said to have been brought all the way from snow…
capped Mount Ulu； I told my father that he’d made a declaration of love。 At
that time； Black had just graduated from the religious school。 He taught in
remote neighborhoods and； more out of my father’s insistence than his own
desire； Black was attempting to obtain the patronage of the powerful and
esteemed Naim Pasha。 But according to my father； Black didn’t yet have his
wits about him。 My father； who’d taken great pains to win Black a place in
Naim Pasha’s circle； at least as a clerk to begin； plained that he wasn’t
doing much to further his own cause； in other words； Black was being an
ignoramus。 And that very night in reference to Black and me； my father
declared； “I think he’s set his sights very high； this impoverished nephew；” and
without regard for my mother’s presence； he added； “he’s smarter than we’d
supposed。”
I remember with misery what my father did in the following days； how I
kept my distance from Black and how he ceased to visit our house； but I won’t
explain all of this for fear that you’ll dislike my father and me。 I swear to you；
we had no other choice。 You know how in such situations reasonable people
immediately sense that love without hope is simply hopeless； and
understanding the limits of the illogical realm of the heart； make a quick end
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of it by politely declaring； “They didn’t find us suitably matched。 That’s just
the way it is。” But； I’ll have you know that my mother said several times； “At
least don’t break the boy’s heart