The Kite Runner (Pre-Chapters)
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This is a little pre-story to the book The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. Don’t bother reading if you haven’t read the book if you don’t want to.
Chapter 0.1
It was pouring rain that night, almost midnight when I first saw him. I was in my room falling asleep while Pedar – Father – was wrapping him in towels. It’s a weird feeling when you see someone, even if you catch just a glimpse of that person, and you immediately know that that person will change your life. Pedar noticed I was awake and came into my room to say good night “shpa mo pa kheyr, Baba”.
The next morning I woke to the shine of a bright sun coming through my window. The blinds on my window let all the brightness into my room and into my eyes, that, plus the curiousness of finding out what had happened with Pedar the night before made getting out of bed very easily. I quickly washed and went downstairs for breakfast. In the kitchen I found a kid about a year or two younger than me, dark brown hair, a thick unibrow and a slight moustache, with a plate of cereal in front of him. I quietly grabbed a bowl for myself and sat beside him. About fifteen minutes had passed in total silence, all you could hear was the crunch of my mouth taking mouthfuls of cereal. Pedar finally walked in, “Oh Baba, you’re awake. Let me introduce you to this young boy. This is Ali, he will be living with us from now on”.
“For how long will he be here?”, I asked.
“Sorry, I don’t think I made myself clear enough. He will be living here permanently, make him feel welcome”, Pedar responded.
I would take long walks by myself along the Kabul River thinking to myself. These are my most treasured moments, there is nothing like reflecting about life while listening to the wind and the sound of water running downstream. At first I never really thought much of Ali, he usually stayed in his room all day and never spoke a word. This came to an end when one summer morning Pedar asked me to please take Ali to the River with me and bond with him. I didn’t like the idea of Ali interrupting my alone time, but I understood the reason Pedar wanted me to take him and accepted.
We took the route I normally take, it takes about an hour and a half to cover, but with the weather the summer of 1943 no one could complain. After walking about half an hour in total silence I decided to finally speak up “So… where are your parents?”, just after I said it I realized what a terrible question that was to start off with.
Ali stopped walking, looked at me with the most agonizing look I have ever seen and said “I watched them die, right in front of me. They never saw the car coming. I shook them and screamed, they never responded back”. From that moment on, I never saw this boy the same way again.
It is incredible how a person can suffer for another person even if you yourself did not go through what they did. It makes something inside of you see this person as your superior, a person that deserves your care and attention the way you give a family member. At the age of ten, you just don’t know what to respond to something like this. What I didn’t know was that this would be the start of a friendship that would last a lifetime.
We passed by a local shop where they sold kites, to break the silence once more I asked him if he would be interested in learning how to fly one. He just shook his head in approval. I took the very little allowance money I had been given and let him pick out a kite of his own. I taught him how to hold the spool and how to keep the kite in the air, flowing from one side to the other. The air was blowing hard, which made it easy for him to learn. His eyes were shining and he had a big smile on his face, little did I know this was the first time Ali had felt happiness in a long time. Sometimes the little details one does for another person – even if they don’t mean much to you – can mean the entire world for someone else.
Chapter 0.2
(20 years later)
Shame and regret are the two feelings I fear the most. It is the year 1964, just a year since Amir’s birth. When I saw that look of love on Ali’s eyes toward Hassan for the first time, I knew I must have to keep silenced the rest of my life. But it wasn’t a secret to Ali, he have had polio for some years now, physical relations for him were nearly impossible. He knew that Hassan was not his son. That doesn’t take away the fact that I stole his right of knowing the truth about who the real father is, me. But deep down he must know, his modesty just wouldn’t let him speak of it.
Ali’s wife and Hassan’s mother, Sanaubar, was never the kind of woman I liked to see Ali with. He always acted for her out of love, she rarely responded back the same way. She was a selfish woman. I was lonely and depressed after my wife’s death. It was an unbearable thing to experience, specially knowing that little Amir would never meet his mother. These things might have led me to do the act that I regret most in my life. I betrayed my best friend who has been there for me no matter what the situation. My entire life I have worked to become who I am today, the successful, respectful business man that I am. Wealthy and surrounded by loved ones, but the one and only person who has always been by my side living his life for me, is the person I consider I have done the most harm to. Forgiveness to one’s self is the most difficult act a man can go through, guilt doesn’t just go away.
Days after that full moon night in which Hassan was born, I was sitting in my room thinking to myself; just like those walks very long ago by myself beside the Kabul River. Snow started to fall for the first time this winter, looking out the window I could actually hear each snowflake hit the ground. Suddenly I was startled by Sanaubar at the door.
“Bakhena ghwaarum – excuse me – sir, may I come in?” Sanaubar said with a cracking voice.
“Certainly, what’s on your mind?” I said.
“Sir, I can’t stay here. Every time I see that boy I am disgusted. I’ll be gone by nightfall. Da khoday pa amaan – Goodbye.” She finished.
“But…” As I started to speak she had already stormed out.
I was struck with shock and more guilt. I could not believe this was actually happening. What had I done to Ali? It was impossible for me not to think that I had become everything I reject. This kind wrong choice taken by me had it’s own punishment to accompany it; Guilt. This feeling would sit at the back of my brain just gnawing at my conscience a bit by bit for unlimited time. If I keep it a secret that’s how it will have to be.
Around nine that night Sanaubar walked out of the house without even looking back. It was snowing hard by now. At the front door I could see into Ali’s small shack. He was holding Hassan in his arms, didn’t even notice Sanaubar left until it was time to feed Hassan. It was at that moment that I realized that taking Hassan away from him or by telling him the truth would hurt Ali even more. He was happy with Hassan, my son.
Promises are meant to be kept. One day that winter I went to put Amir to sleep. I looked at him in the eyes, and even if he could not even speak I felt he understood; I said “Amir, my son. I will do my best to raise you in such a way that you will be better than I am, by far.”. This pain and suffering for myself and for Ali I was feeling is something you don’t want any other man to feel, this applies even more for your own son.
In bed my head would not stop spinning. Once the mind is up and running with such heavy and profound thoughts, it is hard to put it to rest. Sleep came rarely for the next few months. I knew I wouldn’t stop thinking about this not even for one night. A man of success I had become, but lost sense of my values. Never again shall this happen.
What Happens to Your body if you stop smoking Right now?
I think one of the main reasons it’s so hard to quit smoking is because all the benefits of quitting and all the dangers of continuing seem very far away. Well, here’s a little timeline about some of the more immediate effects of quitting smoking and how that will affect your body RIGHT NOW.
* In 20 minutes your blood pressure will drop back down to normal.
* In 8 hours the carbon monoxide (a toxic gas) levels in your blood stream will drop by half, and oxygen levels will return to normal.
* In 48 hours your chance of having a heart attack will have decreased. All nicotine will have left your body. Your sense of taste and smell will return to a normal level.
* In 72 hours your bronchial tubes will relax, and your energy levels will increase.
* In 2 weeks your circulation will increase, and it will continue to improve for the next 10 weeks.
* In three to nine months coughs, wheezing and breathing problems will dissipate as your lung capacity improves by 10%.
* In 1 year your risk of having a heart attack will have dropped by half.
* In 5 years your risk of having a stroke returns to that of a non-smoker.
* In 10 years your risk of lung cancer will have returned to that of a non-smoker.
* In 15 years your risk of heart attack will have returned to that of a non-smoker
Ten Rules For Being Human.
by Cherie Carter-Scott
1.You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it’s yours to keep for the entire period.
2.You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called, “life.”
3.There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of trial, error, and experimentation. The “failed” experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiments that ultimately “work.”
4.Lessons are repeated until they are learned. A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it, you can go on to the next lesson.
5.Learning lessons does not end. There’s no part of life that doesn’t contain its lessons. If you’re alive, that means there are still lessons to be learned.
6.“There” is no better a place than “here.” When your “there” has become a “here”, you will simply obtain another “there” that will again look better than “here.”
7.Other people are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects to you something you love or hate about yourself.
8.What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours.
9.
Your answers lie within you. The answers to life’s questions lie within you. All you need to do is look, listen, and trust.
10.
You will forget all this.Post with 2 notes
5 simple lessons on how to treat others.
1. First Important Lesson - “Know The Cleaning Lady”
During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read the last one: “What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?”
Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.
“Absolutely,” said the professor. “In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say “hello.”
I’ve never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.
2. Second Important Lesson - “Pickup In The Rain”
One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car.
A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab.
She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man’s door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home.
A special note was attached. It read: “Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband’s bedside just before he passed away. God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others.”
Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole.
3. Third Important Lesson - “Remember Those Who Serve”
In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10 year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. “How much is an ice cream sundae?” he asked. “50¢,” replied the waitress.
The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it.
“Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?” he inquired. By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient. “35¢!” she brusquely replied.
The little boy again counted his coins. “I’ll have the plain ice cream,” he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left.
When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies. You see, he couldn’t have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.
4. Fourth Important Lesson - “The Obstacles In Our Path”
In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king’s wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.
Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand - “Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.”
5. Fifth Important Lesson - “Giving When It Counts”
Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year-old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, “Yes, I’ll do it if it will save her.”
As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, “Will I start to die right away?”.
Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.
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