Summary

Chapter 4 begins in Baghdad, Iraq in 2002 and narrates the story of Nabil, the Iraqi who will become Rita’s translator, and his cousin Asmaa. Both Nabil and Asmaa are gifted in English, with Nabil studying hard to improve his proficiency. Nabil, 24, walks home from his work at a grocery store and joins a soccer game with some neighborhood boys. He is unhappy with his work at the grocery, unable to use his marketing and communications degree. On his walk home, Nabil passes people praying at the famous Kadhimiya Mosque. When he arrives at home, his grandmother, Bibi, asks him to take her to shop for bread. He acquiesces, although he had wanted to go up to his room and finish reading The Catcher in the Rye. Bibi is a Shi’a and very religious, going to prayers at the mosque often. When they reach...