Summary

Chapters 29 and 30

Mr. Tagg introduces Khalid and he walks to the microphone with the letter he wrote to Mr. Tagg in his hand. It takes a moment to summon his courage, and a gentle word from Mr. Tagg. Then he begins and the assembly hangs on every word, shocked, horrified, and surprised. As soon as he finishes, the auditorium erupts with clapping and cheering. He sits down again, shaking. Slowly, Khalid’s life returns to some semblance of normalcy. His attitude has changed, and he now walks shyly dignified instead of confidently entitled. He is standing in line at a newsagents waiting to buy chocolate when a voice calls his name behind him. Niamh has cut her hair short, and Khalid realizes that he remembered her face quite differently. He gets lost in memories again and Niamh takes his arm and walks him...