mouth of the alley。 Held my breath。 Peeked around the corner。
Hassan was standing at the blind end of the alley in a defiant stance： fists curled； legs slightly apart。 Behind him； sitting on piles of scrap and rubble； was the blue kite。 My key to Baba s heart。
Blocking Hassan s way out of the alley were three boys； the same three from that day on the hill； the day after Daoud Khan s coup； when Hassan had saved us with his slingshot。 Wali was standing on one side； Kamal on the other； and in the middle； Assef。 I felt my body clench up； and something cold rippled up my spine。 Assef seemed relaxed； confident。 He was twirling his brass knuckles。 The other two guys shifted nervously on their feet； looking from Assef to Hassan； like they d cornered some kind of wild animal that only Assef could tame。
Where is your slingshot； Hazara？ Assef said； turning the brass knuckles in his hand。 What was it you said？ They ll have to call you One…Eyed Assef。 That s right。 One…Eyed Assef。 That was clever。 Really clever。 Then again； it s easy to be clever when you re holding a loaded weapon。
I realized I still hadn t breathed out。 I exhaled； slowly； quietly。 I felt paralyzed。 I watched them close in on the boy I d grown up with； the boy whose harelipped face had been my first memory。
But today is your lucky day； Hazara； Assef said。 He had his back to me； but I would have bet he was grinning。 I m in a mood to forgive。 What do you say to that； boys？
That s generous； Kamal blurted； Especially after the rude manners he showed us last time。 He was trying to sound like Assef； except there was a tremor in his voice。 Then I understood：
He wasn t afraid of Hassan； not really。 He was afraid because he had no idea what Assef had in mind。
Assef waved a dismissive hand。 Bakhshida。 Forgiven。 It s done。 His voice dropped a little。 Of course； nothing is free in this world； and my pardon es with a small price。
That s fair； Kamal said。
Nothing is free； Wali added。
You re a lucky Hazara； Assef said； taking a step toward 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。