As the leaves began to wither in the fall of 1969, Hassan turned 6. He was hugging Baba securing, slowing burying his face into Baba’s chest. I can see Amir jan, masking behind the velvet curtain beyond the kitchen door, stealing envious looks at Hassan. Maybe it is time to finally tell Hassan and Amir jan. Baba and I quietly exited the living room and we entered his study. As I pulled back on the black leather chair, I saw Baba stuff his pipe with tobacco. Baba began to close the door when Amir jan popped through the opening.
“Go on now,” he said. “This is grown ups’ time. Why don’t you read one of those books of yours?”. Amir jan tilted his head down and walked back to the living room.
“When will you tell them?” I asked sternly. This question …show more content…
He deserves to know the truth.”
“As an Afghan, I have a reputation to withhold. This secret will tear apart what I have lived for.” Baba took a pause as he swept the tear from his eye and he made his way over to the book shelf. “Do you think I will be forgiven? I always say that theft is the only sin. How could I back out of what I said? I have stolen Hassan’s right to know the truth and I have stolen Ali’s honor. I shall tell him, tomorrow as we gather for dinner.”
“No matter the sin, there is always a way to be good again. Yes, you should tell Hassan, you know it is the right thing to do”, I answered.
Right at that moment, Baba’s eyes rolled to the photo of his father and King Nadir Shah towering over a dead deer. Baba suddenly turned to me and angrily blurted, “No, I cannot. Even if I do, it doesn’t change anything. He is a Hazara and he will only poison my blood line. If anyone hears of this-“
“Baba,” I interrupted. “Hassan will always be your son. When will you be ready to admit that?”
The color in Baba’s face flushed away as he whispered, “I know what I said was wrong. I love Hassan as he is everything I wished Amir would be. But--”
Baba took a seat beside as he said the words that I would never forget, “I would rather die than sacrifice my
“Go on now,” he said. “This is grown ups’ time. Why don’t you read one of those books of yours?”. Amir jan tilted his head down and walked back to the living room.
“When will you tell them?” I asked sternly. This question …show more content…
He deserves to know the truth.”
“As an Afghan, I have a reputation to withhold. This secret will tear apart what I have lived for.” Baba took a pause as he swept the tear from his eye and he made his way over to the book shelf. “Do you think I will be forgiven? I always say that theft is the only sin. How could I back out of what I said? I have stolen Hassan’s right to know the truth and I have stolen Ali’s honor. I shall tell him, tomorrow as we gather for dinner.”
“No matter the sin, there is always a way to be good again. Yes, you should tell Hassan, you know it is the right thing to do”, I answered.
Right at that moment, Baba’s eyes rolled to the photo of his father and King Nadir Shah towering over a dead deer. Baba suddenly turned to me and angrily blurted, “No, I cannot. Even if I do, it doesn’t change anything. He is a Hazara and he will only poison my blood line. If anyone hears of this-“
“Baba,” I interrupted. “Hassan will always be your son. When will you be ready to admit that?”
The color in Baba’s face flushed away as he whispered, “I know what I said was wrong. I love Hassan as he is everything I wished Amir would be. But--”
Baba took a seat beside as he said the words that I would never forget, “I would rather die than sacrifice my