第31节

  【】oney.”</p>

  s.dobbinsblinked.pips,lookedfroetobabalikeiliatingfoodstantsattheor.</p>

  thatsuerof1983,igraduatedfroighseerlosingbabainthesoffalies,flashingoviples,andhadnthebeentallerinkabulheeoneheeandiled.hetionedfortoyrtarneir,”hesaid.proud.hiseyesgleadhatandilikedbeingonthereceivingendofthatlook.</p>

  hetooktoanafghankabobhouseinhayuieney,ybegotollegethefolloeoneofhisslderingbabalooks,aongue.</p>

  afterdinner,babatooktoabaratherestaurant.theplauyfriend,”hesaid,pattingtheoldnontheback.theoldfelloiled.hehadnoupperteeth.</p>

  babafinishedhisbeerinthreegulpsandorderedanother.hehadthreebeforeiforihenhehadboughttheoldnasteofpoolplayerstoapit.soohisanahandfulofquarters.hepoihejukebox.“tellhioplayhisfavoritesongs,”hesaidto.theoldnnoddedandgavebabaasalute.soon,untrysiclikethat,babahadstartedaparty.</p>

  atonepoint,babastood,raisedhisbeer,spillingitonthesafloor,andyelled,“**therussia”thebarslaughter,thenitsfullthroatedechofolloanotherroundofpitchersforeveryone.</p>

  iling.</p>

  idroveushoinbabasold,oelledtobahindalhol,sandpu.buthesatupoppedthedsaidinahoarsevoice,“keepdrivingtotheendoftheblock.”</p>

  “why,baba”</p>

  “justgo.”hehadparkatthesouthendofthestreet.hereaeasetofkeys.“there,”hesaid,pointingtothefrontofus.itodelford,longandoonlight.“itneedspainting,andillhaveoheguysatthestationputiruns.”</p>

  itookthekeys,stunned.ilookedfroiothecar.</p>

  “youllogotollege,”hesaid.</p>

  itookhishandinne.squeezedit.eyesearingoverandiheshadohathidourfaces.“thankyou,baba.”</p>

  houe,allthathebarrasshi“tashakor,”irepeatedinstead.</p>

  hesledandleanedthing.justsatinthedark,listehetinktinkoftheengineoling,thee.“ihustoday,”hesaid.</p>

  apairofsteelhandsye.irolleddoheedforthesteelhandstoloosentheirgrip.</p>

  iseeds,hispersonaltrustedantidotefoverheadaches.</p>

  “ithinkilljorinenglish,”isaid.iingforhisreply.</p>

  “english”</p>

  “creativeing.”</p>

  hehis.sippedhistea.“stories,youan.youllkeupstories.”ilookeddoyfeet.</p>

  “theypayforthat,kingupstories”</p>

  “ifyood,”isaid.“andifyougetdisvered.”</p>

  “hohat,gettingdisvered”</p>

  “ithappens,”isaid.</p>

  henodded.“andoneyifyourry,ho”</p>

  iuldntlifteyestoethis.“ill...findajob.”</p>

  “oh,”hesaid.“allightsodayhelpyouget...disvered.”hetookadeepbreathandsippedhistea.gruhingaboutdihool,lahool,and“realwork.”</p>

  e,theguiltofindulgitheexpenseofhisulcer,hisblageailsandags.butiwo</p>

  ...</p>