Summary

Part 1, Chapter 8 – Robert has secretly been pretending to be his son, writing to John Lamborg at Harvard, seeking to have Pasha’s book of poetry translated, and a position at the university obtained. Lamborg has insisted upon a meeting as well, so Robert must reveal to Pasha his scheming. Pasha takes the news lightly and calmly, and agrees to meet Lamborg in Brighton Beach. He comes to the house for lunch, and to learn about the family’s immigrant experiences.

During the lunch, when word comes that Frida will be a pediatrician like her mother, Frida balls up her stockings and throws them at her mother’s face. She is sent to her room, where her grandmother later comes to see her. Frida tells her grandmother that Lamborg is an idiot, and Esther calls him a drunk as well.

Ostraya and...