She got rid of Uncle Qadir by using housecleaning as an excuse, and did not let him in the basement anymore. This is how Maman slowly cleared our house of the shadows. She got rid of all the ghosts, all the friends and guests, Vitamin and all the other strangers. Everything was clean and quiet after Maman was done, and Father was in the basement lying on the bed all alone, like a corpse waiting to be washed.

When Shahla has enough, she goes on a diet. She eats only almonds, pistachios, and filberts.

Maman says, “Isn’t it a pity to make so much money and eat only some nuts?”

When Mahin has enough, she marries a man she doesn’t even know and moves to the other end of the world.

I must be the most miserable for when I have had enough, I put my head on the stomach of the person with whom I am most fed up and listen to his stomach growl while feeling ashamed of my unhappiness.

Chapter 22

22

Only death can turn life back to its original state. If suddenly I have a heart attack and collapse in the middle of the kitchen, Amir will notice me at last. I don’t want to have an accident and end up with a deformed face. I don’t want to get cancer and become weak and turn yellow. Heart attacks are better than other kinds of death. I am spread out on the floor, probably holding the spoon that I was using to stir the milk. I stare at the ceiling, but I am not dead. Amir does not know that yet.

We did not know Father had died, either. We thought he was alive, but he had died in the basement, all alone. Father loved women, pistachios, and music, but he didn’t want them any longer.

“My son, bring me a piece of that red juicy thing.”

Maman would sigh, and Father would say again, “Son, are you getting that red juicy thing? I am thirsty, very thirsty.”

He would not remember the word for watermelon, even if his life depended on it. Mahin wanted to leave.

Shahla said, “In this cold, and at this time of the night?”

Mahin did not pay any attention to her, always trying to do the impossible. Maman blocked the basement door with her body. “He gets everything messy.”

He would make a mess even without eating watermelon.

“He has left a trail. Clean him up.” He had lost control before making it to the bathroom.

He would drag his feet on the floor because he could not climb the stairs.

Maman became exasperated by Father’s sickness. Father should have realized by now that he could not get any sympathy by playing dead. He should die for real.