I was well aware that I wouldn’t be able to love him like a Shirin； so I

feigned　ignorance。　On　the　evening　of　that　summer’s　day　when　Black　gave　me

his painting； during which we’d tried to cool ourselves with sour…cherry

sherbets made with ice 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　visi