【】noih,hisarrestingontheirshoulders.heledtheohere.likehee.babathahe.</p>
“ipiyself,”assefsaid.tanyasfailed,unnvingly,andblinked.iiced.</p>
“stillplayingsoer,assefjan”babasaid.hedaletobefriendshassef.</p>
assefsled.itadeitlook.“ofurse,kakajan.”</p>
“rightall”</p>
“aegoodplayers.”</p>
babanodded.“youknoerforoowheniwasyoung.”</p>
“illbetyoustilluldifyouedto,”assefsaid.hefavoredbabahagoodnaturedwink.</p>
babaretuedtheousflatteringostknoelevel,theirshteheitriedtofakeasle,butalliuldhstochyfatherbondinghassef.</p>
assefshiftedhiseyesto.“alareheretoo.theyissyourbirthdayforanything,”hesaid,laughterlurkingjustbehesurfaoddedsilently.</p>
“eofvolleyballtorroyhouse,”assefsaid.“ybeyoulljoinus.bringhassanifyouto.”</p>
“thatsoundsfun,”babasaid,beang.“ir”</p>
“idontreallylikevolleyball,”ittered.isafortablesilencefollowed.</p>
“sorry,assefjan,”babasaid,shrugging.thatstung,hisapologizingfor.</p>
“nay,noharone,”assefsaid.“butyouhaveanopeninvitation,arjan.anyyfavorites.”heextendedae.“happybirthday.”</p>
heelledoflogneandhisblondhairbedbaentofeveryparentsdreaastrong,tall,anneredboyentionthee,hiseyesbetrayedhi,thefaadnesshidingbehindthe</p>
“arentyougoingtotakeit,ar”babawassaying.“huh”</p>
“yourpresent,”hesaidtestily.“assefjanisgivingyouapresent.”</p>
“oh,”isaid.itooktheboxfrossefandloygaze.iyrooybooks,athesepeople.</p>
“well”babasaid.</p>
“”</p>