r： One of us had to go。
Later that afternoon； I took the Schwinn for its first and last spin。 I pedaled around the block a couple of times and came back。 I rolled up the driveway to the backyard where Hassan and Ali were cleaning up the mess from last night s party。 Paper cups； crumpled napkins； and empty bottles of soda littered the yard。 Ali was folding chairs； setting them along the wall。 He saw me and waved。
Salaam； All； I said； waving back。
He held up a finger； asking me to wait； and walked to his living quarters。 A moment later； he emerged with something in his hands。 The opportunity never presented itself last night for Hassan and me to give you this； he said； handing me a box。 It s mod est and not worthy of you； Amir agha。 But we hope you like it still。 Happy birthday。
A lump was rising in my throat。 Thank you； Ali； I said。 I wished they hadn t bought me anything。 I opened the box and found a brand new _Shahnamah_； a hardback with glossy colored illustrations beneath the passages。 Here was Ferangis gazing at her newborn son； Kai Khosrau。 There was Afrasiyab riding his horse； sword drawn； leading his army。 And； of course； Rostam inflicting a mortal wound onto his son； the warrior Sohrab。 It s beautiful； I said。
Hassan said your copy was old and ragged； and that some of the pages were missing； Ali said。 All the pictures are hand…drawn in this one with pen and ink； he added proudly； eyeing a book neither he nor his son could read。
It s lovely； I said。 And it was。 And； I suspected； not inexpensive either。 I wanted to tell Ali it was not the book； but I who was unworthy。 I hopped back on the bicycle。 Thank Hassan for me； I said。
I ended up tossing the book on the heap of gifts in the corner of my room。 But my eyes kept going back to it； so I buried it at the
bottom。 Before I went to bed that night； I asked Baba if he d seen my new watch anywhere。
THE NEXT MORNING； I waited in my room for Ali to clear the breakfast table in the kitchen。 Waited for him to do the dishes； wipe the counters。 I looked out my bedroom window and waited until Ali and Hassan went grocery shopping to the bazaar； pushing the empty wheelbarrows in front of them。
Then I took a couple of the envelopes of cash from the pile of gifts and my watch； and tiptoed out。 I paused before Baba s study and listened in。 He d been in there all morning； making phone calls。 He was talking to someone now； about a shipment of rugs due to arrive next week。 I went downstairs； crossed the yard； and entered Ali and Hassan s living quarters by the loquat tree。 I lifted Hassan s mattress and planted my new watch and a handful of Afghani bills under it。
I waited another thirty minutes。 Then I knocked on Baba s door and told what I hoped would be the last in a long line of shameful lies。
THROUGH MY BEDROOM WINDOW； I watched Ali and Hassan push the wheelbarrows loaded with meat； _naan_； fruit； and vegetables up the driveway。 I saw Baba emerge from the house and walk up to Ali。 Their mouths moved over words I couldn t hear。 Baba pointed to the house and Ali nodded。 They separated。 Baba came back to the house； Ali followed Hassan to their hut。
A few moments later； Baba knocked on my door。 e to my office； he said。 We re all going to sit down and settle this thing。
I went to Baba s study； sat in one of the leather sofas。 It was thirty minutes or more before Hassan and Ali joined us。
THEY D BOTH BEEN CRYING； I could tell from their red； puffed up eyes。 They stood before Baba； hand in hand； and I wondered how and when I d bee capable of causing this kind of pain。
Baba came right out and aske