【】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>