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rd Hassan。 Because today； it s only going to cost you that blue kite。 A fair deal； boys； isn t it？
More than fair； Kamal said。
Even from where I was standing； I could see the fear creeping into Hassan s eyes； but he shook his head。 Amir agha won the tournament and I ran this kite for him。 I ran it fairly。 This is his kite。
A loyal Hazara。 Loyal as a dog； Assef said。 Kamal s laugh was a shrill； nervous sound。
But before you sacrifice yourself for him； think about this：
Would he do the same for you？ Have you ever wondered why he never includes you in games when he has guests？ Why he only plays with you when no one else is around？ I ll tell you why； Hazara。 Because to him； you re nothing but an ugly pet。 Something he can play with when he s bored； something he can kick when he s angry。 Don t ever fool yourself and think you re something more。
Amir agha and I are friends； Hassan said。 He looked flushed。
Friends？ Assef said； laughing。 You pathetic fool！ Someday you ll wake up from your little fantasy and learn just how good of a friend he is。 Now； bas！ Enough of this。 Give us that kite。
Hassan stooped and picked up a rock。
Assef flinched。 He began to take a step back； stopped。 Last chance； Hazara。
Hassan s answer was to cock the arm that held the rock。
Whatever you wish。 Assef unbuttoned his winter coat； took it off； folded it slowly and deliberately。 He placed it against the wall。
I opened my mouth； almost said something。 Almost。 The rest of my life might have turned out differently if I had。 But I didn t。 I just watched。 Paralyzed。
Assef motioned with his hand； and the other two boys separated； forming a half circle； trapping Hassan in the alley。
I ve changed my mind； Assef said。 I m letting you keep the kite； Hazara。 I ll let you keep it so it will always remind you of what I m about to do。
Then he charged。 Hassan hurled the rock。 It struck Assef in the forehead。 Assef yelped as he flung himself at Hassan； knocking him to the ground。 Wall and Kamal followed。
I bit on my fist。 Shut my eyes。
A MEMORY：
Did you know Hassan and you fed from the same breast？ Did you know that； Amir agha？ Sakina； her name was。 She was a fair； blue…eyed Hazara woman from Bamiyan and she sang you old wedding songs。 They say there is a brotherhood between people who ve fed from the same breast。 Did you know that？
A memory：
A rupia each； children。 Just one rupia each and I will part the curtain of truth。 The old man sits against a mud wall。 His sightless eyes are like molten silver embedded in deep； twin craters。
Hunched over his cane； the fortune…teller runs a gnarled hand across the surface of his deflated cheeks。 Cups it before us。 Not much to ask for the truth； is it； a rupia each？ Hassan drops a coin in the leathery palm。 I drop mine too。 In the name of Allah most beneficent； most merciful； the old fortune…teller whispers。 He takes Hassan s hand first； strokes the palm with one hornlike fingernail； round and round； round and round。 The finger then floats to Hassan s face and makes a dry； scratchy sound as it slowly traces the curve of his c