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He waved as he pulled away。 Standing outside the hotel room and waving back； I wished Soraya could be there with me。
SOHRAB HAD TURNED OFF THE TV when l went back into the room。 I sat on the edge of my bed； asked him to sit next to me。 Mr。 Faisal thinks there is a way I can take you to America with me； I said。
He does？ Sohrab said； smiling faintly for the first time in days。 When can we go？
Well； that s the thing。 It might take a little while。 But he said it can be done and he s going to help us。 I put my hand on the back of his neck。 From outside； the call to prayer blared through the streets。
How long？ Sohrab asked。
I don t know。 A while。
Sohrab shrugged and smiled； wider this time。 I don t mind。 I can wait。 It s like the sour apples。
Sour apples？
One time； when I was really little； I climbed a tree and ate these green； sour apples。 My stomach swelled and became hard like a drum； it hurt a lot。 Mother said that if I d just waited for the apples to ripen； I wouldn t have bee sick。 So now； whenever I really want something； I try to remember what she said about the apples。
Sour apples； I said。 _Mashallah_； you re just about the smartest little guy I ve ever met； Sohrab jan。 His ears reddened with a blush。
Will you take me to that red bridge？ The one with the fog？ he said。
Absolutely； I said。 Absolutely。
And we ll drive up those streets； the ones where all you see is the hood of the car and the sky？
Every single one of them； I said。 My eyes stung with tears and I blinked them away。
Is English hard to learn？
I say； within a year； you ll speak it as well as Farsi。
Really？
Yes。 I placed a finger under his chin； turned his face up to mine。 There is one other thing； Sohrab。
What？
Well； Mr。 Faisal thinks that it would really help if we could。。。 if we could ask you to stay in a home for kids for a while。
Home for kids？ he said； his smile fading。 You mean an orphanage？
It would only be for a little while。
No； he said。 No； please。
Sohrab； it would be for just a little while。 I promise。
You promised you d never put me in one of those places； Amir agha； he said。 His voice was breaking； tears pooling in his eyes。 I felt like a prick。
This is different。 It would be here； in Islamabad； not in Kabul。 And I d visit you all the time until we can get you out and take you to America。
Please！ Please； no！ he croaked。 I m scared of that place。 They ll hurt me！ I don t want to go。
No one is going to hurt you。 Not ever again。
Yes they will！ They always say they won t but they lie。 They lie！ Please； God！
I wiped the tear streaking down his cheek with my thumb。 Sour apples； remember？ It s just like the sour apples； I said softly。
No it s not。 Not that place。 God； oh God。 Please； no！ He was trembling； snot and tears mixing on his face。
Shhh。 I pulled him close； wrapped my arms around his shaking little body。 Shhh。 It ll be all right。 We ll go home together。 You ll see； it ll be all right。
His voice was muffled against my chest； but I heard the panic in it。 Please promise you won t！ Oh