the kite runner-第53章

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r。　Men　shook　his　hand　and　clapped　him　on　the　back。　They　drank　to　him。　Someone　lit　his　cigarette。　Baba　loosened　his　tie　and　gave　the　old　man　a　handful　of　quarters。　He　pointed　to　the　jukebox。　　Tell　him　to　play　his　favorite　songs；　　he　said　to　me。　The　old　man　nodded　and　gave　Baba　a　salute。　Soon；　country　music　was　blaring；　and；　just　like　that；　Baba　had　started　a　party。
At　one　point；　Baba　stood；　raised　his　beer；　spilling　it　on　the　sawdust　floor；　and　yelled；　　Fuck　the　Russia！　　The　bar　s　laughter；　then　its　full…throated　echo　followed。　Baba　bought　another　round　of　pitchers　for　everyone。
When　we　left；　everyone　was　sad　to　see　him　go。　Kabul；　Peshawar；　Hayward。　Same　old　Baba；　I　thought；　smiling。
I　drove　us　home　in　Baba　s　old；　ochre　yellow　Buick　Century。　Baba　dozed　off　on　the　way；　snoring　like　a　jackhammer。　I　smelled　tobacco　on　him　and　alcohol；　sweet　and　pungent。　But　he　sat　up　when　I　stopped　the　car　and　said　in　a　hoarse　voice；　　Keep　driving　to　the　end　of　the　block。　
　Why；　Baba？　
　Just　go。　　He　had　me　park　at　the　south　end　of　the　street。　He　reached　in　his　coat　pocket　and　handed　me　a　set　of　keys。　　There；　　he　said；　pointing　to　the　car　in　front　of　us。　It　was　an　old　model　Ford；　long　and　wide；　a　dark　color　I　couldn　t　discern　in　the　moon　light。　　It　needs　painting；　and　I　ll　have　one　of　the　guys　at　the　station　put　in　new　shocks；　but　it　runs。　
I　took　the　keys；　stunned。　I　looked　from　him　to　the　car。
　You　ll　need　it　to　go　to　college；　　he　said。
I　took　his　hand　in　mine。　Squeezed　it。　My　eyes　were　tearing　over　and　I　was　glad　for　the　shadows　that　hid　our　faces。　　Thank　you；　Baba。　
We　got　out　and　sat　inside　the　Ford。　It　was　a　Grand　Torino。　Navy　blue；　Baba　said。　I　drove　it　around　the　block；　testing　the　brakes；　the　radio；　the　turn　signals。　I　parked　it　in　the　lot　of　our　apartment　building　and　shut　off　the　engine。　　Tashakor；　Baba　jan；　　I　said。　I　wanted　to　say　more；　tell　him　how　touched　I　was　by　his　act　of　kindness；　how　much　I　appreciated　all　that　he　had　done　for　me；　all　that　he　was　still　doing。　But　I　knew　I　d　embarrass　him。　　Tashakor；　　I　repeated　instead。
He　smiled　and　leaned　back　against　the　headrest；　his　forehead　almost　touching　the　ceiling。　We　didn　t　say　anything。　Just　sat　in　the　dark；　listened　to　the　tink…tink　of　the　engine　cooling；　the　wail　of　a　siren　in　the　distance。　Then　Baba　rolled　his　head　toward　me。　　I　wish　Hassan　had　been　with　us　today；　　he　said。
A　pair　of　steel　hands　closed　around　my　windpipe　at　the　sound　of　Hassan　s　name。　I　rolled　down　the　window。　Waited　for　the　steel　hands　to　loosen　their　grip。
I　WOULD　ENROLL　in　junior　college　classes　in　the　fall；　I　told　Baba　the　day　after　graduation。　He　was　drinking　cold　black　tea　and　chewing　cardamom　seeds；　his　personal　trusted　antidote　for　hang　over　headaches。
　I　think　I　ll　major　in　English；　　I　said。　I　winced　inside；　waiting　for　his　reply。
　English？　
　Creative　writing。　
He　considered　this。　Sipped　his　tea。　　Stories；　you　mean。　You　ll　make　up　stories。　　I　looked　down　at　my　feet。
　They　pay　for　that；　making　up　stories？　
　If　you　re　good；　　I　said。　　And　if　you　get　discovered。　
　How　likely　is　that；　getting　discovered？　
　It　happens；　　I　said。
He　nodded。　　And　what　will　you　do　while　you　wait　to　get　good　and　get　discovered？　How　will　you　earn　money？　If　you　marry；　how　will　you　support　your　khanum？　
I　couldn　t　lift　my　eyes　to　meet　his。　　I　ll。。。　find　a　job。　
　Oh；　　he　said。　　Wah　wah！　So；　if　I　understand；　you　ll　study　several　years　to　earn　a　degree；　then　you　ll　get　a　chatti　job　like　mine；　one　you　could　just　as　easily　land　today；　on　the　small　chance　that　your　degree　might　someday　help　you　get。。。　discovered。　　He　took　a　deep　breath　and　sipped　his　tea。　Grunted　something　about　medical　school；　law　school；　and　　real　work。　
My　cheeks　burned　and　guilt　coursed　through　me；　the　guilt　of　indulging　myself　at　the　expense　of　his　ulcer；　his　black　fingernails　and　aching　wrists。　But　I　would　stand　my　ground；　I　decided。　I　didn　t　want　to　sacrifice　for　Baba　anymore。　The　last　time　I　had　done　that；　I　had　damned　myself。
Baba　sighed　and；　this　time；　tossed　a　whole　handful　of　car　damom　seeds　in　his　mouth。
SOMETIMES；　I　GOT　BEHIND　the　wheel　of　my　Ford；　rolled　down　the　windows；　and　d