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； government offices are busy with emergencies； and processing adoptions won t be a top priority。
I sighed and rubbed my eyes。 A pounding headache was settling in just behind them。
But let s suppose that somehow Afghanistan gets its act together； Omar said； crossing his arms on his protruding belly。 It still may not permit this adoption。 In fact； even the more moderate Muslim nations are hesitant with adoptions because in many of those countries； Islamic law； Shari a； doesn t recognize adoption。
You re telling me to give it up？ I asked； pressing my palm to my forehead。
I grew up in the U。S。； Amir。 If America taught me anything； it s that quitting is right up there with pissing in the Girl Scouts lemonade jar。 But； as your lawyer； I have to give you the facts； he said。 Finally； adoption agencies routinely send staff members to evaluate the child s milieu； and no reasonable agency is going to send an agent to Afghanistan。
I looked at Sohrab sitting on the bed； watching TV； watching us。 He was sitting the way his father used to； chin resting on one knee。
I m his half uncle； does that count for anything？
It does if you can prove it。 I m sorry； do you have any papers or anyone who can support you？
No papers； I said； in a tired voice。 No one knew about it。 Sohrab didn t know until I told him； and I myself didn t find out until recently。 The only other person who knows is gone； maybe dead。
What are my options； Omar？
I ll be frank。 You don t have a lot of them。
Well； Jesus； what can I do？
Omar breathed in； tapped his chin with the pen； let his breath out。 You could still file an orphan petition； hope for the best。 You could do an independent adoption。 That means you d have to live with Sohrab here in Pakistan； day in and day out； for the next two years。 You could seek asylum on his behalf。 That s a lengthy process and you d have to prove political persecution。 You could request a humanitarian visa。 That s at the discretion of the attorney general and it s not easily given。 He paused。 There is another option； probably your best shot。
What？ I said； leaning forward。
You could relinquish him to an orphanage here； then file an orphan petition。 Start your I…600 form and your home study while he s in a safe place。
What are those？
I m sorry； the 1…600 is an INS formality。 The home study is done by the adoption agency you choose； Omar said。 It s； you know； to make sure you and your wife aren t raving lunatics。
I don t want to do that； I said； looking again at Sohrab。 I promised him I wouldn t send him back to an orphanage。
Like I said； it may be your best shot。
We talked a while longer。 Then I walked him out to his car； an old VW Bug。 The sun was setting on Islamabad by then； a flaming red nimbus in the west。 I watched the car tilt under Omar s weight as he somehow managed to slide in behind the wheel。 He rolled down the window。 Amir？
Yes。
I meant to tell you in there； about what you re trying to do？ I think it s pretty great。
He waved as he pulled away。 Standing outside the hotel room and waving back； I wishe