Summary

Kim is uncomfortable in gym class because she must change in front of the other girls. She is afraid they will see her “pair of thick cotton shorts unevenly trimmed in red for good luck” (131). In contrast, they all have expensive-looking underwear. Luckily, Kim finds a bathroom stall in which to change. She starts learning her classmates’ names, too, like mean Greg, long-haired Curt, popular Sheryl, and bus-riding Tammy. Part of her scholarship also required her to work three days a week at the library and receive English tutoring. She makes friends with the librarian, Mr. Jamali, from Pakistan. Kim feels better that someone else on campus is not native-born. She asks Mr. Jamali if she can work in the mornings, instead of after school, so she can help her mother at the factory.

At the factory, Matt makes fun of Kim’s new...