    heloathedjiyesinsedassaunishanleonidbrezhnev.“hesnotfittorunthisuntry.itslikeputtingaboyerieintheforfronaldreagan.andpire,”bababsup.hefradthepictureandhungitinourhallselfinhisthiieshakinghandsonten,gasstationattendants,andunothersllegicspressedtotheirfaces.babahelonerepubliourbuilding.

    butthebayareassgstunghiseyes,thetraffiheadaadehigh.thefruitpro

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