【】sheilyeoopolishyourshoesonedayande.“youkhingyouirjan.anyti.”</p>
“iknoeforalongti,likehelesseyeshintingatanunspokedidtellhialsttoldhiverything,butthee,andrightfully.</p>
“here.”hehahing.“ialstfot.happybirthday.”ityfingersalongthegoldloredstitelledthe</p>
leather.“foryourstories,”hesaid.iethingexplodedandburstsoffirelitupthesky.</p>
“fireworks”</p>
edeflaressizzledandexplodedintobouquetsoffire.everyfehebackyardlitupinsuddenflashesreen,andyellow.</p>
ihosebriefburstsoflight,isaethingillneverfet:hassanservingdrinkstoassefandasilverplatter.thelight,ahissandakle,thenanotherflickerelight:assefgrinning,kneadinghassaninthechesthaknuckle.</p>
then,rcifully,darkness.</p>
nine</p>
sittingintheddleofrooheing,irippedopenboxafterboxofpresents.idontknoajoylessglan.thepileera,atransistorradio,anelaborateele.ididntoney;babaeapartylikethatifihad.</p>
babagavetetheenvyofeverykidintheneighborhood:abrahadhighrisehandlebarsousbanahespokesebodyred,likeaediatelyandtakenitforafullbloeafeonthsago.</p>
“youlikeit”babasaid,leaninginthedavehisheepishgrinandaquiore.</p>
“ation,butonlyahalfheartedone.</p>
“ybelater.ilittletired,”isaid.</p>
“sure,”babasaid.</p>
“baba”</p>
“yes”</p>