Things We Left Unsaid by Zoyâ Pirzâd Page B

laughter, said through her giggles, ‘Are we eating lunch at the Club?’
    Armineh added, ‘Let’s eat lunch at the Club.’
    When we were not invited over to someone’s house on Fridays, or did not have our own guests, we went to the Golestan Club. The kids liked the Chelow Kebab at the Club, and I thought it was
wonderful that we could all be together to eat lunch once a week. Artoush poured sugar in his tea. ‘On one condition.’
    Armineh quickly swallowed what she was chewing. ‘What condition? We’ve done our homework. We’ve also practiced the piano. We’ve also toadied up our room.’ She
sought her sister’s approval, as usual. ‘Isn’t that right, Arsineh?’
    Armen separated the solid and the runny parts of the egg. ‘Not toadied. Tidied, you dim...’ He caught my glance and did not finish his sentence.
    The twins were looking at Artoush. ‘What condition? Tell us!’ Artoush was stirring his tea.
    Armineh said, ‘We accept.’
    Arsineh affirmed, ‘We accept any condition.’
    They chimed together, ‘What is it? Tell us, tell us!’
    Now Armen and I were also looking at Artoush, waiting for his answer. He carefully removed the spoon from his cup, laid it ceremoniously on the saucer, stared out the window, looked at me, then
at Armen, then at the twins. Finally he said, ‘On condition that my beautiful daughters each give their father a big kiss.’
    The twins began to laugh, and both leapt up from their chairs. Armen made a face. ‘Hahaha, very funny.’ I laughed and started clearing the breakfast table.
    Sitting on Artoush’s knee, Arsineh said, ‘It would be so nice if Emily could come to the Club with us after the movie.’
    From his other knee, Armineh said, ‘Oh my gosh! We have to go get her.’
    Armen pushed back his chair. ‘I’ll go get her.’ Artoush looked over Arsineh’s curly hair at me. Armen had already reached the hallway when the twins yelled after him,
‘Wait!’ and rushed out of the kitchen.
    Artoush looked over at the kitchen door. ‘Our son has become very meticulous about his manners.’ He got up. ‘After the movie, I’ll pick up the kids from the cinema, and
come get you. Call Mother and Alice. Ask them to come too.’
    I was taken by surprise. Artoush knew very well that Mother and Alice had no need of an invitation, and would certainly come in any case. And I knew full well that Artoush had no particular
desire for either of them to come. So what was the reason for all the lovey-dovey?
    From the hallway he yelled, ‘After I drop off the kids at the movies, I’ll drop in on Shahandeh.’
    Aha, I thought. So that’s why... ‘Wait!’ I called out, and ran after him.
    He stopped in the middle of the path and waited for me to catch up to him. He was stroking his goatee and chuckling. So I was right! He was horse-trading with me. I stood directly in front of
him. ‘Didn’t you promise me not to go to Shahandeh’s?’
    He pushed back the hair that had fallen in my face and said patiently, ‘I’ve told you a hundred times. It’s not true what you have heard. When was Shahandeh ever mixed up in
politics? If one or two folks come around to his store and we chat a bit, so what?’ He touched the tip of my nose with his finger. ‘Don’t worry. I’ll only have a little
rosewater sherbet and come right back. Shall I bring back some sherbet for you?’ And he laughed.
    If the weather was hot, Shahandeh would offer rosewater sherbet to everyone who visited his store. And when the weather wasn’t hot, it was tea with dried lemon. I had only tried rosewater
sherbet once and did not care for it at all.
    We walked to the gate together, and Artoush said, ‘Maybe he’ll even tell an interesting hunting yarn. When I get back I’ll tell you all about it.’
    ‘Not that you’re any good at telling stories,’ I teased. The hunting adventures Shahandeh recounted were interesting, even in Artoush’s truncated and lifeless re-telling.
I helped him open