Summary

Parvana decided to buy bread first because the baker’s stall opened onto the street. She was undecided if she should shout her orders in to the other stores, as women were required to do, or if she could go inside because she was a child. At the fruit and vegetable stand, a member of the Taliban asked her why she was dressed as she was out in the street. He hit her with the stick and threatened to punish her father or husband for allowing her to go out dressed as she was. She yelled at the man to stop hitting her. He was so surprised that he stopped long enough for her to run away.

Parvana ran straight into a woman wearing a burqa who seemed to know who Parvana was. The woman demanded to know why Parvana was running and why...