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know about the Russian soldiers coming to Sharidure.
My friend’s name is Askgar. I trust him completely. Be very careful. Do not talk
about this to anyone but him. He will help you know what to do next. He lives in
the last house on the path to the airfield. Tell him I sent you and about the Russian
soldiers. May God go with you.”
    The two hugged, father and son. There were no tears. They looked in each other’s
eyes. Hassan hoped it would not be the last time he hugged his son. Ali’s heart was
pounding. He wasn’t sure about this leap into being a man, but he trusted his father
and agreed something must be done to resist the Russians. He wanted to tell his father
it had been his stone that shattered the peace and teapot in the principal’s office. He also didn’t want his father to know because he didn’t want his father to be in
any way involved or blamed.
    Hassan handed Ali a small package that contained some money and a friend’s name and
address in Muhshed, Iran. Hassan hoped that Ali could eventually get to Muhshed and
be safe from the Russians. The money was about half of Hassan and Mariam’s savings.
He and his wife talked about it last night, after the invasion of their home by the
principal. They cried about it, knowing it might be the last time they would see
their son.
    ***
    When Ali knocked on the door of the last home before the airfield, a voice asked
who it was. “I am Ali, son of Hassan. He sent me with a message for Askgar.”
    The door opened slowly, and Ali bowed as Askgar invited him in. “Welcome to my home.
May you not be tired.” Askgar and Ali exchanged the polite greetings that were part
of their culture. “Would you like some tea?”
    â€œNo, thank you. You are very kind.”
    â€œThe tea is fresh and hot. Would you like some?”
    â€œThank you very much. You are kind.” They sat down on the leeoffs in the family room.
Ali noticed there was no one else in the room.
    After sipping some of the green tea, Ali started to tell Askgar about the Russian
soldiers. Askgar interrupted him. “I heard about how the principal so rudely entered
and searched your home. I know your father is worried about you and your sister.
We talked about it today.”
    Ali was a little surprised Askgar knew about the principal, but then he realized
that his father and Askgar were friends. “My father asked me to tell you that there
are Russian soldiers coming from Bamiyan, perhaps tonight.”
    â€œAre you sure?” Askgar was looking directly into Ali’s eyes.
    â€œYes, one of my father’s friends called him from Bamiyan to tell him.”
    â€œThen we must act immediately. Ali, I think you know I am a member of the resistance.
Your father and I talked about how you are in danger, suspected of teaching our children
something other than the Russian line. He asked me to help you get to Iran. I can
do that, but we must also keep the Russian soldiers from freely entering our town.
I will return tomorrow to help you get to Jungal. Stay at my home tonight.”
    â€œI would like to help.” Ali was surprised at himself for saying it. So was Askgar.
    He turned to look at Ali. “It might be dangerous. They will not hesitate to kill
us.”
    â€œI know, but someone has to show them they can’t just force us to do what they want.
We have to protect our families and homes.”
    Askgar was surprised but pleased to hear these words from such a young man. “All
right, we can use all the help we can get. Change into these dark clothes. We don’t
want them to see white cloth. Dark clothes blend into the night shadows.”
    The resistance turned out to be five other men, all of whom Ali knew from seeing
them in Sharidure. They greeted him warmly. They seemed to know him, too. They also
seemed to know about his helping children in the secret school in his home, and about
how the principal barged into his home.