Page 348 - The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner 337

“One I can win?”
He capped his pen. “At the risk of sounding like Raymond
Andrews, it’s not likely. Not impossible, but hardly likely.” Gone
was the affable smile, the playful look in his eyes.
“But it’s kids like Sohrab who need a home the most,” I said.
“These rules and regulations don’t make any sense to me.”
“You’re preaching to the choir, Amir,” he said. “But the fact
is, take current immigration laws, adoption agency policies, and
the political situation in Afghanistan, and the deck is stacked
against you.”
“I don’t get it,” I said. I wanted to hit something. “I mean, I get
it but I don’t get it.”
Omar nodded, his brow furrowed. “Well, it’s like this. In the
aftermath of a disaster, whether it be natural or man-made—and
the Taliban are a disaster, Amir, believe me—it’s always difficult to
ascertain that a child is an orphan. Kids get displaced in refugee
camps, or parents just abandon them because they can’t take care
of them. Happens all the time. So the INS won’t grant a visa unless
it’s clear the child meets the definition of an eligible orphan. I’m
sorry, I know it sounds ridiculous, but you need death certificates.”
“You’ve been to Afghanistan,” I said. “You know how improb-
able that is.”
“I know,” he said. “But let’s suppose it’s clear that the child has
no surviving parent. Even then, the INS thinks it’s good adoption
practice to place the child with someone in his own country so his
heritage can be preserved.”
“What heritage?” I said. “The Taliban have destroyed what
heritage Afghans had. You saw what they did to the giant Buddhas
in Bamiyan.”
“I’m sorry, I’m telling you how the INS works, Amir,” Omar
said, touching my arm. He glanced at Sohrab and smiled. Turned