A Thousand Splendid Suns

blankets that keep the children warm, in these pillows and books and
pencils. She is in the children's laughter. She is in the verses Aziza
recites and in the prayers she mutters when she bows westward. But,
mostly, Mariam is in Laila's own heart, where she shines with the
bursting radiance of a thousand suns.
Someone has been calling her name, Laila realizes. She turns around,
instinctively tilts her head, lifting her good ear just a tad. It's Aziza.
"Mammy? Are you all right?"
The room has become quiet. The children are watching her.
Laila is about to answer when her breath suddenly catches. Her hands
shoot down. They pat the spot where, a moment before, she'd felt a
wave go through her. She waits. But there is no more movement.
"Mammy?"
"Yes, my love." Laila smiles. "I'm all right. Yes. Very much."
As she walks to her desk at the front of the class, Laila thinks of the
naming game they'd played again over dinner the night before. It has
become a nightly ritual ever since Laila gave Tariq and the children the
news. Back and forth they go, making a case for their own choice. Tariq
likes Mohammad. Zalmai, who has recently watched Superman on tape,
is puzzled as to why an Afghan boy cannot be named Clark. Aziza is
campaigning hard for Aman. Laila likes Omar.
But the game involves only male names. Because, if it's a girl, Laila
has already named her.