the kite runner-第28章

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hammad；　who　owned　a　kabob　house　in　Shar…e…Nau；　came　to　the　house　with　his　bags　of　spices。　Like　the　butcher；　Del…Muhammad……or　Dello；　as　Baba　called　him……refused　payment　for　his　services。　He　said　Baba　had　done　enough　for
his　family　already。　It　was　Rahim　Khan　who　whispered　to　me；　as　Dello　marinated　the　meat；　that　Baba　had　lent　Dello　the　money　to　open　his　restaurant。　Baba　had　refused　repayment　until　Dello　had　shown　up　one　day　in　our　driveway　in　a　Benz　and　insisted　he　wouldn　t　leave　until　Baba　took　his　money。
I　guess　in　most　ways；　or　at　least　in　the　ways　in　which　parties　are　judged；　my　birthday　bash　was　a　huge　success。　I　d　never　seen　the　house　so　packed。　Guests　with　drinks　in　hand　were　chatting　in　the　hallways；　smoking　on　the　stairs；　leaning　against　doorways。　They　sat　where　they　found　space；　on　kitchen　counters；　in　the　foyer；　even　under　the　stairwell。　In　the　backyard；　they　mingled　under　the　glow　of　blue；　red；　and　green　lights　winking　in　the　trees；　their　faces　illuminated　by　the　light　of　kerosene　torches　propped　everywhere。　Baba　had　had　a　stage　built　on　the　balcony　that　overlooked　the　garden　and　planted　speakers　throughout　the　yard。　Ahmad　Zahir　was　playing　an　accordion　and　singing　on　the　stage　over　masses　of　dancing　bodies。
I　had　to　greet　each　of　the　guests　personally……Baba　made　sure　of　that；　no　one　was　going　to　gossip　the　next　day　about　how　he　d　raised　a　son　with　no　manners。　I　kissed　hundreds　of　cheeks；　hugged　total　strangers；　thanked　them　for　their　gifts。　My　face　ached　from　the　strain　of　my　plastered　smile。
I　was　standing　with　Baba　in　the　yard　near　the　bar　when　someone　said；　　Happy　birthday；　Amir。　　It　was　Assef；　with　his　parents。　Assef　s　father；　Mahmood；　was　a　short；　lanky　sort　with　dark　skin　and　a　narrow　face。　His　mother；　Tanya；　was　a　small；　nervous　woman　who　smiled　and　blinked　a　lot。　Assef　was　standing　between　the　two　of　them　now；　grinning；　looming　over　both；　his　arms　resting　on　their　shoulders。　He　led　them　toward　us；　like　he　had　brought　them　here。　Like　he　was　the　parent；　and　they　his　children。　A　wave　of　dizziness　rushed　through　me。　Baba　thanked　them　for　ing。
　I　picked　out　your　present　myself；　　Assef　said。　Tanya　s　face　twitched　and　her　eyes　flicked　from　Assef　to　me。　She　smiled；　unconvincingly；　and　blinked。　I　wondered　if　Baba　had　noticed。
　Still　playing　soccer；　Assef　jan？　　Baba　said。　He　d　always　wanted　me　to　be　friends　with　Assef。
Assef　smiled。　It　was　creepy　how　genuinely　sweet　he　made　it　look。　　Of　course；　Kaka　jan。　
　Right　wing；　as　I　recall？　
　Actually；　I　switched　to　center　forward　this　year；　　Assef　said。　　You　get　to　score　more　that　way。　We　re　playing　the　Mekro…Rayan　team　next　week。　Should　be　a　good　match。　They　have　some　good　players。　
Baba　nodded。　　You　know；　I　played　center　forward　too　when　I　was　young。　
　I　ll　bet　you　still　could　if　you　wanted　to；　Assef　said。　He　favored　Baba　with　a　good…natured　wink。
Baba　returned　the　wink。　　I　see　your　father　has　taught　you　his　world…famous　flattering　ways。　　He　elbowed　Assef　s　father；　almost　knocked　the　little　fellow　down。　Mahmood　s　laughter　was　about　as　convincing　as　Tanya　s　smile；　and　suddenly　I　wondered　if　maybe；　on　some　level；　their　son　frightened　them。　I　tried　to　fake　a　smile；　but　all　I　could　manage　was　a　feeble　upturning　of　the　corners　of　my　mouth……my　stomach　was　turning　at　the　sight　of　my　father　bonding　with　Assef。
Assef　shifted　his　eyes　to　me。　　Wali　and　Kamal　are　here　too。　They　wouldn　t　miss　your　birthday　for　anything；　　he　said；　laughter　lurking　just　beneath　the　surface。　I　nodded　silently。
　We　re　thinking　about　playing　a　little　game　of　volleyball　tomorrow　at　my　house；　　Assef　said。　　Maybe　you　ll　join　us。　Bring　Hassan　if　you　want　to。　
　That　sounds　fun；　　Baba　said；　beaming。　　What　do　you　think；　Amir？　
　I　don　t　really　like　volleyball；　　I　muttered。　I　saw　the　light　wink　out　of　Baba　s　eyes　and　an　unfortable　silence　followed。
　Sorry；　Assefjan；　　Baba　said；　shrugging。　That　stung；　his　apologizing　for　me。
　Nay；　no　harm　done；　　Assef　said。　　But　you　have　an　open　invitation；　Amir　jan。　Anyway；　I　heard　you　like　to　read　so　I　brought　you　a　book。　One　of　my　favorites。　　He　extended　a　wrapped　birthday　gift　to　me。　　Happy　birthday。　
He　was　dressed　in　a　cotton　shirt　and　blue　slacks；　a　red　silk　tie　and　shiny　black　loafers。　He　smelled　of　cologne　and　his　blond　hair　was　neatly　bed　back。　On　the　surface；　he　was　the　embodiment　of　every　parent　s　dream；　a　strong；　tall；　well…dressed　and　well…mannered　boy　with　talent　and　striking　looks；　not　to　mention　the　wit　to　joke　with　an　adult。　But　to　me；　his　eyes　betrayed　him。　When　I　looked　into　them；　the　facade　faltered；　revealed　a　glimpse　of　the　madness　hiding　behind　them。
　Aren　t　you　going　to　take　it；　Amir？　　Baba　was　saying。　　Huh？　
　Your　present；　　he　said　testily。　　Assefjan　is　giving　you　a　present。　
　Oh；　　I　said。　I　took　the　box　from　Assef　and　lowered　my　gaze。　I　wished　I　could　be　alone　in　my　room；　with　my　books；　away　from　these　people。
　Well？　　Baba　said。
　What？　
Baba　spoke　in　a　low　voice；　the　one　he　took　on　whenever　I　embarrassed　him　in　public。　　Aren　t　you　going　to　thank　Assef　jan？　That　was　very　considerate　of　him。　
I　wished　Baba　would　stop　calling　him　that。　How　often　did　he　call　me　　Amir　jan　？　　Thanks；　　I　said。　Assef　s　mother　looked　at　me　like　she　wanted　to　say　something；　but　she　didn　t；　and　I　realized　that　neither　of　Assef　s　parents　had　said　a　word。　Before　I　could　embarrass　myself　and　Baba　anymore……but　mostly　to　get　away　from　Assef　and　his　grin……I　stepped　away。　　Thanks　for　ing；　　I　said。
I　squirmed　my　way　through　the　throng　of　guests　and　slipped　through　the　wrought…iron　gates。　Two　houses　down　from　our　house；　there　was　a　large；　barren　dirt　lot。　I　d　heard　Baba　tell　Rahim　Khan　that　a　judge　had　bought　the　land