Summary

Riad and his family fly back to France on Syrian Airlines. Riad sits next to a German man who farts the whole time and speaks to Riad in Arabic. Getting of the plane in Paris, Riad steps on the German man’s testicles.

Riad’s grandmother and her new husband—Charles—pick the family up a the airport in Paris. Charles tells Riad to call him “Pappy” and speaks to him in Arabic, but Charles knows Moroccan Arabic. Riad gets embarrassed and does not respond. Riad’s father is upset that Riad will not speak Arabic and starts yelling at Riad in the airport. Charles defends Riad saying, He’s just shy…” (148).

Riad’s family returns to his grandmother’s house. Riad’s father bumps into people he knew at the beach and he tries to play volleyball with them. Riad’s father...