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The following text is adapted from Adib Khorram's 2018 novel Darius the Great Is Not Okay. Darius, a teenager from the United States, is visiting his grandparents, Babou and Mamou, in Iran. They are preparing for a holiday celebration.
I felt like a tourist.
But Babou fussed with my cap a little more, even though Mamou had already gotten it settled. He looked me in the eye from time to time, like he was looking for something, and thought maybe—just maybe—I had it in me after all.
Babou hummed to himself as he smoothed out my shoulder seams and rested his hands on them.
"I am glad you are here to see this, Darioush-jan."
Maybe I wasn't such a tourist.
©2018 by Adib Khorram
I felt like a tourist.
But Babou fussed with my cap a little more, even though Mamou had already gotten it settled. He looked me in the eye from time to time, like he was looking for something, and thought maybe—just maybe—I had it in me after all.
Babou hummed to himself as he smoothed out my shoulder seams and rested his hands on them.
"I am glad you are here to see this, Darioush-jan."
Maybe I wasn't such a tourist.
©2018 by Adib Khorram