Summary

In Chapter 22, Shirin gets through the first part of the day without incident. At lunch time, an Indian girl (later identified as Amna) confronts her. The girl is furious because Shirin kissed Ocean, saying she has disrespected the hajib she wears and should take it off. Shirin is shocked, having not foreseen this confrontation. The girls grow heated during the argument. Shirin argues that the girls' strict attitude is extreme, and “People like you make the rest of us look crazy” (185). Shirin meets Ocean beside the tree. She asks if he is ready to call this off. He says he is not. She wants to say “I told you so” but does not say it outright. The chapter ends with Shirin saying, “Then let the shitshow begin” (186).

In Chapter 23, Ramadan begins, requiring that Shirin fast from daylight to dark each day. She loves...