Part I: Section 11 Summary

Behrani observes that earlier, there had been fog, but now, the sky is the color of peaches. He watches his son rake the grass, confident that he is listening to the California rock and roll music he finds as pleasant as the sound of an F-16 overhead. He thinks momentarily about Reza Shah Pahlavi (who has died of cancer). He overhears Nadi humming to herself in the kitchen. A courier car pulls up, with a letter from Kathy's Legal Aid lawyer. Behrani notices his name is misspelled and goes inside for his glasses. After reading the letter four times, he tears it to pieces.

Part I: Section 11 Analysis

Esmail cannot hear his father. When Nadi asks him in Farsi what is wrong, he says nothing. He is determined she know nothing of this-and that he is not returning the...