Summary

In chapter XI, the “vandalism at the churchyard” is being talked about all over town (93). Meanwhile, Elise says that Ursula-Marie has to cut off her hair, styled in blue braids that she takes great pride in. Hussain cuts most of it off gleefully with his scissors, but then Ursula-Marie commands him to bring his prayer mat to the pile.

Chapter XII starts with Otto and Huge Hans beating Hussain up in order to force him to bring his prayer mat. After he finally relents and brings it, he does not come to school for a week, and when he returns, the kids learn that his father had “beaten the life out of him” for it (101). Then, Hussain commands Huge Hans to give up his bike.

Chapter XIII begins with Huge Hans commanding that he wants Sofie to give up her “innocence” to him...