第31节

    【】oney.”

    s.dobbinsblinked.pips,lookedfroetobabalikeiliatingfoodstantsattheor.

    thatsuerof1983,igraduatedfroighseerlosingbabainthesoffalies,flashingoviples,andhadnthebeentallerinkabulheeoneheeandiled.hetionedfortoyrtarneir,”hesaid.proud.hiseyesgleadhatandilikedbeingonthereceivingendofthatlook.

    hetooktoanafghankabobhouseinhayuieney,ybegotollegethefolloeoneofhisslderingbabalooks,aongue.

    afterdinner,babatooktoabaratherestaurant.theplauyfriend,”hesaid,pattingtheoldnontheback.theoldfelloiled.hehadnoupperteeth.

    babafinishedhisbeerinthreegulpsandorderedanother.hehadthreebeforeiforihenhehadboughttheoldnasteofpoolplayerstoapit.soohisanahandfulofquarters.hepoihejukebox.“tellhioplayhisfavoritesongs,”hesaidto.theoldnnoddedandgavebabaasalute.soon,untrysiclikethat,babahadstartedaparty.

    atonepoint,babastood,raisedhisbeer,spillingitonthesafloor,andyelled,“**therussia”thebarslaughter,thenitsfullthroatedechofolloanotherroundofpitchersforeveryone.

    iling.

    idroveushoinbabasold,oelledtobahindalhol,sandpu.buthesatupoppedthedsaidinahoarsevoice,“keepdrivingtotheendoftheblock.”

    “why,baba”

    “justgo.”hehadparkatthesouthendofthestreet.hereaeasetofkeys.“there,”hesaid,pointingtothefrontofus.itodelford,longandoonlight.“itneedspainting,andillhaveoheguysatthestationputiruns.”

    itookthekeys,stunned.ilookedfroiothecar.

    “youllogotollege,”hesaid.

    itookhishandinne.squeezedit.eyesearingoverandiheshadohathidourfaces.“thankyou,baba.”

    houe,allthathebarrasshi“tashakor,”irepeatedinstead.

    hesledandleanedthing.justsatinthedark,listehetinktinkoftheengineoling,thee.“ihustoday,”hesaid.

    apairofsteelhandsye.irolleddoheedforthesteelhandstoloosentheirgrip.

    iseeds,hispersonaltrustedantidotefoverheadaches.

    “ithinkilljorinenglish,”isaid.iingforhisreply.

    “english”

    “creativeing.”

    hehis.sippedhistea.“stories,youan.youllkeupstories.”ilookeddoyfeet.

    “theypayforthat,kingupstories”

    “ifyood,”isaid.“andifyougetdisvered.”

    “hohat,gettingdisvered”

    “ithappens,”isaid.

    henodded.“andoneyifyourry,ho”

    iuldntlifteyestoethis.“ill...findajob.”

    “oh,”hesaid.“allightsodayhelpyouget...disvered.”hetookadeepbreathandsippedhistea.gruhingaboutdihool,lahool,and“realwork.”

    e,theguiltofindulgitheexpenseofhisulcer,hisblageailsandags.butiwo

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