sir。 Your outrage notwithstanding； you still need to prove the parents are deceased。 The boy has to be declared a legal orphan。
But……
You wanted the long answer and I m giving it to you。 Your next problem is that you need the cooperation of the child s country of origin。 Now； that s difficult under the best of circumstances； and； to quote you； this is Afghanistan we re talking about。 We don t have an American embassy in Kabul。 That makes things extremely plicated。 Just about impossible。
What are you saying； that I should throw him back on the streets？ I said。
I didn t say that。
He was sexually abused； I said； thinking of the bells around Sohrab s ankles； the mascara on his eyes。
I m sorry to hear that； Andrews s mouth said。 The way he was looking at me； though； we might as well have been talking about the weather。 But that is not going to make the INS issue this young fellow a visa。
What are you saying？
I m saying that if you want to help； send money to a reputable relief organization。 Volunteer at a refugee camp。 But at this point in time； we strongly discourage U。S。 citizens from attempting to adopt Afghan children。
I got up。 e on； Sohrab； I said in Farsi。 Sohrab slid next to me； rested his head on my hip。 I remembered the Polaroid of him and Hassan standing that same way。 Can I ask you some thing； Mr。 Andrews？
Yes。
Do you have children？
For the first time； he blinked。
Well； do you？ It s a simple question。
He was silent。
I thought so； I said； taking Sohrab s hand。 They ought to put someone in your chair who knows what it s like to want a child。 I turned to go； Sohrab trailing me。
Can I ask you a question？ Andrews called。
Go ahead。
Have you promised this child you ll take him with you？
What if I have？
He shook his head。 It s a dangerous business； making promises to kids。 He sighed and opened his desk drawer again。 You mean to pursue this？ he said； rummaging through papers。
I mean to pursue this。
He produced a business card。 Then I advise you to get a good immigration lawyer。 Omar Faisal works here in Islamabad。 You can tell him I sent you。
I took the card from him。 Thanks； I muttered。
Good luck； he said。 As we exited the room； I glanced over my shoulder。 Andrews was standing in a rectangle of sunlight； absently staring out the window； his hands turning the potted tomato plants toward the sun； petting them lovingly。
TAKE CARE； the secretary said as we passed her desk。
Your boss could use some manners； I said。 I expected her to roll her eyes； maybe nod in that I know； everybody says that； kind of way。 Instead； she lowered her voice。 Poor Ray。 He hasn t been the same since his daughter died。
I raised an eyebrow。
Suicide； she whispered。
ON THE TAXI RIDE back to the hotel； Sohrab rested his head on the window； kept staring at the passing buildings； the rows of gum trees。 His breath fogged the glass； cleared； fogged it again。 I waited for him to ask me about the meeting but he didn t。
ON THE OTHER SIDE of the closed bathroom door the water was running。 Since the day we d checked into the hotel； Sohrab took a long bath every night before bed。 In Kabul； hot running water had been like fathers； a rare modity。 Now Sohrab spent almost an hour a night in the bath； soaking in the soapy water； scrubbing。 Sitting on the edge of the bed； I called Soraya。 I glanced at the thin line of light under the bathroom door。 Do you feel clean yet； Sohrab？
I passed on to Soraya what Raymond Andrews had told me。 So what do you think？ I said。
We have to think he s wrong。 She told me she had called a few adoption agencies that arranged international adoptions。 She hadn t yet found one that would consider doing an Afghan adoption； but she was still looking。
How are your parents taking the news？
Madar is happy for us。 You know how she feels about you； Amir； you can do no wrong in her eyes。 Padar。。。 well； as always； he s a little harder to read。 He s not saying much。
And you？ Are you happy？
I heard her shifting the receiver to her other hand。 I think we ll be good for your nephew； but maybe that little boy will be good for us too。
I was thinking the same thing。
I know it sounds crazy； but I find myself wondering what his favorite _qurma_ will be； or his favorite subject in school。 I picture myself helping him with homework。。。 She laughed。 In the bathroom； the water had stopped running。 I could hear Sohrab in there； shifting in the tub； spilling water over the sides。
You re going to be great； I said。
Oh； I almost forgot！ I called Kaka Sharif。
I remembered him reciting a poem at our nika from a scrap of hotel stationery paper。 His son had held the Koran over our heads as Soraya and I had walked toward the stage； smiling at the flashing cameras。 What did he say？
Well； he s going to stir the pot for us。 He ll call some of his INS buddies； she said。
That s really great news； I said。 I can t wait for you to see Sohrab。
I can t wait to see you； she said。
I hung up smiling。
Sohrab emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later。 He had barely said a dozen words since the meeting