Page 280 - And the Mountains Echoed (novel)

nearly thirty, I have too many relics of my childhood sitting around, most of

them stuffed in a large chest at the foot of my bed whose lid I now lift. Inside are
old dolls, the pink pony that came with a mane I could brush, the picture books,
all the Happy Birthday and Valentine’s cards I had made my parents in
elementary school with kidney beans and glitter and little sparkling stars. The
last time we spoke, Neal and I, when I broke things off, he said, I can’t wait for
you, Pari. I won’t wait around for you to grow up.
I shut the lid and go back to the living room, where Pari has settled into the
couch across from Baba. I take a seat next to her.
“Here,” I say, handing her the stack of postcards.

She reaches for her reading glasses sitting on the side table and yanks off the
rubber band holding the postcards together. Looking at the first one, she frowns.
It is a picture of Las Vegas, of Caesars Palace at night, all glitter and lights. She
flips it over and reads the note aloud.
July 21, 1992

Dear Pari,
You wouldn’t believe how hot this place gets. Today Baba got a
blister when he put his palm down on the hood of our rental car!
Mother had to put toothpaste on it. In Caesars Palace, they have
Roman soldiers with swords and helmets and red capes. Baba kept
trying to get Mother to take a picture with them but she wouldn’t. But

I did! I’ll show you when I get home. That’s it for now. I miss you.
Wish you were here.
Pari

P.S. I’m having the most awesome ice cream sundae as I write
this.

She flips to the next postcard. Hearst Castle. She reads the note under her
breath now. Had his own zoo! How cool is that? Kangaroos, zebras, antelopes,
Bactrian camels—they’re the ones with two humps! One of Disneyland, Mickey
in the wizard’s hat, waving a wand. Mother screamed when the hanged guy fell
from the ceiling! You should have heard her! La Jolla Cove. Big Sur. 17 Mile
Drive. Muir Woods. Lake Tahoe. Miss you. You would have loved it for sure.
Wish you were here.
I wish you were here.