And Their Children After Them by Nicolas Mathieu

Author:Nicolas Mathieu [Mathieu, Nicolas]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Other Press
Published: 2020-04-07T00:00:00+00:00

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Climbing the stairs to his father’s apartment, Hacine was still brooding over that disaster. He climbed in silence, holding his ax handle. A neighbor kid skipping down the stairs passed him. It took the boy four more steps before it hit him. Looking at the skinny figure slowly climbing the stairs, he realized it was him, Hacine Bouali. It had been two years since he was last seen in the neighborhood. From what people said, he’d been making out like a bandit. His homies had gotten postcards from the Balearic Islands and the Costa del Sol, and started hating him, while secretly feeling jealous. In any case, everyone figured he was gone for good. The kid hurried to spread the news of his return.

Hacine reached the third floor. He had no chance to ring the bell, because the door opened of its own accord. His father was waiting for him, a big smile on his lips.

“Come in, come in,” he said.

Hacine was happy to see how well his father looked. A little more stooped, maybe, his skin a little darker. For some time now he’d started playing boules with his old work buddies. It gave him something to do and got them outside for some fresh air.

“You are all right?”

“Yes, yes.”

They hugged briefly, and his father glanced at the ax handle.

“What is that for?”

All during the trip, Hacine had been imagining the scathing things he would say to him. But now, facing this old man in the building where he’d grown up, it no longer made any sense. His intentions looked like what they were, strictly for show. His father was an old man, gentle, forgetful, and weary. And glad to see him again.

“For nothing,” said Hacine. “Stupid stuff.”

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